Some Random Points of Interest

I haven't posted in a couple weeks but I'm not abandoning this blog.

If you don't read the blog Two Whole Cakes (formerly known as Fatshionista) you really should.  It's a witty, insightful, well-informed blog on fat and body acceptance and a myriad of adjacent issues.  I want to post something that was linked to on her January 25th post: "Weight-loss focus is ineffective and harmful, study suggests".  Here's an excerpt: 

“Although health professionals may mean well when they suggest that people lose weight, our analysis indicates that researchers have long interpreted research data through a biased lens,” Bacon said. “When the data are reconsidered without the common assumption that fat is harmful, it is overwhelmingly apparent that fat has been highly exaggerated as a risk for disease or decreased longevity.”
 
Bacon noted that the study findings do not support conventional ideas that:

• weight loss will prolong life;
• anyone can lose weight and keep it off through diet and exercise;
• weight loss is a practical and positive goal;
• weight loss is the only way overweight and obese people can improve their health; and
• obesity places an economic burden on society.

“The weight-focused approach does not, in the long run, produce thinner, healthier bodies,” said Bacon.

Anybody who's ever dieted probably already knows all that.  But I wanted to use this as a jumping-off point to talk about weight loss vs. health.

It seems like the two of these things are connected inextricably in the public's mind - if you're fat, you're unhealthy and need to stop eating fast food and get off your butt and go to the gym.  But if you're thin, you're healthy, even if you indulge in fast food and don't go to the gym.  We all know, logically, intuitively, that one of the biggest factors in health is giving our bodies the nutrients it needs, like fresh foods, meals made from scratch, a good balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc.  So, why is it that a doctor will be concerned about the health of an "obese" woman who eats well, but not the health of a skinny person who does not?  We need to stop acting like somehow, magically, everybody who is skinny eats a good balanced diet, and everybody who is fat eats lots of cheeseburgers.

Unfortunately, it's impossible to tell, just by looking at somebody, who is healthy and who is not, but it's easy to tell who is fat and who isn't just by looking at them.  But this is pure laziness on the part of our doctors, or anybody in the media claiming to be a "nutrition expert," etc.  Everybody's case is different, yet somehow every time I go to the doctor he simply looks at my weight and tells me I should work out or lose [X] pounds (for me I think it's about 80lbs now, maybe 100 since I'm so short), or follow a diet plan... We never actually talk about my eating habits, which are, in my opinion, perfectly average, if not 100% healthy, for a 21-year-old.  We never actually talk about how I feel about my body, whether I feel strong or weak, comfortable or uncomfortable, or even just beautiful or ugly.

I think there are lots of "obese" women out there who are strong and eat food of normal quality and quantity that make themselves less healthy by trying to force themselves into a body that they aren't.  And, conversely, I think there are a lot of thin women who do themselves a disservice by thinking that just because they were blessed with a fast metabolism and thin genes, they can laze around on their butts, drink nothing but coke, and still be healthy, and not have it take a toll later in life.

I'm talking about this now because It's something that I'm struggling with.  I don't want to lose weight, but I want to be healthier, and that article really dealt with a lot of my personal fears... if I were to focus on weight loss, I wouldn't actually be healthier.  But I'm afraid that if I start working out, give up a couple of my (mainly sugary) vices and make an effort to be healthier, that it will result in me losing weight, which will trigger an old demon of mine - the little voice which tells me that I can't be pretty until I'm thin, that I have to weigh myself every day, that I don't deserve to eat and that that feeling of an empty, growling stomach is actually pleasurable because it means I'm losing weight.  How do I separate these two things... How do I obtain my health goals without triggering old destructive patterns?


---


On a lighter note, eShakti has a ton of gorgeous new styles in spring prints that I'm drooling over this blouse and this dress.  Also, Forever21+ has some cute springtime styles like these floral shorts or this flattering floral tunic.  It's too bad they go through their stock so fast.  Also there's a sale on ASOS Curve's "ASOS Collection" line.


