Sunday links, 10/19/14

Fa(t)shion
–Fashion & feminism: Mateo Guadalupe of Leather Coven.
-I love Maria’s reflections on fashion rules and goals.
–Why I refuse to straighten my hair.
–A series of interviews with alt-fatshion bloggers.
-Courtney’s hot pink mermaid fatkini is everything.
-Style Vanity interviews Luanne of Weesha’s World.
–Instead of banning yoga pants, schools should crack down on harassment.
-I wish I could be in Ohio for Re/Dress’ plus size modeling workshop!
–7 badass ladies of Buffy and the Halloween costumes they inspire.
-My new favorite indie clothing shop: LovelyMsLevecks.

Fat Acceptance
-Leah has a great rant about the bullshit phrase “promoting obesity.”
–Let’s broaden the talk about thin privilege to include the ways it intersects with race and other identities.
–“I’m only talking about myself!” isn’t a good excuse for fat-shaming.
–It’s time for a ceasefire in the war on “childhood obesity.”
–Jenny Trout and Michelle Landriault interview each other about fatkinis, their co-appearance on The Steve Harvey Show, and body positivity.
-Ragen offers tips for dealing with the anger of fatphobia.
–Yoga and body diversity: five ways to be inclusive when teaching or practicing.

Climate and Sustainability
–Money, death, and danger in North Dakota’s fracking capital.
–Why waste coffee grounds when you can use them to grow mushrooms?

Sunday Links, 10/12/14

Fa(t)shion
-Nicolette Mason’s ModCloth collection is finally here! Check out her and Gabi‘s blogs for some fabulous pictures of a real-life girl gang modeling the clothes, as well as a discount code.
-Bethany reflects on fat femme power.
-Kobi Jae of Horror Kitsch Bitch has started an Alternative Curves Blog Hop. I didn’t have the time/energy to put together a themed outfit this month, but I’m hoping to participate next month!
–How Madewell bought and sold my family’s history.
-Tanesha of Girl With Curves has released a full range of clothes for fall.
–Eight cute plaid dresses in fat sizes, now with 50% more ’90s references.
-Affatshionista reviews Gwynnie Bee.
–Style advice for a 50-something trans woman just beginning her transition.
-I wish I could have been at Re/Dress’ meet and greet event with Tess Munster!
–Change your style, change your life.
-Want to see what a Glitterati box looks like? Check out these three posts.
–Manish Arora’s new fall/winter collection is amazing–this is exactly the kind of imaginative fashion I want to see in size fat.
-Ugh: one-size-only clothing store is the last thing teen girls need.
–Gabi’s trip to London Fashion Week with a group of other fatshion bloggers looks so fun.
–Spotted! Blogstar Chastity Garner in Vogue Italia.
–Fashion and feminism: a chat with Ana Marcela Villa of AKV.

Fat Acceptance
–6 must-read perspectives that destroy the War on Obesity.
-If you’re in Sacramento, San Francisco, or Chicago, check out Virgie Tovar’s upcoming events.
–Stop policing my daughter’s appetite.
-I actually like Subway’s sandwiches, so I’m always disappointed to hear about them using fat-phobic advertising.
–Women’s value is not based on whether men find us attractive.
–“Homeland” dares to show fat sex, and it’s only “weird” or “disturbing” if you’ve always assumed fat women are sexless freaks.

This musical protest, in which demonstrators disrupted the St. Louis symphony to sing a “Requiem for Mike Brown,” gives me chills:

Sunday links, 10/4/14

Fa(t)shion
–7 ways to incorporate cute critters into your professional wear.
-Igigi’s new Avant Garden collection is gorgeous–I especially love the Taryn dress in Scarlet Dahlia.
–50 floral crown styles and ideas.
–The Rumpus reviews the new anthology Women In Clothes. It sounds great, and I really hope it includes fat women among its 642 contributors (although I’ve read multiple reviews and articles about the book and haven’t seen size mentioned anywhere, so I’m not going to get my hopes up too much).
–On plus size sewing.
–Nicolette Mason’s collection for ModCloth launches on Monday! I’m so excited, especially about that gorgeous pale pink coat.
–Lessons my closet taught me.
-I love collages that feature a celebrity wearing every color of the rainbow, and this one with Viola Davis is no exception.
-Kath reviews a retro made-to-order dress from RAUES.
-UGH to Karl Lagerfield’s faux feminism in trademark tweeds.
-Natalie rounds up super-cute ways to incorporate Halloween into your everyday style.

