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'Fat-shionistas' Have Finally Had Enough

by Maureen Dempsey (Subscribe to Maureen Dempsey's posts)
Posted Jun 26th 2009 at 6:30PM  
100 Comments
Share
beth ditto topshop

Beth Ditto, designer behind Topshop's new plus-size line. Photo: Getty Images

Plus-size fashion is getting quite a bit of press this week. It all started with a New York Times article last weekend that chronicled the recent growth of the plus-size fashion market.

That threw the "fat-shionistas" (their term, not ours) blogosphere into a tailspin.

While the NYT piece did introduce us to plus-size musician Beth Ditto's triumph over the fashion industry -- she has designed a line for Topshop -- it didn't do much for the genre as a whole, or so the women thought.

In what we're assuming was a response to the NYT, TheDailyBeast posted an article yesterday, offering more insight from the women who love their bodies and their fashion.
mia tyler

Mia Tyler, a plus-size model, might be getting more work these days. Photo: Getty Images

While plus-sized women used to have limited choices (Lane Bryant, anyone?), options are finally becoming more available, from Torrid to Forever 21's Faith 21 to Topshop's (and Ditto's) upcoming Evans line.

And it sounds like plus-size women are looking for even more: Full-Figured Fashion Weekend hits New York City this weekend. The three-day event is a response to the twice-annual New York Fashion Week, which blatantly holds size-zero models on high.

The message must finally be sinking in, as British Vogue's editor lashed out at designers for forcing fashion magazines to hire rail-thin models to fit their shrinking samples.

While Full-Figured Fashion Weekend is a step in the right direction, it doesn't seem to be taking off as successfully as traditional fashion festivities.

It appears that high-fashion's plus-size models -- such as Crystal Renn and Mia Tyler -- won't be working or attending the event.
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Filed under: News
Tags: beth-ditto, fat-shionistas, fatshionistas, full-figure-fashion, full-figured-fashion-weekend, mia-tyler, plus-size, plus-size-fashion, plus-sized, plus-sized-fashion
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READER COMMENTS

(100)Add A Comment

limobarbie, 6-26-2009, 11:30PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
limobarbie

It's a good thing that plus size gals have the FLOTUS for a model and fashion icon! The giantgantic booty Michelle Obama is dragging around has done wonders for plus-size fashion. It's just wonderful having the 200 pound plus size
16-18 Mrs. Obama leading the way in plus size fashion!!!

Reply »

Emma, 6-27-2009, 8:03PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Emma

I had been overweight for the past five years. I had tried almost everything in the market, right from taking diet pills to enrolling in a gym but nothing really worked. Yes I did lose a few pounds but nothing substantial. It was then that a friend recommended Acai Nutraburst ( http://tr.im/AcaiNutraburst ) to me. I have been using the product for about a month now and have slimmed down considerably. I have actually started to wear all those dresses that I had put off for so long. The product is definitely one of the best weight loss products in the market today. I have already finished two bottles of Acai Nutraburst and am on my third bottle now. It totally changed my life! Not only did I lose a lot of weight quickly, I have also never felt more energetic and so full of life!

»

s, 6-27-2009, 9:18PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
s

You are a childish, boorish, self righteous unpatriotic bitch. Get over yourself. Michele Obama is beautiful and sets a wonderful standard of healthy body image. If she wanted to be thinner, she could. You, on the other hand, can be as thin as you want, but will never be intelligent.

»

Lynda, 6-27-2009, 9:22PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Lynda

You are an idiot.....but hopefully you already know that.

»

rufus, 6-27-2009, 9:51PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
rufus

acai is a crap diet, it doesn't work.

»

rick, 6-27-2009, 11:38PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
rick

LOL..thats hilarious...Michelle couldplay linebacker for the washington Redskins....thanks for the laugh

»

Gee, 6-27-2009, 11:34PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Gee

You should call yourself bimbobarbie. There is no way in h.e.l.l. our First Lady is a size 16 or 18. She has an athletic build. Her arms and legs are thin. Her neck is long graceful. She has absolutely no body fat. Her round (opposite of flat) and muscular rear end is the result of genetics (African origin) not fat.

»

Carolyn, 6-27-2009, 11:45PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Carolyn

Michelle Obama's BIG ASS isn't nearly as big as the one she's married to. Nothing beautiful about that.