---


Another topic I wanted to discuss is sewing.  I think I mentioned in a previous post that I sew a bit.  I pretty much taught myself, with a little help from my mom, who is no great shakes at sewing either, and who I've now probably surpassed in sewing talent.  It's a good skill to learn if you're plus sized, because you can adjust sewing patterns to fit any size if you have the patience.  It takes a lot of trial and error, but you learn as you go.  I recommend starting on sleepwear, because most of the styles are really easy, and if it doesn't turn out as pretty as you'd like, you can still wear it in the comfort of your own home.


I think I might put up some pictures of things I've sewn if I ever get around to it.  I haven't sewn anything in a while (school, and other stressors) but I've just started working on another project, a vintage 70s pattern - an A-Line dress with a cool princess-seam detail.  Most of my sewing projects are vintage - I have a huge collection of vintage patterns, even quite a few from as early as the 40s.  So far I've sewn a vintage 60s granny-nightie, a 70s blouse with large bell-sleeves, a 40s dress with smocking details on the shoulders, and a 60s shift-dress :)


A couple tips for people who are interested in sewing:
- People donate perfectly usable fabric to the Goodwill (and other thrift stores).  It's way cheaper than a fabric store, and it's where I get most of my fabric.  Don't ignore a piece just because it has a couple of marks, stains, or holes.  If they're small enough you can always cut around them
- Patterns can be resized.  Most pattern companies, like most department stores, have a smaller, less attractive selection for plus sizes, but you can always make a pattern larger.  I have a great sewing book ("The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing" from 1980) that has a great section on making alterations that I think I might scan and upload in a post sometime.  While it's true that it's way harder to size up a pattern with a really large size difference, or with a complex design, it is possible to size any pattern up to any size given enough patience, care, accurate measurements, and calculations.
- However, if you don't want to size up patterns (which is admittedly very time consuming) I recommend Butterick, whose Misses patterns often go up to size 22 or 24 (sewing-size that is.  The sizes on pattern envelopes are smaller than "catalog sizes" by about 2 sizes so always look at the measurements), McCalls, who has a very stylish plus size selection even if their Misses patterns don't go up very large, Kwik Sew, whose Misses clothes go up to XL in addition to a decent plus-size selection, and Hot Patterns, an independent pattern company that uses catalog sizes and provides sizes 6-26 in all their patterns.  However, I don't recommend bothering with Vogue, Burda, or New Look; Vogue patterns don't go up to very large sizes, and all their plus size clothes are matronly; Neither Burda nor New Look carry plus sizes as far as I'm aware.

Cute Shoes for Fat Feet

I'm on a constant search for shoes made for wide or double wide feet (I vary depending on the style) that don't look like the same pair of orthopedic slip-ons you saw your grandma wearing last month.  I know not everyone with a plus size body has wide feet, but it's fairly common.  Personally, my sister and I have had freakishly wide feet since we were children, so I think bone structure is more to blame than fat, though they do get wider as I gain weight.  In any case, I think it's a common enough problem that I thought I'd list some of the coolest shoes for the new season that come in wide or double wide.

Naya 'Fennel' Peep Toe Bootie: It's hard to tell in the photograph, but this leather bootie has a gorgeous swirly cut-out lattice work detail.  Aside from that, I love the curve of the, the oxford-esque style of it, and the springtimey peep toe.  This is the kind of wide shoe that I dream about.  Additionally it is apparently crafted out of bamboo and vegetable-dyed leather, but personally I don't really care.  Sadly, all this chic styling comes with a hefty price tag - $194.  My senior prom shoes cost half that!  Oh well, maybe I'll win the lottery...

Gabriella Rocha 'Athens' heel: What I love about this shoe isn't the style (well, it's the style too of course) but the astonishing array of colors and textures that it comes in.  It comes in leather, kid leather, patent leather and the colors black, navy, camel, sky blue, fuchsia, deep purple and bright red.  The style is a kind of sexy mary-jane that still has a retro innocence to it, like a '50s pin-up; like, yeah it's sexy, but in a classy way.  Moderately priced at $69.

Naturalizer 'Lorie' Espadrille: Naturalizer is usually a good place to find stylish shoes in wide widths, and they didn't disappoint - in searching for a pair of wide espadrilles, I found only a handful, and these are by far my favorite.  It strikes me as odd that there are so few, considering that they're big this spring (well, espadrilles are big every spring it seems) and plenty of cute discount-store incarnations for "normal" feet are around.  Sigh.  The strappiness of these is cute and I find the curve to the sole aesthetically pleasing.  I'm not a big fan of beige/nude (well, because I am only a few shades off beige, and it looks terrible on me) but perhaps these will come out in more colors later, since they're new.  Fairly pricey at $79 but Naturalizer shoes are good quality.