Fat Acceptance
–Can your work force you to lose weight or get fitter? This shit is so fucked-up, and it’s an important reminder that sizeism is a civil rights issue, not just an issue of body image.
–Dear Bill Maher, stop tying fatphobia to the liberal agenda! XO, Virgie.

This video made by Addition Elle, featuring Nicolette Mason and other plus size bloggers and models with their significant others, is so sweet. I want to acknowledge, though, that it could be hard to watch for people who are single and don’t want to be. On one hand, it shows that fat people deserve love and can have happy relationships; on the other hand, no matter what your size, sometimes it’s just painful to watch other people having what you want. If you love this video as much as I do, awesome; if you can’t watch it, I understand that too.

Climate and Sustainability
-Long-time activist Todd Gitlin says that the climate movement has reached critical mass.
-SO MUCH yes: What’s wrong with the radical critique of of the People’s Climate March.
–The largest climate march in history matters more than you think.
–No, economic growth and climate stability do not go hand-in-hand.
–“No climate justice without gender justice:” women at the forefront of the People’s Climate March.
–These front-line communities know what climate justice would mean–and they’re not seeing it at the UN.
-Good news: Chile becomes the first South American country to tax carbon.
–Photo essay: scenes from the heart at the #FloodWallStreet sit-in.

Sunday links, 9/28/14

One of the many cute puppies I’ve seen around town lately. Look at those eyes!

Fa(t)shion
–Major retailers, you have no right to complain.
–The complications of being a fat girl and still loving fashion.
–Why read fashion blogs anymore, when they’re often more like magazines? This is definitely less of an issue for plus size blogs than straight size ones–but it’s still relevant, as a good chunk of the fatshion-o-sphere has become very much professionalized.
-Eloquii interviews Georgette and Jeniese on style.
–Appropriation vs. appreciation: an illustrated style guide.
–Whatever happened to butterfly clips? 11 reasons why we’ll always love those little plastic pieces of hair perfection.
-Ragen writes about the difficulty of finding plus size workout clothes for her Ironman training.
-Next weekend, there will be a gender and body positive clothing swap in Rhode Island.
-Check out Singapore’s plus size fashion magazine, Big is Gorgeous.
–Hey modeling agencies, listen up.
-Emma designed a dress-like garment for men to start a conversation about power, gender, and fashion.

Fat Acceptance
–5 inspiring plus size athletes on Instagram.
–This is what an athlete looks like.
-Incredibly fucked-up: a woman was denied routine cancer surgery because she’s fat and disabled. This series of posts has more information, including contact information for the hospital–let them know how not-ok their behavior is.
–The HAES Files: My mom has a disease.
-I wish I could be in Oakland for this event on challenging weight stigma with creativity and wit.
-Ragen interviews Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor about their new book, Body Respect.
-BEDA has a week full of posts on weight stigma.
–I’m a fat bride.

