Way To Go, Scarlett & Jo!

It's been five weeks since I began #thisisplus, a campaign for diversity in models and plus size representation on the high street. Of course there are a few brands who already do this and the first brand that always comes to mind when I think of equal representation across the board is Scarlett & Jo.

If you've ever searched for a brand which supports, no, LOVES to design beautiful functional clothes for ladies with curves and rolls, you need look no further. Scarlett & Jo is the one.
They don't take small patterns and make them big. They make patterns which consider curves from the outset and create timeless classics in fabrics and styles which flatter and fit plus sizes, from tunics to maxis to 40s style tea dresses.

Previously only available at Evans, Scarlett & Jo have recently extended to include Yours Clothing amongst their resellers and today they launch their very own website at scarlettandjo.com.

I'm so excited by this as Scarlett & Jo have been the frontrunners in championing every body and showcasing their clothes on models of different sizes, shapes, ages and heights for a very long time.

Long may it continue!

A photo posted by Scarlett & Jo (@scarlettandjo) on Oct 10, 2015 at 4:26am PDT

A photo posted by Scarlett & Jo (@scarlettandjo) on Oct 10, 2015 at 4:38am PDT

Don't forget to visit Scarlett & Jo and check out the different ranges at Evans and Yours Clothing (where their purple velvet prom dress is to die for).

#THISISPLUS at Curve Fashion Festival

It's been a week since the launch of the #thisisplus campaign and I have been completely bowled over by the response. Hundreds of submissions have come pouring in on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and email, showing us that us plus size shoppers really do feel left out in the cold when it comes to "plus size" high street advertising campaigns.

I want to thank everyone single one of you for supporting this campaign in its infancy. You are all amazing individuals and it could not have happened without you. Thank you!

Beauty In All Shapes & Sizes

I'm sure you are aware that Curve Fashion Festival took place over the weekend and despite not being able to attend the event myself, I was inundated with photos from the incredible Daisy (daisysays.co.uk) who flew the #thisisplus flag in my absence.

Thank you Daisy!

By all accounts the Curve Fashion Fest was the place to be last weekend for any plus size fatshionistas and I'm so proud that #thisisplus was not only represented but also supported by so many.

Ruby, Becky,  Steph
Sharon, Tanya, Kat
Nikki, Daisy, Sarah

I am more inspired now than ever before to show brands who we are and why we're not happy with this promotional image of plus size in all its 5ft 10in size 16 hourglass glory. This Is Plus and it will not go quietly.

Lucie, Lisa Riley, Lottie

Remember to tag your images on Instagram and Twitter with #thisisplus and keep sharing!

#THISISPLUS - The Campaign For ALL Plus Size Bodies

We've all seen by now the plus size campaigns by the likes of Evans and Lane Bryant, championing all shapes and sizes and throwing around catchphrases and hashtags like 'Style Has No Size' and 'Plus Is Equal' whilst parading women around the high street and in shop windows.

In Case You Missed It...

But these campaigns have left a sour taste in the mouths (and fingers) of social media users the world over.
People are quite rightly asking, if style has no size, why are all of the models on the lowest end of plus size? Where is the size 24 model? The size 32? Where are the women of colour? Who is representing the petite among us? Why can't we see a shorter model amongst the 5'8+ leggy ladies?
It seems that unless you are tall, white and have and flat tummy to complement your size 16 hourglass figure, then plus is NOT equal.

But it should be. It has to be.
Who out there will represent my hanging belly? Who represents Sarahs 4ft 11 in frame?

Sarah blogs at plussizeproud.co.uk

In the same way that we can't get style inspiration from a size 6 mannequin, we can't be inspired by barely-plus models posing for photoshoots in shop windows. Plus bodies are so so varied and we need the clothing industry to realise that. To represent and inspire ALL. OF. US.

Inspirational plus size bloggers Katt (fatgirlforlife.co.uk), MoG (murderofgoths.co.uk) and Tanya (secretplussizegoddess.com)

#THISISPLUS is a tag for everyone but specifically anyone who feels that the high street plus size campaigns do not represent them. For the petite ladies, the older women among us, those of us with visible belly outlines or darker skin or a shape that differs from "industry standard."

#THISISPLUS is for you.

The world is not made up of industry standard people. We should not have to aspire to fit these standards. The outdated ideals are old fashioned and need a fresh start. We are all beautiful in our bodies and we deserve for those bodies to be represented fairly.

#thisisplus exists to show the international plus size industry that they need to take note. To change things up and start celebrating ALL plus size bodies, not opt for the same old formula that showcases only a tiny percentage of the people it is supposed to represent.

#OMCZ - Bare Arms

Its the weekend! And the time has come for me to rejoin the Outside My Comfort Zone challenge! 

For various health reasons over the past few weeks,  I've been a little bit rubbish on the blog front so hopefully this challenge will keep me focused and get me back on track.

This months challenge is Bare Arms.

This is something that I struggled with even as recently as last year. But this year I realised that the world won't stop and stare even if my upper arms are giant so I might as well just get on with it.