Evans High Heeled Clogs: Like everything else from the 1970s, clogs are back - but these aren't your mom's chunky-heeled hippie-dippy clogs from high school.  These high heeled, slingback, peep toe clogs are a very 2011 incarnation.  All of Evans shoes come in extra wide, but I've never purchased from them so I don't know how wide it truly is.  But I know I seriously want those shoes.  (btw, British shoe sizes, like everything, are different.  Look up a conversion chart.)  £39.50/$62.55

Faux Suede Tassel Boot - Though the slouchy suede boot has been in style for a few years now, the tassel updates it.  Spring 2011 runways had lots of tasseled details, on belts, necklaces, purses, you name it.  The way it's styled here, it also strikes me as very 70s.  And, aside from all that, it's a really cute essential style that'll look good over jeans or tights and I don't think this style is going anywhere soon.  The one downside?  The site doesn't have a half circumference listed, but since it's a plus size site and extra wide fit, I'll assume it's probably wide calf.  $50

'Jordan' Woven Ribbon Ballet Flat - How cute are these shoes?  The ribbon being woven through the flats gives it a very unique and feminine look.  I love flats with interesting details, since they're usually less glamorous or fun than their high-heeled counterparts, but infinitely more comfortable.  The one downside?  These strike me as very overpriced at $64.99 for a pair flats made of man-made materials instead of leather.  But I'm definitely going to be eying these to see if they go on clearance.

A World Without Fat People

So, through boredom, google, and my own peculiar brand of obsession whenever I find a subject that captures my interest, I got to thinking about Magical Diet Cure-Alls.  Through a very random train of You-Tube videos and google searches I came across a Magical Diet Aid called HCG which is apparently a hormone extracted from the urine of pregnant women which you inject yourself with via hypodermic needle for six weeks while following a 500 calorie a day diet.  Yes, this is an actual product, not a joke.  I came across a video on youtube where a young girl, who stated that she was a senior in high school, had just started the HCG program after her dad lost 70-some pounds on it... I won't post a link to the video because I think that would be rude.  I feel bad enough as it is simply talking about this video, even if it was posted openly on the interwebs...

Anyway, I just think this is so sad.  The girl was adorable, probably 17 or 18, and yet somehow she felt that it was necessary to inject herself with NON-FDA APPROVED HORMONE in order to lose weight.  Not only that, but her parents, and I bet doctor, are probably condoning it.  Except, after only 30 seconds of googling, I found a news article that completely debunks it, not to mention the wikipedia page.  I guess I can understand how one might think this is a good product - just google simply "HCG" or "HCG Diet" and you get hundreds of fake blogs, fake review sites, and fake medical professionals all pimping its effectiveness.  But just search "HCG scientific studies" and you get some real information - a myriad of studies on this hormone have been conducted since the 70s, and all scientifically valid, double blind studies comparing HCG to a placebo came back the same - exactly the same.

The fact that this shot doesn't work for weight loss is not my main concern.  It's the fact that a TEENAGE GIRL who is still developing, maturing, physically and hormonally, is being put on a diet that, in a skinny girl, would be considered anorexia (500 calories a day) and is being given an untested hormone from a pregnant woman's urine.  I'm sorry, doesn't anybody ELSE in this world see a problem with this?  Sometimes I just want to throttle the entirety of society.  Hormone Injections and Teenage Girls should NOT go together!  Not to mention that I'd have serious worries about her health, strength, mental acuity and general well-being on 500 calories a day.  Oh, btw, do you know what the HCG shots claim to do?  They "burn fat instead of muscle and lean tissue" or something to that effect.  Is your BS meter going off as strongly as mine is?? Anyway THAT rant aside, I want to meander on to the point that I titled this post for, which this HCG drug got me thinking about.