Butternut squash, ricotta, and cranberry pizza–perfect for fall

Sunday links, 9/21/14: it’s finally fall

Fa(t)shion
-The New Yorker has a great profile of plus size style–just ignore the obligatory crap about how “obesity is a genuine health issue.”
–A first for high fatshion: the Design Collective at Evans LFW Catwalk Show.
–Two up-and-coming labels sent plus size models down the catwalk at NYFW.
-Kath shares an experience of clothes-shopping as it should be.
-Affinity rounds up places that sell plus size Halloween costumes in a variety of sizes, some up to 12X.
–Why do designers hide their plus size lines? (Spoiler alert: because they’re douchenozzles who let fat-phobia get in the way of profit.)
–How to manage a massive closet purge.
–Are you more likely to buy things from retailers who use models in lots of different sizes?
-Everything in Zelie for She’s Pink Carousel collection is amazing, and should teleport to my closet immediately.
–Rock n’ Roll Bride’s new collection for Crown & Glory = awesome.
-The San Diego fat clothing swap looks like it was so much fun!
–22 fashion infographics you need in your life.
–While the fashion world swoons over this season’s styles, the workers making them are fainting on the job.
–The fast fashion industry doesn’t want you to know about these things.

Fat Acceptance
–Vogue didn’t discover big booty–booty never left.
–Fat discrimination is real discrimination.
–Things you only know if you’re a “fat girl” on the internet.
–Why I’m not signing the OAC petition.
–Fat para-academics, read this!
-If you’re in Oakland, check out this fat dance performance.

Climate and Sustainability
–Environmental justice works, and these folks show us how.
-Rebecca Solnit provides thoughtful historical context for the People’s Climate March. (Sadly, I won’t be able to make it, as life has been exhausting lately and I am dead-tired. But I will be there in spirit!)
–Why do we protest? “We shouldn’t stop trying to create the world that we want to live in, but at the same time, we need to live right now in the world we want to create. We certainly can’t buy our way there and we probably can’t fight our way there either. Better to make as many friends as we can, gather them close, watch the flames together, and try to figure out how to live in the light that the fire reflects.”
–Watch out, Wall Street, climate marchers are coming for you next.
–Naomi Klein is right: unchecked capitalism will destroy civilization. I agree with this 110% except for the predictable analogy comparing climate change to weight gain causing diabetes, sigh.
–11 short stories about the People’s Climate Train.
–Civil rights heroes offer climate marchers a little wisdom.
–Hey, U.N.: climate change and population are related.

Sunday links, 9/14/14

Life has been a little overwhelming since getting back from Europe. I’ve been catching up on all sorts of things and dealing with getting back to everyday life after my first adult trip abroad, all while adjusting to a new office (my current temp job has been moving me around, and I’m still not sure if/when/where I’ll get moved next). I have so many things I want to write about, and so many pictures to post! But it might take me some time to get to them. In the meantime, here are my traditional jumping-in-front-of-landmark pictures. 🙂

Fa(t)shion
-ModCloth’s co-founder, Susan Koger, asks the fashion industry to change for the better. Many bloggers have added their voices to the #FashionTruth conversation, including Kristina, Virgie, Kate, and Thamarr.
–The connecting threads between the global garment trade and sex trade.
-I love everything about Betsey Johnson’s spring show “Pre-Nup” (except, of course, the lack of body diversity and the fact that Betsey Johnson doesn’t make clothes in my size).
–Five fabulous ways to wear tulle skirts.
-Sally writes about the evolution of her style and the expectations that readers put on fashion bloggers.
–Curves on the red carpet: Danielle Brooks.
-Olivia gives her recommendations for dress-shopping as a plus size bride.
–Plus size fashion: 1 step forward, 2 steps back?
-Leah went to Plus North, which sounds like a lot of fun.
–31 ridiculously gorgeous people at the Afropunk festival.
-Margot Meanie started #alternativecurves on Instagram, which is full of fab punk-y inspiration.
–Catherines’ new Black Label collection includes size 34W/5x.

Fat Acceptance
–Processing the federal government’s $3 million lesbian obesity study in six steps.
-Ragen writes about what it’s like doing fat activist work full-time. On a related note, Jes is leaving her job to do body advocacy full-time, and you can support her work by donating on Patreon.
-“Aren’t you afraid of health problems later in life?”
–“Good fatty” vs. “Bad Fatty”: an exploration of behavior and the policing of women’s agency.
-“My images are for everyone who has ever been told that they can’t.”

