Monday, June 21, 2010

FATshion

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It's been a very fat positive week for me. I was interviewed and photographed for an article in The Age newspaper about my thoughts on plus size issues and the current focus in the media. I was also asked by the editor at Fashion Journal magazine to style a plus size editorial for the magazine, which was my dream come true.

I was asked by journalist Annie Stevens to comment on the current focus in the media on plus size fashion and the issues involved within the fashion industry. It was published in The Age newspaper on Saturday 19th June, with a giant photo of me (wearing my much loved City Chic fringed skirt and City Chic rings and bangles of course, not to mention my prized Drown necklace and my new purple tights from WeLoveColors).

I spoke about how I am semi reluctant to become a spokesperson for the plus size cause because I see myself as a fashion blogger and stylist and don't see my size as something that should be the focus. That being said I do appreciate that I am slowly becoming a public figure who can help girls see that, no they don't need to hide away, they should be proud of their curves and that working in the mainstream fashion industry isn't an impossible dream. As I have started blogging for City Chic I have come to know and to read a lot of great 'fatshion' blogs and am now involved in the Young Fat and Fabulous conference in New York next month. So you could say I am changing my mind because I think its fantastic that we are being given a voice and I do want things to change. Like I said in the recent The Vine article, "do we only exist once a year?" because right now only one issue per year of a magazine is devoted to plus size fashion. Where do we go the rest of the year? We want to be fashionable the whole year thank you very much.

Here are some quotes from the article.

"Even though I've always been fat, I feel new to this plus-size fashion thing. Two years ago I wrote (on my blog) how, yes, I'm fat and these are my secrets to how I dress. And then I didn't really mention it since, but it has become 'well that's who you are'"

My point is there is more to me than my size, and I wont ever let my size stop me from achieving my dreams.

"I just want it to be that everyone is OK"

I really do. I think size is one of the last frontiers. We have addressed sexism, racism, homophobia and now its time to address sizeism (or whatever you would like to call it). Every body type is beautiful and one day I want it to be a non issue. But for now, like Naomi Crafti from Eating Disorders Victoria suggests in The Age article, I am all for empowering myself by using the word 'fat'.

"It's about the use of 'fat' as an empowerment. In the same way that gay groups use the word 'queer'. the idea being that if you use a word often enough it loses its negativity. 'Fat' no longer becomes something you can hurl at people."

With that in mind I went into the Fashion Journal shoot both nervous and excited. Why the nerves? Because, as a plus sized gal I know all too well how ground breaking it would be to see a plus size editorial that focused on the fashion and not on the fat. I wanted to think of it like I would any other shoot, but I was conscious of making the model look strong, confident and empowered.

Here are some behind the scenes snaps:

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The location was a fabulous ballet studio.

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Oh my god the clothes. We had Gorman, Subfusco, Minty Meets Munt, Dirtyrich and of course City Chic. Accessories wise there was Alegorie, Drown and Estelle Deve amoungst others.

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The shoes on hand included my favourite Funkis for Gorman clogs, delicious smelling Melissa wedges and heels and a whole bunch of killer Minty Meets Munt heels.

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I was sent some new City Chic sample accessories. It is important to note that the bangles and rings are made larger, so that they will fit larger hands and fingers. I think this is something that is overlooked a lot in the accessories market, possibly more so than clothing.

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City Chic suede heeled booties. Made for a wider foot and up to a size 42 they are great for girls with broad feet that find it impossible to get shoes to fit, like my poor sister who is a size 12.

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Holly Rose was the hair and make-up artist for the shoot and the beautiful model was Teer Wayde.

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The photographer was Mia Mcdonald who is one of my favourite photographers to work with here in Melbourne.

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A shoot isn't a shoot until I dance to some Kate Bush.

The editorial will be published in the 1st week of July. I can't wait to show you the finished shoot, I had a look at the proofs and I think it is my best work to date.

Time to announce the WINNER of the Mag Nation magazine subscription competition is:

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Like I promised, I used Random.org to generate a number out of 150 (what a great response to the competition by the way, thanks guys). So comment number 9 wins, and by some crazy chance that just so happens to be Alicia from Sea of Ghosts. No cheating I promise, just a crazy coincidence.

44 comments:

  1. Congrats on the article.
    I personally would like to see more curves on the catwalk.

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  2. This is fantastic. It's great that you've decided to voice your opinion on this important issue.

    I've noticed that talking about plus size is something that tends to make most of the fashion world uncomfortable. I hate it when editorials make such a big fuss whenever a plus size model is used, which is as you say roughly once a year (if that). I also hate the term plus sized when it generally refers to models sized 10-12 which is ridiculous as it is the size of the average women.

