Lately I’ve been feeling 90s fashion, probably because I follow Tavi’s Tumblr and she’s discovering all the awesome third wave/ riot girl stuff from last decade. I don’t know about you but I wore a lot of slip dresses, cardigans and boots in the 90s; I was a teenager and I didn’t have any money to spend on clothes so I made or thrifted a lot of what I wore. I went to the Valley Markets and bought slip dresses and layered them all over each other and clomped around in my shiny black boots.
So when I bought these boots from Evans I was envisaging my own 90s revival! It’s hard for me to believe that the decade of my youth is “in vogue” again, especially when it’s just 10 years gone. Oh well, I guess I’d better get used to this aging business!
Slip – from a dress Sonya gave me
Stockings – We Love Colors
Boots – Evans
Cardigan – City Chic
Necklace – WAIT A SECOND……………..
DO YOU LIKE MY NECKLACE? I like it a lot, probably because I designed it. I asked lovely Kim from Cupcakes and Mace if she would cut it into acrylic and Kim, being lovely, did an awesome job of it.
Because I liked it so much I got Kim to cut a very limited number of pieces. You’ll be able to buy one for AUD$25 from my shop in a little while but first I want to give you the chance to WIN A FAT NECKLACE!
In order to enter the giveaway, you don’t have to follow me on Twitter or subscribe to my feed or like me on Facebook… that’s just too much hassle.
How to enter:
1. Decide if you really really like the necklace.
2. Leave a comment below with your email address.
3. Tell me a story about the time you reclaimed the word “fat”.
4. Go about your daily life wondering if I select your story as THE WINNER.
5. Wait until I announce the winner next Tuesday (August 24 2010), sometime in the (Australian) afternoon.
Oh wow, that necklace is amazing and I love your boots.
I would LOVE the necklace :)
Email: [email protected]
I finally reclaimed “fat” about two or so years ago when I read this poem at a local open mic (some workmates were present too). I was so nervous, and there was some silence after I read it, but it felt great saying it outloud to a roomful of people – like they couldn’t already see I was fat, but to “own” it felt great! It’s still a work in progress:
Untitled
Clinically it’s a fetish
Drag from the Hefty Hideaway or Dress Barn
There are a million reasons
For why I am
Molested at a tender age
Raped at just fourteen
When I eat my skin stretches
Translucent like moth wings
I’m big boned, with a thyroid itch
That surgery or pills will fix
Nip it in, tuck it down
Truly the pea
With the princess weight on me
And starving myself
Congratulate my success
Or promise
To eulogize at best
But oh, I’m wicked and I’m lazy
A picture of excess
A perfect capitalist
But socially, I’m a mess
I’ve given in, and given up
Take up too much space
Took too big a piece
I’m too loud, too proud
Too in your face
Will never win the race
Oh, but such a pretty face
…If only…
The answers have laid the table
But what would you rate
The chances of survival?
My world has shrunk around me
And I’ve eaten myself to limits
I’m easy and available
Lay your head against my breast
You secret advances won’t be rebuffed
And I promise
To stroke away the lashes
Of acquiescence
As your personal
Ambassador to fat
Reclaiming the word fat and loving me for who I am has been the hardest, most wonderful thing I have ever done in my life.
I’m not sure if there was exactly one profound moment that I can tell you about in terms of reclaiming the word. However, the most profound step I have taken in accepting the word fat has been reclaiming it in the presence of my family.
As human beings, we exist within the foundation of what we have been taught. Well, my family taught me that I was “fat”… and that being “fat” was a bad thing. Society definitely did not help in the whole negative body image situation; however, the people I love most—the people who were supposed to keep me safe—were ultimately the ones who taught me to be ashamed of being “fat.”
It took me a long time to realize the disservice my family did my self esteem and confidence. And, once I did, the flood of memories that surfaced as proof of their hurtful actions was almost unbearable. I remembered mean comments in regard to pictures of me with food. I realized that the diets I was forced to be on (starting at the age of 8) were not about my health, but rather my appearance; because while I was barred from eating everything from butter to hamburgers, my family ate whatever unhealthy food they wanted. Of course the word “fat” is negative to anyone who has had it hurled at them from an asshole who has nothing to derive insults from other than their appearance. But, that negativity is so much worse for a girl who is asked “well, what are you doing about it?” when she tells her parents her brother called her a “fat bitch”?
