NotBlueAtAll

I'm just a fat gal with a blog and an opinion. Well, lots of opinions.

Measure of Fashion

February24

The other night my husband came over to help me change  a light bulb and hang some stuff and originally to go out to dinner and grocery shopping. While he was hanging this little bulletin board I had, I noticed the piece of flowered stationary with “Sarah’s Measurements” on it. I looked at it a moment and said,”Wow! How cool and special is this? I have my entire body’s measurements right here where I can see them (by the light switch)! And my eye’s measurements, too (my prescription & frame measurements)! Who else has that?!”

Then I quickly realized why it is that I have said measurements: I cannot readily or easily find clothing that fits those measurements because I have been deemed an outsider by society and the fashion industry alike. It’s a sad realization when put out there like that, but it’s the cold hard truth. But the furthest thing from my mind, even in the moment I had the realization, was shame or anger. No, I felt fucking proud!

I felt proud that I might know my body more than the average person. Unless you need to know for a very specific purpose, it’s not something I’d imagine a person knowing or having handy. I will say that the main reason I have those measurements is for buying dresses on Eshakti.com, but having them makes all online shopping easier. And if you’re a fat person over a certain size, online shopping is where it’s at.

I mean, before ready-made clothing was the norm, everyone just went to a tailor. If I could afford such a thing now? I’d be all over this tailor business! Buying dresses from Eshakti has spoiled me! I always choose the custom sizing option and occasionally fiddle with custom styling, too (mostly sleeves). The dresses I wore on NYE and for Fatty Affair I had tailored and loved the result. So if this were an accessible option for me on a more regular basis I would absolutely take it. But it simply isn’t. I’m living on next to nothing right now. In fact without my husband’s support I would be up a shit creek without a paddle. True facts.

I know that many of you can still buy clothing in regular stores or are comfortable buying in your local Macy’s and Nordstrom or whatever. I have looked and maybe my local ones suck, but I haven’t found a thing in those stores.Sometimes I find stuff at Ross, but it is slim pickins if you ask me. I’m sick of Lane Bryant’s tactics and cheap fabrics (at ridiculous prices). Avenue has things I like sometimes, but because I’m in between their 26/28 and 30/32 it makes it hard to buy certain things. Don’t get me started on Torrid! Ugh! Anyway, my point is that having my own measurements has helped me get what I want and need to clothe and cover my body in fashionable ways.

I am on the lookout for some fabulous lingerie in my size, but thus far either don’t like what I find or it’s very expensive. I’ve actually have never been one for fancy under things, but I’m entertaining the idea right now. Especially when I’m already feeling quite sexy and want to have something like that handy. I’ve been looking on eBay mostly, but only because money is non-existent.

Funny thing, taking my measurements improved my life! How? Well, as it turns out, I was wearing the wrong shoe size for many years. I’d gotten to the point where I simply felt all shoes were uncomfortable and began looking into higher-end shoes for work. I was frustrated and annoyed and unfamiliar with all of the brands so I measured my feet using an online guide and my so-called 7W feet are actually 8’s! What?! I know! Nuts!!!

And now when I look at things like furniture or airline seats or anything at all, I have a much better idea of how much space I need and how things fit in the world. I like knowing things! It helps me understand stuff and gain a different perspective. Yay for that! It also helps me celebrate my unique self! Some may have similar measurements as me, but no one could have the exact same as me. Or they could! Ha-ha! And if they do, we should swap clothes!

I don’t place value, moral or otherwise, upon my figure or it’s measurements. I don’t care who knows that I have 63 & 3/4″ hips!  It does not say anything about my worth or my intelligence. It says nothing of who I am as a human being. Part of me feels a bit more punk even telling people about this! In fact…

“Sarah’s Measurements”
Back of shoulders: 17″
Above Bust: 47.5″
Bust: 53″
Under Bust: 48 & 3/4″
Waist (Natural): 54 & 3/4″
Wasitline: 56.5″
Hips: 63 & 3/4″
Arm Length: 21 & 3/4″
Arm Circumference R: 20″ L: 21″

I highly encourage you all to have a little fatty measuring party and have a blast discovering your bodies! I have measured many fatties and have felt the emotions pouring out in such a radical moment! It is empowering and difficult and can even be triggering for some. But if you support each other and laugh and smile and talk through it and crank up some good tunes, dance if you’re so inclined and just have a ball with it? I think you’ll feel as punk rock as me! I can feel proud of my relationship with my body. And I hope that you can, too.

