British Style Bloggers

Enough is enough: real bodies unite

Amy C Thompson — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:08:04 +0000

Guest post by Sarah of 100 Percent People

Enough was enough; fashion should be for all, no exclusions, no conformity, and no elimination due to shape or size, whether big, tall or small. Just fashion for what it is.

Unfortunately we have all succumb deep down to the fact that fashion and beauty is unattainable – and it sure is with airbrushing and size 0 models! Both of which are unhealthy portrayals of who we really are. Why is this so?

This is how it all started, I write for a plus size resource website, plus size in the terms of anything ‘above average’ in size (although I hate to use that term – who is average???) whether that be boobs or feet – I am there searching out the latest to do with everything plus size!

It has been during this time that I have realised that the portrayal of our bodies is far from realistic and in turn is damaging our self confidence; resulting in eating disorders in order to conform to an ideal that is not ideal – the women in beauty adverts are not real just a virtual representation after all the airbrushing and the women on the catwalks and in magazines do not paint a healthy body image.

I want to make a change to see body diversity in fashion so we can all feel happier in our own skin and be healthy whatever size or shape we are!

Real Bodies Unite is our campaign petitioning for at least 10,000 signatures to prove we just want to see body and beauty diversity in the fashion industry. Every shape and size should be present, after all – we don’t all look the same!

So, I need help to spread the word, and any support you can offer in our campaign for real bodies. Please sign our petition and tell all you know if you too feel as passionately as I do to make a change in the bodies we see.

Petition: http://100percentpeople.com/specials/real-bodies-unite-campaign/

If you like to do the Twitter thing, this is us: http://twitter.com/realbodiesunite

Facebook too: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=255934027144

And thanks for having me here.

Don't You Know You're Beautiful?

Amy C Thompson — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:44:40 +0000

Country music has taught me many things so far in life; strawberry wine is apparently a metaphor for passion, and stetsons should only ever be worn by those who can pull of a Carolinas accent, for example. Oh, and standing up to the Republicans, publically, can get you some serious death threats, and cause you to write a Grammy winning song.

The most important thing it's taught me, though, is to be myself. This, coming from a Welsh lass of Cockney and Middlesbrough descent. It's unnatural for me to listen to country, but I do - because, bizzarrely, I like it. I like how it tells stories, and I like the accents. There's a lot I don't like about it - some of the morals, for example.

But there's one song I think the message is perfect in, and there's one song I think is just right for this project - for Body Image Season. That song is Don't You Know You're Beautiful? by Kellie Pickler.

It's a bit rich coming from a style blogging site, but the line which rings true the most, for me, is "You're wishing that you had designer jeans, like the ones you see in magazines, but your worth ain't on a pricetag, it comes from within".

Whilst Body Image Season hasn't really touched on that aspect at all, I think it's important, and I'd like you all to leave your computers today singing Kellie, please. You know you want to.

"Let 'em go
Let 'em fly
Keep your head up
Get on with your life

Don't you know you're beautiful just the way you are?"

LoveLoveLove

- A -

"Cherish forever what makes you unique, 'cos you're a yawn once it's gone" - Bette Midler

polkadotstripes — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:08:00 +0000

I don't think that quote has ever been more fitting than in the case of Melissa Smith. She got in touch to tell me her remarkable story about how despite a disability, which causes the equivalent of third degree burns on her body each day, she has embraced her body and a sense of style.

I was born with a rare genetic skin blistering condition, called Epidermolysis Bullosa (or EB as it’s better known). The best way I can describe it, at least the type I have, is waking up every day with new second degree burns, caused by smallest amount of friction or trauma, like turning over in bed. The effects of EB are incredibly visible; I have to wear bandages covering my limbs, I regularly have blisters and wounds on my face and neck, my left eye is scarred, and I’m often in my wheelchair.

As you can imagine, this can have a devastating effect on one’s body image and self-esteem. Especially when people decide to stand staring and pointing in public, or ask the ever-tactful question “what’s wrong with you?” I’m happy for people to ask, but phrasing is important!

But among the things that make me happy are clothes. I love clothes. I adore them, and I always have!! I am a qualified practitioner of retail therapy, and I happily brush up on my shopping skills at every available opportunity. I love the look, the feel, even the smell of clothes, all a part of anticipating the first time you will wear them. Several of my friends have requested that, should anything happen to me, I bequeath my extensive wardrobe to them. Which is a bit worrying, now I think about it…!

At face value, an entire day spent shopping often seems like a vacuous waste of time, but clothes and accessories can have almost magical powers. They can make you feel on top of the world, when really it’s resting on your shoulders, and they can help you to love parts of your body that you usually loathe. For example, my feet are a source of great pain to me, but when I look down at my beloved biker boots or patent wedges…all is forgotten (for a while at least!). My belly, distended because several surgeries, is much less troubling when underneath my favourite French Connection or Ducie dresses. And why would anyone stare at my hands when they can look at a gorgeous, one-off bracelet? When I want to hide my sore neck, it’s just an opportunity to wear a great scarf or cowl-neck knit.

Clothes make people look at me differently, but in a positive way. More and more often people ask not why I wear my bandages, or why I’m in my wheelchair, but who made my jacket or where I got my dress. How I dress allows me to embrace the fact that I stand out from the crowd, and use it to my advantage. Clothes and accessories level the body image playing field in many ways, too. I mean, how many women are lucky enough to be able to pull off every style, colour, material? Being short, very long earrings and maxi dresses will never do me any favours, but that’s nothing to do with my disability! Yes there are styles and cuts that do more for my body image than others (shorts and tights? Yes! Bodycon? No!), and I can’t wear sleeveless tops without a shrug of some sort, or heels bigger than an inch-and-a-half. But when I wear my favourite outfit, I feel like I could dance down the street, singing “I’m Every Woman”. Because we are all the same really, aren’t we? Our hang-ups are just concentrated on different areas, or sparked by different events. We just need to know our bodies, and how to work with them, not against them.

