An important perspective on fatshion

While poking around Tumblr (which I am getting more and more tempted to join, although the last thing I need is another way to waste time online!), I found this critique of fatshion:

Fashion is a (too) large part of fat activism and I can understand its allure but basically as I see it fatshion doesn’t mean shit against the actual issue of CLOTHING for larger/deathfats, medical access, spacing access, race, class and other intersecting oppressions.

I mean who is buying all that expensive ASOS poorly made clothing? Not anyone over an AUS size limit of 26. Maybe poor women like me drive themselves broke to have what we’re taught acceptably pretty acceptably fat women should have. Maybe middle class or wealth privileged smaller fats.

And also we talk about fatshion at the expense of talking about the complex ways clothing is used as social markers and about the way clothing can be used to visually construct identity.

The Sugar Monster added her perspective as another fat woman who feels alienated from fatshion.

I feel….well, pretty much the same way as Lisa Monster:

This is really important, and I really would like to be able to add to it. I definitely feel that finding the “fatshion” community was so important to me in my self acceptance, and I think right now I’m stuck between that place and being able to join the dialogue about the real issues for fat people, and I hope that it doesn’t seem hypocritical of me to be agreeing with all of this and still posting and reblogging all of the pretty clothes. I’m still trying to find my voice right now, but I really want to thank everyone who has spoken out in the past and who is speaking out now about the issues that exist within this community. 

Fatshion has been a huge (no pun intended) part of fat liberation for me. And I’ve been into playing dress-up–ahem, I mean fashion–ever since I was a little kid. It’s a form of creative expression for me, and it’s not something I can or want to give up. But I also think it’s important to recognize that fatshion doesn’t do it for a lot of fat people, for a lot of reasons. That there are many other paths to liberation. That fatshion, perhaps unfairly, takes up a lot of space in the fat acceptance movement–especially online.

Wednesday Fa(t)shion inspirations, galactic edition

Since I’ve been so obsessed with Domino Dollhouse’s galaxy print leggings (which I have) and dress (which I covet), I’ve decided to do a roundup of fatshionistas rocking them. I like seeing how different people style them differently!

Musings of a Fat Girl

Rachel in Disguise

Another fat goth rant

The window display at Trash and Vaudeville

As Valtinen wrote about in his guest post, it can be hard to find clothing if your style is outside of the mainstream.

And it’s even harder when you wear plus sizes. You can find yourself left out even in a subcultural mecca, like two stores I found while wandering around the East Village: Trash and Vaudeville and Search and Destroy.

They had all things sparkly and studded and leopard, skull-print pants, fuzzy ombre sweaters, pleather pants with corset lacing, petticoats and tutus galore, red plaid bondage pants, brocade military coats, pants and jackets in three colors of iridescent spiderweb print…*

Everything screamed me. And none of it was my size.

It’s not that I expected differently, and it’s not like I could have afforded the clothing right now anyway. But it still hurts to walk into a store filled with clothing I love–clothing that fits my style so much better than most mainstream stores–and know that even if I saved up the money, the most I could hope to buy would be accessories or maybe shoes. (I’ve never tried on a pair of Doc Martens, so I don’t know if they would fit me, but both stores had an impressive array of Docs.)

I really, really miss the old Torrid. If I ever meet the Doctor, I’m definitely going to ask him (among other things) to take me to a Torrid store in the early ’00s. Which, of course, would be overrun with aliens…and would make for some really interesting posts when I got back to 2013!

*You’ll have to take my word for it, as  neither store permitted photography. I don’t really get why so many stores in NYC prohibit photos–you’d think it would give them free publicity when the pictures end up on blogs and social networks. One store, Enz’s, even had a sign saying that anyone who takes pictures would have to pay a $45 IP fee, which seems really excessive.

The Evening of Awesome

As you might guess from the name, it was indeed awesome.

Less awesome were our seats, which were dizzingly high up and terribly cramped. Not being able to stretch my legs for two and a half hours with no intermission? Not fun. And I have fairly short legs.

But, physical comfort aside, it was a great show. John talked movingly about the process of writing The Fault in Our Stars (which you should read, if you haven’t yet), Hank played some of his wonderfully geeky songs, and there was a Q&A featuring Neil Gaiman and Hannah of My Drunk Kitchen.

Nerdfighers for life!

Kimya Dawson, who I hadn’t heard of before, also performed. I loved her songs, and will definitely be checking out more of her music.

As for the Mountain Goats? Meh. I know a lot of my friends love them, but I’ve never really gotten into them. And their performance lacked the energy, the oomph, that makes live music enjoyable. I did appreciate their cover of They Might Be Giants’ “New York City”, though–and John and Hank’s awkward dancing along to it!

