Saturday 12 March 2016

There isn't enough room for all this bullshit

HelloGiggle.com recently shared this photograph from selling website/app Wish, that were advertising a pair of plus size shorts:

Charming, huh?

As noted in the HG article this is an incredibly cruel way to advertise clothing. Naturally there's been some uproar over social media. Christina, of Interrobang art, who makes and sells clothing up to a 34, posted this fantastic response on her Instagram account


But this isn't the first time this sort of cruel marketing has been used. AliExpress were under scrutiny back in 2015 for using this image to sell plus size leggings


The Big Bloomers Company, a site dedicated to plus size underwear use this to advertise their plus size tights

Aye, you keep smiling it up Sally Small.



I don't doubt there are many more, these are just the ones I was able to find first. So what's the issue? 
In laymans terms it's disrespectful as fuck to use this sort of strategy to advertise plus size clothing. 
The photos are utterly ridiculous, verging on comical and circus-esque. "Look how HUGE this product is! You can fit a whole other person with room to spare!"

And that's the thing, isn't it? We don't see fat people as real people but rather bodies that can't be comprehended without using "normal" bodies for scale. You want to advertise plus size clothing, and demonstrate how big your products are? USE ACTUAL FAT PEOPLE. Use a diverse range of sizes to demonstrate the variety of sizing you offer. "Here's a body wearing a size 12, and here's the same product in a 32." It's NOT HARD. 




There are so many fat people out there who would offer their services. Look at how plus size brands have tapped into using bloggers to model for them. The sizes are out there: you just won't use them.

Frankly I am sick of companies humiliating fat people and in the next breath taking our money. If they aren't using micro-aggresive language like "flattering", "slimming" and other such crap to suggest our fat can, and should, be magically hidden then they are outright removing us from their brick and mortar stores. 

What is even the logic in this? Do they not think fat people are going to take one look at this and close the fucking tab? Bullying people does not a profit make. Too long have companies tapped into a person's low self esteem to sell you a product you don't need, for an imaginary issue you don't even have. But people need clothes. What we don't need is being made out to be circus freaks. 





Tuesday 8 March 2016

Orange is the new black-featuring Tu by Sainburys

My laptop is finally back up and running! Not that I've had time to miss it as I've done a few sleep-ins at work and I've spent a lot of time feeling sleepy and unmotivated. I'm hoping with more sunshine coming that I'll stop feeling like such a zombie and pull my socks up.

Until then here's a new outfit post. I actually bought this top back in December when I was getting some bits for a Christmas dinner while in my local Sainsbury's. I spotted it half a mile away given how bright it is!

Ruby Thunder, rubythunder, plus szie alternative blogger, Tu by Sainsburys, plus size blogger, fatshion

There's been hints of 70's stuff coming back in and this is very reminscent of a 70's wallpaper. Bright and tacky? Winner. Plus I loves me a peter pan collar. Don't ask me why. I just think they are really cute. The material is a lovely, stretchy, and cool jersey material. 

Ruby Thunder, rubythunder, plus szie alternative blogger, Tu by Sainsburys, plus size blogger, fatshion


I put this together with my trusty skater skirt from New Look. I know the skater skirt is a bit of a marmite item in the fatshion community. Mostly because it's the only cut that's been offered to fatties and it's right that you'd be bored of it. 

Ruby Thunder, rubythunder, plus szie alternative blogger, Tu by Sainsburys, plus size blogger, fatshion



For me it carries a little bit of a casual and wearable retro look, and as a size 26, contrary to popular belief is pretty welcome. Vintage and retro looks, beyond swing dresses, is actually pretty inacessible for fatties beyond a 22. A heads up but sometimes fat people want the swing trousers, the cute boleros and cardigans, the cute skirts, the pea coats. Not all of us live in swing dresses. Jussayin'

Ruby Thunder, rubythunder, plus szie alternative blogger, Tu by Sainsburys, plus size blogger, fatshion

My lovely chap hooked me up with some new black creepers from Asos at Christmas, after my New Look ones finally gave up the ghost. Due to my fecklessness you can't actually see them in most of the photos because self timers...finding the right spot..blah blah. I'm no good at this photo lark, ok? 
But yeah, I love me some creepers. They give any outfit a little rockabilly feel. 


What's been brightening your day?