#WeAreTheThey: What 'They' Shouldn't Be Wearing.

You'd be hard pressed to open up a glossy magazine and not find an article about what you should and shouldn't be wearing for your body type. I tried to look and see whether I was an apple, pear, banana, kiwi, pinepapple or whatever. Whatever I am, I'm a fat one, and you can be certain there is a lot of stuff I shouldn't be wearing. So let's take a look at some of the 'rules' and how I broke them.

1. Horizontal stripes.

I didn't even need to look it up, it's been so instilled in me since a teen that the dreaded horizontal stripe was going to have me mistaken for the HMS Elizabeth and I'd have canons fired at me.

2. Mini skirts.

This is kind of another given. Fatties can barely wear anything, if one lives by these rules, let alone something that's going to show off your lower half. But here's the thing, I wear a mini skirt basically everyday. Skirt/leggings/t-shirt combo is my work outfit of choice and more often than not it'll be my day off choice too. 

3. Bright colours.

So I have definitely missed this memo. In fact sometimes I struggle to 'match' things but because my wardrobe looks like a packet of fruit pastilles. With my rainbow hair came my rainbow wardrobe.

4. Bold patterns.

Wearing anything that's going to draw even more attention to your body in general is a no-no for fatties. You don't want to give people the wrong idea, you know? Like, the fact you are fat and someone might see *shrieks in horror*

5. Oversized/bulky/voluminous clothing.

"Don't bulk around your bulk" The Stir tells me. You don't want to wear anything that makes you look big. Especially when you are big. Remember how your fat suddenly disappears under those magic clothes? 

I particularly like this one because it's breaking several rules at once. It's oversized, super fluffy, and it's a bright colour. There's no way you can miss me in it and let's face it, why would you want to? I look cute as hell in it. 

The fact is fashion rules are created so bored journalists have something to write about. They want to create a hierachy so that you'll always have a goal to try and reach. You'll always be striving, buying into whatever shctick they are selling that week. You want to be like the beautiful fashion elite and wear those things you've longed to wear but you ~can't~.

Here's the scoop: there are no rules. None. Why are you letting complete strangers dictate what you can and can't wear based on the fact it might make you look fat. I'M ALREADY FAT NER NER! So NOTHING I choose to wear will change that fact so I may as well wear whatever the hell I want. 

You do you, my lovelies. Just wear it with a smile. 

Some other bloggers taking part you should check out:

http://www.wannabeprincess.co.uk
www.ucantwearthat.com
www.voluptuouschatterbox.co.uk
http://sarahissmiley.blogspot.co.uk
http://myvintageonline.blogspot.co.uk/
www.henryskat2014.co.uk
http://uniquelyfilipa.blogspot.pt/

BLOG SALE!

Here's What I Would Have Spent: Topshop.

I'd yet to try a HWIWHS challenge before so when Debz announced the next one I figured I'd give it a try. I thought it would be interesting to check out a store I don't ever shop with.

I'm a big fan of colour and prints, but I still love some classic monoshrome stripe. Are you seeing that dinosaur jumper?! SO awesome. I think between that and the monochrome shirt next to it, that has to be a fave and something I would buy in a heartbeat if they stocked anything remotely plus sized.

L-R

Flower Print Wide Leg Trousers-£40

Tie Striped Shirt Dress-£38

Pineapple Foil Print Swimsuit-£36

Broderie Pinafore Sundress-£38

Monochrome Striped Shirt by Unique-£75

Dinosaur Print Loungewear Sweater-£28

Crushed Satin Bomber Jacket by Goldie-£49

HWIWHS total: £304
£304 of this fatties cash that Topshop won't be getting!


Other bloggers taking part you should totally check out:

http://www.wannabeprincess.co.uk
http://curvygirlthin.blogspot.com
http://www.plussizeproud.co.uk 
http://uniquelyfilipa.blogspot.pt/
http://thecurvedopinion.com
http://www.acurvycupcake.com
http://www.voluptuouschatterbox.co.uk/
http://www.pinkgemma.com/
http://www.seeingspots.co.uk/
http://sullen-hearts.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.doesmyblogmakemelookfat.com/
http://therandomnessoftwee.blogspot.co.uk/

A Plus kinda week.