Sunday links, 8/31/14

I love Boston because I come across gorgeous art installations like this one while just walking around.

FYI, there will be no Sunday Links next week, as I will be busy doing some fun and exciting things that I’ll tell you about afterwards. Comment moderation may also be a bit slow for the next week or so.

Fa(t)shion
–Afropunk fashions: bodies as resistance.
–Troll earrings, you guys. TROLL EARRINGS.
-Liz Black has teamed up with Fame & Partners to make a line of plus size fancy dresses. They’re pricey and only go up to a size 22, but they’re gorgeous.
-Skorch Magazine has a guide to plus size retailers’ Labor Day sales (25% off everything at both Domino Dollhouse and Re/Dress, hell yeah!)
-Meet Jes Baker at ModCloth’s open call for models in New York.
–Body parts aren’t problems, and they don’t need solutions.
–29 plus size jackets, because autumn is right around the corner.
–Headwear inspiration from the Countess of Glamour.
-I love Re/Dress’ new lookbook, Farewell Fairytale Summer.
–Girls speak out against sexist school dress codes.
–A photographer captures the often-overlooked South Asian “aunty” culture.
–Found: 15 new plus size labels to love.

Fat Acceptance
–It’s not me, it’s you: the absent dialogue around fat women’s sexuality.
–Why skinny shaming is not the same as fat discrimination.
-If you have diabetes, check out the Fat Acceptance Diabetes Support List.
–Pretending there are no fat people.

Sunday links, 8/24/14

My kitty friend Napoleon, all curled up in a ball of adorable. 🙂

Fa(t)shion
-Marie did a fascinating experiment in which she dressed in different subcultural styles and observed other people’s reactions.
–Awesome resources for masculine-of-center beauty.
-I’m so excited that Valerie of the Tiny Hobo is starting a clothing line! You can contribute to her Kickstarter campaign here.
–Photo essay: Malaysian Muslim women with and without their hijabs.
–Major hat-spiration.

Fat Acceptance
–My fat body is not weak.
-Anna takes down a Yoga Journal article that’s supposedly about loving your curves, but is actually about hiding them.
-The Association for Size Diversity and Health will be having a conference in Boston next year.
-Help Pudge PDX make their body-positive plus size pin-up calendar!
–If our fat is our fault…
-Reflections on being fat and girly.
-If you want to explore food justice and environmental sustainability from a HAES perspective, check out this Facebook group.
–The new Scooby Doo movie is full of fat-shaming, sigh.

I am madly, madly in love with this music video, and I’ve had the song stuck in my head all week. If you want to help Gaymous make “the fat queer pervy dance EP of your dreams,” check out their IndieGoGo campaign!

#Ferguson
–Reparations for Ferguson.
–Ferguson solidarity: ways to support the fight. Also, consider attending the “Black Life Matters” Ride in Ferguson next week, signal-boosting if you can’t go, and donating to help make it possible.
-Major badass alert: Hedy Epstein, a Holocaust survivor who was arrested while protesting in solidarity with Ferguson.
–What would real economic justice look like in Ferguson?
–Why the climate movement must stand with Ferguson.
–Ferguson and patience for the appalled.
–Dispatches from Ferguson.
–Palestinians and Ferguson protesters link arms via social media.

Sunday links, 8/17/14

Fa(t)shion
–Donut-themed jewelry? YES.
-I’ve found a whole bunch of new fatshion blogs to follow through this slideshow from Refinery29 and the Curvy Fashionista’s weekly blogger spotlight.
-Chastity is #boycottingTarget over their continued failure to include plus sizes in their designer collaborations. I’m totally in–I’m still sad that the Prabal Gurung collaboration only went up to a size 16.
-I love Susie Bubble’s pictures from a fashion extravaganza in Paris. Neon goth and toy punk should definitely be my new aesthetics. (Actually, a lot of what I wore in high school could have been described as “toy punk”–I should bring that look back.)
-Ari of Advanced Style rounds up his top ten favorite senior style Instagram accounts.
-I love the four party looks that Nancy put together based on SimplyBe dresses.
-Major fashion inspiration: these 60 colorful wedding dresses and these 1920s-themed wedding details.
-Torontonians, check out this upcoming clothing swap.