Currently, there is no miracle cure for obesity.  The only drug on the market as far as I know (correct me if I'm wrong) that is FDA approved for weight loss and has shown legitimate, reproducible results in scientific studies that it aids weight loss is Alli and that happens to come with the oh-so-pleasant side effect of liquid poo leakage - as their instructions say, Wear Brown Pants... Now that's a slogan for you, eh?  Anyway, THAT train of thought led me to this one.  What would happen if there were a miracle weight loss "cure".

If there were some hypothetical 100% effective, 100% safe cure that could make you lose as much weight as you like with no side effects.  It doesn't even have to be a pill; say a magical fairy came to earth and said she would magically make anybody the weight they wanted to be... Would you take this magical "cure"?  I bet 99.99% would.  Hell, I love my body, I love myself the way I am, but I'd probably do it - peer pressure can be a powerful thing, you know.  Do you think there would be hold-outs?  Would you be a hold-out?  Say that everybody was given this magical cure that made them all skinny, all the same size - let's say for example between the sizes of 00 and 8, which are typically what The Fashion Industry considers to be thin.  Do you think anything would change, really?

Or do you think that those on the fringes of those sizes would get ostracized, just as they do now?  Don't you think that size 8 women, formerly considered thin, would become the new Fat?  Do you think women would still worship a size 00 if it could be attained just by sprinkling some fairy dust?  I don't think so.  I think 00 would also be ostracized for being on the fringes of what is acceptable.  If women could keep sprinkling fairy dust until they're the weight they think is best, do you think they would all eventually just become the same size?  What would the world look like with no fat people??  Walking automatons with no distinct variations in curves, flesh or fat?  Do you think everyone would just be happy and perfect and healthy because they were skinny?  That dating would be easier, fashion would be less exclusive, spouses wouldn't cheat, and we'd all live into our 90s?  No.  It would just be the next thing - only women who can afford ear implants can be fashionable - let the poor be damned.  Or, only women with curly hair are societally acceptable and straight simply won't do [lol, in my curly-headed dreams].

It's exponential decay.  Visualize a man walking from point A to point B.  Each step he takes, he walks half the distance.  He gets closer and closer to point B but he never reaches it.  Each step we take seems like we're closer to equality, but we'll never really get there.

I think this World Without Fat People is the unsaid promise of all diet pills.  They're not saying that you can be healthy, they're saying that you can be thin, so that you won't be picked on as The Group People Arbitrarily Feel Better Than.  And it is just that.  Discrimination is arbitrary and each step we take to eliminate one facet of it just makes another one pop up.  African Americans are slowly gaining equality, but Middle-Easterners are harassed, singled out, and hated on like never before.  Women are finally considered to be valid members of society with rights, but LGBT people aren't.  It stretches back into antiquity.  Groups that were hated propagate hate.  The Catholics drove the Protestants out of Europe and the Protestants drove the Natives out of America (in a sense).  As soon as one group makes a step forward, another group takes its place.  We will never be rid of discrimination until we stop trying to fight its symptoms and start fighting the cause.  Until we look deeply, sincerely, critically at ourselves as a society and tells ourselves to quit the bullshit.  Since the human race loooooooves its bullshit, I doubt that day will ever come.

I know you may think that all this is a bit dense, and tangential, for a post that originally started as a discussion on diet pills, but I hope I've shown how all this is related.  Diet pills are trying to sell a way for people to get out of The Group Everyone Feels Better Than, promising a freedom from ostracism and discrimination.  But by buying into the framework that one group is better than another (ie Thinnies and Fatties) we are merely promoting that framework.  Utopia is not a world where everyone is thin and beauty-obsessed.  Utopia is a world where the radical diversity within the human species is celebrated as a wondrous marvel, rather than a defect to be purged.  Novel idea, huh?  The same old message to love your fellow man as much as you love yourself.  Hey, it's only been 2,000 years since that hippie, Jesus, came on the scene, it probably just hasn't caught on yet.

Sales!

With the end of winter in site, and more people buying up clothes in preparation for spring, end-of-season sales are here.  I'll list some of the best sales from the best plus size sites and designers (in no particular order).

Jean Marc Philippe - He might just be the coolest plus-size designer you've never heard about.  He's French, and his designs are funky, unique, and a little bit punk.  Sales up to 70% off.  The site has a very basic English translated version, with categories translated into English but not images.  To find your size, scroll to the bottom under "concerne" and click on size guide.