These are a selection of my most recent sleeveless faves.

How do you feel about having your arms on show?

See what the following bloggers thing by clicking their links below.

Steph
Sarah
Becky Brown
Nikki
Leah
Natalie
Gillian
Mary
Hollie
Becca
Sam
Sharon
Lottie
Kaye
Katt
Kathryn
Mookie

Bodyshaming Instagram has banned #curvy

Only a few months ago my account with Instagram was closed without warning. On the same day, I encountered a group of other users raising the same issue on the Instagram Facebook page. The only thing we had in common? The word curvy in our usernames. I kicked up a bit of a fuss and my account was reinstated with no official explanation. 

I thought that was the end of my experience with their unacceptable body shaming but Instagram has caused a storm once again with its shameful restricting of certain search terms. 

From today, if you search for the hashtag #curvy, you will be met with this page.

That's right folks. The curvy hashtag has been filtered out of Instagram searches to show no results. 

I was informed that this was also the case for #skinny and #thin but upon investigation I have found that you can search for these hashtags and after accepting a content warning popup, you can browse the results freely.

So... why the total ban on #curvy? Can they not think of an appropriate warning?

An update from Buzzfeed:

A spokesperson from Instagram said the hashtag #curvy is not searchable because, according to the company, it was being used to share images and videos that violated Instagram's community guidelines around nudity.

But of course searching for clitoris or cunts is still entirely okay.

I find it disgusting that this filter is in place yet you can find hundreds of fatshaming images with a few clicks.

So heres the deal: I don't want to miss out on all the beautiful curvesome photos that the users of Instagram have to offer so from now on I will be using #curvee on my IG photos instead.

Please feel free to do the same and spread the word. 

Date With A Prom Dress

Last month I spent a lot of time trying on clothes in Evans (as can be evidenced by my From The Changing Room post) but I was stuck with the dilemma of only being able to take home one item.

I tried on dress after dress, even a pair of trousers! And what did I choose?!

This!
The mesh insert prom dress has flown off shelves and it's easy to see why. The quality and attention to detail in the Scarlett & Jo dresses make them many fatshionistas favourite brand and one of the main reasons to visit Evans.

This dress has a mesh panel which reveals a gorgeous sweetheart neckline and an elasticated waist which gives this dress the signature Scarlett & Jo Prom Dress look.
Lucky for me this dress is also lined with a net petticoat which helps it retain some shape even on the most blustery of days!

My biggest little was feeling a little left out and joined me for a photo. Check the hands on hips pose!

Sadly our photo session was cut short thanks to the wind and a shaky tripod. Perhaps he'll join me again soon, who knows!

Outtake anyone?

Unfortunately this dress is now sold out but Evans currently have a fantastic sale on and many gorgeous Scarlett & Jo pieces have been slashed in price.

What Is Plus Size?

Humans exist in so many ways. Bodies are so varied. So how do we determine which category each body belongs to? What is plus size?

To me, plus size isn't a dress size, or a body shape.

To me it's in how you feel.


Trigger Warning: eating disorders and body dysmorphia



As someone who was once a size 12-14, at my lowest weight since my mid-teens, with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia, even back then I considered myself to be grossly overweight. I would eat under 250 calories a day and still dress as Princess Fiona for a fancy dress party because I wanted to make a joke out of myself before anyone could make a joke out of me.

Princess Fiona: Once Upon A Time... 2008 to be precise

When I went down a dress size and someone told me they were concerned at how fast it was happening, I thought I was being mocked. I felt out of place in my office of slim girls and would've been more at home among larger ladies because I felt I could relate to them more.

When I thought of myself, I thought of a girl with a big bum, tum and hips and refused to look for clothes in Topshop or River Island because I had convinced myself I'd never fit into their clothes and look good.
Emotionally I was a fat girl.

However if I had mentioned being plus size in the PS communities I see today, I would've faced backlash for not being plus size enough. I would've been accused of attention seeking and banned from Facebook groups, shamed for being too small.

I would've spiraled into a depression, feeling shunned and isolated and like I didn't belong anywhere.

So when I see people suggesting that Plus Size is above a size 18 because "smaller sizes don't have the issues we do," I beg to differ. A size 14 who feels that she is too big to be socially accepted or that shops don't cater for her specific shape or style preference will have the same insecurities and feel the same body shaming that larger sizes do (regardless of whether you believe she's correct or not, whether it's a disorder or not). The issues may be slightly different in nature but they are there, much in the same way a size 24 and a size 34 will have different issues.

We are not Club Plus Size. There is no membership and no criteria for getting past security. If you feel shamed, if you feel you don't fit in with the straight sized crowd, if you feel plus size.... who is anybody else to decide that you're wrong?

You are not shaming larger plus sizes by considering yourself to be above straight-size.

So please, plus size babes, before you react harshly to someone smaller than you calling themselves plus size... stop and think about how they might be feeling in themselves at that moment. Think about how it feels to be shunned because of your size. Remember that we should all support every body, every shape, every size.

Because if we start pushing away smaller sized individuals, we are no better than the individuals who push us away for being big.