Plus Size Clothes

I read a stupid blog post today. A guy harping on about how if they keep on making big clothes the fashion industry just gives people licence to be fat and to get fatter. He was dismayed that his small child was forced to shout out “Why’s that lady so fat?” in the street because a larger lady passed in front of her. In fact no, he wasn’t dismayed he was proud.

I couldn’t keep my thoughts to myself although I was diplomatic and held back somewhat.

I kind of get the impression this guy doesn’t understand the concept of marketing and business i.e. that retailers don’t generally make products which nobody wants hoping that the market will change its mind. OK so sometimes that works but generally companies find out what the market wants and needs, where there is a need not being met or not being sufficiently met it plugs that gap.

I can just imagine it now, a strategy planning meeting at Evans and some exec comes up with a bright idea “I know, let’s make clothes up to a size 40 and wait until a large enough proportion of the market becomes fat enough to want to buy them in sufficient quantities for us to make a profit”. I can imagine the looks that genius would get.

The plus size clothing market is huge (forgive the pun) but the demand was there long before the supply. People didn’t get fat because Evans opened or because BHS started stocking knickers in a size 22. For so long larger ladies and gents and kids have wanted there to be more choice, have wanted clothing for them to be mainstream and not specialist. And why? Because so many of them exist.

I kind of get his point in a way, if we couldn’t get clothes we might lose weight… erm just a minute my super fat senses are tingling and I’m sensing that no I don’t get his point, we wouldn’t do that, we would make our own, seek out stretchy stuff and employ other genius ways of coping like plus size people have done for decades.

I had to point out to this guy who felt that if fat people were educated and learned to cook they would lose weight, that some fat people are educated, some have degrees and O’levels and stuff, some even passed their cycling proficiency, some are professionals, some even (like myself) have an A in O’level food and nutrition (stick that in your ignorant, prejudiced pipe and smoke it).

Some fat people are doctors, nurses, lawyers, architects, clergy, teachers even dare I say it nutritionists and wait for it… weight loss experts. Some fat people are even talented, some can sing, or play music or act or write books and some can even paint!

All of those non stupid fat people have to wear clothes unless it’s going to be made acceptable for fat barristers to appear in court naked or for fat teachers to get it all out in the classroom.

I can’t believe how judgmental people feel they are allowed to be about fat people, how ignorant they are of the facts and the issues, how angry people get about fat people, how misguided they are about the ‘drain on resources’. I’ve not been to my GP for years because I’m so fat I’m afraid what he will say! I have not cost the NHS a single freaking penny because I’m so fat I don’t use their services and get this… I don’t have any illnesses, fat related or otherwise, other than being fat. Well I might have but I’m too fat to find out!

And another thing… I haven’t always been fat, I’ve been slim and I used to go to the gym every day and men used to turn their heads when I walked into a room. Nobody is perfect, fat people are not perfect but that kind of attitude doesn’t help a fat person to lose weight, that kind of attitude keeps fat people out of gyms, it stops them walking through a park on a sunny day and keeps them sat at home eating cake. That kind of attitude and that kind of ignorant abuse is what can make a fat person on her way to buy a fresh supply of fruit and veg ready to start month 3 of a successful diet fill the basket with cake and chocolate and crisps instead and go home, close the curtains and cry while stuffing their face. That kind of attitude keeps people fat and makes fat people fatter!

Hey how about that stupid blog guy.. YOU make people fat with your ignorance and prejudicial views. IT’S YOUR FAULT!!! And guess what else, by breeding a rude, ignorant, prejudiced daughter you’re making sure that there will be fat people for generations to come.

I was once a beautiful little blonde, blue eyed girl whose daddy doted on her who used to skip and ride her bike and climb trees. Thankfully though, my daddy brought me up better and would have whooped my ass if I’d dared to be so rude and ignorant in public as his child. I suggest he stop worrying about fat people and go teach his daughter some manners. What is he expecting? Fashion retailers to start making clothes for ugly prejudiced people? Is that what he’s preparing his daughter to wear?

If you’re looking for some fab plus size fashion there are a load of fabulous fashion bloggers out there, some of whom have accepted how they are and are happy being the size they are, they don’t want to do what I’m doing, they’ve opted out of whatever pressures there are to be skinny and they’re enjoying life as they are being beautiful and dressing to match. I can’t do that, I need to be healthy (I’m not saying they aren’t I’m saying that I don’t feel I am), I’ve gone beyond curvy but I love that they have embraced who they are and are not hiding like me. I’m glad they are there to give me a bit of confidence to dress as well as I can for work and for the rare social appearance my messed up mind will let me make. Largely because I would end up jabbing someone like Mr Why Do They Make Fat Clothes in the eyes.

Check a few of my favourite inspirational plus sized fashion bloggers out, they will make you feel better about you, I promise. They are inspirational ladies all of them and they are not trying to make the fashion industry make people fatter, they are trying to make industry cater for people who have a right to be smart, cute, attractive, sexy, warm, comfortable…

http://www.mrsbebeblog.co.uk/

http://thecurvyfashionista.com/

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