Thin Privilege: Will Plus-Size women be heard??

Thin Privilege is alive and well people.

 

One of my sales associate did a video about Thin Privilege. I will post the link to her video below, but she mainly talks about how the retail industry screws over us big girls. 

So I'm going to name off the retailers that offer plus-size clothing in-store:

-Torrid

-Forever 21 (Select Stores)

-H&M (Select Stores)

-AGX (low quality)

-Image (poor quality, sizing and service)

-DEB (junior, so very childish)

-Wal-Mart (Not cute)

-Lane Bryant (Older target market)

-Target (Slowly going away)

-Avenue (Older target market)

-Catos (Older target market)

-Dots (Just went out of business)

-Ashley Stewart (closing multiple locations)

-Ross

-TJ Maxx (Older woman)

-Marshalls (Older target market)

-Most department stores (Older target market)

I can't really think of anymore, but you are free to comment.

The point I'm trying to make is that we don't really have too many options if we want to have a typical shopping day. I literally have to pick and choose which shopping centers or malls I'm going to go to depending on the 3 or 4 stores they have that will have my size. Your typical "straight-sized" girl doesn't have to worry about this. Thin Privilege is walking into almost any store and finding your size, being able to touch it, try it on, return it, find an alternative if it doesn't work out, etc. For me and many others, this is just shocking. The average woman is a size 14, which is considered plus. 

The retail industry will make so many excuses as to why they won't carry plus size in-store or even at all. Don't give me that it cost more money for more fabric bullshit, because it's not true. I'm a Merchandising major so we know all the little formulas to determine pricing and the quality of fabrics used. These retailers don't even use the best quality fabrics. If you can sell a shirt for $10 in straight-size, don't tell me it'll be soooo much more to sell it for plus. They also use to excuse that there is no demand for it. All of these retailers, especially the fashion-forward, trendy companies are losing out on a lot of money because they choose to ignore the demand. How the hell do you explain all of these independent, online boutiques everybody and their mama have?? How do explain all of these new plus-size fashion designers starting their own labels and brands? I admire these plus-size fashion designers, but not the average woman can afford their clothing. The retail industry has a lot of learning to do. They need to open their eyes and see the demand.

Along with seeing the demand, they need to offer clothing we actually want! I know everybody has different styles, but they don't need to offer us those boring ass options. We want to be fashion-forward and trendy too. I want to show skin and be edgy. And yes, I know everybody isn't like that. I'm still working on understanding that all plus women think differently. I get so many customer's who complain about what they don't want to show and what they don't like about themselves and it annoys the fuck out of me! Just because you don't want to show some skin, doesn't mean others shouldn't. Don't force your opinion on others, because I am quick to defend my choices. I am so PRO-PLUS, it'll drive you crazy!

So, not only do they have plus size in-store or online, but it is a little ass section. It is never merchandised the same as the rest of the store and the options are not as cute. They have the same generic options I could find at any store. If I was straight-sized, I would have loads of options, cute ideas for outfits and much more! It is always in the back of some store, like in some remote desert. Sometimes, I just hate walking into a store and asking, "Do you have plus?", because I know damn well they won't have anything. I recently went to Islip, New York to open a Torrid store, and I wanted to do a little shopping before I left. I went to a mall up there because it was the only Forever 21 in that area that carried plus. I get there and there are no other stores that carry plus. This mall had over 100 stores, yet only 1 had plus. Sadly, the Forever 21 was closed because it was being remodeled. I went into H&M, and it was HUGE! I found some stuff in the Conscious Collection that was over-sized so I thought it would fit, but I wanted to find the actual plus section. After looking around for 10 minutes, I finally asked an associate and she told me they didn't have it. I was completely disappointed and I felt like crap. Not only am I disappointed that most of the stores I walk into do not have plus, but the associates that work there and customers stare at you and act like they don't want to help since you are not their target customer. 

I'm thankful that Torrid saw this and started to revamp their product assortment and image. I've never had quality jeans before I started working there. We have the most amazing jeans I have ever had! I still have them from 3 years ago! For everything else we have, I feel it is very trendy. I prefer more edgy, but Torrid is for the woman who wants to be trendy, cute and comfortable. We don't carry crop tops or a variety of fitted dresses, but we do carry a lot of different styles.

So this is my question for retailers: Is it so expensive to provide plus women with trendy, fashion-forward, edgy, comfortable clothing and quality service? Is it really going to bankrupt you to make some of the same items using a little bit more fabric? If you have a fucking store location, is it so hard to feature plus in your store? If you do put it in a store, can you make it look like the rest of the store, not some abandoned section? 

Here is the link to Ashleigh's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo9IEUa4VTc

Last night in NOLA

We wanted to go out to a normal club instead of Bourbon St. our last night. We ended up going to thos place called Wine Bistro and it was cool. It was different than how we party in Dallas but nothing wrong with bounce music! After leaving there, we DID go to Bourbon St.! Lol 

I pretty much wore a mix of brands but Forever 21 has been cleaning out my wallet with their new items! I'm not really a spring fashion person, but I've surprisingly liked a lot of things this year. 