    Lets look to a future where real women can be accepted in fashion as a normality rather than a novelty.

    www.organicfairybread.blogspot.com

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  3. What a bloody fabulous post, big issues, those shoes, accessories galore with a bit of wuthering heights thrown in! Love it!

    Sleekit x

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  4. yay for curves and some diversity, what a breath of fresh air. i feel a little naive as didn't realise that size is so much of a barrier. i simply see you as a talented person and a creatve character on the scene and your size barely registers in my mind. i assumed that that was the case generally. good on you also for re-claiming the 'f' word and owning it, you come across so confidently and i agree the negative connotations seem to diminish. btw was thinking of you when reading my friend carri's blog (i used to model for her when she started out) as she has been in japan hanging with yulia and others that look familiar from your trip http://hypebeast.com/blog/carrimunden/

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  5. WOW!!!! Um, this is freakin' hilarious; that's my parents' old house. I have BEAUTIFUL wedding photos from that space too : )

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  6. it was a really great article. i went to city chic for the first time recently and got AMAZING comfortable skinny-leg jeans and some accessories. i love being able to buy bangles to fit over my mannish knuckles and rings that fit my sausage fingers that don't have extenders on the back. fatcessories ro0l.

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  7. love the article hayley, you're doing us proud for girls like us who have curves and not afraid to just be us, WOMEN.

    p.s i know how your sister feels, i am size 11 for shoes, i feel her pain. just tell her us sisters just have to stick together and HEY maybe size 11 may be the new size 7 :)

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  8. everything in this is jealousy inducing! can't wait to meet you in ny.

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  9. The behind the scenes shots are so exciting, you get to work with some seriously cute merchandise!
    It's great that you are becoming somewhat of a spokesperson for accepting and including plus-size fashion into the mainstream. It's sobering to think that even going so far as accessories and shoes there are limitations to what a person can wear if they have wider fingers or feet. I'm glad that it's starting to be addressed.

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  10. First off, congratulations of the article and the shoot! And I really don’t want to anger anyone with what I say next! None of this is meant in malice nor am I against plus size girls.

    I completely understand where your coming from and going to with the body issue, and I applaud it. Well done for speaking up in a time where so few do.

    However I do have a problem with you trying to change the definition of the word "fat" and trying to empower it. I agree with wanting to change people views of how you put it "sizeism" but the word "fat" has unhealthy connotations and while it’s wonderful to embrace your weight and love your curves it is primarily unhealthy to be obese.

    I was brought up to not distinguish fat and thin to see beyond people appearances and look beneath. I myself have no curves; I am stick thin and have trouble putting on weight. – therefore probably have no right to weigh in on this argument (sorry for the pun) but it really pains me to think of all the young impersonal girls you could be encouraging to eat badly and not exercise and basically telling them it’s ok to be fat and unhealthy. I am in no way saying that you should stop being a role model for body image or stop writing about the frustrations of a majority skinny industry. I just hope that you can let people know its ok to embrace your curves if you’re meant to have them and not to settle of being obese. There is a difference between being curvy and voluptuous and being Fat.

    Please feel free to not approve or to delete this comment if you want, but I really would like a reply with your thoughts on this issue. To say the least I’m just very curious?!?! Do I have a right as a skinny girl to say anything on this BIG subject? I’m sorry if I’ve been too frank, bad habit of mine.

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  11. Man these are some serious cute duds...jealous! Thanks for repping for us all.
    xo
    Katorra
    www.ondahanger.com

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  12. Awesome awesome awesome!! You look like a million bucks.

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  13. Kittymitty, To an extent I agree with you, that promoting unhealthy eating habits is a bad thing, whether that is anorexia or over eating. The thing is there are so many reasons why someone is fat, and often it has nothing to do with how much they eat or how little they exercise it can be from a thyroid condition or other medical condition, racial backgrounds and socio-economic circumstances. Skinny people who only eat junk food and don't exercise can be just as unhealthy as an obese person who does the same. There is so much to this argument of the obesity myth, someone who writes about it much more coherently than me is Natalie http://www.definatalie.com/
    For me personally I eat very healthily as I'm a vegetarian, I eat really small portions and I walk everywhere. I would say my body type is just built this way and I am happy with it.

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  14. Random question but, where is this ballet studio? Being a dancer its handy to know these things!

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  15. Good on you Hayley :) The shoot looks great.

