Comments on: Fatshion, breaking the rules

By: Constance

Constance — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:05:50 +0000

After wearing mainly baggy clothing most of my life I decided (after watching too many episodes of “What Not To Wear”) to start wearing more body conscious clothing. Yep, stepped out of my comfort zone and am I glad. It’s so true, one does look better in clothing that shows the shape rather than looking like a blob.

By: Mary T.

Mary T. — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:19:45 +0000

Wow — you look exactly like the MODEL does in that Kiyonna dress! Awesome!

By: Buxombrunette

Buxombrunette — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:55:50 +0000

Odd, I’ve never thought of wearing clothes with no religious connotations as appropriating a culture. In this case, the company in question supplies some items that are actually tailored towards the western market – trouser-kameez suits, for example. And I wouldn’t tell an Indian woman she couldn’t wear a fair isle sweater…

(FWIW, I’m mixed race, so can wear what I like :p )

By: fillyjonk

fillyjonk — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:49:44 +0000

Buxombrunette, I’d rather avoid the cultural appropriation question and just go to a tailor (or bust out the sewing machine). :)

Becca, but those shoes ARE red! I see where you’re going with this, though.

By: Becca

Becca — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:26:51 +0000

Hi fillyjonk,
I think I have those shoes (Fornarina?), and I love them because they have unexpected heels and also good rubber soles that make the knees applaud. HOWEVER…

When you say that they couldn’t save the dress, I think they have the opposite effect. From my POV the dress is a knockout (the cut and color make your skin GLOW), but what you’re seeing might be because of the shoe choice? This dress is deceptively simple, and it creates high enough expectations that staid shoes don’t do it any favors. For example, say you’re not going to run out and buy Louboutin heels, which might be even better – if you had some kicky red (on the orange side of red – not the blue or pink side) heels, maybe satinate or some fabric because red leather is the wrong color – maybe with an open toe, even – the balance would totally shift. Red lips, black clutch or maybe gold, either one big honkin ring or a strand of thick, black vintage “pearl” beads, and you’re a screen siren.

Of course, I don’t suggest you work really hard to make a dress you don’t really like that much work – it’s all about how you feel, obvs – but also, if it’s not quite right, don’t let your futzing stop at the dress. I think this dress is crying out for imaginative accessories.

By: Buxombrunette

Buxombrunette — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:49:49 +0000

Fillyjonk, they’re not dresses but Utsav Sarees do allow you to change the length of the items they sell. (I’m shopping for salwar kameez, and it’s possible to order garments in up to 72-64-80 and specify the length of the top so you could, effectively, order a dress and get a pair of trousers with it…) The only drawback is that they can take a few weeks to ship.

I prefer the first dress on you, but they’re both gorgeous.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Aside from the occasional ribbing, she doesn’t remind me too often. I do wish she’d take the advice herself though. I’m trying to help her get out of her own “I won’t shop for clothes until I lose weight” mindset, but no suggestions (or links) from me have seemed to do the trick. I suppose it’s hard for her to change after 40 years of thinking that way.

By: fillyjonk

fillyjonk — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:23:39 +0000

Dude I know, it sucks when your mom turns out to be right all along. Hopefully she’s gracious about it.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:20:18 +0000

I hate* posts like this, because, once again, it turns out my mom was right. For a long time I only tried on clothes that I was “sure” would fit me, which meant I bought a lot of unfitted and (in retrospect) frumpy clothes. Mom, bless her, kept suggesting I try on other styles, but I was resistant. Part of that was petty defiance (which still rears it’s head occasionally, even though I’m now a 40-something) and part of that was discomfort with the shape of my body. Only after lurking at fatshionista for a long while finally got it through my head that I should find clothes that fit me, rather than pining for a different body.

* And by hate, I really mean love.

By: Liza

Liza — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:55:33 +0000

YM would say it guarantees that I get my period while at the mall with a total hottie, which I’m much more concerned about

Dude, I know I would. That’s just how my life works.

Or I’d accidentally wear neon pink undies.