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Sparkle (2)
Both music and fashion reside under an aging idea that they decide what is hot and what isn't. In reality, the big guns in both industries are severely out of touch with changing social climates. Old concepts don't hold true anymore. Runways don't decide beauty in clothes any more than they do in people, and people with normal average sizes have a harder and harder time finding clothes that are flattering/fitting because they are all designed for people considerably smaller. It's time you fashion industry execs stepped out of the dark ages and stopped assuming that because it's on the runway, it's out in the world.
My mom will be the first person to tell you that I have never been someone who really went with the times as far as fashion was concerned. I borrow here and there from different fads and eras, but for the most part I set my own pace. I always have. The fashion industry has always been an opponent of mine in this world simply because it's never been able to properly represent me in size or style, but things have just gotten out of hand now. I can't find clothes at all.
I set out to buy jeans the other day. I failed miserably. In order to find jeans that fit my hips, I have to go up a size in my waist. I know sizes well enough to know that I am an 8...not a 10. Then sometimes I can get a better fit in jeans that are "longs". The trend is low cut waists, which those of us who have given birth find ourselves hiking up all day because they don't adhere to the shape of wider "breeding" hips. They sit uncomfortably. Awkwardly. With all that hiking up, I find myself with flood pants now. I buy longs, and I still have to cuff the bottoms. I spend enough money on jeans not to need a tailor every time. This is not a power suit. It's a pair of jeans! But, I have carried a child. I have give birth. My body is of the curvy variety. I am not obese. I am not even overweight. I do jumping jacks every day. Yoga on the weekend. Why can't I find pants that fit?!
The same holds true for buying dresses and tops. The styles themselves seem geared toward small, thin women. The tops sit awkwardly on my size D breasts, criss-crossing fabric laying unflatteringly bunched up across my chest. Lower cut tops showing my bra in awkward places, and my bra is low cut itself! They are clearly designed for Kate Moss or Tori Spelling (you know, when she is not pregnant) I am not either of those things. Certain shirts with fitted half sleeves I can't even buy because they don't fit onto my arms. If I manage to get them on, I feel like the circulation is being cut to my hands. I AM NOT OBESE! Why don't normal clothes fit me?! It has gotten to a point that I hate clothes shopping. I hate trying on clothes.
Open up your favorite hip fashion magazines, and you will get your first clue as to what the problem is. An entire industry of people who think that the average American consumer is a size 4. In reality, the average American consumer is a size 14. Now, I know some 14's that are some of the most gorgeous women I know. They carry themselves with a confidence that makes men weak, while dressing to every flattering point they have (most notably, a gorgeous face, great boobs, and smooth round hips). They will be the first to tell you though...shopping is impossible. Expensive clothes on top of tailors and dressmakers. It's unnecessary when there is a billion dollar industry sucking the life out of the American woman claiming it understands us...and that it knows beauty.
Fashion industry, you are grossly, obscenely out of touch.
I don't want to see any more Cosmo, Elle, Vogue covers claiming to understand women...what makes them feel good about themselves in clothing and what doesn't. You have no idea. Do you know how I know? I am an American woman who is actually BELOW average in size, and I can't find clothes that fit and flatter my body. The industry is made up of dinosaurs who still think they decide what's hot and what's not. Kate Moss is over and probably caused more anorexia than anyone since Twiggy...and Twiggy was a size SIX!!!