Anna Scholz - This UK plus-size designer is high-fashion, and high price, but her winter sales may put some of her items in the Affordable range, like the $69.96 Jersey and Silk Fringe Top, $49.75 Print Jersey Leggings, or $73.07 Stretch Tailoring Corset Top.

Dorothy Perkins - Another UK designer; her clothing goes up to size 22UK, or 20US.  For those in the US unfamiliar with her, think an Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Mod Cloth type aesthetic, but in sizes that include curvy girls, not just the up-to-size-12 crowd.  Her style is fun, fresh, and retro.


Lane Bryant - The most well known and possibly oldest US plus-size clothing company (I've actually seen copies of their ads from the 30s when they were for "Stout" women).  One of my favorite stores to shop at - their clothes are the perfect mix of seasonal trends and classic style.  Their Clearance is a bit hidden; hover over "on sale" and click on "clearance" to get to the really marked down stuff.

La Redoute - A french brand with some really great plus styles; that's their UK site.  Sadly, they only deliver within the UK or the other countries that they have a website for, but if you live in the UK, take advantage; La Redoute is high style and low price.

Roaman's - A great plus size catalog company, and the only source of La Redoute clothing in the US.  Check out their Clearance selection.  Like Lane Bryant, they carry a mix of trendy and classic clothing.

One Stop Plus - A sister site to Roaman's, it carries a selection of clothing from tons of different brands, including Torrid and Avenue.  Very convenient.

ASOS curve - Their sales are amazingly cheap, and they're so, so stylish.  I've mentioned them on this blog a couple times.  One of the trendiest plus size clothing sites I've found yet.  Free shipping.

New Look Inspire - A UK site with great trendy styles and low prices.  For some reason there's no way to view their plus size clearance alone (clicking on "inspire sale" only brings up 18 items but if you just look through their items you'll see there's many more than that).  I recommend just checking the box for your size, going by item type, and sorting from low-high.  They have items as low as 3 pounds ($4.68)!

Yours - A UK plus size site.  Click on the US flag at the top to change the currency to USD, and when you're looking at an item, click on the British flag next to the size selection to change sizes to US.  They have a HUGE selection of clearance in some of the coolest styles, like jumpsuits and maxi dresses for only $15, or super cute and sexy undies for $5 and bras for $8.  The only drawback is that you can't narrow results by size.


Addition Elle, MXM* & Penningtons - These three main Canadian plus size stores are sister-sites with a combined shopping bag and shipping.  (BTW, the Canadian dollar is worth $1.01 USD.  Do you remember the good old days where you could go to Canada and feel like a rich person once you changed your money?  Oh, how times have changed, lol.)

Wallis - Super cute clothes, bright colors and funky patterns characterize this UK brand.  Like Dorothy Perkins, it is technically a "straight size" store that goes up to size UK22/US20.  BTW, super fantastic deal: a super cute swimsuit for only 5 pounds that's in a size UK22.

Carmakoma - US customers will have to weigh sales discounts against a 20-euro outside-Denmark shipping fee, but I love their styles.  They're worth a look, you just might fall in love with something.  Also, although it's a plus size site, their clothes don't go up to very large sizes - they range from approximately a US12-US22.  I guess Danes don't get very large.

Saks 5th Avenue Salon Z -If you've got discerning tastes, Saks is the place to go.  Their "Salon Z" is probably the best online selection of high-end plus clothing.  Their clothes are still expensive, even on sale, but you might just find something you can afford from a designer you love.

Bold Colors for Spring

Even though it’s snowing out right now, my mind is on spring. While it may bring allergies, spontaneous garage cleanouts, and my sister’s birthday (she is the HARDEST person to shop for!), it also brings warmer weather, shorter skirts, and a brighter palette.

This spring, one trend is bold colors, where clothing in classic, feminine silhouettes lets the color of the fabric take center stage. I think a lot of women are afraid of bold colors or prints, particularly plus size women. Bold colors make you stand out from the crowd and I think that scares some women. But bold colors can easily be worked into your wardrobe without fear. I'm not a stylist or a fashion designer, this is just one girl's humble opinion. I'll show you some examples of boldly colored plus size garments and say how I'd style them.

