I don't like to shop. Never have. The latest fashion trends rarely appeal to me. Maybe it's a genetic mutation, I don't know. I tend to keep my clothes until they wear out. In recent years, shopping for clothes has become an even bigger hassle for me. Let me explain.
Recently I wanted to find a really nice dress to wear to a fancy party we'd been invited to. I also don't like spending a lot of money on clothing, so I always start with the sale racks. If I were a size 2 or 4 there were several dresses I would have felt drop dead gorgeous in. I'm a size 14, and there was not one dress on the rack in that size. So, with a sigh I headed for the more expensive section. Again, there was a wealth of choices in anything up to a size 10, a few in size 12. There were a few in size 14, all of them mud fence ugly.
After having this repeated at the next two stores I visited, I expressed my frustration to the sales lady hovering nearby. Her suggestion? I might try a plus size shop! I couldn't believe I'd just heard that, so I simply nodded, and headed for home. After a few days of fuming about this, I reluctantly decided to check out a plus size shop. To my amazement, they did carry a few size 14s. Here the sales rack held numerous choices in sizes 20 and up or XXL, but not size 14. The prices were in what I considered the extravagant range, and the designers seemed determined to do all they could to put anyone wearing one of their creations in the worst possible light. Horizontal stripes, large flowered prints, large gaudy polka dots, along with gathers and ruffles
Every time I pick up a magazine, there will be an article about the dangers of being overweight, along with recommendations for losing weight. There are frequent news clips dealing with the same thing, lamenting the epidemic of obesity in America , and the dire consequences of this excess weight. These are always accompanied by photo shots of extremely overweight people-from the shoulders down. Obviously, if we are overweight, we need to be ashamed of that.
I like to read, and my interests cover a wide variety of topics. It was about this time I read an article stating that, metaphysically, excess body weight represents a need for protection. I then began noticing the number of warnings we are given on a daily basis through the media. Global warming, terrorism, product recalls, food contamination or a new disease that's been discovered. I began to wonder how much these fear based messages were contributing to the numbers of overweight people today. Words carry much more power than most people realize. Add to that the mixed messages we are given: excess body weight is very bad for you, immediately followed with a commercial for the latest super sized fast food meal. Taking all these messages in seemed to me to be a good recipe for some crazy making', as well as nudging our own inner fears. We're never thin enough, tall enough, short enough, or good looking enough to meet the standards set by the marketing industry.
All the money spent on diet aids, nutrition programs and gym memberships don't appear to be having much effect on our weight problems. Maybe it's time we started taking all these warnings with a grain of salt, stop scaring ourselves, and adopt an attitude similar to Al Franken's: "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me."
Oh, and the dress I was looking for? I finally dusted off my sewing skills and made my own drop dead gorgeous outfit.
Joyce has been writing for her own enjoyment for many years, and only in the past few years has gained the courage to "go public" with her writing. She has had two books published, and is involved with the Fine Lines magazine as a special editor. Her writing primarily reflects her own experiences, or the life experiences she has observed in others. She has her own blog, Joyce's Ramblings at http//joyce-wwwnewbyblogger.com.blogspot.com Joyce would like to add that she always welcomes constructive criticism comments.
Joyce, I know just what you mean. If I was talented, I would go into the design business for sizes other than 2,4,6. It is so discouraging to go shopping. I bet the dress you made is beautiful. Fran
» left by Paul Schroeder from nyv (12 days 5 hours ago.)
I happen to love and to prefer full figured ladies who are to my mind MUCH sexier(I like to know when I've been hugged) in lieu of skinny ones who have to run around in the shower just to get wet!To truly overweight people I always think, why get in shape?Round IS a shape!(just teasing)Paul Schroeder
The whole fear thing that you mention is very real to me and I have no doubt that it is one of the things causing overeating and a number of issues of bad health.
Being a very small and very short person, I have the problem of finding it hard to find affordable clothing that is small enough to be a good fit. And this is made especially difficult by the fact that a size four or two of a few years ago is now a size two or zero (I too keep my clothes for a very long time and I have several pairs of jeans that are size four and fit me exactly as a new pair of size twos fit me; oh, and my weight and proportions have not changed). And I refuse to shop in the children's department!
Thanks for a great article. And yes, designers need to get their heads back into reality.
I LOVED this article. It was well-written and spoke to my frustrations as well! I, too, hate shopping, and I agree that if I could design my own clothes I could look a lot better...
I've always thought that if we all spent as much time working on projects that help others as we do thinking and worrying about our weight and our looks, this world would be a much better place!
Great article; I can really relate. It's so dumb (as well as bad business) that more clothes aren't made for the 14/16/18 end of the scale, when half of all women in America are there! You always see the smallest sizes on the clearance rack, so obviously they'd make more money if they had bigger sizes. Even if you're overweight, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't have the right to look fashionable and feel good about yourself while you're losing weight.
I also hate those stock photos with the anonymous overweight people with the heads cut off, pictures taken while they're going about their daily business. Welcome to SearchWarp!
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