    How funny awkwardly squealing out your name at Fat in Chadstone on friday night. So officially - Hi xx

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  16. Thanks for all your hard work Hayley!!!

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  17. I'm with kittymitty on this one to an extent. I agree that everyone has the right to take pride in their appearance, whatever their appearance may be, but I think that to an extent the acceptance of "fat" has gone too far. It is getting (or will be very soon) to the stage where it becomes non-PC for a doctor or other health care professional to discuss weight loss with a patient who has serious health problems or to suggest that such health problems are to an extent self-inflicted through poor diet and lifestyle choices.

    If you are to become a "public figure", to quote your own words, on this issue, I think you should be encouraging girls and young women to be taking care of themselves by eating properly doing some aerobic exercise (something which gets your heart rate up e.g. jogging or cycling). No one should just resign themselves to being "fat" because "their body is built that way" (changes in average body size have drastically increased over a matter of decades and evolution certainly doesn't happen that quickly, so it is obvious that the human body hasn't evolved to be fat!) or they've tried everything and "nothing works".

    For reference, I am a size 10-12 who has struggled fairly consistently since the onset of puberty with my weight. I've never really been overweight but around 3 months ago I was probably the heaviest I've been in my whole life. I try to stay healthy by not eating rubbishy foods (I'm a vegetarian too - and I'm sure you'll agree that this isn't a magic solution for weight loss, all those carbs can really stack on the kilos! I do struggle to get enough protein in my diet at the same time as keeping my fat intake low) and doing a combination of jogging and walking three times per week. Addtionally, I work in healthcare and I find it incredibly depressing to see some people's attitudes to their size (e.g. people who are diagnosed with diseases such as type 2 diabetes, refuse to make any lifestyle modifications and remain in denial that their weight has anything to do with their illness and refuse to acknowledge the consequences of their actions).

    I should say, I mean no disrespect by any of what I have said. I just think that we all have a moral and social responsibilty to promote healthy choices for our friends and in your case blog followers. Teaching people how to dress fatshionably doesn't really achieve this if you don't address the underlying issues of unhealthy lifestyles. I'm also suffering from study induced delerium so forgive me if parts of this don't make sense.

    In any case, I will understand if you delete/moderate this comment, but I think this is an important issue which is worthy of discussion so I thought I would give it a go.

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  18. Well again I agree, healthy eating is very important. BUT my blog is a fashion blog, and I am very interested in looking great at any size. So yes I am going to try and give girls some confidence to work with what they've got and not feel bad about themselves. That is all I am trying to do.

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  19. CONGRATS on the article/feature, it is great!! xo

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  20. Hayley, I agree. There is heaps (I would say way too much) information about how to exercise and eat right out there. It's not like you are a health professional who needs to be or should be giving this advice.

    I believe that the way we look has a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves. When I dress well and think I look good, I have the confidence to go out and do things, exercise included. I want to look after myself more. When I'm dressed like a bushpig, I act like a bushpig. Either way it's a spiral and it's better to be on a upward one :)

    In response to eri's comment - have you seen paintings etc from other eras? Being overweight isn't a new thing, the quest to be unhealthily thin is.

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  21. eri, considering the stories on this website http://fathealth.wordpress.com/ and the studies that have come out of Yale's Rudd Center that show that many health care professionals hold strong anti-fat attitudes, the idea that doctors could feel like they could not discuss weight loss is completely off the mark.

    "I just think that we all have a moral and social responsibilty to promote healthy choices for our friends and in your case blog followers." - I completely disagree. Health is not a moral issue and I do not owe my health to anyone else but myself.

    - Frances

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  22. I agree with Katharynoh & Frances.

    This kind of reminds me of the pidgeon thing (last year?). I mean what do people honestly expect of you, Hayley? You're not out to heal the world - you're a fashion blogger (oh wait, I'm not saying that's a bad thing - I just mean, where did all this expectation come from?).

    Anyhow, keep doing what you're doing. xx

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  23. Kathrynoh - perhaps you misunderstood my comment....or perhaps you are not familiar with the concept of evolution? When I say the human body hasn't evolved to carry an obese person's weight, I'm referring to the evolution of our species which has occurred over a process of tens of thousands of years. You refer to some paintings from the Rennaisance era....evolution doesn't occur that quickly!!! Additionally, I'm sure you'll find most of the paintings which you refer to depict the aristocratically elite, not the average Joe. To prove my point, I'd invite you to take a look at a morbidly obese person walking next time you go out....it looks painful, uncomfortable and unnatural....obviously our bodies are not designed to carry that much weight!

