In the news

Yesterday Blogger was down so I didn't get a chance to write about two "fat in the news" articles I read.


Article one was about how Chelsea Handler is fat bashing Kirstie Alley. It got my dander up, aren't we all adults? Must we be mean and petty and pick on one another? Is it really necessary to use her weight as the target when there are other things to say something about. *cough* scientology *cough *
I'm curious why Chelsea Handler feels Kirstie is a threat to her, enough so that she needs to make jabs at Kirstie? I get that as women we are catty and fucked up to one another on the age old basis of: other women = competition, but really this is stupid. 
I remember a few years ago cosmo or glamor magazine wrote some nasty tid bit about Kirstie Alley and her weight; in return I sent them and email scolding them for being play ground bullies vs. a fashion magazine for the brain dead masses. That aside I think it just goes to show how far the whole "size issue" really is the last form of acceptable discrimination. It's not just in everyday privet life, but in the mass media as well. Yes make a fat joke get a laugh, har har, GROW UP!


Second Story is the same thing only less celebrities (sort of), This is about yet another miss step by Southwest Airlines kicking someone fat off a flight, and publicly humiliating them to boot.. Tiggeman T.F.T.F. southwest. When will this airline do the right thing and teach their gate staff not to be total dicks?! This poor woman and her mother were made to feel less than human. It is beyond wrong what southwest did, and how they handled the situation makes me want to puke.
The Article sites Director Kevin Smith's similar issue that happened last year (there is your celebrity connection) Who coined the phrase 'Tf Tf' in his later Smod cast on the issue. You would think that after all the negative press southwest keeps getting over this, they would learn that the media eats these stories up. Being that I travel a whole lot I am always scared that I too will get kicked off a flight for my chubby butt. I am lucky though most of the time it has never been an issue. 


However once when I was flying to L.A. I had a man sitting next to me whom treated me like I had the plague due to my size (odd as I was only about a size 20 back when this happened). I had taken my assigned seat, put my head phones on but didn't have my CD player on yet, had my book open on my lap and was starting to read; this man walks up looks at me makes an exasperated sigh then sits down to let other passengers by to take their seats.(Now i fit perfectly in my seat no problem with room to spare) I'm going to guess he figured I had music playing and couldn't hear him, because soon as a flight attendant walked near us he flagged her down and asked to be reseated, "I don't want to sit next to someone who might encroach on my space, can you find me a different seat?" The flight attendant glanced at me, shrugged he shoulders and said that they were about to push back so he would have to wait. He seemed flustered but nodded at her. After a few moments the last of the passengers were on the plane, the captain came over the speaker system saying because the flight wasn't very full that we had a weight balance issue, so if people would like to find other seats further back in the plane please do so now to we can take off with better weight distribution. I have never seen anyone get up and move away from me so fast in my life! The man for up and almost sprinted away from me. Clearly this had a lasting impression, lucky for me I'm not sure many people over heard the conversation. Despite that it hurt me anyway.


All I can say to both of these stories is if you a bigger person: Do not let others police your body. Do not simply let people think it is okay to treat you badly based on nothing more than your size. Bullies come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Being big does not mean you don't have the same rights as everyone else! Stand up for your self and your dignity when faced with bad treatment, no matter the situation. And if all else fails talk about it with the right people, and you can show the world what assholes the people who treat you like crap really are.


Fight!!
Raven

I'm an addict

Hi my name is Raven, And I'm addicted to vintage clothes. 


Yesterday I mentioned that I'm a cheap bitch when it comes to buying clothes. I should clarify this statement, or put a foot note on it. "I am a cheap bitch when it comes to clothes; accept when it's vintage clothes".  I have a very large weak spot when it come to all things vintage. be it house wears, accessories,  my glasses frames, shoes, cars, music... but especially... dresses. *swoons*


There is just something about the vintage shape of clothing, it really does flatter the form of the curvy. And do you know why? I mentioned it in my fatshion rant; Structure! The way the clothes were cut, and then fit to a body were built in such a way that it accentuated that good parts, and ignores the parts you'd rather ignore. 


SO this being what every fat chick likes but can't find in todays clothing hell, I tend to shop.. and spend waaay to much money on vintage dresses. And really buying vintage stuff in the bigger sizes.. isn't cheap. worth it... but expensive as far as addictions go.


I have a small but amazing collection of dresses I adore! but I also go the extra mile and snap up vintage patterns to sew my own clothing. I'm lucky that my grandmother taught me to sew, and read patterns. she was an amazing seamstress. The woman looked like Sophia Loren back in the day. she was one hot bitch! (i'm willing to overlook her being the poster child for eating disorders, before such things even had a name... but I digress). My Gram knew how to rock a hand made dress and she lovingly helped fat little Raven over the years with making many a costume, and dress.





I have also learned a few tricks for the vintage look on a dime. Easy fix for something shapeless and down right ugly.. like this awful yellow house coat/dress/possible tent I own.. the thing is super shapeless but vintage,  has a metal zipper, has cute pockets! and I payed maybe $10 for it. I can see there is potential, just need to figure out what it needs, other than a to be burned for being so fugly. 


