Can I just get something of my chest?
I am SO FREAKING sick of reading ‘fashion’ blogs where they say something like… “oh, I sized up to a Small for an oversized look” or “I’m FAR from a size two” when they are maybe a size 6. At most.
I love checking out fashion and style bloggers on their blogs and instagram for styling ideas… but OH MY GOD why can’t I find anyone MY size?!
It seems like everyone out there writing about fashion and style is an extra small-sized person. They look darn adorable when they throw together the most ridiculous of outfits. However, if I put those same clothes on my body I’d look like I just escaped Crazy Town. Or, you can go in the other direction and find a bunch of super stylish plus-sized lady bloggers. Once again, stylish as hell… but something that looks fabulous on a plus-sized lady isn’t necessarily going to fit me the same way.
I have enough issues with my body size and body image without getting bombarded with the idea that my size is not fashionable.
So let’s just get this out there, because honestly putting this information on the internet makes me want to vomit.
I am 5 foot, 7 inches tall.
Depending on the brand, I wear either a 10 or a 12.
Usually a 12.
Even at my most fit, I’m still typically a size 8 to 10. I think the last time I was below that I was 15 years old. Would I like to be smaller? Sure. I’d love to be super fit with a flat tummy and thin, muscular arms. But I’m not. And I’m mostly okay with that.
My point is, I’m guessing my readers look a lot more like me than a size 0 fashion blogger. And that is why I like to post outfit pictures. Because, there should be someone my size out there talking about what works and what doesn’t for this ‘in-between’ body type.
I love style and fashion. I love sifting through Marshalls and Nordstrom Rack to find that diamond in the rough that I’m going to fall in love with and wear over and over again. I love sharing my Stitch Fix posts with you, so you can see what the clothes look like on someone with boobs and hips. And a bit of a belly.
I don’t like telling people my size. I’ve been a bit coy in the past saying things like “oh, I typically wear a size large” but frankly I’m sick of it. Even though my weight has fluctuated by about 15 pounds or so in the last 5 years, I’ve been the same exact size. So, I guess I’d better own it.
Now that I’ve vented, do you have any frustrations you’d like to get off your chest?
In the last five years, my clothing size has ranged from 12/13 to 22. And I don’t FEEL as big as a 22. But it’s there. And whatever. Brian loves me regardless of my size. So there’s that.
You forgot to mention that you can do a full split at a size 22. You are bendy as hell, yo! Yoga on, lady!
RIGHT?! Chrissy has been totally impressing the heck out of me on Instagram with her AMAZING yoga poses!!
You two are so sweet to me. Thank you 🙂
THIS POST!!!!! I love it! As you know, thanks in part to your DietBet giving me the kick in the pants I needed to get started, I have managed to drop some poundage in the last few months. I’m pretty close to the fittest I’ve ever been, and I’m wearing an 8 in pants. (there was a massive happy dance when I got to buy single digit pants, believe you me.) There is such a discrepancy between the teeny bloggers and the plus size bloggers that I LOVE seeing what you come up with. YOU look like ME. I mean, it helps that I have your cell number and can text you dressing room photos for approval, but damnit, this is great stuff. Fashion at ALL THE SIZES! Big and small and ALL THE IN BETWEEN!
Awww, thanks so much Katie! You guys and your comments… good thing I don’t have mascara on yet!
This is probably one of my favorite posts that you have ever done. Thank you for your honesty and for the real talk. The most important ability that we can all hope to obtain is to love ourselves and to OWN it. Thank you for OWNING it in a public forum and inspiring me 🙂 You rock.
Thank you so much LeeAnne, I’m certainly working on OWING IT every darn day! 😉
Thank you!! I’m not big on fashion, mostly because I’m plus sized and I know it won’t look the same on me, so why even pay attention to it?! But I like seeing your posts because your size is attainable to me. You are REAL! I am losing weight now and would be ecstatic to be a size 12! That is a real and healthy size to me. Perfect! I cried when I recently fit into a size 16 jeans when I used to wear size 24! So thank you for sharing this and for posting your stitch fix posts. I enjoy them!
Lauren, I want to high five you for that hard won size 16! That is awesome and no mean feat. Internet hug, girl!
Thank you so much!!
Oh my gosh, thank you so much Lauren! Congratulations on all your hard work that you’ve done — dropping 4 sizes is nothing to shake a stick at!
Lauren –
I have to tell you, I’ve been getting much more into fashion thanks to Gwynnie Bee – it’s sort of like netflix, but for clothes. It’s a great way to try some great “plus sized” clothes (many of which are expen$ive and beyond my price range) that are also trendy as hell. The site has a lot of items in size 10 and up (though more things are available at the larger sizes). It’s great when you’re losing weight, too – you can put different sizes in your closet and have a fresh wardrobe without dropping major cash on clothes you’ll (hopefully) only wear for a short period of time. I love it for fancy dresses for work-related event – never wear the same thing twice!
