I'm A Blogger Too... #NoShade (feat. Rue 107)

So first of all let me say a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU and FUCK YEAH to everyone who shared my “H&M Sucks” post, and who has been using the hashtag #whatfatgirlsACTUALLYwear. What I REALLY want to do, ultimately, is to collect a sort of “visual petition board” of plus size women who a) have radical style, and b) believe that the pathetic offerings from these huge companies is just NOT good enough, and alongside some of the comments i've been getting: actually approach a few of the companies and say “HERE YOU GO – here are our voices, loud and clear. WOULD YOU LIKE THESE WOMEN'S CASH OR NOT?” I'm sure they've been told before, i'd just like to do a big roundup and see if we can't get a bit of a collective momentum happening...

Now look, I really want the chance to explain to y'all that I strongly and firmly believe in first and foremost supporting small and indie designers. I have lots of pieces made by the likes of Candy Strike, Chubby Cartwheels, Pho Sizzle Threads, Domino Dollhouse, Rue 107, Bombshell Vintage etc etc. I also thrift A LOT because, well, I love finding unique pieces that nobody else is going to have, on top of the more important issue of trying to reduce landfill and shitting (even more) on our glorious planet. But also – unique pieces :D

But I am also a realist, and I know that sometimes fast fashion just cannot be avoided. For some people, it is purely a matter of finances/economic struggles. My recent issue (for those who haven't been following along at home) is that I temporarily moved to America with practically no clothes because I thought it was a shopping mecca (it isn't), and I'm not in a position to spend a huge chunk of cash on summer clothes to see me through a span of about 6 -8 weeks in which it's still really hot. I will be getting (and have already begun to organise) certain pieces from certain designers that I will be able to wear when it gets cooler, but a bitch can't be naked or feeling completely deprived of creative style until then?! Explanatory note: personally, fashion is a strong form of creativity and I feel wretched when I can't express myself in this medium.

On top of all of that, this is also an issue of having the right to shop in brick and mortar stores along with the straight sizes. In the comments section on the Facebook post I had a few people telling me to “just shop somewhere else” and then listing online stores. Like, guys, I KNOW how to use Google, okay? THAT'S NOT THE POINT! I even had one woman go so far as to tell me “fighting this to want them to make skinny girl clothes in our sizes is like trying to push back on a meteor. Not gonna happen”. Well, not with that bloody attitude, that's for sure!

So yeah, i'm pushing against a friggin' meteor, but i'm pushing alongside a bunch of other incredible women (and men – although I don't have direct contact with them) who are fighting the good fight, in an attempt to create some semblance of a more diverse and inclusive retail landscape. We may never win. That prospect makes me sad, but it only makes me want to fight harder and longer.

Who's with us?!

Sometimes you just have to gif out

A few questions and comments about the photo on the right lead me to realise that I actually photographed this outfit, but totally forgot to blog it!! The photos were taken by my good friend Jacqui's good friend Kristie – on an afternoon a good number of months ago.

The crop top (it very cheekily says “I'm a Blogger Too #noshade) is from Rue 107 (no longer available, sadly) and used to be a crop sweater. Well, the weather was too hot so I chopped them sleeves off! HAR HAR.

The skirt, I made myself, and there's a cute story to it: I bought this exact tablecloth/ant print fabric from a dingey old shop in Brisbane when I was about 14, and I made a pretty crap skirt out of it (I mentioned I was 14, right?). A couple of years later, the skirt has seen better days and gets thrown out. Last year, my Nana very sadly passed away and she left me her fabric, and in the pile was metres of the exact same fabric!! I just knew I had to make another, better, skirt (now that I know how to box pleat!) and to always remember my Nan when I wear it.

Speaking of which, this red coat came out of my nan's cupboard and I don't remember the brand but it's a rather generic old lady brand like Miller's or something, and I just added green fur to the colour.

The sunglasses can be found everywhere on the internet, just search “Mr Quiffy Sunglasses”, and the adorable strawberry headband was made by my friend Jacqui, mentioned above. You can also get yourself some similar cherry earrings right here!

