Friday, June 27, 2008

The Fat Experience Project

From http://thefatexperience.com/...

The Fat Experience Project® is an oral, visual and written history project which seeks to be a humanizing force in body image activism.

By collecting and sharing the many and varied stories of individuals of size, the Fat Experience Project® seeks to engage with, educate, empower and enrich the lives of people of size, our allies and the world at large.

The goal of the Fat Experience Project® is to map the experience of fat in a way that is human, has a face, a heart, a mind, a body and a voice. The goal is to listen and repeat - the good and the bad, the hard and the joyful and everything in between - in a way that may ultimately bring compassion to folks who don’t understand. More importantly, however, we hope The Fat Experience Project® will allow the folks who are hearing/reading their own words echoed back to them across the pages, fall in love with themselves and each other just a little more.

We believe that, at the root of discrimination and judgment, there is often an unfortunate lack of basic understanding.

We believe that conversation — hearing the truth of others, and speaking our own truths — can be a healing force.

We believe that shared experience is key to compassion, and that internalized shame often loses its power when spoken aloud.

We believe that sizeism, racism, classism, ableism, sexism, transphobia and homophobia are related issues whose intersections may best be understood through the exploration of personal impacts.

We believe that the personal is political.

We believe that your lives are precious, your words are precious and your courage is precious.

We hope that you will share all of the above with us.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Wardrobe

My general opinon of clothes is the more the merrier, but usually that is not practical. We have all gone through sizing or life changes that lead to wardrobe woes. What if you have to get a new wordrobe from scratch? What are the pieces you MUST have?

I have consulted many online lists covering the subject. The best one comes from the fabulous Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen in her list of The Staples For Every Woman's Wardrobe.

This is my must-have list:
Pants
· Suit Pants, matches jacket
· Black Pants for day or evening
· Neutral work pants in beige or grey
· Jeans for heels
· Jeans for flats
· Casual pants, maybe khakis

Skirts/Dresses
· Black Sheath Dress
· Black Pencil Skirt (or A-line if it’s a better fit)
· Neutral work skirt in beige or grey (or another pair of pants, if you prefer)

Tops
· Black t-shirt
· White t-shirt
· ¾ sleeve neutral cotton shirt
· 2-5 more work shirts in bright colors
· Sexy shirt

Jackets/sweaters
· Suit Jacket, matches pants
· Colored Jacket, works with black and neutral pants
· Black Cardigan, works with all bottoms

Shoes
· Black comfy heels
· Bright comfy flats
· Sexy shoes
· Neutral walking shoes
· Black boots
· Chic sandals

Coats
· Trench coat
· Winter coat

Accessories
· One great bag, preferably in leather
· Classic earrings (pearls, gold/silver hoops, studs)
· Scarves for around your neck, wrist, waist or tied to your bag

iClick

While I am sometimes able to find a shirt or sweater in an actual shop (usually TJ Maxx or Marshalls), they rarely have enough items to complete a wardrobe. I complicate things even more with my long legs and desire for one or two items that are not 100% polyester.

So it is fabulous to have so many opportunities to purchase cute clothing above a size 12 online. However, it sucks that one can't physically try on garments before purchase, especially when shipping is pricey and non-refundable.

I am a fashionista, or as much of one as I can offord to be, and have scowered The Internets in search of stylish and flattering garments.

Better selection online, but you can return in-store:
Online stores:
(* I have ordered from, + I really like their stuff)
Designers/Brands I like:
  • AK Anne Klein at Nordstrom, Saks, Macy’s
  • Caslon at Nordstrom
  • Classiques Entier at Nordstrom
  • Dana Buchman at Saks
  • Eileen Fisher at Saks
  • INC International Concepts only at Macy’s
  • Jones New York at Macy’s
  • Nine West at Macy’s

Designers/Brands I covet:
  • Anna Scholz at Neiman Marcus
  • DKNY at Saks
  • Gayla Bentley at Neiman Marcus
  • Marina Rinaldi at Neiman Marcus, Saks
  • MICHAEL Michael Kors at Nordstrom, Macy’s
  • Rachel Pally at Nordstrom
  • Svoboda at Neiman Marcus, Saks