Basically, you pay a flat fee to have X number of garments out at a time, and when you get something you can try it, wear it once, and return it (don’t even need to wash it – they will clean it before it goes out again). You could also keep it for a few days/weeks/month (but that’s one less item you’ll receive). You can also BUY an item – often at below retail value – I bought a pair of NYDJ (normally $100+) for $36.
Obviously you have to be comfortable wearing pre-worn clothes (but they arrive clean. pressed, in a box), but I’ve gotten items that still have their original tags on them.
If you’re interested in checking it out – http://goo.gl/esH25X (full disclosure, that’s a referral link for me).
Thanks, I was actually just looking into that! I will definitely use your link if I decide to do it!
I actually started doing Gwynne Bee because I was jealous of Julie’s stitch fix posts they don’t have large sizes.
I’m 5’1″ and fluctuate between a 12/14 BUT being so short it’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find something that fits my small waist and ginormous hips! UGH!!!
I’ve heard a lot how annoying it can be to try and get a petite size to fit correctly for those on the shorter side. Maybe find an awesome tailor??
When I was pregnant with my oldest and was shopping for maternity clothing, I was in this ’boutique’ and was looking at ‘petite’ clothing, which I have ALWAYS WORN. The women working in the store looked at me and asked WHY I was looking at ‘petite’ clothing, and I said ‘because I’m short and petite clothing normally is what I wear’. They looked at one another and said “our petite is specific for size 6 and under” and I smiled and walked right out of the store. I don’t think I’ve ever been insulted in such an outright nasty fashion in my life.
Oh. My. God. What a bitch!
I love this, the post and comments so far. You are all so brave and so beautiful for speaking up and supporting each other. I have been struggling for over 2 years (subtract 9 months of pregnancy that can’t count because no dieting allowed) with a sudden, large amount of weight gain due to an under active thyroid. I’ve always been in the size 12 range, but I jumped in a matter of 2 months to a size 16, while on a strict diet trying to get to a 10. I was depressed and in denial until my doctor explained why it happened. And this doctor also agreed that I will never be less than a size 12, but I need to get back there. Well I got to 14, then pregnant. So now, 3 months after baby, I am between a 14 and 16 and frustrated and scared to buy new clothes. Like julie mentioned, I look online but can’t find anyone with great style (except her) in my size. So many days I want to say that it’s not worth the struggle to try to lose more weight, with 2 kids and in my mid 30s, I want to finally just enjoy life and not care what I look like. Keep supporting each other and feeling good about yourselves regardless of a number. And Julie, keep posting about fashion because you are an inspiration and you will continue to reach out to people in similar situations!
Thank you so much for your comment Annie! LOVE YOU!
I absolutely adore your blog, and you look amazing. Your blog is one I relate to more than anything and it makes me smile. Thanks for doing this and making me smile.
Cara, my day is MADE. I’m not even kidding your comment MADE IT. Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read me! xoxoxo
I feel very strongly about body image and the way beauty (in all its forms) is represented in the media, specifically in the United States. I think your feelings are, sadly, emotions that Every Woman can relate to. I find myself unfollowing pages and accounts that remind me that, as a woman, I’m “supposed” to feel bad about my body. I had so much more written for this comment but I deleted it. You look healthy and happy, that’s what matters <3
Me too. I can’t remember if I mentioned it before, but I did my senior thesis on body image when I graduated college!
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!! I read a million different fashion blogs and you are right. Super sweet ladies, and I’m not faulting them their size. However, when they tell us every single time that they are wearing a size small or extra-small and size 4 pants….yikes! I wear a 14 or 16 and XL on top. I can figure out what size to order in a particular item without them reminding me what size they are.
I only came across your blog a few weeks ago, but now refer to it daily. Again…thank-you for your honesty. It was refreshing.
Kim – Thank YOU so much for becoming one of my awesome readers! I’m so happy you stopped by and decided to stay! <3
I’m late to the comment party but decided I had to join in. I am now in my late 40s and have just in the last five years gained 25 pounds for various reasons, primarily hypothyroidism and a running injury that forced me to give up vigorous exercise, leading to depression, emotional eating, military moves, blah blah blah. SO, I used to be able to bop into a store and buy all the cute clothes in a really small size, and now I can’t, so I end up buying really big things that are not at all flattering. So this post appealed to me in a way that, just because I’m not a size 4 anymore doesn’t mean I have to look like a hag. My health issues are improving and I hope to be able to drop some weight, but you know what? Maintaining a size 4 for years meant a LOT of running and ALWAYS being on a diet. Screw that. Now that I’ve gotten bigger than I’ve ever been outside of pregnancy, I have a better perspective of what I want to get back down to. Plus, I’m almost 50 so who am I trying to impress? My husband still loves me. So, thanks girl. You rock.
Gail – thank you so much for your comment. You rock too! xoxo