»

Dawn, 6-28-2009, 1:21AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Dawn

Really? I'll assume that you're aware that you sound silly and also sad.

Further, independent of lack of patriotism, because that is not so relevant here, get some better material. You have successfully identified yourself with the League of Unhappy Fools Who Didn't Get Their Way and Are Bitter. Normally I'd say "A+ for effort!" but this didn't take any so no dice.

Try Again?

»

LucyJane, 6-28-2009, 1:47AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
LucyJane

Thts real lame, im so tired of ppl using any outlet to bring in politics! This is about PLUS-size fashion. You should be ashamed which im pretty sure you are'nt. Ppl with no class who make rude comments and hide behind screen names usually dnt. Get educated and be blessed!!

»

mike, 6-29-2009, 9:25AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
mike

Michelle Obama is a powerfully and very attractively built black woman. She has a prominant behind as most black women do because nature has made them to accommodate larger black men. As a white woman whose never had a black man, you wouldn't see the need. As a black man, I prefer a woman I can fit completely into.

»

Marque, 6-28-2009, 4:29AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Marque

Bimbobarbie, you probably tip the scales around 250 yourself, because anyone with any kind of healthy body image of her own wouldn't need to be so nasty toward someone as elegant as Michelle Obama. The other writer is absolutely correct, people who need to can lose weight, but you will always be stupid. I think Winston Churchill said that in some form first, but I could be wrong. Now get your barefoot and pregnant butt back in the kitchen before your redneck hubby finishes his next 6-pack and gets confused and kicks you and goes to bed with the dog!...again.

»

dRop the beaT, 6-27-2009, 6:23PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
dRop the beaT

good grief.
this isnt exactly a good thing?
sure, the use of only size 2 and under models for fashion needs a change.
but girls THAT big shouldnt be celebrating?
its extremely unhealthy to be that size.

Reply »

sammie, 6-27-2009, 8:23PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
sammie

I have to agree that size 2 is as healthy as size 20. I use to think that any plus size women who was happy in that large of body should be applauded. Now that I have slowly become a plus size women myself (18-20) I'm not celebrating. It is very unhealthy and embarrasing. Shaving, tieing my shoes, planting a garden and run up the stairs puts added stress on my body. The last thing society needs to add to the acceptance list is that being a plus size women or man is sexy!

»

sharon67, 6-27-2009, 11:20PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
sharon67

I'm plus sized my blood pressure is perfect- 124/78. My LDL cholestorol is low and my HDL is high, just like it should be. What are your stats??

»

Fran, 6-27-2009, 8:09PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Fran

I am a plus sized model, sized 18-20, I am very healthy and very happy with my curvy figure. Unfortunately some of you people have no idea what you are talking about. I think it is very unhealthy to starve yourself or throw up to be a stick thin model..Just because society says its right d9oesnt mean it is.....I happen to be very beautiful, beauty doesnt only come in a size 6. I could not attend the festivities this weekend but would have been proud to be there!

Reply »

Sally, 6-27-2009, 8:14PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Sally

dRop the beaT what size are you talking about? Morbid obesity does not necessarily equate to lack of health. Yes, many women need to watch their health, whether they are size 2 or size 20, but by and large (no pun intended) the majority of plus-sized women are in robust health. Did you think they should go hide in the closet? My daughters are both 6' tall, and have weighed over 200 pounds most of their adult lives. They are beautiful women, inside and out, and I am SO excited that fashion has finally caught up to them!

Reply »

jgyrlly, 6-27-2009, 8:18PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
jgyrlly

Who are you kidding?

»

samdrone, 6-27-2009, 8:18PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
samdrone

I was embarrassed by my weight until I lost 47 pounds in 6 weeks using the Rapidthin diet at www.rapidthin.com. Good luck to all. Use what works for you.

Reply »

deepvoicedm4f, 6-27-2009, 8:22PM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
deepvoicedm4f

I am a 54 year old fitness trainer whose body fat has never exceeded 10%. While I rebuke commercialism that promotes the skinny supermodel look, I must also castigate those who hide behind the title of BBW (big, beautiful women). It's as if you gave up the fight to control your weight and decided to follow that path to obesity. If you have stayed pleasantly plump instead of grossly obese, I don't think too many people will think any less of you. Moderation is a discipline that can apply to skinny as well as to obese women.

Reply »

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