Semi Hippie Plus Size Tuesday

Today’s Attire:  White peasant style dress with ¾ length sleeves, with yellow embroidery at the neckline (Old Navy $9.95) black and white mesh loafers (Rockport Outlet $19.95). Accessorized with brown braided belt (Torrid $6.95) black beaded rose choker (Forever 21 $3.95) Black silk cord silver Elsa Perretti  Tiffany infinite circle pendant (gift from the husband).

Sometimes A Girl Has To Go Hippie:

I’m not the peace love and harmony type, nor was I born in the 60’s.  This is my way of saying I’m not the hippie type. But I do love some of the hippie styles.  Although in my mind I worry that they look kinda dirty.  Today’s outfit was inspired by pure laziness.  I overslept, my hair is straight, this dress was clean and easy to get to. You add the belt and the accessories and it’s almost hippie styled out. My friend Becky once said that I never meant a peasant top I didn’t like.  And she’s right, sorta.  This dress was super cheap, and because I have the blue streaks in my hair, it compliments the yellow embroidery on my dress.  That’s the justification of my outfit.

The Truth From A Plus Size Girl:

With this blog, I’m going to be brutally honest about stuff.  In yesterday’s blog I was very forthcoming about my life and what I’ve gone through in the last couple of years. And yes it’s risky to put your feelings out there on the Internet, but I’ve never been a sensible girl, so why start now.  So here comes the honesty stuff.

I’m considered fat. I’m considered Plus Size.  By today’s society I’m not the norm.  As of this morning I’m 215 pounds.  Yes I actually wrote down my real weight.  Am I self-conscious about this? You bet I am.  But here are some saving graces about me being a plus size girl:

1. I have a large chest. This is an asset for so many reasons that I don’t need to get into.

2. I have a big ass. Again another asset I don’t have to explain why that’s good.

3. My husband thinks I’m attractive at any size. Which is nice and I don’t have to worry about him being shallow and leaving me because I had one Krispy Kreme doughnut too many

4. I’m proportionally built, so it’s not as obvious that I’m a bigger girl. I’ve got the typical black girl build.

Here’s the deal.  I’m just a size or two bigger than the regular stores, which pisses me off because I’m basically in between sizes.  I have a smaller waist, but I got the problem with the bigger stomach. I’m in the process of trying to lose weight, like many people.  But it’s important to dress the body that I have now and not wait till I have the body that I want. Here’s the thing, I know how to dress my body.  In many cases you don’t know that I’m a plus size girl that’s over 200 pounds when you look at me.  And I don’t walk around with that “woe as me” attitude because Juicy Couture, Seven For All Mankind and Diesel don’t make jeans to fit my fairly ample ass.   I do the best that I can with the clothes that I can find.

Plus Size Stores and What Pisses Me Off:

I do get angry when there isn’t a plus size store accessible with decent clothes. I get pissed when I have to pay more for more material on a dress and in most cases that is less quality material.   Lane Bryant has come a long way from just making colorful muumuu’s and large tunics with stretch pants.  But their clothes are fairly expensive, and still not as fabulous as I would want them to be.  Torrid, Ashley Stewart, and Macy’s Women makes a valiant effort and that’s where I turn when I need to get my style fix.  They tend to have good sales.  My favorite store is still a regular size store,White House Black Market. I’m fortunate enough to be able to fit many of their size 14 dresses and tops at WHBM, and you can order size 16 online.  (Which annoys me, carry the damn 16 in the store so I can try it on!  Trust me your customer base would be even bigger if you have it in the store). 

There is another category of stores that are in the plus size realm. There are little one off stores like Mode Plus in the more “urban” malls that have plus size clothing that’s well “sexier” but super cheap quality.  Forever 21 has added a plus size line that is also in that category of disposable, sexy clothes.  By disposable, I mean you can wear it, but it’s going to fall apart with one or two washings.  By sexy, I mean pretty slutty and meant to be worn in a club in Vegas with extremely tall hooker heels.  But here’s the thing, us bigger girls want to be sexy/slutty too.  So thank you Forever 21 for accommodating that.  However I do have some issues with these type of stores: 

1. Their clothes have a tendency to run small, so you can barely call them plus size. “Really this is a 3X, maybe it was mislabeled and it’s actually an XXXS”

2. The quality is terrible. And you basically have to throw them away after you wear them. “What’s wrong with the lace on this dress, it’s ripped.  I just took it out of the bag”

3. The customer service is just awful. “Listens you size 2 seventeen year old running the fitting room. Don’t be rude to me because I’m fat. I’m not mean to you because you need a friggin sandwich”

As result these one off stores are my last resort if I can’t find anything at the go to stores.  Meaning I’m desperate.  I try not to get that desperate.

Attitude is Everything:

I conclude my blog with this. I’m going to rock the stage again. I’m going to be fabulous rocking the stage. I will be fabulous at any size.  You know how? Because I’m telling you I’m fabulous with every fiber of my being. I rock blue streaks in my hair.  I choose things for my body that are appropriate for my body. I find fantastic accessories and shoes that make you think I was styled by a professional like Rachel Zoe (I would never let her dress me, because I think she’s nuts). I’ve got a powerful voice, big smile, and even bigger personality.  Letting that shine through is part of what gives you personal style.  And you’re forgiven your missteps like dressing like a hippie to work one day.