Obsession: Fatshionista

Came across THIS AWESOME FASHION COMMUNITY on Livejournal, called Fatshionista.

I. Am. So. Addicted.

Why it's awesome, in a very oversized nutshell

~"OOTD"s (Outfit Of The Day)s
Big beautiful girls of all 14+ varieties post outfits they've worn in public, and oh man, some are FANTASTIC! And it's great, because some post their height/weight, and kind of give you an idea of how you look from a different perspective (one girl has almost my exact measurements, and she's ADORABLE!!!)
I have not had a chance to post my own OOTD yet (but DAMN do I want to!!!), but looking through them all, you can see just how much people show the LURV! Comments and comments and comments on what you're wearing. Even on those I personally don't like XD Which is awesome!!

~SALE POSTS
Not people saying "OMFG Torrid has THIS on Sale" necessarily (although those are there from time to time), but on Fridays, other women in the group post sales posts - offering to sell and ship clothes they don't want anymore to anyone willing to buy! :D I am so into this idea, and kinda want to try and sell some of my stuff! (i.e. some shoes that don't fit, some shirts I never ever EVER wear, etc.). I love this aspect of the site, because some of the other people's stuff is ADORABLE, and I feel so much better about giving my stuff away if I know someone is going to actually really enjoy it! (I have problems giving stuff to Goodwill, where it could just sit and rot forever XD)

Take a gander at the awesomeness!! They also have a flickr group (which is how I initially found them) And I will let you guys know when I post my own first OOTD and what the experience was like! :D

OMG! Forever 21!

Check out these articles I found!:
http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-forever-21-jumps-on-plus-sized-bandwagon/
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2009/03/forever-21-to-l.html


"With all the over-filled racks and massive square footage of Forever 21 stores, you would think they would offer something for everyone at their notoriously mind-boggling low prices. But even with all that merchandise, the fast-fashion chain has never addressed plus-size customers, until now.

On May 1, they will launch Faith 21 a line of clothing similar to Forever 21, but in plus sizes.

Faith 21 will offer tops, jeans, tanks, leggings and skirts in a junior plus size as well as XL, 1X and 2X. The design aesthetic follows Forever 21’s trendy take on everything from runway knockoffs to jersey basics."

It appears it will only be available in select stores and online to start, but I really really REALLY hope this picks up hard, and that many more stores (Charlotte Russe for instance?) will offer similar options! If this becomes a normal thing, places like Torrid can't charge us an arm and a leg anymore and we can be stylish cheaply! :D Let's just hope!

Sometimes, the internet is awesome

Stores I think I'd Enjoy

There are a few stores out there that I've always wanted to shop at, or order clothes from, but have not yet... I thought I'd share these with you! :D

1) Avenue

There is really no excuse why I have not been to this store. There is one in Tucson, where I am for roughly a third of every year, during school breaks. But, I just never have gotten myself to the store.

It's very similar to Lane Bryant, in that it's a little more... um... mature in clothing tastes than places like Torrid and Fashion Bug. But I know there are some amazing finds there, for example...



OMG Dresses!

(*cough* Okay, and maybe seeing Avenue countless times on What Not To Wear has influenced me as well in the want-to-shop-here market *cough*)

2) Nordstrom

I used to frown upon this store because I'm pretty sure the preppy girls (*cough*EMD*cough*) talked about this / carried bags from here all the time in high school. But I have learned they have plus-size now - a lot of dept stores do now. (Mervyn's did! ;__; Merrrrvyyyyynnnn's! I miss yooou!) They don't go much bigger than a 3X (size 22-24ish). I don't know how much of their online content can be found at a normal Nordstrom store, which is why I'm curious and want to go.

Although, I can tell from the website, they aren't cheap. But, I think I'd still enjoy...

3) B & Lu

B & Lu is a store I stumbled-upon when I typed in "plus-size" into my StumbleUpon toolbar. XD Buuut... their stuff is KEEEE-YUTE!!!



HOWEVER! They are an online-only store, and there's something about ordering online that I reeeeally don't like the thought of. Mainly, it's hard for me to know whether or not something will fit me, even by measurements. The idea of ordering something, not having it fit, and having to go to the trouble of shipping it back for a refund/exchange is a little too much for me. Maybe one day, when I understand sizes and measurements and stuff better, or if I see something I-absolutely-gotta-have-right-now, then maybe I'll try it.

4) Alight.com

I JUST came across this website, and as far as online stores go, this one is FANTASTIC! Sooooo muuuuch to choose from!! It's listed as junior plus, so it doesn't seem to run into the old-lady-clothes problem as much as the other sites do. And some stuff just tickle. my. fancy!

I'm kinda all over this red dress... god, clearly I want dresses, cuz that's all I ever seem to post right now...