In compiling this list, I drew inspiration from an article at Harper’s Bazaar, and I reference it a few times: Top Spring Trends New York

Lane Bryant Rolled-cuff Striped Sweater : Lane Bryant has lots of lovely colorful pieces that have just been added to their website for spring. I like this one in particular because the bright stripes are very playful and springy, but it’s also a sweater, and at least here (the pacific northwest) spring tends to be quite chilly. Pair it with a solid bottom, either in black or white, or in a bright color matching one of the stripes for a younger look, like a pink skirt or teal trousers. This would also be a good Office look, either over a pair of black slacks, or tucked into a black pencil skirt, and worn with a pair of brightly colored heels in a matching color. $54.95

ASOS curve Green Top ($43.10) and Red Dress ($20.65): ASOS’ curve line has many bright colors. Unfortunately, they tend to be rather pricey, so I’m also posting a selection from their clearance, though it’s sold out of two sizes. I love this green top because its silhouette is reminiscent of the 70s, with flowy “waterfall” sleeves, but it’s also so simple. The color is so luminescent that it’s a statement in itself, and the top is something that could just be thrown over a pair of leggings or jeans. As for the dress, it also has a bit of 70s – the V-Notch neck and empire-seam are both popular details from that age; in fact, I think I have a dress similar to it in my vintage sewing pattern collection. The silhouette is classic pencil – very feminine and good for curves, and really makes the color the centerpiece. Throw it on just like the model has it – with black tights and pumps – for an easily chic spring outfit.

Dorothy Perkins Scallop Ponte Dress – this dress is vaguely reminiscent of photo 12 in the Harper’s Bazaar slideshow I linked to - a stiff, boxy, bright orange shift dress. I think this is a much more wearable alternative. Dorothy Perkins’ items go up to a UK22/US20. This dress is very 60s, another trend for spring, and adorable. I’d wear it with just a pair of sandals, and Spanx-style shorts under if your thighs chafe like mine. Target and Avenue sell generic Spanx shapewear in plus sizes. Shorts like these are my lifesavers when it gets too warm to wear tights. The DP dress is 32 Pounds

One Stop Plus/Roaman’s Chiffon Camisole: I’m a big fan of bright pink, but I know a lot of women aren’t; This top also comes in bright “Crystal Blue”. It has so many pretty, springtime details – the lace, the embroidered trim, and the sheer overlay – all of these details have been seen on runways for Spring/Summer ’11. This top is also super wearable – pair it with slacks, jeans or leggings and it will stand out. $39.99

Isaac Mizrahi at QVC: I really like Isaac Mizrahi’s commitment to bringing fashion to the average woman. His target line was great (and, the last I checked, gone now) and so is his QVC line. I loved the idea of a bright trench for spring (inspiration: the Tommy Hilfiger trench, photo 15). This one also comes in bright green and bright orange, and of course the classics black and beige (but what fun is that? Lots of people wear black and beige trench coats. Don’t you want to be the girl that everybody looks at saying, wow, look at her, I love her colorful coat!). Another feature is the fun polka dot lining. I just love a coat with a good lining that looks pretty hanging on the back of a chair or in your closet. $98.40

Colorful Basics: Of course, bright colors don’t have to be a statement piece. It’s easy to work a hint of springtime hue into your wardrobe with a colorful tee or camisole. For the best colorful basics that won’t set you back much, I recommend JC Penney’s Worthington Lace Cami for between $10-$15 in a whole rainbow of colors, Old Navy for many styles of tees in bright colors for about $15, and Forever21+’s Basic Plain Camisoles for only $3.50!

Afterthought: A Musing on Horizontal Stripes and The Fashion Rules

It is my Firm Opinion that anybody can wear horizontal stripes. I don’t believe that fashion can – or should – make any woman look skinnier than she really is. Throw the traditional rules of fashion out the window. Wear bold prints, wear shorts if your legs are fat, wear sleeveless tops if your arms are flabby. Flaunt your favorite parts, but don’t caught up hiding what society says it doesn’t want to see. You don’t want to be the girl or woman who’s “fashionable even though she’s fat”. You want to be the girl or woman who’s “so fashionable and confident.” The plus size industry needs to stop the rhetoric of skinny as perfect, and fat as bad, with clothing items meant to “slim” our bulges, or styles meant to create an “illusion” that you’re thinner than you are, or “draw the eye away from problem areas”. It’s okay to be skinny, skinny is beautiful too. But thin is a descriptor, not a goal.

