Do you remember when Karl Lagerfield was fat, and you got the feeling he sort of hated himself? He wore a lot of big, black clothes that covered him all the way up, and wandered around flapping a little fan in front of his face, in order, one assumes, to hide his double chin. It […]

Filed under: Celebrities, Diet Talk Warning, Fashion, Fatism, Gossip, Humor, International, Media, Weight Loss | 12 Comments »

I just found out there is a second season of Project Runway Australia, so of course, I had to look it up on YouTube. Watching the opening credits I spotted a fat chick, who reminded me of the awesome Jessica Biffi on Project Runway Canada. Then I started watching the episode, and I found even […]

Filed under: Fashion, Feel Good Friday, Humor, International, Project Runway, TV, Video | 2 Comments »

That’s right, fat people will be the death of the mitten industry! At least, according to this article sent in by Jez. Brace yourselves for a glimpse into our terrifying future… If Americans keep getting fatter, there will be no need for mittens in the future. That’s what the results of a new federal study […]

Filed under: Fashion, Fatism, Humor | 30 Comments »

Thanks to everyone who commented in the jeans thread; I thought I’d tried every plus-sized jean there is, but it turns out, not even close. I can’t wait to try some of the brands you guys mentioned! Thanks to a handy-dandy random number generator at Random.org, the winners of the contest have been chosen! Out […]

Filed under: Fashion, Meta | 14 Comments »

I live in jeans, basically. I wear them all the time–with a T-shirt to hang out around the house, with a blazer or nice top to teach in, under sweater dresses–all the time. So as you can imagine, I have Opinions about various brands of plus-size jeans. Allow me to take you on my journey, […]

Filed under: Fashion, Meta, Old Navy, Target | 156 Comments »

Kimberly writes the very excellent, fashion-forward, budget-conscious blog “Fab Finds Under $50,” and recently she tackled a reader’s question: I wear a size 22/24. And because of you I’ve recently developed a love for dresses. Before I would maybe only wear a dress a couple times per year. I’ve just graduated college in May so […]

Filed under: Fashion, Fat Positive, Feel Good Friday, Old Navy, Target | 5 Comments »

That was the subject line of an e-mail from Laurie in response to the news that Ann Taylor is joining retailers like Old Navy and making their plus-sizes “online only.” (Not that they offer a lot of plus sizes anyway, as far as I know.) Another loss for the plus size woman. Ann Taylor announced […]

Filed under: Fashion, Old Navy, Question, Target | 29 Comments »

fat boxerOriginally uploaded by mo pie Show History has a fascinating compilation of names and pictures and brief biographies of fat people who worked as attractions in carnival sideshows. (They were also known as “freaks.”) A little background: Professional Fat Folk of an earlier age lived to astound a public for whom not having enough […]

Filed under: Celebrities, Cold Hard Cash, Fashion, Food, Old Timey, Theater, Video, WLS | 4 Comments »

It’s Project Runway night, and we still haven’t talked about who we love (Shirin for the win, people) or plus-sexy designer Qristyl Frazier. She was featured before the season on Tom and Lorenzo’s blog and Fat and Fab Chic, where Fabby said: I absolutely love this show, it is definitely among my top five on […]

Filed under: Fashion, Project Runway, TV | 9 Comments »

This is so cool: a collection of antique photographs of beauty queens, sent in by BFDiva and tipster extraordinaire Jez, who says: I stumbled upon this collection of antique beauty queen photographs. Unfortunately, they do not date them, but I would guess around the late 1920s based on their hair and makeup. I thought it […]

Filed under: Celebrities, Fashion, Feminism, Old Timey, Tidbit, Zooey Deschanel | 41 Comments »

Is apparently in, with hipsters, as a rebellious gesture in light of Obama’s hot abs. And they’re calling it the “Ralph Kramden”–at least the New York Times is. Oh my god, fashion, you are so weird. Too pronounced to be blamed on the slouchy cut of a T-shirt, too modest in size to be termed […]

Filed under: Celebrities, Fashion, Feminism | 15 Comments »

It’s summertime, which means many of us are getting in pools and worrying about looking fat in our bathing suits when really we should be swimming and diving and doing cannonballs and swimming with dolphins and drinking drinks out of coconuts and being awesome! Hopefully most of us are doing that, and not stressing out, […]

Filed under: Fashion, Fat Suits, International, TV | 61 Comments »

We love Beth Ditto. We love her when she’s totally naked. We have loved her since she was first totally naked. And we love her when she’s wearing clothes, too. One of my favorite quotes, to this day, is from her interview in BUST–“This is the number one thing: just because something makes you look […]