Thus, you can imagine how f-ing great it felt during a conversation with my parents (when the subject of my weight came up) to be able to take every ounce of courage and confidence that “fat acceptance” has given me and tell them that I am happy with myself just the way that I am. I told them that my weight is not a negative thing, nor is it any of their damn business. I told them, “I am “FAT” and that’s completely OK with me!” Being “FAT” does not make me a bad person. I am “FAT” just as I am “WOMAN” or “MEXICAN.” The only concern my family should have had was whether or not I was happy. And, you know what family… no thanks to you… I AM!
I would love to have this uh-mazingly fierce necklace to wear as a constant reminder of the strength, confidence, and self acceptance I have.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Janie
[email protected]
I would LOVE the necklace :)
Email: [email protected]
I finally reclaimed “fat” about two or so years ago when I read this poem at a local open mic (some workmates were present too). I was so nervous, and there was some silence after I read it, but it felt great saying it outloud to a roomful of people – like they couldn't already see I was fat, but to “own” it felt great! It's still a work in progress:
Untitled
Clinically it's a fetish
Drag from the Hefty Hideaway or Dress Barn
There are a million reasons
For why I am
Molested at a tender age
Raped at just fourteen
When I eat my skin stretches
Translucent like moth wings
I'm big boned, with a thyroid itch
That surgery or pills will fix
Nip it in, tuck it down
Truly the pea
With the princess weight on me
And starving myself
Congratulate my success
Or promise
To eulogize at best
But oh, I'm wicked and I'm lazy
A picture of excess
A perfect capitalist
But socially, I'm a mess
I've given in, and given up
Take up too much space
Took too big a piece
I'm too loud, too proud
Too in your face
Will never win the race
Oh, but such a pretty face
…If only…
The answers have laid the table
But what would you rate
The chances of survival?
My world has shrunk around me
And I've eaten myself to limits
I'm easy and available
Lay your head against my breast
You secret advances won't be rebuffed
And I promise
To stroke away the lashes
Of acquiescence
As your personal
Ambassador to fat
I really really really like the necklace!
I am yet to reclaim the word completely but I think wearing that necklace proudly would be the final step! I am a fatty and I love your pretty necklace, and most of all, as a fellow academic I am committed to fat studies and fat acceptance through open discussion, advocacy and an open and loving mind and heart, thank you for this blog, it’s comforting to know there are others out there waging the same war!
my email should you choose me is [email protected]
hell yes that necklace is awesome!
lizzie.parker01 at gmail dot com
i reclaimed the word fat when i was about 18 or so. I went shopping with my mother, and she did her usual ‘my friend at work likes to wear skirts too, she’s a big girl too’ and ‘maybe you’re a bit too large for that dress’ and ‘a lot of wider people look good in this’.
she just sounded stupid using every word but ‘fat’ and i got sick of it and said ‘mum,the word is fat’.
since then i don’t let people skip around the word, and when they try i tell them ‘i’m fat’. it’s usually a relief for both of us to get that word out in the open. i’m not offended by the word now, because i realise that it’s the only word that really fits. i’m fat. not chubby, large, curvy, wide, big, heavy, plump (yuck, i hate that word), voluptuous, bubbly, metabolically challenged, round or portly.
Oooo I love your boots! :D
Awesome giveaway!
I definitely want that necklace! :D
Email : [email protected]
I used to hate the word “fat”. Fat was all I saw in the mirror, fat was the main thought in my head, fat is made me loathe myself. I used to be teased, and it escalated into bullying, and I detached from myself, I denied the fact that I was fat. It wasn’t until I started blogging that I realised, fat is just a word. It is not the definition of who I am, I realised I am more than my appearance. Being called fat used to hurt my feelings, because there is such a negative stigma to it, but people need to realise it is just a descriptive word, just how saying someone is skinny, you’re just describing how they look. I reclaimed the word fat, when I overheard a comment about me while I was on the bus, this guy was showing off in front of his friends, and he was like “Eewww look at that fat chick” and they started laughing. So I turnt around and said “So I’m fat get over it, you’re a dick but you don’t see me making a fuss” and the smirk dropped from his face, and he got real quiet. I now accept how I look and who I am, and it feels good to embrace myself. I’ve never been happier.
