Sunday links, 7/20/14
Fa(t)shion
-I just found out that there will be a Boston Curvy Fashion Week next year. Huzzah!
–Refinery29 interviews plus size model Felicity Hayward, and all the pictures are amazing.
-Two Etsy shops I recently discovered that have gorgeous jewelry: A Luscious Thing and Lunabarocca.
-Gaelle of The Curvy and Curly Closet has created Bélya X Vanoue, a plus-size collaboration with a Senegalese designer.
-If you have or know kids, check out these 11 cool kids’ clothing companies.
Fat Acceptance
–I’m the whole motherfucking package.
-The schedule for the Fat Activism Conference is up, and it looks awesome!
–My body is not an achievement or a work in progress.
-I am really happy that there exists a plus size bellydancers convention.
–Parenting through obesity panic.
–When they’re concerned about your health.
The conflict in Israel and Palestine
I know I don’t always post about international conflicts–there are so many of them, and researching them all in depth would be a full-time job. By posting these links, I certainly don’t mean to imply that Israel is the only country whose government commits atrocities. But as a Jew who cares about and feels connected to Israel, I feel a responsibility to speak out against its government’s horrific actions.
–Palestinian rockets: the conversation no one is having.
-Dispatches from Gaza: a travel writer’s story of love and occupation, a heart-wrenching description of what it feels like to lose your home, a powerful poem, and a series of tweets that show what life is like under Israeli bombing.
–Collective punishment or human shields? Israel’s military has no “moral superiority,” time for the media to cover Gaza fairly.
-Background on the conflict: a short, animated introduction to Israel/Palestine 101, and 9 questions about the Israel-Palestine conflict you were too embarrassed to ask. It’s also important to keep in mind some of the larger historical context.
–How to criticize Israel without being anti-Semitic.
-A letter to my fellow American Jews, and a statement that American Jewish voices are the most critical in the world (to end the idea that Jewish lives matter more).
–How an army of defense became an army of vengeance: “I will never forget the evening my friends and I were sent to kill Palestinian police officers in a revenge attack. We went from soldiers sent to defend our families to murderers of innocent people.”
–9 brands you can boycott to hold Israel accountable for its violation of international law. (For some background on why I think this is the best way to make a difference, see this piece.)
–Despite crackdown, Palestinians organize for long-term peace.
–What “no country in the world” should tolerate.
–The abnormal normality of the occupation and its “escalations.” Continue reading
Wednesday Fa(t)shion Inspirations, 7/16/14
OOTD: My sort-of fatkini
I’ve been looking for a fatkini for a while, and I haven’t been able to find one–most of the ones I come across are either halters, high-waisted, or just not my style. But while I was looking, I found this Swimsuits For All* tankini set, which does show a strip of midriff if I adjust it the right way. I’m such a sucker for dark florals, and it also has really cute pink bows on the sides.
I wore it to a lake today, and I am happy to report that it was comfortable and fun to wear. It was the first time this summer I’ve made it out to go swimming, and I’m so glad I did. There’s nothing like being in the water on a hot day. 🙂
Sunday links, 7/13/14
Fa(t)shion
–This is what a feminist fashion and beauty fair looks like. It sounds amazing!
-Karen posts pictures from the Indie Plus Size Fashion Showcase and the Runway Finale at Full Figured Fashion Week. (Also, how awesome is her gold sequin gown in the second post?)
-Jacob writes about their experiences trying to dress for work as a genderqueer person, and how the standard of “professionalism” is often used against queer people, poor people, and people of color.
-Kate Harding writes about why she personally doesn’t wear a fatkini, but is glad that other fat women do.
-Sheri rounds up 15 plus size midi skirts.
Fat Acceptance
–Unapologetically fat: Ragen’s great response to the latest piece of fat-shaming crap going around the internet.
-Charlotte responds to the news that NICE (part of the UK Dept of Health) wants thousands of people to have weight-loss surgery.
–My body is not a problem.
–Obesity cuts life expectancy, Santa is responsible for your Christmas presents, and other misleading statements.
–Why Hobby Lobby is a HAES issue.
-Marilyn Wann reflects on her 20 years in fat activism.
-One of my friends from the Boston fat community is moving to Wisconsin, so she started a Facebook group, Wisco Fats, for people who live there.
-Dude, I want an Adipose cake!
-A body-positive, chubby male athlete posing naked in a mainstream sports magazine? HELLS YES. I had never heard of Prince Fielder before because I don’t follow sports, but he is awesome. It’s also just nice to see nude pictures of a guy in mainstream media, which is so much rarer than nude pictures of women.
-Linda Bacon has a new book coming out this fall, and it looks really good.
-Another book that looks good: Fat Girl In a Strange Land, a sci-fi anthology featuring fat female protagonists.
-Anna Guest-Jelley of Curvy Yoga will be giving a workshop at the Kripalu Center in western Mass. in November! I’m excited that she’ll be in my neck of the woods, and I really hope I can make it.
-Rabbi Minna Bromberg writes about fatness from a Jewish perspective.
-Rue B. Tickles writes about why she dances burlesque.
Wednesday Fa(t)shion Inspirations, 7/9/14
Sunday links, 7/6/14
Charlie, a tiny chocolate lab puppy I met last week (I know it’s not the best picture of him, but it was hard to get him to stay still!)
Fa(t)shion
-I am so excited for Nicolette Mason’s collaboration with ModCloth. How amazing is that pink coat, and the teal dress, and the pink polka dot dress, and the semi-sheer black tulle skirt…
-If you’re in Detroit, check out the Detroit Fatshion Exchange.
