Sunday Links, 5/10/15

Late April/early May is my favorite time of the year: when nature is as pink as I am.

Happy Mothers’ Day!

Fa(t)shion
-Fat Girl Posing’s spring pastel shoot is gorgeous.
-My friend Femma’s Etsy shop Femme Fat Sew is live!
-A plus size student was suspended for a supposedly revealing prom dress, while her straight size classmates got away with much skimpier dresses.
–TheCURVYCon is coming to New York, and will have Amber Riley as a keynote speaker!
–I said yes to the (gay wedding) dress.
–Ten body-positive tips for plus size brides.
-This leather corset is gorgeous, comes in sizes XXS – 12XL, and even comes in pink!
–Bombsheller has extended their leggings’ size range to include 2XL, and is working their way up to 6XL.
–1910, Paris: some of the world’s first street style photography.
–At this fashion library, you check out clothes instead of buying them.
–Has it occurred to you that fat people have taste?
–ModCloth’s men show their support of their body-positive pool party.
–Russian artist compares famous designers’ dresses with nature.

Fat Acceptance
–That one time I had liposuction and my life still sucked.
–DadBod: three things I love/hate.
–Fat-shaming vs. fat discrimination.
-A roundup of Bitch Flick’s posts on fatphobia and fat positivity in movies and TV, including two posts about Steven Universe.
–Why diets don’t actually work, according to a researcher who has studied them for decades. It’s too bad that she recommends trying to stay at the lower end of your weight range rather than just aiming for health and letting your weight fall wherever it falls, but otherwise it’s a good piece.
–FDA: trade your double chin for nerve damage!
–Today fat yoga, tomorrow fat kayaking? Some thoughts on kayaking while fat, safe spaces, and inclusiveness.
–This International No Diet Day photo is awesome, so here are 7 other reasons you should never have to justify eating.
–Defending fat-positive space.

Sunday links, 5/3/15

Baltimore/#BlackLivesMatter
-Thank God: Six police officers to be criminally charged in Freddie Gray’s death.
–Meet Marilyn Mosby, the badass prosecutor fighting for justice in Baltimore.
-This is a really comprehensive and useful post: Everything we know about Freddie Gray and the Baltimore Uprising and how you can help.
–Baltimore Uprising is a central space for information that can be updated in real time.
–Baltimore’s failure is rooted in decisions that were made 100 years ago.
–Baltimore been burning.
-Jessica Williams as Effie Trinket in Baltimore on The Daily Show = brilliant.
–The economic devastation fueling the anger in Baltimore.
-“When protests and riots broke out against oppressive regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen as part of the Arab Spring, Americans cheered.”
–Nonviolence as compliance.
-Cartoon: great moments in peaceful protest history.
-“Economic disruption has always impacted political decisions. That was the Boston Tea Party, right?”
-The parallels between Baltimore and Mexico: “On both sides of the border, the absence of any sane, humane, industrial or rural policy has created concentrations of dispensable peoples.”
–The hideous white hypocrisy behind the Baltimore “Hero Mom” hype: how clueless media applause excuses police brutality.
–Black America’s Baltimore schism: why the Freddie Gray tragedy demands serious soul-searching.
-Poem of the week: A Small Needful Fact by Ross Gay. (Note: the font is very light, so it’s easier to read if you highlight it.)
–Where my girls at: meet two of Ferguson’s black queer activists.
–Black Lives Matter protesters in NYC stock Forever 21 with “Never 21” t-shirts.

Fat Acceptance
–The fallacy of “if you really liked yourself, other people’s opinions wouldn’t matter.”
–Fat by choice: happy and healthy at the intersections of size and mental health.
–I’ll take up all the damn space I want.
-A reminder of why I do fat activism: When they say “war on obesity,” I hear “casualties.” FA isn’t just about body image or self-esteem, although those are important. It’s about fighting a culture of fatphobia that literally kills and maims people.
–I thought I was over my body image issues until I got diabetes.
–Colorado preschool literally takes candy from a baby.