I love the necklace! Win or buy, I will own one! [email protected]
Reclaiming the word “fat” is an ongoing quest – you know, changing the minds of people who are conditioned to think fat means more than it does.
I commute a lot. This exposes me to a variety of people from all walks of life. Early on in my train riding experience I had a woman come up to me and wanted to tell me a secret, she whispered, “I used to be like you, but you don’t have to be like this… just eat a lot of vegetables.” Okay, I’m paraphrasing – but that was essentially it. I’ll admit, she wasn’t all there and I was definitely at a loss for words. Did that really just happen to me? The nerve! Of course, before I had to answer the train arrived – saving me from having to reply. I stepped on the train and went home.
Fast forward to almost a year later. SAME WOMAN, same train station – good ol’ 24th and Mission. I was sitting down, listening to an iPod when this woman approaches me. In a loud voice, she starts lecturing. Telling me that she used to look like me, but if I worked hard, I could look like her. My knee jerk reaction… is to well, be a jerk. But I’ve felt that when dealing with fatphobia and the like, it isn’t really a great course of action – even if it is extremely satisfying. So, I told her, “I’m okay with being fat. I LIKE being fat.” instead of sarcasm and/or being rude. This seemed inconceivable to her and only increased the fervor in which she told her story and her piece de resistance? If you eat a lot of vegetables, you wont be fat. I started laughing and repeated myself. She had gotten loud enough that her boyfriend came over, apologized and made excuses for her behavior/mental state and walked her away.
Originally I thought I had a crazy case of deja vu but I had made remarks via Twitter in both instances, ha. I suppose it didn’t have much impact on her world view, but a few people approached me on the train with positive words and thoughts on the situation.
I like it, I like it a lot
[email protected]
When i fell pregnant almost 2 years ago (unplanned) I honestly was most concerned about getting fat, THAT was what I focused on while my body underwent the most amazing transformation and well, singlehandedly built a human being.
Since the birth of my son, with a new fatter body and new perspective on life, something surprising happened. Instead of spending my Mama-Child bonding time doing ab-crunches like a maniac and running around the block – I enjoyed what my body achieved.
I am more confident with my body than I have ever been. I am proud of my body. I am proud of how things have taken on new shape and that the extra fat I put on and kept served a purpose. I would walk around fatly in a bikini now and I never would have done that before when the thought of being anything but thin was outrageous. Fat is the new black.
This is the greatest accessory OF ALL TIME and I am buying it the second it goes on sale. Seriously, put one on hold for me.
I reclaimed “fat” while discovering the Fat Acceptance movement almost four years ago. I had grabbed an issue of BUST off the new stand on our way to the airport for our honeymoon. I had never heard of BUST or FA or anything enlightening at all, really. I had read Cosmopolitan since age 9 and thus imagined all women should be whatever it is that was on Cosmo’s cover that month. Ha-ha! So I cracked open BUST on the plane and was awoken to a world like no other: Modern Feminists! I had imagined them long gone. Better yet, there was an article on the Chubsters! This U.K. Fat-gang seemed other worldly and magnificent! The first chance I got I hopped online and started my journey into FA and starting using the word “Fat” regularly, even at work (much to the dismay of my co-workers). I have since become part of fatshionista (LJ com), and FA blogger myself and a big fat & happy small business owner! I never could have opened my own cafe or had the guts to go strapless in public without FA and never without embracing the word “Fat” in my large and loving arms. <3
[email protected]
'tis rather difficult for one such as I am to 'reclaim the word fat'
I do, however, rather like that necklace design.
