Comments on: Marie Claire’s Got a Pet Plus Size Columnist

By: Cat

Cat — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:24:59 +0000

What Valerian said–either the columnist or the magazine is showing zip respect for diversity of size–no fashion column focusing on the skinny would rant for six paragraphs, give four sentences of totally obvious “advice” in the seventh, and call it good. The loving-large article, yeah, times twelve. My 250-pound husband is smart, sweet, kind, dynamic, leaderly, funny, and, yes, hot. Marie Claire may never acknowledge that he exists, or can be worthy of love for himself, but screw them.

By: Valerian

Valerian — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:05:13 +0000

I agree with Sara- there are (not plenty but at least a growing number of) stores that cater to the plus-size market, and she throws out 3 pretty uninspiring picks, ‘normally’ straight-sized, with nary a word about what exact body type these DO fit. It’s such bad advice it wraps all the way around to just straight shaming behaviour.

People come in a lot of shapes, but Marie Claire seems to believe anyone over a 12 only comes in ONE: Fat.

M- as an in-betweenie engaged to an unambiguously large guy, I am absolutely mortally offended by that article. Could it be possible that I have a history of dating larger men because… that’s my type? No, clearly not! I just want to feel THIN next to my man. We don’t love each other or anything, it’s just all a quest for self-validation. Ugh.

By: Sara A.

Sara A. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:28:11 +0000

My biggest issue is that she advocates combing through straight size stores! I may occasionally luck out at Macy’s, Nordstrom, Gap, or Old Navy, but it’s just that lucking out. Why oh why is she advocating such frustration? It feels like she’s reinforcing the idea I had when I was younger that the plus size stores were beneath me. Now, I realize that getting a pair of jeans in a brand a thin person would recognize is not worth my effort and beneath me.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:39:25 +0000

I find both articles pretty inane. Advice for jeans is “try one of these 3, they go up to size 24″? Thanks. Would it kill you to add something to the effect of “these are good for a big butt & small waist, but for a big stomach & small hips, try these instead.”? Garbage. That lame “slideshow” of 3 pairs of jeans & no comment on them was clearly just an excuse to take that picture of her looking discouraged in the dressing room next to a model.

And the day-to-evening article? Where’s the plus-size part? Your advice is to accessorize? Thanks. Like that never crossed a plus size woman’s mind. Oh, you could also try this blazer from walmart. Super, but wait, isn’t that the blazer I’m supposed to be taking off to show my super cute tank or slinky wrap top? And that top is shown…nowhere. Thanks, really helpful.

My only question at this point is: Is this lame, unhelpful, tired old crap the fault of the author, or is it just par for the course for weak, uninspired womens magazine garbage?

By: Seegz

Seegz — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:29:53 +0000

Meanwhile, in the real world…

http://www.google.com/search?q=Peruvian+gang+body+fat&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

But no, I agree, let’s talk more about clothes and things.

By: M

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:33:11 +0000

Actually, I thought this was the more striking Marie Claire article recently: http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/relationship-issues/articles/love-large-men

By: deeleigh

deeleigh — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:19:04 +0000

On the one hand, it’s nice to have someone who actually shops at plus sized stores doing a column in a mainstream fashion mag. On the other hand, it would be nice if she acknowledged that not all plus sized women are shaped the same way. The jeans, for example. What body types do they fit, anyway? Hers?

By: Chris G

Chris G — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:38:46 +0000

I don’t think that any of the recent attention fat chicks are getting in the glossy mags is the result of the magazines ‘getting’ it. I think it’s recession-driven logic: an attempt to expand their audience in tough times.

If you’re in the target market for these sorts of mags, then should you buy them? If you don’t, they’ll use it as an excuse to exclude fatties when things are good again – the old ‘we tried that and it didn’t work’ argument. But then again, it’s only when they have to tighten their own belts that they consider fat chicks worthy customers.

I’d go with telling them to get stuffed. Better to buy a mag that has always targeted fatties, if one exists.

By: ABC

ABC — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:07:36 +0000

I’m amazed and pleased that she mentioned that she goes through jeans quickly because of chub rub. Wow. A mainstream publication dealing with some of the reality of fat thighs like mine. I love it!

By: Typ0

Typ0 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:56:23 +0000

I wish that this columnist could be a “columnist” rather that at “plus sized columnist.” *sigh* I suppose it’s a start.