Spotlight: QVC & HSN

I think that television shopping channels have a bad connotation. They conjure up images of shady late-night infomercials where some rapidly talking man tries to sell you a ridiculous product that nobody would ever need. Also if you’re like me, you assume that the fashions sold on these channels are all baggy, ugly and devoid-of-style. But, like me, you’d be wrong.

These two companies carry clothing lines by some of the coolest people in the fashion industry, and they all go up to plus sizes, some even up to, I believe, jean size 28, possibly higher. I’m going to give QVC the most attention, because I think it has the best selection, and it’s the one I’ve looked through the most on my own.

The best of QVC: Motto, LOGO by Lori Goldstein, M by Marc Bouwer, Simply. Chloe Dao [if you recognize her name, it’s from Project Runway], Rachel Zoe, Pamela Dennis, Liz Claiborne New York [I mostly like their Jeans and Belts], Isaac Mizrahi [Not as cute as his Target collection was but still nice], Edition by Erin Fetherston, Dialogue Apparel [Some very cute items, some not so cute], and Davies by Erica Davies

LOGO faux fur vest, Marc Bouwer jumpsuit, Erica Davies maxi dress

I haven’t looked through HSN as much. Here are 3 lines that I like though: American Glamour by Badgley Mischka, Iman Global Chic, and Twiggy London.

Iman Ruffled Vest, Twiggy Leather & Knit Leggings, Badgley Mischka draped dress

[By the way, does anybody else think it’s ironic that supermodel Twiggy, who basically invented emaciated-as-fashionable is now making fashions for plus size women? Twiggy’s 5’6” 91-pound frame changed the look of fashion in the 60s from the wide-hipped curvaciousness of the New Look of the 40s and 50s to the boyish anorexic look that remains today]

Also, as an afterthought I should mention price - the prices range at HSN & QVC is from moderate-to-high (well, "high" in my opinion is $100-300) but they both have clearance. In fact, HSN is having great clearances right now, and it looks like they're selling out fast so check it out.

Punk/Biker/Moto Skirts

I love the Punk/Biker/Moto trend that looks like it’ll be pretty big for 2011. I’m betting you’ve seen plenty of Moto/Biker jackets at plus size stores, and possibly even some Moto pants, but I think the Punk/Moto skirt is the big statement piece from this trend. It’s both feminine (as skirts are inherently feminine) and edgy, with either a little or a lot of sex appeal thrown in. It's also, so far, been the hardest for me to find, with none of my regular go-to plus sites carrying it. That's why I scoured the web to find some hot plus size biker skirts:

1) Curvety Harley Leather Look Skirt

Curvety is a nifty plus size site I found. They don’t have an enormous selection, but what they lack in quantity they more than make up for in style. I’d say their “Harley Leather Look” Skirt is the coolest plus size moto skirt I could find. Sizes are UK 16-22. There’s a currency converter for US citizens, but make sure you look up your measurements to find the correct size. Also available in black, but in fewer sizes. $53.43

2) Forever 21 + Leatherette Stud Mini

I have a love-hate relationship with Forever 21’s plus size line. On the one hand, they stock the same fashion-forward trendy styles as their straight-size line. However, major downsides are inconsistencies in sizing, poor quality, and occasionally they take trends too far, from cool into fugly. Or maybe I’m just bitter because they stopped stocking the plus sizes at my local ForeverXXI. In any case, I think this skirt scores high on style points. And the shorter length and studs up the sex appeal. Forever 21+ usually carries US size 12-20 but at the time of this posting, it was only available in size 20. Here’s hoping that they restock sizes before they stop carrying the skirt. (usually forever21 items vanish once they’ve sold out though). $19.80

