bootcut jeans (Calvin Klein via Clothes Mentor)
red ruffle top (Bisou Bisou @ JCP)
cream/blue blazer (Talbots, thrifted, $4)
blue patent pumps (City Streets @ JCP, $25)
red ring (Colors by John Clayborn, $12)
Today I read this interview with Nicolette Mason. I appreciate that Marie Claire is dedicating a whole column (out of the how many columns a month?) to plus-sized fashion and that Nicolette Mason "made it pretty clear" that she's "absolutely not interested in being the voice of any kind of body-shaming". However, I did get irritated at this -
{NM} It's funny, I have no qualms forking over cash for big-ticket accessories, but I think full-figured women have kind of been conditioned to buy inexpensive clothes.
They really have. I think of it as connected to diet culture: If you're thinking of your current body as a temporary thing, why spend money on clothing it? The idea that only a slender body is worth investing in and treating well is problematic for lots of reasons, obviously.
{NM} I think part of it can be attributed to diet culture, but I think the majority of it is that for most women (especially in more remote parts of the US), the only options for them to buy clothes tend to be at big-box stores like KMart and Wal-Mart. It's hard to make the jump to buying investment pieces if you're used to spending $20 on a dress.
And then the other reason, in my opinion, is that the only place where full-figured women can consistently participate in mainstream, designer fashion is in the accessories department!
Truth. That's an excellent point about the limited resources. It IS difficult to reconcile spending $300 on a shirt when you've never spent more than $50.
{NM} Exactly. I think there's a major learning curve (really in the entire US market, but especially in niche markets like plus size fashion) in buying quality, long-lasting pieces. The American spending ethos is generally to buy the most that you can (and more) for the least amount of money.
Um... I think you're forgetting another HUGE reason! That maybe, just maybe, these women you speak of cannot AFFORD to spend $300 on a shirt!
There are studies showing thinner women make more money than their heavier counterparts (an average of $22,000 a year more according to this article). Given that, I think this is a MAJOR contributing factor that plus-sized women are not spending a ton of money on their clothes.
It really annoys me when I read shit like this. Are there really people out there so unaware that money is not freely flowing from everyone's pockets?! That spending $300 on a shirt is not a choice for some?!