Fat Acceptance
–How being queer helped me learn to love my fat body.
-Marianne Kirby, aka The Rotund, is blogging again!
–Dear Abby’s epic fail.
-A Facebook group for fat men.
–Making room for us.

Israel/Palestine
–How the war in Gaza could have been avoided. This all makes me so heartsick.
–In trepidatious whispers: speaking my solidarity with Palestine.
–Giving birth under bombardment.
–Against the pinkwashing of Israel: why supporting Palestinians is a queer and feminist issue.
–The greenhouse propaganda: how Gazan history is being rewritten to dehumanize Palestinians.
–Gaza war: it’s about keeping the Palestinians under control.
–Water disaster hits every single person in Gaza. (See also: Water is a human right, but who is considered a human being?)
–The “telegenically dead”: why Israel and its supporters fear Gaza’s dead.

Sunday links, 8/10/14

Fa(t)shion
–Volup2 has a new issue out, and it’s awesome as always. (Not work-safe, as there are a few nude pictures.)
-Style inspiration: the first lady of Cameroon. How amazing is that hot pink suit?
–Fashion’s place in feminism: where is it?
-Words to live by: “I want to live loudly and shamelessly in a way that makes me overjoyed every day. I want to be colourful and creative and to not care what anyone else thinks.”
–Five French plus size designers you should know.
-Colorlines interviews three fatshionistas of color on fatkinis and fat activism.
–101 body-positive bikini babes, including me!
-I love Sock Dreams’ carousel photoshoot, especially the floral + stripes + petticoat look.
–Why we love her, why we can’t: Coco Chanel.
–Sales, temptation, and the fear of missing out. I can relate to this–and the FOMO is especially bad when you wear plus sizes and have fewer options to begin with.
-I’m not particularly fond of Miley Cyrus, but I love the weird shit she’s putting in her hair.
-Recycled aluminum cans plus washi paper = gorgeous jewelry.
-If you’re in London, check out this fat-positive clothing swap.
-Shawna posts pictures from the Summer Strut 2014.

Fat Acceptance
-Dear children’s book authors: write fat kids.
–The problem with Businessweek‘s obese Coca-Cola bottle.
–Calorie miscounting: why one slice of cheesecake does not equal 4 1/2 hours of aerobics.
–What fat people have to do.

Israel/Gaza
–Living the imperative to heal the world: a Jewish woman’s thoughts on Gaza. As a fellow Jewish woman, I agree 1000%.
-A statement in solidarity with Gaza from Palestinian, indigenous, women of color, anti-racist, and Jewish feminists.
-All of these are a must-read: 6 of the most beautiful writings from and for Gaza.
–There are no “both sides.” The Israelis and Palestinians aren’t equal.
–At least my hospital isn’t being bombed.
–A question from Gaza: am I not human enough?
–There are no poems of mass destruction.
-Beautiful and hopeful: how a sixth-grader from Sderot draws the war.
–Librarians give New York subway riders a taste of Palestinian literature to protest Gaza assault.
–How will Gaza’s children carry their scars into adulthood?
–While bombs fall on Gaza: resisting militarism in Israel.
–Where you can donate to help Gaza.
-Support for genocide against Palestinians isn’t a fringe view within Israel–it’s held by many high-up figures both within and outside of the government. (Note: there is a graphic image of an injured child.)
–IDF solder: artillery fire in Gaza is like Russian roulette.
-“For most Gazans, the struggle is not about Islamism or destroying Israel, it’s about ending the blockade—no matter what it takes.”
-I so wish I could be in New York for Singing Against the Bad Times: An Evening of Jewish Radical Arts and History.
–Syria and Gaza: a false equivalency.