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Phat, Fat Peacock (OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE RUE 107 CATSUIT)

Hola! I’ve been absent, but guess who just signed a lease on an apartment in Boston? MEEEEEEEE! Well, apparently it’s not definitely ours just yet because the American real estate world happens differently to here in Australia, but whatevs - i’m allowing myself to get excited already!

So i've been meaning to post about this amazing fatsuit catsuit that I bought from one of my (now) very favourite designers - Rue 107. I stumbled across them earlier this year when I was looking for something absolutely show-stopping to wear to the Curvy Couture Roadshow after party. It was going to be my first proper runway walk (and for 8 designers, no less), as well my birthday, and my boyfriend had just moved to Melbourne (for me... *shucks*)! I was guessing i'd better treat his eyeballs real nice and find something that made me look and feel INCREDIBLE. I had plans to make myself a pastel rainbow faux fur collared cape for aaaaages (as you do), and other plans to DIY an in-your-face feather head dress inspired by Isabella Blow (as you do). And I had an inkling this was going to be my opportunity for both...

First off, I was super nervous about purchasing this item cos it was definitely one of those things that was either going to be amazing, or hideous. All of the Curve models on the Rue 107 site are tremendous babes of epic proportions, but I had literally no idea how this suit would play out on me, because of my distinct lack of ass. If we're Instagram friends, you will be well aware of how often I lament this fact. We all know, curves are acceptable if they're in the 'right places' and of a certain proportion. Mine are not. And as much as I have spent many a year pining for the shape of those girls on the Rue site, I never ever will be that way. And over time, that fact is getting more and more ok with me. So, I sucked it up and took a chance, and holy shit i'm stoked I did.

See here, for all the fun times:




I actually forgot to wear this head piece the night of the show, so I was excited to replicate the outfit (sans my incredible runway makeup, sadly) for these photos. Speaking of which, while Sam and I were out taking the photos, we had a hilarious exchange with a drunk woman in a muumuu who sauntered down off her balcony and crossed the street to us while we were wrapping. It went something like this:

Drunk Woman: WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTING FOR?
Me: Pardon?
DW: WHAT'S THIS PHOTO SHOOT FOR?
Me: Ummm... a private blog.
DW: FOR OVERSIZE?
Me: Pardon?
DW: IS IT OVERSIZE?
Me: Ummm... no? (I then clicked maybe she'd merged 'overweight' with 'plus-size' and I was just like wtf....)
DW: WELL, I'M A STYLIST. I JUST WORKED MELBOURNE FASHION WEEK. AND CAN I JUST SAY YOU NEED TO JUST HAVE FUN WITH THIS. JUST - HAVE FUN! LIKE, PUT YOUR THUMB (as she grabs my hand) AND PUT IT JUST IN THERE AND PULL YOUR TOP DOWN A BIT AND LOOK SEXY INTO THE CAMERA.

I legitimately didn't know what to say at this point, so I was just like "umm ok, thanks" and thankfully she retreated to her balcony of judgement, leaving me with a mixture of amusement, embarrassment and an unhealthy dose of anger.

I ask you, dear reader, to please view the photos above (all taken before she came over). Does it SEEM as though I was NOT having fun with this outfit? Does it? Hmmm. Well, just in case you haven't found me fun enough, this one's for you. And the drunk, arrogant stylist.

Now go and check out Rue 107! I originally had some troubles with their website registering the wrong international shipping price, but their customer service was OUTSTANDING and we even had a super cute skype call. I can't wait And if you haven't purchased from them before, make sure to use the code #newruegirl and get 10% off your first order!

Now fly, my pretty peacocks! FLY!

LET'S STAY IN TOUCH!
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The Importance of Being a Neo-Victorian Raver Babe (ALTERNATIVE CURVES BLOG HOP!)

The Alternative Curves theme this month is Neo-Victorian, and boy do I love any excuse to slip into a steel-boned corset! Incidentally: so does Gomez. Chasing my laces is his favourite past time.