Sunday Links, 4/26/15

Climate and Sustainability
–Loving earth is complicated, says this African-American pastor.
–GoSol is crowdfunding a scalable and cost-effective solar solution.
–Climate justice is intersectional feminism in action.
–Peaceful Uprising’s solidarity work: the year in review.
–There would be more regulation of coal mining if it didn’t just affect “hillbillies.”
–Polluters Pay! Carbon majors funding loss and damage.
–Happy bloody Earth Day: every year, more and more environmental activists are killed.
–Swarthmore sit-in ends with fossil fuel divestment support.
–The world is finally producing renewable energy at an industrial scale.
–Is the carbon divestment movement reaching a tipping point?

Fa(t)shion
-The new issue of Skorch is fabulous!
-Also fabulous: Chubby Cartwheels’ “Curves Reign” line.
–18 times Janelle Monae took “Flawless” to new heights.
–This is what plus size clothes actually look like on plus size women.
–Help a young plus size woman find a size 5x prom dress.
–Plus size: blogging vs. influencing.
–An open letter to Lane Bryant.

Sunday links, 4/12/15

Climate and Sustainability
-An important new number: using all the fossil fuels currently available could warm the planet by 16.2 degrees F (8.8 degrees C)–which is far, far beyond humanity’s ability to adapt.
–Everybody needs a Climate Thing. I’m still trying to find mine…
–3 reasons to be optimistic about the fight to save the climate.
–Finally, a climate change message that just might work: public health.
-Kate Schapira set up a Lucy-from-Peanuts-esque counseling booth in a public plaza to listen to people’s climate anxieties.
–May Boeve: the new face of the climate change movement.
–Life above the Alberta tar sands–why we’re taking the government to court.
–Top academics in anti-poverty research ask the world’s universities to divest from fossil fuels.
–Harvard feels the heat on fossil fuel divestment.
–With sit-ins around the country, students escalate “Divestment Spring.”
–7 things to know about California’s drought.
–Obama is about to announce a big job creation move for the solar industry.
–8 things you need to know about Hillary Clinton and climate change.

Fa(t)shion
–20 plus size floral dresses that scream spring.
–How to make Kentucky Derby hats with 5 tutorials that ensure you’ll have the biggest, baddest floral topper at your derby party.
-HELL YES to floral hats as the new flower crowns.
-Amazing pictures from the Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival in New York. I would love to go someday!
-“5 years ago today, I came out of the closet. Today, these are the clothes that came out of my closet.”
–Questing for garments that work with–instead of against–your body is a worthwhile project.
-I love this lookbook of plus size goth outfits.

Sunday links, 2/1/15

Fa(t)shion
–Fatshion February starts today, woohoo! I will be participating, although I might not do it every single day.
-Check out Finnish indie plus size designer Minnaleena Jaakkola.
-Affatshionista has updated her list of plus size bloggers who wear a size 24 or larger.
-Marianne has a lot of feelings about Target’s new plus size line.
–Danielle Brooks’ dress at the SAG Awards is everything.
-Pink poofy dress porn: the Giambattista Valli Spring 2015 Couture Show.

Fat Acceptance
–Fat and Weight Science is a new Facebook group for discussion about weight-related science without a diet focus.
-The Abundant Bodies track at the Allied Media Conference has put out a call for proposals.
–Weight loss and size acceptance.
–This is an essay about a fat woman being loved and getting laid.
-Tess Munster/Holliday has been signed by a major modeling agency, woot! Jes analyses why so many people hate Tess Munster (and other happy fat people), and Amanda looks at the messages Tess is sending and asks how she, and the rest of us, can do better.
–No, really, treat the PROBLEM.
-Leah writes about fat-shamers.