*Side note* The best look on a curvy frame unless you looked like Marilyn was, for late 40's through the early 60's was the shirt waist dress. simple classic clean look. structured top, and a nice full bottom. in a bevy of colors, patterns, sleeve styles, and embellishments. good for work and play!


Now how do I transform said sack of yellow tent into something that shows my curves like the dress mentioned above? And without getting out my sewing machine; since I want to be out the door in 5 minutes? Simple and easy, with every girls favorite accessory! A simple stretchy belt worn on the high waist almost at the under bust. < This simple fix for something that fits too big and has no shape will then create a shape by hugging the body at what should be its smallest point, drawing attention to the bust area then flowing out to the full bell of the dresses skirt. I call it the instant hourglass effect. 


For a more permeant fix I can simply dart the dress in a few key locations to give it the same structure and effect. The stretchy belt is a damn good fix all on its own. Especially for those of you who don't sew (like my sister, who wouldn't know how to turn the damn machine on to save her life).


So my addiction to vintage, is also a lesson on what fits your body. Even the illusion of structure in clothing makes frumpy look fantastic. I highly suggest everyone own at least one belt that can be used for such emergency measures. I also suggest that every curvy girl learn what flatters her body. find one really nice vintage thing, give it a loving home and let the structure in that stuff speak for its self. what you pay for a fantastic vintage piece of clothing will be worth every penny.


Alternatively you can lean to sew! Even make nice with other chicks who are crafty bitches. Heck you can even find people on etsy willing to sew you something that will fit your body.


Don't be afraid to get something ugly on the cheap either! If it fits and you like something about it; alter it and accessorize till you like what you see.


Kisses!
Raven

a rant on fatshion.

Why oh why must cute clothes not have proper fit for a plus size?
when I say fit i don't mean it in a size sense so much as a fit as in tailoring.
I am beyond sick of buying clothes that have no real fit nor flair to flatter my curves. even regular women's clothes seem to have strayed from a more fit look. and i've got to say off the rack clothes are down right frumpy looking. Structure is important!!

I am a fortunate soul who loves to sew and is somewhat good at it. However I have a very difficult time spending upwards of $70 on a dress(not to mention the $50 for a top.. a top that has less than 2 yards of fabric), that I then have to alter the shit out of to make it cute for my body. or worse have to add to it to make it a fashion do, rather than a fashion "OMG you look like crap, don't you own a mirror?!?".

add to that the fact that the fashion industry not only hates fat chicks.. it also feels the need to gouge prices.. or make things in god awful prints...or ewww poly knit.. or any sort of knit fabric that clings un-lovingly to bits that need not have things clung to it.. 
while we are on the fabric content thing, whatever happened to good old cotton? or even natural based fabrics, you know the stuff that breathes, and can keep you warm and cool??? (not that I don't love my vinyl and once and a while latex.. but not everyday.)
and can you say shoddy fabric offerings??? and bad construction. I ordered a dress from B&lu.com and literally wore it for 10 minutes and the damn strap broke!! I wasn't even doing anything other than standing in the laundry room talking to my friend as he moved his clothes from the washer and the dryer. If you ask me that constitutes bad construction and poor fabrics. 

I put major effort into looking cute and finding clothes that work for me, i'd dig a little help when it comes to options. I also feel that the mass public of chubby chicks who might not have the ability to do the same as me should have a little help. since how can anyone expect us to look good when there is sooo much bad fashion out there marketed to us?

Oh and fashion industry incase your reading, just because my ass is semi-big doesn't mean i'm tall!! If i have to hem another pair of pants due to them getting longer as they get big, I might just sew my finger together. Oh and my legs didn't get bigger as the pants got larger either. no one should have to take off 6 inches ( i wish i was kidding) of pant leg to make it look like i have legs and a cute butt in the pants.

Oh and all that cool alternative clothing that is out there, START MAKING BIGGER SIZES!!! at minimum sell patterns so us crafty bitches can sew something awesome too! 


And at this juncture i'd like to extend a hearty FUCK YOU to torrid who once (a long time ago) had fun, funky clothes that were well made, comfortable, unique and awesome, what the fuck happened??? what happened to quality, value, and variety of styles? Where did the rockabilly, punk, club/rave wear go??? You do know we aren't all pink loving divas out here ( i like to think the bbw kink community is all nodding in semi agreement).
Want to see two fat girls of a similar size get in to a fight? drop a peice of vintage torrid wear in between them and watch how they go at it. Hell do it the easy way and watch an ebay auction over that shit. Yeah we are brutal when it comes to that shit.

Earth to torrid.. psst .. *whispers* come here i wanna tell you something... You were doing something right. Why oh why go tell your customers to fuck off and wear horrible clothes that make you look like everyone else... when clearly some of us like that we aren't cookie cutter chicks? Aren't there enough places that make plus size crap that is "normal"? wasn't your niche for the alternative set?? hmm I think it was. (yeah i'm still bitter about this). Diva style my ass.


kisses!
Raven