Now if anyone wants to take these measurements and buy me all the Eshakti dresses in the world, I’d be totes okay with that! JUST KIDDING! I suck at accepting gifts, actually. But I am trying to enter a bunch of travel sweepstakes, so send ’em my way if you know of any. Ha-ha!

If you have a moment and you’re on Facebook, could you do me a small favor and vote for me for this alternative model contest thingy? http://on.fb.me/y1FtFi  Thanks!

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7 Comments to

“Measure of Fashion”

  1. On February 24th, 2012 at 10:06 am Big Liberty Says:

    Your measurements are really, really close to mine! Like, virtually the same. Size buddies!

    I’ve also been spoiled by eShakti (who has in turn despoiled my wallet from time to time) and am baffled by weird Lane Bryant sizing when I can sometimes shop there for bottoms, sometimes not. I’m also very tall (6′), so that can complicate things.

    I have a text file on my computer with all my measurements, which I refer to if I want to buy anything at all (I always look at the size charts online — they’re very different brand to brand). And which I use for custom-ing eShakti stuff.

  2. On February 24th, 2012 at 10:13 am Not Blue at All Says:

    Big Liberty: Size buddy! <3 Yay! Yes, every brand, every store, everything is so different and wonky! Having your measurements hands helps so much. Even when they're measurements online are wrong, you can demand refunds!!!

  3. On February 24th, 2012 at 12:10 pm Twistie Says:

    Yeah, I so need my measurements done. and I hear you on the feet. For yonks I kept trying to fit my wide feet into medium width shoes. It made a huge difference when I began to walk into stores and ask whether they had wide shoes. It’s still damn frustrating because fewer and fewer stores seem to carry wide widths, and since I have other sizing issues (specifically my arch you could sail a tall ship underneath they’re so high), shopping for shoes online is not a practical option for me except with brands I already have experience with. As much as I love my Birkenstocks, I want the option to choose something else, damnit!

    I think the one thing keeping me from getting my measurements done is the fear that I will no longer have an excuse not to go shopping at eShakti and then I’ll utterly bankrupt myself. They make such pretty clothes.

  4. On February 24th, 2012 at 12:25 pm Sian Says:

    Wow, I love the sound of big fatty measuring party! Sounds like a really powerful experience. All my irl friends are teeny tweeny ladies, maybe I should do it anyway. I mean, everyone needs to know their size to buy clothes online, right? Hmmmmm…..

    Don’t get me started on non-standardised sizing. That rant goes on for hours. My mother knows it off by heart now. 😉

  5. On February 24th, 2012 at 1:52 pm lucy Says:

    Hah! I know all my measurements too, eShakti is starting a revolution :p I took all mine myself and did them BADLY (I have about 5 custom dresses that give me like 6 extra inches in the top) but I have got it down now. We also have the same favorite stores! 😀
    BTW, have you ordered from eShakti since the redesign? I’ve looked at a few things on there but the only customizable option I’ve found is length, I’ll be really disappointed if they got rid of the sleeve options 🙁

  6. On February 24th, 2012 at 5:43 pm thirtiesgirl Says:

    I totally agree about knowing your measurements. It’s the best way to find clothes you like that fit you well. I also keep my local alterations person in business with number of clothes I bring to her to alter. My biggest thing is pants: I rarely find pants that fit me in the waist that aren’t too long for me and/or are too baggy in the hip/thigh area. (I know you’re not a pants wearer, but I am because they tend to fit my body shape best.) So I’m always taking new pants to my alterations person to get them hemmed up a few inches and sometimes taken in around the hips/thighs.

    My other thing is tunic tops. While you’d think tunic tops would look good on a gal with a big torso (big boobs, big belly), they really don’t. At least the uber-long ones don’t on me. Their length only tends to highlight my big boobs and belly. I’m also 5’5″ which means a tunic top that’s 30-33″ long will fall almost to knee level on me. If I was taller, a tunic of that length would work on my frame. But I find a lot of cute tunics that have the kind of detailing I’m looking for on top – ruffled plackets, mandarin collars, puffed sleeves, etc – so I buy the tunic and have it altered by hemming it up 3 or 4 inches at the bottom.

    I wish I’d known more about my measurements and getting clothes altered when I was in my 20s and early 30s. It would have helped me dress better and have more clothes in my wardrobe that I actually *liked*. I’m glad I know it now.

  7. On February 25th, 2012 at 8:23 am Jery Says:

    Fabulous post!

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