I used to be fairly well into them, but this is the only one I still own. It also used to be too big, but one of the joys of accidentally getting a bit fatter is that now it fits! And man, if I do say so myself, my cans look ACE!

This skirt I made a few years ago out of a thrifted doona cover, for a Fellini-themed party... guess which film I was out of? ;)

I don't really know what else to say about it all, except - after we do a spot of reading and take a turn around the garden, we will definitely be on our merry way to a warehouse rave. Objections? I thought not...

Yeah, I made it in a hurry and never went back to tidy it up >.<

Big thanks to my love, Sam - for not only taking the photos, but for letting me have free reign on post-production. Not many photographers would allow that, and I am truly blessed to have an amazing pal that I can creatively collaborate regularly with! <3

Check out all the other babes doing this month's challenge, just below!

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Grrrls to the Front! ALTERNATIVE CURVES BLOG HOP!

Zine cutout source

One of the things I love most about Alternative Curves is how challenging and interesting the themes are. Most of my outfit posts so far, have involved some amount of research and self-education. And that is pretty freakin' awesome, in my opinion.

I've heard of Riot Grrrl a bit over the years (most recently in relation to Pussy Riot) but I must admit I had never really taken it upon myself to investigate. I'm not gonna go into a detailed history lesson - mostly because i'm not an expert, but also because it's super fun to personally fall down the rabbit hole of internet edumacation; especially with a topic so rich and thriving with music playlists, other people's vlog opinions, and documentaries - so you should.

A brief summary (and one of my favourite explanations) is this:

"Riot Grrrl roared into the spotlight in 1991: an uncompromising movement of pissed-off girls with no patience for sexism and no intention of keeping quiet. Young women everywhere were realizing that the equality they’d been promised was still elusive, and a newly resurgent right wing was turning feminism into the ultimate dirty word. In response, thousands of riot grrrls published zines, founded local groups, and organized national conventions, while fiercely prophetic punk bands such as Bratmobile, Heavens to Betsy, Huggy Bear, and Bikini Kill helped spread the word across the US and to Canada,
Europe, and beyond."

Without even realising it, I was actually already somewhat familiar with some elements of the Riot Grrrl movement in that I explored DIY and punk aesthetics in one of my design classes last semester. In fact, I wrote a whole essay on it.

One of my arguments was that "the origins of the DIY aesthetic are rooted in the punk movement of the 1970's, and in particular, a subculture initiative of this era: fanzines (aka 'zines'). Zines, by their very nature, are hard to define due to the varying conditions of their contents, but one overarching theme that ties them all together is that they are a platform for anybody who chooses to 'speak plainly about themselves and our society with an honest sincerity, a revealing intimacy, and a healthy 'fuck you' to sanctioned society – for no money and no recognition, writing for an audience of like-minded misfits.' (Duncombe, 2008, p7)"

One particularly iconic feminist/grrrl power zine is called "Brilliantine" by Sheila Heti, and was self-published in 1994. Her approach to topics such as sexual violence, gender inequality and feelings of rage and oppression all mirror the punk ethics of outspokenness and free expression that are central to the Riot Grrrl movement.


So how the heck does this tie into an outfit? My sparse Pinterest board didn't give me the answers, but it gave me some clues. Combined with my understanding of the punk aesthetic of the 70's (that I believe the Riot Grrrl movement drew heavily on), I decided to just wear whatever the flip I wanted to wear, and include something i'd DIY'd - this jacket. Oh, and my reading glasses. 'Cause smart people wear glasses, right? >.<

Although these photos aren't filled with the high energy and punk freneticism I was mostly exposed to while researching Riot Grrrl bands, I think they're a fairly good representation of my personal approach to defending things I hold dear. I tend to be intellectual about my ethics, and have an "I shall charm you and/or outwit you, before I bother to scream at you" kind of attitude. But you know what? That's also totally grrrl power of me.

And just for funsies, I leave you with a gif of one of the ultimate fictional Riot Grrrl characters of the 90's silver screen, and (probably) most of our somewhat misguided youths.

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