3) City Chic Zip-up Prowler Skirt

City Chic is an Australian plus brand that I’ve been watching for a while, and they recently launched a US site. While it doesn’t have as many punky/biker details as the other skirts, I figured it at least deserved an honorable mention, and it would probably be a good way to incorporate a little bit of punk and biker into your wardrobe without feeling too “flashy”. Sizes XS –XL; size XL is a US size “14”, XL is a “22”. Looking at the measurements however, I’d say they run a size larger than most US plus sizes. Always check the measurements! $48

4) SimplyBe Studded Skirt

SimplyBe is a UK clothing brand that now has a US site. They carry sizes 10-28, but several of the sizes are sold out in this skirt. This is another more subdued style with just hints of punky edginess. You could easily take this all out into a punk-inspired look, or dress it down to a more casual look. The great part about this skirt is that it’s a classic skirt style simply updated. $47

5) Old Navy Plus Denim Biker Skirt

I was pretty sad when old navy took their plus sizes out of stores, but at least they still have them online. This black denim moto skirt has tons of cute biker details that are on trend for this season. They carry sizes 16-30 in their plus line, but some sizes are sold out in this skirt. $19.97 on Clearance.

6) 3Suisses Double Zip Skirt

I love 3Suisses. They’re a French fashion website with an extensive and very stylish plus size selection. If you don’t speak French, here’s my approximate translation of the product description. “The beautiful fit and the comfort of the stretchy Milano knit fabric flirt with the rock’n’charm style of the long metal zippers, which can be more or less unzipped according to your desire of the moment. This feminine cut skirt is superb worn with an animal-print belted tee-shirt.” To determine your size, figure out your bust/waist/hip measurements in centimeters and click on Guide des Tailles. Poitrine=Bust, Taille=Waist, Bassin=hip. Put your measurements into the input boxes and click “valider” and it will tell you what size you should buy. Sadly, they only have 3 sizes left in stock, but hopefully they’ll restock. 31.41 euros, or about $40.64.

7) 3Suisses Shiny Denim Zipper Skirt

Another from 3suisses, a black denim skirt with just a bit of zippery edgy goodness. “Contrasting metal zippers, and a coating that gives an equally shiny quality… this skirt has all the best details of the moment. You can play up the Rock edge with a face-printed t-shirt and a long or short military jacket.” Basically, it’s an awesome skirt. It’s only available in two remaining sizes. Again, hoping they restock. 32.90 EUR or about $42.56. Also, I should note that while my French is passably good to navigate their clothing selection, I can’t decipher any information about international shipping, or shipping at all actually. If they don’t ship overseas, well, as the French would say, “tant pis” but you could always visit if you go to France =P

For some other fashionable moto/punk deliciousness, check out these articles at my favorite fashion blog, Fashionising: Biker Trend 2011, Punk Trend 2011

Mission Statement

Well, this isn't going to be as formal as a Mission Statement I suppose, but I'd just like to say why I formed this blog, and what I hope to accomplish, in as few words as possible since I tend to ramble.

I consider myself to be a Big Beautiful Woman, without all the fetishy sexual connotations to it. I'm a US size 18, 5'3", and I pretty much love my body. I didn't always love it - but that's a story for another time. Suffice it to say that through experience I've learned some valuable lessons about my curves.

My hang-up? I love fashion, and great fashion design; in fact, when I was a pre-teen, I had dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Occasionally, I even sew my own clothes. Sadly though, the plus size fashion industry doesn't really cater to the trendy customer. For too long there has been an outdated notion that fat people are fat because they choose to be, and if they ACTUALLY liked fashion, they could stop eating so many damn hamburgers. I could rant about this forever but I'll try not to right now.

Instead of just complaining and bitching about not being able to find the newest trends in plus sizes, I set out to bookmark every trendy plus size fashion website in the world. Well, maybe not the whole world, but so far I have US, Australian, British, French, German, Italian and Spanish plus size sites on my list. And I figured that, since I'm already on a personal goal of finding plus size items from the latest trends, I might as well share it with somebody. And, in the meantime, I'll share some of my musings about size acceptance, plus size fashion, and probably some other random stuff.

In the end, I guess if I had to pick a mission statement, it would be along the lines of something I once said to my mother. I'd rather look good at the size I am than worry about the size I'm not.

Welcome to the Curvy Rebellion.