I'm currently up north in the Lake District visiting family. The weather has been wonderful, the scenery has been breathtaking, and seeing my family after five months has been really amazing. I haven't had much chance to be online aside from checking in on my phone. What a week to dip out of social media! .
This week we've seen Plus Size Wars hitting the tv, and like anything that puts plus size people in a remotely positive light, there is the usual furore. Then we had Jamelia, former popstar and now gob-for-hire on Looose Women (blergh), made some heinous comments about people in "extreme" sizes, noting "they" should feel comfortable when trying to buy clothes and in fact sizing that is less than a 6 and greater than a 20 shouldn't be available in stores.
The plus size community fired back with Debz from A Wannabee Princess creating a hashtag #WeAreTheThey. You can find the original posts from her here.

The basic premise was that people like Jamelia want to talk about "they" without considering that "they" are real people. So this hashtag put faces to the anonymous people that were being spoken about with little to no thought or consideration.

The hashtag took off, and even made it into mainstream media. The plus size commnity really came together and made their voices heard. It was amazing to watch it snowball over a few hours. I felt helpless, hiding out in the middle of nowhere with barely any signal. I have been slowlyl catching up now I'm in a more signal friendly part of the lakes. Everyone's pieces have been wonderful to read; sharing their heartache growing up fat, sharing their insecuritites and their own journeys to self acceptance.

What people like Jamelia seem to conveniently forget, when they preach about loving yourself but so long as you are "healthy", is that health is NOT an obligation and it is certainly not a measure of worth. But most importantly is that when she, and people like her, talk about how people in these sizes shouldn't have these things seems to think that we actually HAVE these things.
If people really knew how fat people were treated on a daily basis; how fat people are given inadequate medical care, less likely to get jobs, are physically abused, humilated, and used as a societal scapegoat for just about everything wrong, she would think twice before suggesting that simply by trying to live in peace was "gloryfying obesity".

I don't care if you think being fat is going to make my joints all fall off. I don't care if you think that being fat will clog my arteries and stop my heart. I don't care if you think that being fat will give me diabetes. I don't care of you think that being fat is a strain on the NHS (have you ever bothered to ask WHAT the money is spent on?). Even if all those things were true (they aren't) that is MY choice and you don't have a say in it (No your tax money isn't funding it.).

You don't get to make me feel less of a human being because I am fat. You don't get to make me feel less of a human being for anything.

Liebster Award!

I'm very flattered to be nominated by Vicky of The Randomness of Twee for a Liebster award, aimed at new blogs and those with less than 200 followers. I think this is a great idea because blogging can be difficult to navigate if you are not familiar with it and it's a great way to introduce people to new blogs, plus it was pretty fun to write up.

The Rules are:

Thank and link back to the blogger who nominated you.

Answer the 11 questions that they have asked you.

Nominate bloggers who have a following of <200 on Bloglovin’

Ask them 11 questions.

Notify the nominees.

So here are my questions!

What inspired you to blog?

I attended my first Plus North in Manchester two years ago where I was befriended by Lisa, Sarah, Charlie and Mel none of whom I had ever me before but made me feel very welcome as I was wandering around aimlessly on my own. Through the course of the day many people asked if I blogged, and when I said I didn’t, why I didn’t. So, feeling a lot of fatshion inspiration, and full to the brim with wonderful compliments I went ahead and started. 

Who are your favourite bloggers?

I’m still pretty new to the’blogosphere’ despite having started two years ago. It’s only been in recent months that I’ve started to make an effort so I’m still lacking on following blogs. But that said I do have a lot of love for Leah of Just Me Leah. This being that, so far, she’s the most down to earth bloggers in the way she writes. I like reading blogs who read in the way I imagine they would speak. Leah shares many aspects of her life and is very open about sex and her chronic illness. But she does so with a cheeky charm. She’s honest when she needs to be, and stays true to herself with the topics she blogs about and the manner in which she does it.

Another blogger I love is Laura of Lolly Likes Fatshion. Mostly because I finally found a fatshion blogger who is my size who loves colour like me! I never thought I’d find anyone my size who wore things I was actually interested in. She always has wonderfully creative and colourful outfits. She has a great kitschy style (she pulls off a 60’s look like a dream.). She’s also very protective of her community and speaks out against bullying and bigotry across her social media. She’s fearless and won’t take any crap from anyone. 