Sunday links, 1/25/15

Fa(t)shion
–Are fashion bloggers the new socialites?
-Check out my friend Maggie’s fatshion blog–she’s been posting some great outfits, and fatshion inspirations as well!
-Candystrike just released a bunch of new items, including an amazing silver and black striped skirt.
–Big & Tall Style for Butches and Others is a new Facebook group for fat people who have a masculine style and don’t identify as cisgender men.
-Speaking of masculine style, my friend Milo is selling handmade bowties at his new Etsy shop, Dappy Dandy Duds.
-I have mixed feelings about Target’s new plus size line, Ava & Viv. On one hand, inclusion by corporate retailers isn’t all that awesome in the grand scheme of things. On the other hand, it’s nice to finally see a collection that’s available in-store, since there are so few options for fat women who either can’t or don’t want to shop online. Most of the clothing doesn’t excite me, but there are a few pieces I like, and there’s nothing wrong with good solid basics. The size range (up to 26/4x) could be better, could be worse. Overall, I feel pretty meh, but can understand why other people have strong feelings one way or the other.
–The scientific reasons behind fashion don’ts: “Don’t wear white after Labor Day. White appears in stark contrast to fall foliage, making the wearer a prime target for bear attacks.”
–11 fashion mistakes all women should avoid: “5. Mixing floral prints with lighter fluid and an open flame.”
–Cambodia’s garment workers aren’t backing down.
–Fashion and “normalizing obesity.”

Fat Acceptance
–I stood up to a fat-shaming bully on the train because I’m tired of fighting for the right to exist.
-Chicago’s new plus size burlesque group, the Fat Follies, now has a Kickstarter campaign to help get their group off the ground.
–Capitalism and the weight loss industry.
–There’s a new paper advocating terrible medical guidelines for treating fat people–and surprise, the author is on the advisory boards of multiple companies that make weight loss drugs.
–On the latest in fat eliminationism.
-A letter to doctors: why there’s no point telling me to lose weight.
-“Hang on a minute…shouldn’t all mermaids be fat?”
–Dear white fatties (and other socially visible fat activists).

Sunday links, 1/18/15

Fa(t)shion
-Take Nicolette Mason and GabiFresh’s survey and tell them what changes you’d like to see in plus size fashion.
–Dress Profesh is a collection of photos that explore and challenge what “professional” looks like.
–Selma costumes reveal class and consciousness of the movement.
–15 questions with plus size model and blogger Katana Fatale.
-Seattleites, check out Bombsheller’s upcoming plus size fitting party.
–This bride’s pink and white lace dress is everything. Her unicorn fascinator is amazing too! I also love this bride’s long flowing pink tulle dress and flower crown, and her bridesmands’ sequined dresses.
–Katie K activewear sends a plus size fitness coach down the runway at Outdoor Retailer 2015.
–13 pieces of plus size activewear you’ll actually want to have in your closet.
-Valentino’s pre-fall 2015 galactic prints are gorgeous.

I love this video that shows women of varying sizes working out and enjoying themselves:

Sunday links, 1/11/15

Wintry frolicking

Fa(t)shion
-When I read this, I was internally jumping up and down and shouting “YES”: The revolution will not be plus-sized. I’m working on a post of related reflections, which I’ll try to put up within the next few days.
–Deb is going out of business, which is a good opportunity to get clothes at rock-bottom prices, but also sad because it’s one of the few options for cheap, trendy plus size clothing. I still remember how excited I was the one time I visited a Deb store in person.
-Leah writes about why she is finished with SimplyBe.
-Gabifresh’s new line of swimsuits looks awesome. Like her last line, it only goes up to a size 24, but she is hoping to expand the size range in the future.
–A review of (mostly) black plus size leggings.
–The most important fashion trend of this century: Quvenzhane Wallis’ puppy purses.
–Legendary women in literature are rewriting the rules of style. This piece links to a great piece by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about her struggle to be taken seriously within the literary world as a woman who loves fashion.
-New online vintage shop Future is the Future sells clothes with sizes listed in both men’s and women’s sizing.
-Major fatshion inspiration: the incredibly glamorous all-black outfits of Melissa McCarthy, Amber Riley, and Gabourey Sidibe.
–Advanced Style interviews the Accidental Icon: “As someone who has been involved in thinking about social welfare and social well-being for my entire career, I have recently become interested in the power of fashion and clothing to challenge oppression alongside it’s [sic] potential power to oppress.”
–Target finally listened to Chastity Garner and decided to make a plus size designer collaboration….which will be available online only. *sigh*
-I love Buttercup’s end-of-2014 post, especially this: “Seriously though, where does this come from, this bizarre, misplaced sense of moral outrage at other people’s clothing choices, as if there were a universally recognised right and wrong way to get dressed?”
-If you live in western MA, check out this upcoming clothing swap.

