I’ve got tagged on Instagram for the “five things I can’t read, hear or see anymore” tag and decided to join – but with a plus-size edition of it. There are many things I can’t take anymore. Actually, the whole plus-size thing is a bit messed up and to be honest: there shouldn’t be a term like “plus size”. Diversity is the key – to everything.
But until we get the important changes done, here are the five things that really annoy me a lot. Don’t take it way too seriously, it’s about my opinion and please feel free to have your own. Maybe we share some of the points, maybe not. Maybe you can think of more things, so share them with us in the comment section. I’m very curious to know about the five things you can’t read, hear or see anymore! ;)
“Real women.”
Actually, this is pretty offensive – every woman is a real woman. Why is it so cool to only call curvy (another adjective that’s somehow wrong – not every fat woman is curvy!) and fat women “real”? If you’ve got the important chromosome, you’re a real woman. Even if you’re transgender, I say: you’re a real woman. Because that is how you feel. If you feel like a woman, you’re a woman. Period. No need to use any descriptions – or let’s just call them euphemisms – for fat women. We’re not “queen-sized” or “voluptuous” (and the list of silly words is infinite). We’re fat. And that’s okay because it’s an adjective like tall, green-eyed, blonde, stupid and: superficial. Just like that “real women” bullshit.
“This makes you look fatter than you are / this is so not flattering!”
Yeah, well, sorry, but I don’t care. Fashion is so much more than just looking slimmer. It’s about wearing what you want to wear in this exact moment. Fashion is not supposed to make you look skinny. It’s about dressing yourself. Fashion is not supposed to make anyone love you more – because when you’re naked, that’s you. And if people only love you for your clothes, then we’re back at “superficial”. Let’s say: “real women” don’t care about “flattering”. Of course, dressing for your body shape is always the safe option. Dressing flatteringly makes anyone look good. But why do we always forget that when we feel good, we look good? Fashion is only a goodie. And if I want to wear this tight dress and you can see my rolls, that’s who I am, that’s how I want you to see me. I don’t want to be somebody else or stop looking like me. And if this means that you tell me that I look fatter than I am: okay. I’m not mad at you if you think that being me looks fatter to you, even though you’re just seeing what’s there (throwing on a sack doesn’t make me skinnier, sorry!), but: I can’t hear or read it anymore. And that applies to others too.
“But she’s not even plus size!”
Well… I’m pretty sure that models like Ashley, Candice, Denise or Robyn don’t care because they’re making a lot of money being a “plus size” in terms of fashion. Still, I know it sucks when someone with a beautiful normal body that’s actually a size 10 is called “plus size”. But that’s fashion, honey. I’m sorry for that and even though I do think that this should be changed, this is how it is. You’re either “size zero” or “plus size”. That’s the business. It’s up to us to remind ourselves that we might be fatter than “size zero” but we’re a) beautiful just like that and b) not a fashion term. We’re not a term, not a size, not a number in our jeans, not a label. We’re human beings who are good the way we are. And always screaming that these models aren’t what they’re working as is also kind of body shaming – for both sides. “Plus size” is not an insult. Please finally understand this!
Ochre-colored linen sacks
That’s my word for those horrible and unfortunately typical (hopefully only of Germany!) plus-size clothes. You will NEVER look slimmer and NOT IN A MILLION YEARS better in these feces-colored clothes. Believe me. Any plus-size shop should stop selling them. They’re actually disgusting.
The typical plus-size prints, in combination with tiny little rhinestones and sexy quotes like “Happy Day!”
No. Just no. I actually don’t even want to say more but: those huge floral or abstract prints are bad enough, they’re not modern, not stylish, not cool. But as if this weren’t enough, plus-size brands (is that another German problem?) love combining them with tiny little rhinestone “prints” – like forming a heart or stars with them. And of course there has to be a “motivational” slogan or something else without any sense on your shirt: “Happy Day!” (not with this piece), “Miami 68” (I don’t think so) or “Summer” (best worn in winter). I repeat: NO.