What is your dream outfit?

Hmmmm. This is a tough one but I guess what I really want to have, and have yet to acquire, is a dress in cherry print and a dress in red and white polka dots. They exist, but never in my size. Also in flamingo print. 

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

I come from one of the most beautiful places in England, the Lake District, but I moved away to be closer to my partner. I think if there were more things going on around that area I’d go back and live there.  Sadly it’s pretty rural so there’s not much going on unless you love fell walking, which is great, but I need a little more going on like music venues, shopping, events etc. 

What would be your last meal?

I thought long and hard about this and tried to think of some fancy meals but honestly the first thing that came to my head was lasagne. I love the stuff. I always make loads with the intention of freezing it and being organised, but I just end up eating it all. So yeah, lasagne and cheesy garlic bread followed by Cartmel sticky toffee pudding and cream. (No other sticky puds compare!)

Who is your style icon?

Honestly I have no idea. I know that’s a terrible answer but I don’t tend to follow fashion and I just sort of found my own style.  But I do draw inspiration from the fatshion community.

Dogs or cats?

What is your beauty essential?

Ultra Bland cleanser from Lush, coupled with their Tea Tree toner water. My skin is so sensitive and I found using remover wipes were making my skin burn, even the baby ones . But these are amazing. I use them to remove my make up at night and around my t-zone.

What are the three songs you would listen to if the world was ending?

1. Anything by Clutch. Don't make me choose!

2. Nightwish's cover of Phantom of the Opera.

3. Love Shack by the B52's

What is your favourite smell?

I’ve been using Light Blue by Dolce&Gabbana for about as long as I’ve worn perfume. People always say to me when they smell it it reminds them of me. Also Sweetie Pie shower jelly by Lush is gorgeous.

Where is the best place you have ever been to?

New Orleans. I was fortunate enough to get the last summer from her before Hurricane Katrina hit. I went in the June, and the hurricane hit in September. I only wish I had planned it better and seen more. But it was still pretty magical and I went on my own! 

My Nominations are...

Siân of Sort Life Out; Buy Milk.

Fat alt bloggers are seemingly hard to come by. Sian's style is right up my street. She's kitsch, she's goth. she's spooky, and a down right cutie. I love her bold style. She's not afraid to mix bold patterns and colours with equally bold lipsticks and hair colour. She's fearless in her fashion and I love it!

Chrissie Bee of Dainty in Doc Martens.

She's the fat feminist who is babein' up my Instagram feed. Her blog is a great mix of alt style and feminism. Perfect!

My questions are..

1. What inspired your blog name?
2. What are you currently reading? If not, recommend me a book.
3. What song are you loving right now?
4. What's for dinner?
5. It's your day off! What's the plan?
6. Sweet or savoury?
7. Do you have any vices?
8. Do you collect anything?
9. Anything sitting in your online basket waiting for payday?
10. Let's meet for a drink! What're you having?
11. Favourite memory?

So this happened..

I've been really lax with blogging lately and this is why. 

Everyone, meet Vinnie.

He's 4 months old and so as you can imagine he's kept us busy. 

It's our first week and we're still finding our routine and getting used to being out in the garden every 45 minutes instead of slobbing out in front of our respective computer screens, but it's going better than we anticipated. 

So far he seems to have a really lovely temperment. He's good with strangers, and especially children. do anything too bad. He's not really chewed anything and he's barely barked.  He's just not keen on walking much right now. I know them feels, bud. 

I'm still kinda pinching myself. I've wanted a dog for years but I've always held of because I felt I was too selfish with my time but the circumstances were right and so here we are. I do find myself forgetting how much my time is affected by a new puppy who you can't leave. I can't just go strolling into the shops when I feel like it, we've already had to cancel plans, and now I have to think about the sort of shifts I pick up at work. Sometimes, when I've been standing in the garden at 6.30am in the rain, I wondered what the hell I had done. But when we come back in and he can't wait to sit in my lap and snooze it's really, really hard to be sad.