There were lots of funny moments throughout the night, but the best one, hands down, was during a reading from John’s novel Paper Towns. Neil Gaiman read a sentence that began, “I decided that I would actually, literally suck donkey balls…” the crowd erupted in laughter. It was pretty amazing. (If you’re curious, the context was that the character would do such a thing if it would allow him to get out of government class.)

If only we could take vacations from fat shaming…

I had a great time in New York. But unfortunately, fat stigma shows up everywhere.

Fuck you very much, New York City. Fuck you very much.

On a related note, the NYC subway turnstiles are tiny. Which is a problem not only for some fat people, but for some disabled people and people with strollers or luggage as well. Without luggage, I fit through them fine, although without much room to spare. With a suitcase and a backpack? Not so much.

The stations had a gate for disabled people, but it had to be opened by a station attendant.

Boston does it so much better. We have relatively wide gates instead of turnstiles. And at each station, there’s one extra-wide gate for disabled people and anyone else who needs it. You don’t have to ask anyone to open it–you just tap your card and go through.

I grumble about the T as much as the next Bostonian, but this is one thing it gets right. I hope that New York, and other cities, follow our example to make their subway systems more easily accessible.

Friday Links, 11/18/13

I would like to lease some joy. (Sign seen in Milford, CT)

Fat Activism
-All of Rachele’s Shame-Less Ads are amazing.
-Help get fat activist and all-around badass Nomy Lamm to L.A. to audition for the Voice!
–Before and after: why weight loss commercials are dangerous and how fat acceptance saved my life.
–Fat woman falls through New York sidewalk and it’s high comedy to a bunch of jerks. Uggh.
-Redefining Body Image (which is on fire, btw–if you’re not reading them yet, you should be!) has put together a Big Fat List of myth-defying health resources.
–Introducing Aerodynamic by Katy Russell, a series of awesome fat-positive art.
-Huzzah for fat-pos bridal shops!

Fa(t)shion
-How to dress for the Edwardian Ball.
-This is a really cool idea for organizing earrings.
-A great directory of plus size stores.
–Bow ties are making a comeback.

Seashells on the beach in Milford

Everyone’s your friend when you’re in New York City

Steve and I went to NYC to see John and Hank Green’s Evening of Awesome–which was indeed awesome, and which I’ll post about soon. For now, here are are a few highlights of our trip.

We stayed with Rachel, one of my college friends:

I love how New York has eateries devoted to any kind of food you can imagine. We didn’t make it to the rice pudding place, but we did stop for lunch at Baconery, whose specialty you can guess from the name. Their bacon grilled cheese and bacon chocolate peanut butter cookies were delicious!

Thursday fa(t)shion inspirations, 1/17/13

Sorry for the lateness (again)–I just got home from New York City last night! It was a fun trip, and I’ll post about it soon.

In the meantime, enjoy these lovely looks from around the internet.

I love love love these Domino Dollhouse striped leggings. Unfortunately, they’re no longer available, but I’m going to get vertical stripes on my legs someday, one way or another. They’re so wonderfully circus-y. I saw two women wearing similar leggings in NYC, and was quite jealous.

The Glitter Thread

Another great black and white outfit. I love finding fashionable men on the internet!

The Stylist Playground

Friday links, 1/11/13

First of all, I’ve been nominated for a Shorty Award! So if you have Twitter, go vote for me.

Winston the porcupine wants YOU to remember to be awesome.

Fa(t)shion
–19 Reasons why you miss getting the Delia*s catalog. So much nostalgia!
–Nicki Minaj’s 14 craziest outfits. I haven’t really listened to her music, but I love her style. I’m glad she’s designing a fashion line, although I’m not holding my breath that it’ll include my size.
-How to temporarily color your hair with eye shadow.
–17 great pieces of geek clothes.
-Relatedly, this Etsy shop has amazing custom-made geeky skirts. I want the Firefly one!
-Lauren from Pocket Rocket reflects on 2012: a year of living fatly and proudly.
-Tiny hats: not just for humans anymore.
–Elegant Tim Burton-inspired wedding inspiration: can this be my life? I love the be-flowered tiny hat, and the groom’s black outfit with a pop of purple. And the candles wrapped in lace and ribbons!
–MAC put a female bodybuilder in a makeup ad and it’s beautiful.

Fat Activism
–Harriet Brown on weight bullying by parents.
–The year of fat creativity.
–15 ways we body shame without knowing it.
–A fat mother’s conundrum.
–Stop projecting your misconceptions about fat onto my life.
–What if I’m not comfortable with my weight?
–I’m your worst nightmare.
-This is awesome: Shame-less ad #1.

Thursday Fa(t)shion inspirations 1/10/13

Sorry it’s a day late, but I’ve got lots of great looks for you!

Like this one. How much more awesome can you get than purple + peacock?

SA Fatshionista

This is my real-life friend Michi, who has amazing style. She can put together an outfit like no one else I know.

Traumachu