–What pastel hair means for women of color.
Fat Acceptance
-Exciting news: the Fat Activism Conference, organized by Ragen Chastain and Jeannette DePatie, will be taking place in August. It’s all online, so people from any location can attend. There’s an amazing lineup of speakers and topics, and even though I’m not usually into online conferences, I am super-psyched for this.
-I so wish I could have read this in high school: Why being over 300 pounds isn’t the end of the world.
-Check out the new Tumblr Trans Fatties Unite.
-Taylor writes about a workshop on fat-shaming and fat acceptance that she gave to girls at her summer camp (which, btw, sounds like an amazing camp–it focuses on empowering girls through economic and environmental justice).
-Trolls sometimes claim that Ragen starts wheezing after walking short distances or uses a mobility scooter. She responds, “So what if I do?”
–Fat and sparkling: a YES to the body.
-Virgie interviews TaMeicka Clear, a body-positive life coach.
-Carol Rossetti’s body-positive illustrations are amazing.
-Marilyn writes about the New York Times’ decision to publish responses to that ugly fat-shaming letter….which were full of more fat-shame, and completely lacking the fat-pos/HAES perspective. *sigh*
The video quality isn’t great, but I can’t not share fat women dancing to Janelle Monae’s “Q.U.E.E.N.”
Jobs and the Economy
–Who’s responsible for the moral compass of the new economy?
–For the new economy movement to succeed, it must be led by those for whom the mainstream economy has never worked.
–Mourn the fall of the mall.
Everything Else
-A photography exhibit explores what femme looks like.
–Going without water in Detroit.
-Kate Harding’s analysis of the Supreme Court’s recent decisions is spot-on. (And that’s all I’m going to post about the SCOTUS’ streak of suckiness, because ARGGHHH.)
–Penned in: letters reveal the lives of transgender women in prison.
–Border crossing is a verb.
-I agree so much with this way of looking at activism: The danger of fetishizing revolution.
–30 bisexual women discuss their long-term relationships with men.
–“Enjoy your houseful of cats”: on being an asexual woman.
–Stop analyzing your single friends.
Lily Allen’s new music video about online trolls is great (and how awesome is her outfit?)
OOTD: Red, white, and blue
This is what I wore for yesterday’s picnic and frolicking. The dress is one of a few that I picked up at the most recent clothing swap–one of my friends is basically my body double, and everything she brings fits me perfectly!
Dress: Old Navy via clothing swap, necklace: eBay, earrings and bracelet: So Good, hair flower: Claire’s, shoes: Clarks
Happy (belated) 4th of July to my fellow USians!
I hope you are enjoying the festivities! I spent yesterday just hanging out at home with Steve, but the night before, we saw an amazing fireworks display with a bunch of friends. After the fireworks, Mother Nature gave us a fireworks display of her own, which turned into a sudden torrential downpour while we were walking home. It was raining so hard that not only could I barely see, but I also kept getting water up my nose. It was uncomfortable, but also kind of epic. Today I will be having a potluck picnic with friends and enjoying the cooler, drier post-storm weather.
Here are two great videos I came across yesterday:
And a quote for the occasion:
I am enormously proud to be an American. I would say that the things our corporate-controlled government has done at best are shameful, and at worst, genocidal. But there’s an incredible and a permanent culture of resistance in this country that I’m very proud to be a part of.
It’s not the tradition of slave-owning founding fathers. It’s the tradition of the Frederick Douglasses, the Underground Railroads, the Chief Josephs, the Joe Hills, and the Huey P. Newtons. There’s so much that’s hidden from you. The incredible courage and bravery of the union organizers in the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds: that’s amazing.
People often get tricked into going overseas and fighting Uncle Sam’s Wall Street wars, but these are people who knew what they were fighting for here at home. I think that that’s so much more courageous and brave.
–Tom Morello
Clothing for “all women” is not actually for all women (surprise!)
Ragen recently posted about Fabletics, an athletic wear company started by Kate Hudson. Although it claims to be for “women of all shapes and sizes,” shockingly enough, it’s not–it’s only for women who wear between a size 0-2/XS and 18-20/XXL. Their sizing is generous enough that I could probably fit into their bottoms, and possibly their tops if they’re sufficiently stretchy, which is more than I can say for a lot of brands that end at 18-20/XXL. But it’s still nowhere near inclusive of “all women.”
This is the letter I submitted to their contact page. If you’re also bothered by their messaging, consider sending them a note as well.
Dear Fabletics,
I am writing with regard to your messaging that your clothing is for “every body type,” “women of all shapes and sizes,” and “all women.” Contrary to these messages, I noticed that Fabletic’s clothes end at size XXL/18-20.
I appreciate that this is a broader range of sizing than most athletic brands. However, it still comes nowhere near including all women. As a woman who usually wears a size 20 or 22, I could probably fit into the bottoms, but not the tops; and I know many women larger than myself who would love to buy affordable, fashionable athletic wear if it was available in their size.
I am not asking you to expand your size range, although that would be great–I am merely asking that you be honest in your messaging. A size range from 0-2 to 18-20 includes many women, perhaps even a majority of women, but it definitely does not include “all women.”
If you do decide that you genuinely want to make clothes for all women, I recommend following the example of eShakti, a manufacturer that sells clothing in sizes 0 through 36 and also offers custom sizing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Laura
Tutus And Tiny Hats 