Filed under: Beth Ditto, Celebrities, Fashion, Fat Positive, Gossip, International, Media, Music, Question | 25 Comments »

free for chubbiesOriginally uploaded by mo pie It’s an old-timey Lane Bryant ad! One of the Creepiest Vintage Ads of All Time. Personally, I think the creepiest one is the Love’s Baby Soft ad. But a case could certainly be made for “is it always illegal to kill a woman?” Or… most of the other […]

Filed under: Advertising, Fashion, Feminism, Old Timey | 11 Comments »

We’ve talked a little bit recently about how plus-size options are dwindling away because retailers are stupid and shortsighted and ought to be kicked in the head and it is all pretty angry-making, but here is something that sounds like kind of an antidote: the very first “Full-Figured Fashion Week” is being staged next week […]

Filed under: Advertising, Cold Hard Cash, Fashion, Fat Positive, Media | 14 Comments »

SWAK sweaterOriginally uploaded by mo pie A while back, the kind folks at SWAK Designs offered to send me an item of clothing or two to try out (and be brutally honest about, of course). Since I’m always happy to find another source for plus-size fashion in these uncertain times, I said, and I’m paraphrasing […]

Filed under: Fashion, Feel Good Friday, Meta, Personal, Question | 17 Comments »

I am totally addicted to Bravo’s Fashion Show (or as we call it at our house, Project Fakeway). Isaac Mizrahi is a delight, and I even like Kelly Rowland. Last week, they had the obligatory “real” woman challenge. (Sorry, size zero models, that you are not “real.”) In this instance, the “real” women were actually […]

Filed under: Fashion, Fashion Show, Fat Positive, Fatism, TV | 19 Comments »

So you guys will have to tell me if I missed any big awesome discussions or news items while I was away, other than MeMe Roth still existing and being more or less insane, which it looks like was pretty well covered already. Today, I’m catching the buzz that plus size fashion options are yet […]

Filed under: Cold Hard Cash, Fashion, Fatism, Kids, Meta | 26 Comments »

They keep throwing the numbers around–the average woman, according to any number of sources from any number of surveys, is anywhere from a size 12 to a size 14 or 16 and up. They keep saying that plus-size fashion is the most under-represented and under-served segment of the retail market. They keep saying that plus-size […]

Filed under: Fashion, Fatism, Old Navy | 33 Comments »

Jezebel has discovered that you don’t have to be skinny to be stylish! It’s true! While it’s kind of hilarious that this is an exclamatory phrase full of revelation, as if they have just discovered fire or similar, I love that the fatshionistas, who really are wickedly stylish, are getting major media attention and love […]

Filed under: Advocacy, Fashion, Fat Positive, Media | 5 Comments »

I want beautiful, healthy women of all sizes to be represented in fashion; I want magazines to show women who are so-called “average” and “normal” (size 12-14), and I want magazines to show plus-size ladies all up and down the range of body types and sizes. I get angry when I see only size zeros […]

Filed under: Celebrities, Crystal Renn, Fashion, International, Magazines, Media | 23 Comments »

beth ditto basically rules Originally uploaded by mo pie In 1998, the Body Shop ran the Ruby campaign, featuring a size 22ish Barbie au naturale, reclining on a chaise. It was the campaign that woke up my little size acceptance brain, just the audacity of the Mattel icon looking, well, a lot like me (disclaimer: […]

Filed under: Advertising, Beth Ditto, Celebrities, Fashion | 14 Comments »

I finally got around to watching this week’s episode of America’s Next Top Model, where contestant London Levi was eliminated. Her “shocking weight gain” of 10-15 pounds was first introduced last week, when Paulina Poritzkova told her she was wearing “unflattering” shorts, and the camera zoomed in on her thighs. This week, she cried about […]

Filed under: ANTM, Celebrities, Fashion, Media, TV, Tyra Banks | 38 Comments »

BFDiva M is in a predicament that everyone who is searching for the perfect outfit can understand. I have a question for the readers in New York City/the surrounding suburbs. I just got engaged and I’m looking for a wedding dress. I’ve heard/read a lot of horror stories about shopping for wedding dresses from women […]

Filed under: Fashion, Question | 21 Comments »

I’ve been struck down with some kind of death illness for the past few days. You’d think that being curled up on my couch for 72 hours would mean I could manage a blog post or two, but it hasn’t seemed that way. I’m hoping to be back in action tomorrow, but in the meantime, […]

Filed under: Advertising, Advocacy, Celebrities, Fashion, Kids, Meta, Personal, Sex & Romance, TV | 11 Comments »