Fatshion: I talk plus size fashion on TV!

I was asked to talk about the issues I have faced as a plus sized women who happens to also love and work in fashion on Today Tonight. Yes I was nervous with how I might be portrayed but as it was Patty Huntington from Frockwriter who was asking, who I met at Spring Fashion Week, I trusted her to not sensationalise the story or embarrass me and turn what I had said around. I am really glad I did because now the issue is out there and perhaps something might be done about it.

Watch the video HERE

There are a few issues I want to address:

Plus sized women in magazines
As a stylist I actually see the issue from 2 sides, from the point of a plus sized person but also from the point of someone who works in the art of making beautiful fashion editorials. Yes I do want to see plus sized women in magazines but I also know that samples are all small size 8's and that as I'm only starting out in the business, if I sent a submission of plus sized fashion to a magazine I would get laughed at. Its the job of the in house fashion stylists and editors who have the power, and believe me if I ever got that far then yes I would push the issue. For now I want to work, but I do think about it. I loved that Harpers Bazzar Australian editorial from May 2009 of Crystal Renn by Louis Sanchis, an amazing example of what can be done.







Designers and boutiques having no over size 12
Why? Why not have a 14 and a 16? Isn't the average Australian women a size 14? Why are they just closing out a whole market? I'm a size 16 and I do manage to find clothes that fit, but that is because I am fashion obsessed and am willing to take risks. I don't only try on clothing in my "size" because I understand sizes are different in all stores. Recently I bought a size 8 dress because I could see even on the hanger that it would fit me how I wanted it to as I don't like baggy clothing on me, so if the style is a baggy style I will go down a few sizes to make it fit how I want it to. That dress gets me so many complements, it was $20 from Forever New DFO.



However it seems that a lot of other larger women have trouble. I was recently emailed from a reader, Jazz, who wrote:

"Hi Hayley,

I'm just emailing you to say I find your blog fascinating - in a non-stalker kinda way :P

I am also intrigued as I am also a more to love lady. I find it so hard to find decent clothes for my size that don't look like I'm wearing a mumu.

I'm in Perth myself and I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of anything online...

I am really into the rockabilly/50's style but I am generally a bit of anything - one minute I'm the rocker in the skinny jeans, the next I'm in a nice dress, the next I'm in jeans and a tshirt.

If I'm starting out too broad for you I completely understand.

Thanks for your time,

Jazz"

Well Jazz I discovered during filming the above story that Leona Edmiston stocks up to size 20 online (up to 16 in store).
However I'm not too familiar with shopping for clothing online. If I can't see the item in person and try it on I just can't be sure it will fit. I think it may also be the fact that I haven't got a lot of money at the moment and can't take any risks as I used to buy on ebay nearly every day back when I had a full time office job. So I am going to put the question to my readers who may have some good suggestions for you. I do know that Evans UK ships to Australia and they have some cute pieces from the Beth Ditto collection on sale right now.

There is so much more to say, about how I've been discriminated against numerous times in stores, when applying for fashion jobs etc. I want to hear your stories (if any) and then maybe with all our voices things will change?