What we wear can be a great medium for making statement, whether about politics, religion, culture or ethics. But I think the most important statement we can make, in this age of what borders on body fascism is, simply, “I feel great about myself today”.

You can follow Melissa on Twitter and/ or Tumblr

What Alli thinks about her body

polkadotstripes — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:37:13 +0000

I'm taking care of BSB for the next few day's while Amy is lucky enough to be at London Fashion Week. Her task for me was to find two guest bloggers, the first of which is for today. I'm lucky enough to know the brilliant Alli Denehy of What Alli Thinks, she bravely agreed to talk about how she viewed her own body as a growing teen and how things have changed.

Being a teenager is supposed to be the best time of your life. You are believed to become an individual. Your body grows in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways that we just can’t help. It’s how we are supposed to be.

Recently I stumbled upon this picture when looking for underwear online and it’s transformed my opinion of plus size women. I’ve always thought I’d have to hide away under my clothes, not show off anything because I had convinced myself that no one would want to look at me. I thought they would be disgusted and appalled by it. Well I was wrong, I have now found a pair of and I’m not afraid to show off my curves.

Fashion and style is all about you feeling comfortable with yourself. Not what everyone else is doing or wearing. Do what you want to do because people will love you more for being yourself then being one of the many clones.

Whatever day of the week it is you should feel in love with yourself. Self confidence will get you so far in life.

1. Write a list of three things you hate about yourself. Even if it just the way your hair flicks out the wrong way at the end to the way your hips stick out. Mine would be these...
- My thighs and the fact I have to wear size 16 trousers because of them
- Broad shoulders, halter tops are a no-no in my eyes.
- In between size feet, I can never find shoes to fit.
2. Now you have you have this piece of paper, rip it into a million pieces. You don’t need to write anything down about what you hate, your all amazing, even with these “hang-ups”
3. Put on your favourite outfit, dresses, shorts, skirts- anything that will show you and your beautiful selves off. Mines this dress. It shows off my curviness and my legs which if I’m honest I love about myself. I love them even more when wearing a pair of heels for a night out.
4. This last step is the most important of them all. Go out. Get all your friends round and do it together, have a bottle of wine, write the silly lists and rip them up, get ready for a night out and then all together go show yourselves off, there is no point hiding behind closed doors. Who’s going to see you then?

What is the point of this exercise I hear you ask? Well it’s to prove you can all are beautiful no matter if you have wide hips, small breasts, flicky hair, bad skin. We are all perfect and we don’t need to be clones to prove it. Individuality is the key to life and don’t let anyone tell you different.

As a teenager we are always going to hate the way we look all because we want to look like the latest celebrities and follow the latest trends. I’m constantly worrying. It’s normal. Every person in existence is going to worry about the way they look once in their teenage years. We always have these niggles that something’s wrong .Nothing is wrong, everyone is their own being.
and as the song goes It's my life It's now or never I ain't gonna live forever I just wanna live while I'm alive. Live how you want to live, look how you want to look.

Model Says.... How To: Find Your Personal Style

JOShYlOftY — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:04:49 +0000

Style is something you're born with. You either have it or you don't. You can't really LEARN it. You can follow trends, sure, but not everyone can really ROCK what they're wearing. Thats because personal style comes from within. You have to look deep within yourself and figure out what you are really like. Think: self expression. The only way you can truly express yourself, though, is to be happy with who you are. You have to be comfortable with who you are inside and know that your differences are just your uniquenesses.

So how does one learn how to develop that personal sense of style? Well, remember those uniquenesses? This is where those come in handy. You have to embrace your qualities and really let lose and be yourself. I'll use myself for reference... I'm a character. I have a whacky sense of humor, I love to act crazy, and really let go with my friends. In fact, my personality is so strong that it comes out in everything I do. Over the years I've been able to really learn that the crazy things that I do, say, like, or wear, etc. are qualities that I should really embrace. In doing so, I really learned my personal style. I went from being a (natural) blonde to a fiery red-head, I really started getting into the many facets of fashion and how each piece can really express who I am, or sometimes just how I'm feeling that day. I start with the shoes and work my way up. Custom Pumas usually or some hi-top Nike Dunks-- the crazier the better. Then pants, I always go for a low-rise boot cut, its just what looks best on me but I get as many washes or colors I can find. Shirts are easy, they can probably be the most expressive part of the attire-- or would it be the shoes!? I always try to find fun patterns or things going on to express myself. Don't forget you can always layer! But accessories are always what sells the outfit; hats, belts, jewelry, watches, scarves, etc. can always express personal attributes. By the time I'm all dressed I'm usually either a mesh of name-brand clothing of all the brightest and most exclusive, or rare, variety. But I stand out, feel like a million bucks and like I could take over the world. And it shows. I'm much more of an extrovert and more likely to be the life of the party when I know I look as good as I feel. My personal style at that time would have officially taken over my body and made me a much happier person.

Think about it. When you're dressed to the best of your personal likings, in your personal confident zone, you are more likely to have a great time and be more social. It's like you glow when you enter the room and people sense it.

So as it seems I've come to the realization that fashion and emotion truly are connected. There are those who turn their nose at fashion saying that its either too flashy, to which I say those people are stuck in their shell. Or that it costs too much, a white T-shirt goes a long way and can look good with anything. But no matter what you wear just always go with your gut feeling. Don't let yourself fall into a fashion rut, put on whatever you want as long as you feel good.