    Frances, you say that health is not a moral issue. I disagree. I think that these types of commentaries which essentially encourage overweight women and girls to believe that their is nothing wrong with being overweight are basically promoting a form of self harm (i.e. a series of lifestyle choices which in the long term will have significant negative impacts on health). To me, that is immoral.

    Fashionhayley, true that this is your blog and you can do what you like with it, I can't aruge with that. But you have also invited people to comment so I have.

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  24. Congratulations on the article! It's awesome to see that you are doing your own thing and following your heart!

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  25. Eri I think you are missing the point of this blog. From everything I've read it's more about fashion than fat. Do you expect every blogger to speak about healthy eating and exercise or just the fat ones? It doesn't seem like you read this blog much as I've never ever read about Hayley promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.

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  26. You are so naive. How can you seriously compare being fat to sexism, homophobia and racism? Wake the fuck up.

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  27. hope this is cool; http://lovewildchild.blogspot.com/2010/06/phat.html

    congrats Hayley!

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  28. I like your attitude, I do. But on some level I find it a little irresponsible to tell everyone to accept being fat.

    Yes, there are a lot of reasons and situations when someone can be big AND healthy, but it's rare.

    Also, people I know who are bigger are really unhealthy (I'm not saying this is your case, but people I know personally) and they THINK they're healthy. They think living on Subway is eating well because it has salad on it.

    You're doing a great thing teaching people where to buy clothes to fit them because there's so much crap plus-size out there that it's nice that people can find fashionable things to suit their bodies, however my mentality is that people should just be the healthiest that they can be- realistically.

    Like some people have said; that's not your obligation nor your responsibility, but telling anyone who is overweight to just embrace it is also not very responsible, and Hazel is correct- you can't compare it to racism, homophpbia etc as in the majority of cases overweight people DO have a choice as to their 'condition'.

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  29. I am a fat acceptance (FA) advocate and the main points, as I see them and in no particular order, are:

    1. Fat acceptance does not encourage unhealthy habits. We want people to accept themselves and live the best life they can.
    2. You can assume a person's lifestyle by the way they look. Fat does not automatically equate to poor health, just as thin does not automatically equate to good health.
    3. Scientifically, there is no guaranteed way to lose weight in the long term. If you have lost weight long term, good for you, but you are a statistical outlier.
    4. We all have body autonomy. Even if one leads an unhealthy lifestyle, that person is still deserving of respect and decency.

    Many FA advocates are fine with the promotion of healthy eating and exercise. Bang on, I say. But don't make it about weight.

    We don't live in a bubble. Anti-fat messages are everywhere everyday. People who speak against fat acceptance, including eri and Marlo, have quite paternalistic tone - like we're delusional and don't know how to take care of ourselves. We are adults. We have body autonomy. We can make our own choices relating to our health.

    Regarding fat prejudice, it IS a form of prejudice. I don't believe things like racism, homophobia and transphobia have been 'fixed', but fat prejudice exists nonetheless. Regardless of whether you think being fat is a 'choice' (and, in many cases, it is not), do you really believe that we deserve to lose our jobs because of our size? That we deserve sub-standard health care? That we deserve to be spoken down to? When it comes to treating people like human beings, there should not be a size limit.

    I feel like this issue has taken over poor Hayley's comments. This is a fashion blog, not a health blog. Taking one for Team Fatty, I'm quite happy to discuss FA with anyone: corpulent.blog@gmail.com

    - Frances

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  30. Jesus! Worst typo ever, Self.

    2. You canNOT assume a person's lifestyle by the way they look. CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT.

    - Frances

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  31. I would like to see more diversity in fashion. Not just plus sized models, but extending to different races and opening it up to disabled people.

    I am doing an article on body image and disability and the responses I've had from those with disability and also from someone on the National Body Image Advisory Group have been interesting.

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  32. Carly, I agree with you. More diversity in terms of everything. Great points, I look forward to hearing what the Body Image Advisory Group respond. Thanks x.

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  33. there are so many bloggers out there now who make their size the highlight of everything, whether they are skinny or big. it kind of annoys me, to be honest. like i don't need the word "fat" or "phat" anywhere, and i hate the skinny bitches calling themselves "skinny bitch" too.

    i'm glad you never made it your point. i think you are stylish and have your own point of view, no matter what people label you.

    anyway, that shoot looks so fun. i've come to have a new respect for stylists and photographers after i did my thesis collection shoot, which needs to be redone!