On our adventures, we came across a field of friendly cows.

Sunday links, 1/4/15

No, it hasn’t snowed here recently–this is from Thanksgiving weekend. Here’s hoping for more snow soon!

Fa(t)shion
–13 times Gabourey Sidibe reified her fashion icon and role model status in 2014.
-Casey reviews Re/Dress teggings and Undersummers slip shorts.
–12 plus size bloggers who broke the internet in 2014.
-Eloquii will soon roll out a few items in sizes 26 and 28. This is good news, but I have to wonder: why do women who wear 26+ have to ask to be included, and wait for that inclusion to happen gradually? Why do women who wear 30+ still get left out?
–How Delia’s conquered the ’90s.
–7 times the visible belly outline made an appearance–and inspired me to celebrate my own curves.
–Sustainable style: the joy of Chubby Cartwheels!
–Plus size uniforms for kids are causing concern about the “childhood obesity epidemic”–but what does said concern do for the kids’ body image?
–Why Rum & Coke uses only plus size models.

Fat Acceptance
–Make a New Year’s Revolution.
–Murder at the intersection of fat and black.
–Why fat matters: why isn’t weight stigma seen as a social justice issue?
–Let’s hold doctors accountable: a new form of activism?
–I had hyperhidrosis in my hands, feet, and underarms–and it was a total enemy to my body image.
-Awesome: a Chrome extension that replaces occurrences of “lose weight” with “get pizza.”

Sunday Links, 12/18/14

One of the many houses in Somerville that go all-out with Christmas decorations.

#BlackLivesMatter
-“It is comforting to think of these acquittals and non-indictments as contrary to American values. But it is just as likely that they reflect American values.”
–“Ya’ll Ain’t Hearing Me”: white liberalism and the killing of Aura Rosser.
-“Whether or not he had a gun, nothing warranted Antonio Martin’s death, and nothing justifies leaving his body in the streets for two hours like roadkill.”
–BlackAmazon’s “Twas The Tweet’s Before Christmas.”
–13 things we re-learned about the prison industrial complex in 2014.
–The cops hate being filmed, so why are they ok with body cameras?
–Embracing “crazy” in the “land of the free.”
–The deaths of two NYPD officers are tragic, but not an indictment of the anti-brutality movement. It is also imperative to center Shaneka Thompson, whom Brinsley shot before killing the two officers–to make it clear that domestic violence is violence.
–#BlackLivesMatter protest shuts down the Mall of America on December’s biggest shopping day. Show some love for LUSH Cosmetics, which got trolled by racists for supporting its workers’ right to join the protests.
–Injustice at the intersection: how America’s suburbs are engineered against the walking poor.
–How Chicago Youth Diversion fails justice-involved girls.
–No, Mayor DiBlasio, there is never a wrong time to say that black lives matter.
-“it’s frustrating to see my righteous anger at unjust systems interpreted as hatred for individuals. but it’s more frustrating to see the oppressed suffer while those maladjusted to injustice remain silent.”

A Hanukkah bouquet at Trader Joe’s

Fa(t)shion
-The coolest thing ever: a Nobel recipient accepted her prize wearing a gown covered in the neurons she discovered.
-So excited for the Lela Rose collection for Lane Bryant!
–ModCloth’s #FashionTruth monthly spotlight: Jennae says, forget the rules!
-More fabulously edgy pictures from Skorch’s living doll editorial.
-Liz reviews a top from Smart Glamour, a new company that carries size up to 6x and also offers custom sizing.
–3 amazing dresses Rebel Wilson has worn recently, and where you can buy them. I especially love the pink one, of course.
-Wisconsin fatties, check out my friend Emma’s upcoming clothing swap!