I wore a mesh crop top and a tribal skirt from Forever 21+. I love the top but you need a really good strapless bra to match the neckline of the shirt or you'll see your bra like you see mine. I didn't trip because my bra was black. I like mixing crop tops with skirts over denim. I might try it this summer. 

 

Top- Forever 21

Skirt-Forever 21

Shoes- Torrid

Belt- Asos

Bangle- Asos 

Shape wear- Spanx 

Bourbon St. Fun!

We went to bourbon the other night and it was so much fun! Something about having more fun when you know you look good!

I decided to wear this crop top I recently bought from Fashion to Figure. Last year, I didn't wear a crop top until summer. I was one of those who used to be self-concious about showing a little tummy , BUT NOT ANYMORE! They make for some of the cutest outfits! This top was really comfortable. I normally wear a 2x but I bought and 2x and 3x because I have a large bust. The 3x fit better. 

Blazer-Forever21+

Harem Pants-Forever 21+

Sandals- Charlotte Russe

Hat- Forever 21 

Jewelry- Torrid  

Swamp Ride in New Orleans

I went to Slidell to take a swamp tour, and it was so much fun! We saw alligators, wild boars, snakes and much more! I wanted to wear this dress for a long time since I bought it. It's from Forever 21+, and it comes in two colors, green & purple. It was really comfortable all day and the perfect amount of skin. I love the key hole feature in the middle! Better get it fast, been selling out left and right. My sandals are from Charlotte Russe, super inexpensive! My hat is also from Forever 21. I've always wanted a hat like this but could never find one to fit this head! Haha  

Vertical Stripes: Yay or Nay?

Many people think us "plus" girls shouldn't wear stripes, but I love wearing stripes! They can be vertical or horizontal, diagonal, chevron; I love them all! I think that as women, especially plus size, we should break down the barriers that society sets for us. I'm going to wear my purple, my stripes, my animal print, my crop tops, my short skirts and dress, etc. Enough with my rant lol here's one of my favorite outfits I've worn recently. As you can see, working for Torrid plays a big part in my wardrobe. I think 90% of my closet is Torrid, 5% is Forever 21 and the other 5% is ASOS and Fashion to Figure.

When we first got this shirt in my store, I didn't like it. We had two other chiffon, peplum shirts and they looked awful on me. I really needed more shirts to wear, so I looked around the store one last time and decided to try it on! I ended up loving it, as you can see. This shirt has a lot of different features. It has vertical stripes, hi-lo peplum bottom, button-down center, and much more. 

I decided to pair my favorite jewelry, at the moment, with this shirt! I love my gold lion necklace and matching bangles (in previous post). I usually pair silver or black with patterns like this but I wanted that pop of something. I also added a belt to break the shirt up and give me a defined waist. I would've paired it with a mirror belt but my store didn't get them. I ended up buying another belt that had gold on it and I just scooted the gold to the middle. The boots I wore were from last season. I don't wear them a lot so I thought it was a great time to wear them. They have faux leather straps and bow, which is in with the trend. I love the peep-toe and the wedge because it's comfortable and the shoes a little toe without being too open.

 

Ponte Knit Skinny Pants -------> (Super Comfortable)

The Ponte Pants are a very popular item for Torrid. They come in this style, a high-waisted pant and a slim bootleg. The pant comes in different color, based on season. They have a great amount of stretch and comfort for a dressy or casual occasion.

More photos from work. :) 

For my makeup, I went with a classic smokey eye and a dark lip (Oxford Wine from Revlon mixed with Satin Rebel from MAC).

Cream in the Fall ;)

So, I've bought a lot of clothes this year and I wanted to wear something I've yet to wear! 

 My top, shoes and jewelry are from Torrid. My leggings are from Forever 21+. I just bought this shirt a few days ago! I have the green one. Torrid makes this shirt in four different colors: Ivory, Storm Green, Hollyhock (Fuchsia) and Black. The shirt is flowy, so no cling. It falls really well. The fabric is soft and comfortable. I like that they added lace pockets and lace backing to the shirt. It gives it a little something extra. It has mandarin collar, very minimal. There is also a deep v-neckline with a lace closure down the front. It gives you the imitation of a button up.

 My leggings are from Forever 21+. I bought them a few weeks ago, thinking I would wear them quickly! They are super comfortable but they are thicker than normal leggings. They have a banded waist, that isn't the best. They are a mid-rise, so every time I bent over they would come down. Other than that, they were great. I love the color! I like this color with the cream. They also have black, quilted, faux leather panels on the side. I love that they added this feature because faux leather is a big trend this season and it really makes the leggings pop.

My shoes and jewelry are from Torrid. I bought them shoes months ago, during the summer I think. I've never worn them so I wanted to give them a try. THESE ARE COMFORTABLE! They have a thicker heel, which was perfect for my retail feet. The peep-toe is great feature for the shoe. This is a spring/summer heel but I think it can go for fall because of it's simplicity. I love the gold chains trend. We just came out with this gold, lion chain necklace with matching bangles and I had to get it! I thought gold would be a great color for this outfit because of the cream top and shoes.

