I was shopping yesterday and since its AC – After Christmas - the bathing suits are starting to appear. I’m OK with that.
It can be good – if you buy your suit now you get dibs on the coolest new stuff – or is that the old stuff from last year that no one wanted? (oops - off topic.)Anyway – I am checking out my size, 16, and what do my eyes spy?
They spy a bikini.
Right there on a hanger clearly marked with a 16. I think this must be wrong and I look at the tag.
Sure enough – it also says 16. Now this is alarming to me.
See, I am aware that my size 16 body really isn’t bikini material.
I don’t want to see it in a bikini and I am fairly certain that no one else does either.
But there are people out there who don’t know about their bodies.
They will buy that bikini and assault my eyes at the beach this summer.
They will tell themselves – 'Well it is navy blue – which is almost black and black is slimming so I can wear this.'
Ladies – Don’t do it. Black as night doesn't always hide what we think it does.
Let’s stop and make an honest assessment here -
Most of us really are not big boned, athletic women whose stuff doesn’t jiggle.
Is it really flattering to put our bodies in what amounts to a couple of napkins and some shoe laces?
I’m not being mean, it’s true.
I am big boned and guess what? My stuff jiggles.
Napkins and shoelaces ain’t gonna cut it.
My stuff jiggles. AND NO ONE WANTS TO SEE IT IN A
Why is the fashion industry providing us women of substance a choice like this? A bikini?
I have a theory: I think they are preying on our insecurities.
I said it - some of us are not happy with our weight, we secretly want to be thin but haven’t gotten our act together. We are insecure.
Yes I know – some of us are really at peace with ourselves, we love ourselves and know we are beautiful regardless of what the media or anyone else says. And some of us with that mind set will wear a bikini and we should. Go for it if you are that secure. But I think there are not that many of you out there. I think that many of the ladies I see are really just hoping that it looks good becasue you know why would it have been in the store if it wasn't OK?
Because someone is making a ton of money that's why!
I try to have this love myself attitude but I lose as many days as I win.
I think that those of you who feel good way more often than not are lucky ladies and you are few and far between – I really think that far more of us struggle to love ourselves. And I think the fashion industry has caught on and is using our insecurities. I think most women wear inappropriate clothes because they trust in the media and the designer. Big Mistake, IMO.
It seems to me that the fashion industry has said to themselves about us substantial women– “Lets make everything in large sizes – they will buy it because they want to fit in with the fabulous people. AND we can charge more because we need more material to dress those fat asses – I mean, the larger woman who is insecure will read ‘Fabulous’ as ‘Thin’. It is still acceptable in our society to ridicule the larger person. And did I really say 'Fit In' up there? So without regard for our appearance or well being they mass produce EVERYTHING in larger sizes.
Bikinis, crop tops, strapless tops, tube tops …..
Crop tops? Fairly thin girls who have just a tad extra stuff hanging over the top of their jeans and out the bottom of the crop top are not attractive – why would we want to show our extra stuff and think it is attractive?
If you are a woman of substance your girls need a little underwire help – you feel me? And you know what strapless bras are all about – an all day tug fest. Who needs it? Why would anyone promote it?
Tube tops. really? There isn’t anything else to say here.
Why do we buy into it?
Does it seem that way to anyone else? Does it seem that there is not a desire to accessorize the female shape and enhance its beauty but rather a desire to make money and be damned with the damage done?
What designers really care about the curvy woman? Well there are some, Liz Claiborne, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein.
Hey - Want to know where to get some Plus Size Ladies Shirts and support a good cause?
Ian Somerhalder Foundation - Yeah the guy from The Vampire Diaries - turns out he is not just another pretty face (and abs and arms and oh off topic...) He cares about our planet and the animals on it. Us Fluffy Girls can get some ISF wear and support the good work too - I received my t shirt and it is true to size. Check it out:
http://www.isfoundation.com/