There are probably hundreds of other stores I wish I could go to (for example, Sock Dreams! :D SQUEE!), but to post them all here will take FOREVER! I mean, this post took me two weeks to write up fully and post XD So yeap.

Big Girls (You Are Beautiful) by Mika

Another attempt to make the world feel good! ^_^

This is possibly the greatest song ever! It's the inspiration behind the title for this blog, and totally makes me feel beautiful every time I watch it.



There. Big girls, don't you feel gorgeous now? Skinny girls, ain't you jealous! You wish you had these curves! *smacks her hips and blows a kiss!*

And now: THE LYRICS

Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) lyrics

Big girl you are beautiful

Walks in to the room
Feels like a big balloon
I said, 'Hey girls you are beautiful'
Diet coke and a pizza please
Diet coke I'm on my knees
Screaming 'Big girl you are beautiful'

You take your skinny girls
Feel like I'm gonna die
Cos a real woman
Needs a real man is why

You take your girl
And multiply her by four
Now a whole lotta woman
Needs a whole lot more

Get yourself to the Butterfly Lounge
Find yourself a big lady
Big boy come on around
And they'll be calling you baby

No need to fantasise
Since I was in my braces
A watering hole
With the girls around
And curves in all the right places

Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful

Walks in to the room
Feels like a big balloon
I said, 'Hey girls you are beautiful'
Diet coke and a pizza please
Diet coke I'm on my knees
Screaming 'Big girl you are beautiful'

You take your girl
And multiply her by four
Now a whole lotta woman
Needs a whole lot more

Get yourself to the Butterfly Lounge
Find yourself a big lady
Big boy come on around
And they'll be calling you baby

No need to fantasise
Since I was in my braces
A watering hole
With the girls around
And curves in all the right places

Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful

Get yourself to the Butterfly Lounge
Find yourself a big lady
Big boy come on around
And they'll be calling you baby

No need to fantasise
Since I was in my braces
A watering hole
With the girls around
And curves in all the right places

Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Oh you are beautiful

Get yourself to the Butterfly Lounge
Find yourself a big lady
Big boy come on around
And they'll be calling you baby

No need to fantasise
Since I was in my braces
A watering hole
With the girls around
And curves in all the right places

Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Oh you are beautiful

Get yourself to the Butterfly Lounge
Find yourself a big lady
Big boy come on around
And they'll be calling you baby

No need to fantasise
Since I was in my braces
A watering hole
With the girls around
And curves in all the right places

Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girls you are beautiful
Big girl you are beautiful

(Tee hee, they mention Diet Coke. I LOOOOVE Diet Coke!!" :D)

Stores I Enjoy

Okay, so, very random on that first bit. I figure NOW would be a good time to actually go into what stores I enjoy shopping at, being a big girl and all. Normal stores don't really cut it, so here's where I end up shopping at:

We'll start off with....

1) Torrid

The first store I really, really discovered with clothes designed just for ME! (Also the first store I walked into and tried stuff on and was amazed that clothes exist which didn't fit me, but in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION!! (in that, they were too big) O.O Who woulda known?!?! Seriously!)

Here are some items I am gushing about from there:



Gripes:


With the pants: seriously. W. T. F!?!??!?!O.o!!O.O!!o.O!!! Torrid: the 90's called. They were going to ask for their terrible taste back, but then thought better of it and instead asked for you to just trash it for them as quickly as possible. XD. Old grandma pants. Seriously.

With the cropped top thing - hasn't anyone figured out yet it just makes your tummy look bigger? Even when you're stick thin, it does. It also makes your boobs look small, and I dunno about you, but I like my girls and I want to give them attention. Give it up. It's not a good look.

With the t-shirts: it's a personal thing. I don't like t-shirts anymore. They too constricting. Feels like I'm being strangled. Urk! ugh. :P Also, I guess I'm just too old for those graphic tees now. Soooo.... juvenile! Gawd. ;) zomg-not-a-teenager-no-moar! Not too terribly disappointed bout that.

2) Lane Bryant

Lane Bryant is a more recent addition to my shopping experience. Went there a few times when I was younger, and thought "eeeew! Old lady clothes!" Which a lot of it still is, but there is some wonderful stuff to find there... mainly...

PANTS!!!

I'm big on the pants there. I got sick of Torrid's unflattering stuff (unflattering on me), and LOVE Lane Bryant's choices!!

I own:

and a pair of jeans that I couldn't find on their website XD They were clearance.