Ivory Chiffon Top- 44.50

Leggings- 19.80

Shoes- 44.50

Lion Necklace- 18.50

Chain Bangles- 18.50

Saturday OOTD: Normal Day at Work

I decided to post the details of my outfit I wore today at work. 

I was super comfortable and felt cute. It was a busy today and I had lots of fun! My full-time and I even wore the same thing!!!

If you haven't tried on the Jeggings from Torrid, you're missing out!! These jeans are the best! They have the best stretch and higher rise for comfort. 

Dark Rinse Jeggings-- $58.50

Red Lace Peplum Top- $38.50

 

Faux Leather at it's Best!!

I looooooove this Faux Leather Moto Jacket from Torrid!! I didn't even know you could un-zip the bottom of the jacket until my DM told me! It looks so much better with the bottom part off! I had to buy it!! It is very comfortable and will give you that edgy look!

Faux Leather Moto Jacket-- $98.50

Shop in Style: A Cute Outfit for a Day Out Shopping!

I think everybody that knows me knows that I have a shopping problem. It didn't help that I received an extra discount at work! Now that the cold weather has kicked in, I really needed to buy a few things! Being my normal self, I got up and dressed, did my hair and makeup, and ran out the door!

The picture is a little dark, but I wore my Green Ponte Blazer, Faux Leather Paneled Tank, my statement necklace, and my Floral Stiletto Skinny Jeans. Everything I had one is from Torrid.

The blazer is super comfortable, which all Ponte Knits should be. It also come is a range of colors. The red one is super hot this season! I like the green color though because it gives you that pop of color but it's not too flashy. The tank is also comfortable. It tends to show a lot of cleavage on me, but it does have adjustable straps. My statement necklace was from last season but it goes great with a lot of different looks. 

I know a lot of people say us Plus Size women shouldn't wear floral print, but you know what I say....HELL NO! I think it all depends on the type of floral print it is. I love the print in these pants, especially since they're gray and black. 

 

Green Blazer- $58.50

Leather Paneled Tank- $38.50

Floral Stiletto Jeans- $32.48 (Clearance)

M.I.A

I know I've been absent for a while....BUT....Fall is my favorite season for fashion! So I'll post some new things very soon!! :)

OOTD: Mint & Polka Dots

Well, we were supposed to get a visit today but he never came. But...I still looked cute! ;) 

I recently bought this new polka dot tank from Torrid. It has the cutest ruffles for the entire front part of the shirt. I paired it with my favorite white blazer, that I always wear, and my mint jeans from Forever 21. 

Although it is Summer, I still love to wear my blazers. Fortunately, I work indoors so I am in the air conditioning. I'm obsessed with blazers. I have so many!!! I love to layer, even in the summer. I try to still work with brighter colors even though  I am a Fall/Winter fashion type of person. 

White Blazer- Torrid (58.50)

Polka Dot Top- Torrid (34.50)

Mint Skinny Jeans- Forever 21 (19.50)

White Sandals- Thrifted 

MintNecklace- Torrid  (18.50)

I Love Me Some Stripes

I love my striped skirt from Torrid. I think I wear it every week. I just like to add different colors with it. 

I finally got to wear my coral blazer I bought at Dillard's on sale for $40, and my new necklace from Torrid for $19. 

The necklace has mint stones and gold casing. Because of those colors, I wanted to bring more of the gold color out. I bought a pack of belts and I wore the thin, gold belt. I wanted to continued with the gold thing so I wore my gold glitter flats. I love this color with the stripes! 

Bright Lights & Neons

 Although I'm obsessed with blazers and Winter fashion, I try to keep things bright summer the summer. Everything I'm wearing is from Torrid. I love working there and I love the clothes. I've worn this Floral blazer with this Limade button-up before, but I just bought my white jeans and it looks way better with white. The button-up is a high-low shirt, so it is lower in the back. I finally bought my heels. I had to go all the way to the Arlington Highlands to get them because my store didn't get them!!! My necklace is new as well, it also comes in a mint color.

Blazer-Torrid-58.50

Jeans-Torrid-64.50

Limeade Button-Up-Torrid-38.50

Fuchsia Heels-Torrid-44.50

Necklace-Torrid-18.50

Love Me Some Leopard Print ;)

So, I was invited to a Drag Show in Downtown Dallas at the Rose Room! I knew exactly what I wanted to wear!! I had just bought this dress from Forever 21 and these shoes from Shu Deal in Dallas. As soon as I saw this dress on the Forever 21+ website, I immediately bought it. I knew it would sell fast and it did! I love leopard print so this dress was a must buy! It is really comfortable with a soft, stretchy fabric. I liked that it was a peplum dress because it really accents my figure. I love peplum and this dress did it for me! I added a belt I bought from Torrid. I had move the little gold things over to create a chain effect.

I've loved the captoe trend season, but could never find any in my size. I finally went to Shu Deal after my co-worker told me about all the shoes she gets there. They have my size and they are cute shoes. They are really affordable too. I bought a pair of booties for like $7. Anyway, these captoe, strap heels I found are really cute, but my feet slide in them. I had to put a panty liner in them so I wouldn't slide. AND YES, I said a PANTY LINER. Lol.