I mean good grief it’s almost Labor Day weekend I haven’t even had the chance to rock all of the white in my wardrobe. I kept saving them like they were going to accrue interest. Welp now here it is the end of summer ’17 and I will just have to find a reason to rock white for no reason or just break the rules and wear white after Labor Day. I am not afraid to break a fashion rule or two. Rules are made to be challenged but for real where did summer go? I haven’t even had a picnic yet! I was all work and no play this summer. Continue reading “Where Did Summer Go?”
I had just come back from a conference geared towards curvy women and heard about Dia & Co. If you’ve never heard of them, they’re a plus size clothing brand that advocates women to be more confident in every outfit! After the conference, I felt fearless, like who is afraid of the big bad wolf? Not me, right? As I looked through my closet certain that I wasn’t afraid of anything in there, fear was hanging on a purple Joy Mangano huggable hanger. A cute body con dress that I felt would look so good on me when I was online shopping only to receive it and remember that I don’t have an hour glass shape. Continue reading “It Was All Good… And Then”
I can’t possibly give one real f#$k about what people think about my body. I’m too busy trying to create new norms. When ever my daughter comes into my bedroom unannounced while I am changing, she has to let me know, “mom you have a FUPA!” First I had to ask, “what is a FUPA?” (It didn’t take me long to realize she was talking about my stomach). We both get a good laugh in and then I remind her that my body is just as beautiful as hers. Anytime my daughter makes a statement about my FUPA I tell her straight up you know what say about my body isn’t actually affecting me. At 15, I can never truly tell what is penetrating her psyche but I do hope my body acceptance is rubbing off on her.
My body commands respect
My body should never be neglected
My body is the carrier of a beautiful soul, deep intelligence, and opinions
My body is filled with laughter, love, and soul food recipes
I was skinny as a teenager and it was awesome! When I was skinny I remember people ridiculing me about having chicken legs, about how high my butt is, and just anything. As I got older I gained weight, then started the questions. You gaining weight are you pregnant? You gained some weight, too much ice cream? Even now I still get scolded for being on the small end of the plus size spectrum when people tell me you’re not really fat. People will make observations, that is what people do. I learned to stop allowing it to bother me.
I am human. I have days where I feel like I need improvement. I know when it’s time to get the salad and not the burger. When it’s time to work out and when I just could flat out careless. My body and I are in a relationship. When you are in a long term relationship you don’t “like” that person every second of the day but you’ve made a commitment to stand by them regardless. I try to give my body everything that it wants water, food, crop tops, and the occasional high waisted bikini. If someone has a problem with me or my body it’s us against them. Accepting my own body has helped me to be an advocate for all women’s bodies.
My body is made for couture but will slay in ready to wear
My body is rocking this sun dress, crop top, short skirt, leggings, boyfriend tee
My body is the reflection of both of my grandmothers, mama, and daddy
My body shows traits of my family tree
Long legs, round stomach, narrow hips, booty so high I could sit on a telephone pole without reaching
Ultimately you have to decide when you are comfortable and when you are uncomfortable with the way you look. The choice is not up to some asshole who makes a crude comment. A man made a comment about the way my body is shaped recently and I laughed it off because if the best he could do was talk about my shape, he’s lame. Body acceptance, body positivity, and confidence aren’t magical tricks. I’m not pulling these terms out of a hat and applying them as needed. I embrace them deep within my own mind as tools to better love myself so when some asshole speaks out of a place of malice about my body I can truly not give one flying f&%k!
My body is
A non negotiable term
And you will accept it in all of it’s forms
My body is a rebel
And does not need to conform to what’s attractive this week
Desirable body traits change like phases of the moon and I have come to accept mine
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This past weekend, I took a road trip to Atlanta to make my way to The Curvy Fashionista Style Expo. I had my set expectations for shopping and getting to meet a few of my blogger boos in person. My expectations were exceeded from the moment I stepped into the Cobb Galeria Center! I admit in person networking is not my strong suit I’d much rather send an email but every woman in the room was beautifully adorned, warm, and friendly. It was like I stepped into a room full of old friends that I hadn’t seen in a while.
I was consumed with good vibes when I realized that I had never been around so many women who were this comfortable being plus size. If not fully comfortable they were in search of acceptance of their bodies in their current state. Not settling and thinking of themselves as less than. All of the workshops and panels had deeper meanings these sessions didn’t pose answers but an open dialogue was openly discussed on what it means to have style while being a plus size consumer, body image, and even shapewear vs. au naturel.
Loving Your Body Is Continuous Journey
Body acceptance is a continuous journey for all of us. It’s so easy to see someone else’s body, outfit, or life and think they have it better. I got to hear so many women’s personal stories about their style and no two were the same. From women who have been the chunky girl their whole lives or the women who grew into being more curvaceous over time we all have moments of insecurity and it’s ok. These moments took the expo beyond just a chance to shop and became a space for us to see style as a form of self-care.
Major Slayage
Honey this ain’t your average slay! I was so inspired to see what women were wearing and how they styled themselves. I was a kid in a candy store. Most of all everyone carried themselves with such confidence and joy. I could hardly keep my giddiness under wraps! I know I plan on taking some styling cues from these ladies.
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Big & Tall Fashion Is On The Rise
I sat in on a panel about men’s big and tall fashion and I was so enlightened when I heard their stories. How they have been under served and had no platform to speak about their issues. Hearing things from their side really opened my eyes to understand that size issues expand past women and the men need attention too. I mean I’m not opposed to a big, tall, handsome guy being just as fly as me. ( Call Me!)
Honestly, there was so much to take in at the TCF Style Expo that it’s hard to fit it all in this post. Just know that I will there 2018 because I had the time of my life. It’s truly an experience that every curvy girl needs it’s more than just shopping it’s a celebration.
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