HOWEVER! One thing I dislike about Lane Bryant -- they assume if you're wide, you're tall. Both of these pants had to be hemmed. My mom did the hemming, and had to cut, literally, at least 6" from each pair, BEFORE folding in and hemming. Really, it has nothing to do with Lane Bryant - it would be this way even if I were stick thin and at Forever 21 or something. It's just what I get for being petite (they have petite-style pants, but I don't like their petite stuff very much... they'd probably need to be hemmed, too...)

Another problem, personally, with Lane Bryant is the prices there, mainly because I have no moneys... HOWEVER! Their clothes are quality, and they have amazing deals and specials to watch out for. Next to Lane Bryant, as well, is Cacique, their lingerie department, which is basically my entire panty-drawer now :D

3) Fashion Bug

Fashion Bug is definitely a great cheap alternative to the first two stores, and a younger alternative to Lane Bryant (I believe they're owned by the same company... it's 1am and I can't remember).

What I REALLY like about Fashion Bug, for me, is that it's not JUST plus sizes. They have misses and juniors too, which is wonderful. While my butt is big, I find myself having a hard time finding shirts that work for me, because in that realm, I'm an in-between: the smallest shirts at plus-sized stores often appear too big, while the biggest shirts at normal stores tend to be too small XD It's a curse. But at Fashion Bug, I can jump between sections! So, if you're a borderline like me, it's a great go! And if you're not a borderline like me, it's STILL awesome! It's also neat, because then you can go shopping with your not-alternatively-sized friends and neither of you will have to be annoyed having to stand around waiting for the other to try stuff on. XD I know how not fun that is...

4) Ross: Dress for Less

GASP! The cheap discount blah ew store? I list this here because the store has plus sizes (not the best selection, but they do!), and also aided me during the past two years of fashion identity crisis. I'm a broke college student, so a fashion identity crisis was a bit of a problem... XD I know their clothes are not the greatest, but it has been a great place to buy some cheap stuff I'm not sure about, and decide later if I want to go grander with it. I also like browsing Ross every so often when I need to satisfy my shopping craving, but don't have the bucks, and every so often, I find a gem! Also, the Ross near me is relatively nice. There are some awful ones out there - I advise going to the newest one you can find, if you're broke and questioning, like me.

That's what I got for now! To come: Stores I desperately want to check out, and possibly also stores I don't very much care for. :P Til then!

Tights, Socks, Leggings and Hosiery, Oh my!

So, I'm starting off this fashion blog adventure by talking about something new I'm gushing about a bit. A little premature maybe, since I don't own any of the things I want to gush about.... but I want to!

If you don't know what I'm gonna talk about, you need to learn to read titles :P

Okay, background:

My heaviest feature is, without a doubt, my huge chunky baby thighs. Hate them hate them hate them. My thighs rub together. It's awful. Because of this, I rarely wear skirts and dresses, unless I wear leggings underneath.

Leggings rock, but don't help me with my petite stature. They make me seem shorter... (I need pix...)

Further background: I'm currently internet-stalking this amazing blonde skinny Swedish girl with this amazing life I wish I had. (original page I stumbled upon: http://community.livejournal.com/blackcigarette/962637.html). She wears a lot of tights and stuff. Observe:



I love the idea of tights and stuff! It's been cold and snowy here lately, and I figured out tights+skirt=can haz wearing during winter. Also, tights can = no chafing on my thighs!!!

However, most tights I've tried don't work... usually they don't fit in the crotch as well, because they are SO TIGHT around my huge enormous bulbous thighs (and so crazy not-tight around my beautiful shapely calves). This was the case with some tights I tried from Target. Ended up giving them to my roommate. Spanx has some terrific options (particularly I want these floral cord tights) but they're uber crazy expensive, so I haven't gotten to try any yet.

But then, while google language translate-stalking the sw swedish-language blog, I came across this picture:


She uses garters!

And I thought "Well that's cool!" and "Hey... if SHE does, maybe I should!" Torrid and places like that always have thigh highs, which I don't buy, cuz they'll roll down my funnel-like thighs. But... what if I kept them from falling, with, oh, idunno, garters?!?! :D

So I googled it, and came across this website with Extra Long Suspender Sock Garters. According to the website:

"Extra long for larger legs and for wearing thigh high. Easily attach these sock garters with suspender clips instead of the
traditional garter slide, perfect for clipping to thick socks!"

It looks AWESOME, cuz the model in the picture has legs almost exactly like mine!

Along with those garters, they include these Harajuku Super Loose Socks, which are super cute awesome on their own, but could actually go up my legs like that!

So I'm gushing about the possibilities. Tights from Spanx and places could work, and leggings + garters + socks = wearing a dress/skirt and looking ADORABLE during the winter! We'll have to see!!

I also need to look into some anti-chafing stuff... I know sports stores have some, but I feel self concious buying some. X* TO THE INTERNETZ! Oh wait.... already here.