It would likely be taken the wrong way were I to give one to someone.
adams (dot) rachellynn (at) gmail (dot) com
My mom put me on my first diet when I was 7: a very kid-friendly 3 month bout on the Atkin’s diet. A (and I quote) “summer makeover so the boys at school will think that you’re pretty!” Because 7 year old boys are concerned with that, never mind have preconceived notions of weight bigotry. I didn’t lose any weight because we didn’t make it through the first week. I ended up in the hospital because, as it turns out, when you don’t give a young child any carbohydrates it makes them very ill. I was back on a diet 3 months later and had been on at least 7 months of every year for the next 18 years*. Various bouts with eating disorders and decidedly disordered eating ensued, naturally.
Then, last year, I stopped**. It was September 7th. I had just left my boyfriend of 3 years a month or so prior. I was in that very unhealthy, unstable place where… I didn’t remember how to be myself yet (or at all, frankly) without a boyfriend. Elvis Costello’s version of I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself expresses that sentiment quite nicely. I was going on a maddening amount of dates, a different boy or girl every week or so, trying to fill the void as quickly as possible. I had started a crash diet but, that night, allowed myself to go out to dinner with this boy I’d met at a coffee shop a few days before.
The guy and I had a nice dinner (read: I picked at my salad while giggling along to the boring things that he said), went back to his place, and one thing turned into another. Before I knew it I was blowing him on the couch and, out of the blue, he asked me– a complete stranger on our first date– if I would vomit on him while performing oral sex. Now, you know. No judgment and stuff. But in that moment I realized that if someone would be into getting their dick barfed on, someone would be into my body type. It was the last day that I dieted. I am looking forward to celebrating my anniversary some time soon with a delicious meal with friends.
The love of my body has since, naturally, evolved into something a bit healthier and no longer based on being found desirable by lovers. But that was the first moment that I thought “fat” wasn’t such a bad thing.
* doing the math just there I actually gagged a little. Ten and a half years of my life were dedicated to dieting. Ten and a half years when I should have been running around, playing with friends, riding bikes, swapping for better candy at lunch, and developing self esteem, I was learning about calories, water weight, and what I could do to make my body less embarrassing to myself and my mother so boys would like me.
** with lots of therapy (finally) and the natural ups and downs that come along with self-acceptance.
#1. I have decided that I LOVE this necklace.
#2. my comment & my email address [email protected]
#3. My story is that I have been reclaiming the word fat for a while. Slowly but surely I am loving my curvy body. The parts that I hate I know that others adore. I'm proud of my body and I wouldn't be this happy if I wasn't fat.
I also LOVE the typography in this necklace. It so nice to see a beautiful representation of the word.
xxx
Mishy
Can you link to your store so I can buy one RIGHT NOW?
I really like the FAT necklace.
I´m a big fan of yours.
I am from Medellín, Colombia, and I´ve been following your work since a long time ago on flickr (sorry for my spelling)
I just love it. I really want that necklace!!!
I am fat, and I´m proud of who I am and how I live as a fat girl without been ashamed of it. I wear fatness proudly!
I just expect that the necklace willl be hold in extraordinary hands, I mean, neck.
Congratulations for your amazing work.
A big hug from a big girl :D
Sandra
Wait a minute, where is your shop? I want to know what other jewelry is in it! This design is amazing!
Came across your blog a few days ago – love it – and have been going through your posts. You have inspired me!
Wanted to share with you my current favourite ”reclaiming the word fat” story with you.
I was walking around a busy clothing store on my own, skimming the rails and such. When a group of 6 or 7 young boys in school uniforms came right up behind me pointed at my legs and started shouting ”look at this heffer yo!” ”haha fat b*tch!” and then one screamed ”CHECK OUT DEM THUNDER THIGHS YOO!” to which I turned round with my usual icey gameface on and coldly said ”Ow! you lot better f*ck off before I bring the thunder!” to which their eyes widened, mouths dropped open and they backed away and left the store pretty sharpish.
I know it was not big or clever and well pretty cheesy…but it felt fantastic!!!
From reading your blog and a couple others I’m thinking of owning my fat and my style, stop apologising for it and make my own blog. I’m done with fearing cameras and photos of myself. I need to own myself! Thank you.
How can I get one!! PLease let me know! [email protected]
vampire
i am man and bed
1 vo g-unit
will fuck all girl are fit and big boobs
adam hooley
g-unit family
[email protected]