And Then Skinny was STILL the New Skinny

Thanks to the fact that some people read my blog, I have had some kind friends and family give me links to things that are in line with my interests.

The latest is this article: http://healthyisthenewskinny.com/2011/10/beautiful-imperfection-katie-halchishick%E2%80%99s-iconic-photo-hits-the-stands/ that discusses the nude photo of Katie Halchishick, who has dotted lines superimposed to show where the "perfection" lines would be drawn in most typical model shots. 

While I love the idea that "healthy is the new skinny" I'm yet to be convinced that one photo of a (still quite) thin (and probably still quite airbrushed) woman is that much progress in the right direction.  This article simultaneously cites the novelist Amy Bloom who wrote a "Dear Every Woman" article for this feature in O magazine.  Bloom encourages women to "walk around pretending" you like your body because it does no good to compare yourself to the airbrushed models on billboards. Bloom further says, "Because every step toward self-love you take, and every inch of confidence you give someone’s daughter, makes the world a better place….".

First off, if you ask me, self-love shouldn't have anything to do with your size.  Second, this article alone sends a contradictory message.  To me it says, "things aren't really changing, so just try and ignore the billboards." As in, "you're still going to have to muster up the gusto inside of you to convince yourself you have a great body".  Even the 15 year old girl surveyed for this article stated that the picture made her feel bad if this was the image of less than perfect that we've come up with.

The article points to two other iconic photos of "larger" women that have hit the media as well (one of which is an image in one of my previous posts). I have a hard time seeing how 3 photos, versus thousands, or even millions of photos of skeletal women, could do much to truly convince women that healthy really in fact is, the new skinny.  But perhaps the media has a different definition of even the word "healthy" at this point.

Lane Bryant: Monopolizing the Market and Taking Advantage of Plus Size Women Everywhere

It's not a secret that there are not many clothing options available to plus size women.  Before Torrid emerged on the market in 2001 (I have a love/hate relationship with this retailer that will not be discussed here), Lane Bryant was literally almost the only retailer focusing on the plus size market.  Many consumers don't realize that Lane Bryant also owns two other well known plus size options--both Fashion Bug and Catherine's.  I will acknowledge that other retailers carry a plus-size line, but this is typically online only, or a selection of 2 or 3 items.

While it's commendable that Lane Bryant has decided to market size 14+ while many retailers continue to cap their items at a size 14, I cannot help but feel there is an inherent evil in the monopoly they currently hold, and what this does to the clothing fate of a plus size woman.

My grievances:

Price:  Most of Lane Bryant's items are HIGHLY overpriced for what they are. Basic tops with no special branding run upwards of 50 dollars, and jeans in similar categories run around 100.

Quality:  Which brings me to my next bullet.  It would be one thing if high priced items were high quality.  But typically, items from Lane Bryant have poor stitching, are made of fabrics that fade, and are in general mediocre quality items.  If I wanted an H&M quality item, I would go to H&M.  But wait...there are slim to no plus size options at H&M.

Fashion: Now I will say that Lane Bryant has made SOME efforts in recent years to appeal to a wider audience, most of the "fashions" provided are aligned with an old-school notion that plus-size women all look the same, and that any patterned tent will do.  Lane Bryant does have different "shapes" for their jeans and slacks lines as of a couple years ago, however, I still cannot seem to get any of the 3 options to work for me.
 
Customer Service:  Finally, it's rare to find quality customer service at a Lane Bryant.  I typically have to seek out a sales associate to open a room for me, they lack knowledge on item availability or shipping options, and have a general blase attitude about customer service.

The sad thing here is, Lane Bryant doesn't have to do anything about any of this to stay in business.  Because most 14+ size women don't have any other choice but to get ripped off just to clothe themselves.

My Thoughts Exactly

This was posted on LDS WAVE today:

 

A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and b...eautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.

Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "

(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)

By: Delphine Fieberg