Are fatshionistas pioneering a deep economy of fashion?

I’ve been doing more thinking about the ethics of fa(t)shion, while also re-reading one of my favorite books: Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future by Bill McKibben.

In it, McKibben argues that our growth-focused global economic system 1.) creates extreme inequality, 2.) is environmentally unsustainable, and 3.) fails to make people happier, because so many people are isolated, stressed out, and lacking community support.

He proposes switching to smaller-scale, community-based systems, and gives examples from all around the world: from the organic farming system that developed in Cuba after the fall of the USSR, to a cooperatively-owned clothing store in Wyoming, to a city bus system in Brazil.

It’s a brilliant, fascinating, hopeful read.

And it got me thinking: are we fatshionistas on the forefront of a new deep economy of clothing?

Lacking more traditional options, we’ve developed community-based means of shopping: from pop-up shops to clothing swaps to rummage events like Boston’s Big Thrifty and New York’s Big Fat Flea.

Friday Links, 11/16/12

It’s Friday. Why not start off with some fun fluff?

FA
-The ridiculousness of the concept of “extra weight.”
–A few thoughts on Love Your Body Day.
–Five things every gym should already be doing.
-Surprise! Our friends’ attitudes about their bodies influence our own.
-An interview with an awesome fat yoga teacher.

Fa(t)shion
-Passing this along from Fatshionista: a request for Pinterest users willing to be interviewed for a school project.
–Jessica Dee’s Etsy shop has gone live! I think my favorite piece is this brocade skirt.
-This Firefly shirt, which I found through Natalie, is just amazing.
-From the other Natalie comes this unedited rant about looking into fatshion’s navel. She makes so many good, important points–make sure to check it out. I have a lot of thoughts about all of it, and may expand them into a post later.
–Worker abuse is a fashion don’t.
-This Etsy store sells gorgeous, cheap appliques that could easily be made into necklaces by adding a ribbon.
-Through Sal’s post on warm winter tops and jackets, I found the gorgeous clothing brand Desigual. They only carry up to a US 14, booo. But if you’re an in-betweenie, check them out, because their stuff is unique and amazing. I would especially want this shirt if it came in my size.
–Seven cute, quirky, and possibly rule-breaking plus-size sweaterdresses.

Other
-A new advice column I like: Turning the Screw.
–Identity politics and grammar in the developmental writing classroom.
–30 things you don’t have to have by 30.
–Why Occupy’s plan to cancel consumer debt is brilliant. Seriously, this plan is so creative and amazing, it just makes me want to jump for joy.
–The last neighborhood I loved: Rockaway, Queens.
–Ask Lesley: How do I stop accidentally offending people all the time?

Tutu news

SWAK Designs has a new tutu-esque skirt! It comes in black, magenta, and teal:

Also, ASOS Curve’s black and red tutu dress has been marked down from $114.34 to $80.03. It’s still not cheap, but it might be a little more affordable if you’re looking for that perfect holiday season party dress.

Also, one of my crafty friends has offered to teach me how to make tutus similar to the ones in this post! I’m not sure exactly when I’ll get the chance to do it, but when I do, I will post all about it. 🙂

OOTD: Hello Kitty, glitter, and floral

I love a good Hello Kitty-based outfit.

Shirt: Old Navy, jeans: H&M+, glitter bow: Crown & Glory, necklace: pendant from Michael’s on a chain, earrings: Faces, rainbow bangle: So Good, black and silver bangles: Deb and Torrid, spike wristband: Hot Topic, pink ring: Kelsea Echo, rose ring: not sure

Wednesday Fa(t)shion Inspirations, 11/14/12

Please excuse the slightly-different-than-usual formatting–Wordpress was being wonky, and I didn’t want to have to rewrite the whole post.

I love a lot of things about this outfit, but the metaphorical cherry on top is that Yum-Yum plush head. I had that exact same stuffed animal as a kid, as well as the peppermint kitty and the cherry poodle, and I loved them so much. Major, major nostalgia.

Japanese Streets

So sparkly! And hell yeah pink hair.

Extra Large As Life

The complex ethics of fa(t)shion blogging

Fatshion: the intersection of revolution and glitter.

Through another one of Sal’s link round-ups, I found this thoughtful post on the ethics of fashion blogging.

RK makes really good points, but I have some thoughts that complicate the matter–especially when it comes to fatshion.

1.) Fatshion is radical. It’s about taking up space, showing the world that fat women (and men) can have fun with fashion too. That we don’t have to wear muumuus, unless we want to. That we won’t put up with shitty clothing options from major retailers like Lane Bryant. That we don’t believe the right to self-expression should end at a size 14.

Fatshion is about inspiring people never thought they could dress themselves in a fun and creative way. It’s about inspiring people who used to think they were only allowed to wear black, or vertical stripes, or small prints. It’s a way of building community, both in the blog-o-sphere and in physical spaces like plus size boutiques, pop up stores, and clothing swaps.

Fatshion, for many people, contributes to the process of loving their bodies–although there are many other ways to do so, and neither fatshion nor loving your body should be mandatory.

2.) Enjoying compliments on your style is not an inherently bad thing, especially if you’re also complimenting others. Sure, it can get out of hand if it becomes your sole motivation, and then it’s a good idea to step back a bit.

But for fat people, compliments aren’t just good selfish fun. They’re an antidote to the ridiculous amount of negative messages we receive every day.

I’m lucky in that I’ve never gotten fat-related insults from strangers. I’ve never been mooed at, or called a fat ugly bitch from a moving car, or judged on my shopping cart contents. But these are all things that have happened to other women in the fat-o-sphere. And despite my luck at dodging such explicit insults–and in fact getting regular compliments from strangers on everything from my glitter bows to my dark purple skinny corduroys–I still have to deal with something like 386,170 fat-negative messages a year from the media.

Flashback: Delia*s, part 2

The ’80s have come back in style like five times. It’s about time for the late ’90s/early ’00s to come back.

Especially the sparkly wide-leg jeans. I need some of those in my life.

Earlier catalog scans: Alloy, Girlfriends LA, and Delia*s part 1

OOTD: Friendship is magic

It’s no secret that I love My Little Pony. And I also love Art Nouveau, so I’m a big fan of combining them.

Shirt: We Love Fine, jeans: Old Navy, purse: not sure, leopard hoodie and mauve jacket: Marshall’s, glitter bow: Crown and Glory, earrings and rainbow bangle: So Good, black and silver bangles: Deb and Torrid, necklace: pendant from Michael’s on a chain

Fatshion challenges

I always love the outfits that fatshionistas down under put together for the Aussie Curves challenge. I wish I could join, but I’m not an Aussie. Does anyone know of similar photo challenges that include American bloggers?

Rainbows and unicorns and puppies, oh my!

I’m sick (booo), so I’m just sitting around trying to entertain myself with the internet.

Which has led to looking at lots pictures of Lisa Frank school supplies from the ’90s.

And covering my phone in Lisa Frank stickers.

I may not have a newfangled smartphone like all the kids these days (who can get phone cases on Etsy), but I can still decorate my electronics.