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  34. Tea, the ballet studio is in Seaford, on the Nepean Hwy opposite the beach. It's the upstairs of an old home that's been renovated quite extensively. The previous owners were actually a ballet teacher and family, but the space isn't great on a weekly basis for teaching because of zoning and parking issues.

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  35. Love all the beautiful shoes & bags!

    http://wardrobewarrioress.blogspot.com/

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  36. Frances, to respond to your points:

    1. Being healthy, to me, is probably one of the most important parts of "living the best life you can". Honestly, I'm just confused as to how people can be so unhealthily overweight (not referring to Fashion Hayley here, but morbidly obese people in general) and have absolutely no desire to do anything about it!

    2. I think anyone who denies that morbid obesity is "healthy" is frankly delusional or just in denial. I'm not denying that some poeple are unfortunate and have medical conditions which may contribute to their obesity which fall beyond their control, but, for the majority of people, the ball is firmly in their court.

    3. Scientifically, if you consume less energy than your body needs ona day to day basis, your body will start using up fat stores and you will loose weight. If you maintain a balance between what you consume and what you use, you'll maintain your size. Many people manage to maintain healthy weights for an entire lifetime wihtout having to go on ridiculous diets of exercise bootcamps, yet you make it seem like the most impossible task in the world. I think self control is a big issue here (something with which I have struggled in the past so I am not saying it is super easy, but I don't think it's as hard as you make it sound).

    I never said that anyone deserved to be ridiculed or loose jobs or anything like that. You make me sound like I'm being hostile toward overweight and obese people. Far from it, I am actually CONCERNED for your health! Far too many people in the world, particularly in the western world, suffer from obesity related illness that is entirely preventable. I don't really see why anyone would be comfortable to place themselves at such risk. I just think that telling yourself (and others) that you are proud to be the way you are (and I don't doubt that you have any right to take pride in yourself) may make you feel better now, but it won't make you any healthier in the long term.

    But, at the end of the day, I guess you have to make your own bed and sleep in it, so if you are honestly happy with your health, then there's really nothing I can do.

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  37. Great work Haley with article in The Age!! :-)

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  38. I probably should clarify, when I refer to "morbidly obese people in general" I am not meaning for this to be inclusive of Fashion Hayley or anyone else (I have never seen/met any of you, don't know how much you weigh etc.)

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  39. hi Hayley congrats on the article and you look gorgeous in the photo. I love what you are doing and I think it's fabulous for bigger girls/women everywhere. Some interesting comments have been left here and I just have to add to the whole "we should encourage healthy eating and exercise" thing which I must say made the hair rise on my neck. I have always struggled with my weight but finally became happy in my skin after child no 2 then had to start medications in recent years for chronic illness the weight gain has been a lot even though I hardly eat and when I do it's salads etc it is so hard to need the meds but gain weight and the only thing I can do is try and look my best. People who think if we just ate less somehow we would be thin is totally ignorant. thanks Haley for a great blog

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  40. Annoyingly I missed the article on both you AND Teer in the Age - seriously have to start reading the Saturday Age main section and not just skimming over the Good Weekend.
    Obviously this size thing is an issue everyone feels strongly about, I have to say I'm with kittymitty in terms of body type so probably have little right to talk about girls who are bigger, but I don't think it's a great idea to use 'fat' as 'empowering'... perhaps 'big', because people can be naturally big (as in large, solid, big bone structure etc), but few are naturally obese? I know my friends who are larger than average probably wouldn't object to being called 'big', just as I don't mind being called 'small' but I think it's a bit rude when people imply that I don't eat enough (because it would be rude for me to tell obese people to stop eating... it works both ways!)
    It's a tough issue.. looking forward to seeing how it gets tackled.

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  41. Gorgeous work Hayley your a fantastic roll model and i do believe and as everyone else mentioned there are plenty of healthy eating and exercise blogs out there, your not a doctor,you work in fashion so your blog is perfect for you and inspiring for us xx

    www.myfatshionwardrobe.blogspot.com

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  42. Well done hayley! Love your message and the Kate bush.

    And Eri I do food science and Nutrition at uni - I seriously suggest you do some more research about overwieght and obesity and the reasons behind them. I could go on and on but this is not the place because it's a fashion blog.

    The point being that the fashion industry puts one body type up on a pedestal to be apsired to and admired. If you are nothing like that you are left out in the cold to feel ugly. Trying to change this can only be a good thing.

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  43. Hayley, where is the cat jumper from? I want one!! I love your blog and I think you're fantastic. I also don't think you have the responsibility educate anyone about the depth and irrationality of anti-fat prejudice in our society. Good on you for doing what you do.

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