Knoles & Carter Plus Size Leather

I am sure you have noticed by now that I live in a colorful world.  Costumes, short skirts, fake fur…it is all part of both the fat positive and Burning Man cultures that I live in.  So I had to try Knoles & Carter plus size leather when I saw it.  About a year ago, I tried a fuchsia (what I thought was a fake fur but turned out to be rabbit fur) vest, Size 5X – Size 32 according to their charts.  It was made VERY similarly to the Knoles & Carter Jacket above, with an elastic waistband.  Well of course it did not fit, because this brand runs very small, but I could get it on, and wore it once or twice before I gave it away, but IT WAS SO CUTE.  So I thought you size 3X people should know about these jackets because they are precious and yes, in my opinion, the 5X will fit you perfectly.  You can buy one HERE for now, and a little different version in a Size 4x HERE.  In addition there are a few Jessica London leather jackets in a Size 3X which is their size 30-32. I have never tried one because they don’t seem to come in a style I am attracted to, but I thought you should know they are out there and in general Jessica London sizing is fairly true although as I said previously, I have not tried the leather.   Ciao Bellas…affinity

Hot & Heavy: A Book Review

Do you want to read a book that says amazing things about fatshion?  Of course you do, and you can find it right here.

“I bought skintight exercise tanks that stretched across my belly with the gentle sensuality of kid gloves from a Victorian romance novel.”   Emily Anderson

“Fashion has much to do with freedom and visibility: the freedom to wear things that make us feel good and the visibility that comes with polka dots, sequins, and the occasional bow tie. Fashion is art, style and play. Fashion—or Fatshion—has inspired fat girls to take to the blogosphere and the runway.”   Virgie Tovar

“We love our shiny, bedazzled body-revealing costumes.  We don’t wear black for its slimming effect.  We work that shiny turquoise, pink leopard print, and gold lamé. We wear ruffle-butt panties for pants and bras with adornments for tops. This is nothing new for the average dancer, but for fat dancers, it is downright revolutionary.”   Jessica Judd

“Fashion is often held up as frivolous, conformist, unnecessary….To you, it might just be an outfit, but to me it’s performance, play, care, support, resistance, survival and fighting.”    Kirsty Fife

The more radical I’ve gotten, the better I’ve dressed.  I doubt that it’s to do with any inherent styling ability emerging or even learning much more about what suits me.  It’s more to do with the introduction of a lick of fearlessness into my life. Clothes don’t pull me down anymore, and now I fear no waistband.”    Margaret Howie

You’re still fat even if you wear all black.  Wearing all black doesn’t make you disappear.  It doesn’t make your hips smaller.  Wearing color is not going to somehow make you any more fat than you actually are.  I challenge people to wear stripes and color.”  Deb Malkin

And I feel like this quote from Virgie Tovar says it all for me:

“Oh, yes, this revolution will be accessorized, altered, and adorned with faux fur.”   Virgie Tovar

Ciao Bellas…affinity

There is a book reading this Thursday Night at the Booksmith in San Francisco, read more about it here.

Next stop on the Hot & Heavy blog tour:  Erin of Fierce, Free-thinking Fatties at http://fiercefatties.com.  Check out her review tomorrow and for more details on the blog tour visit Virgie Tovar’s site at http://www.virgietovar.com/hot–heavy-blog-tour.html.

D.I.Y. Plus Size 26 or 4X Wonder Woman Costume

I got it in my head that I wanted to be Wonder Woman for Halloween this year and I could not find a costume large enough so I made my own.  I wore it to a little art event on Sunday.  I had fun in my costume and I have included a little tutorial below.  Ciao Bellas…affinity

Cami: Avenue Size 26-28
Skirt: Kmart Love Your Style, Size 3X, elastic waist, not fitted skirt
Boots: Lane Bryant Size 10W, over 30 years old
Tights: We Love Color, Size C/D
Belt: Bob’s Belts, Size 3X, I have worn these belts for years, they are comfortable but the 3X is the largest, and it just fits my size 28 waist, even with the stretch.
Wonder Woman Lasso: Amazon, I purchased it since it could be purchased as a standalone accessory and size was not an issue.  I taped the ends together but next time I wear it I will attach the tacked ends of the rope to the inside of the little hanger loop that was provided so the rope stays in four little loops.

I considered purchasing the Wonder Woman accessories but I found them to be either VERY expensive or made from felt for $8 or $10.  I did not like either option so I decided to make my own.

1.  Wonder Woman Top: I found a Wonder Woman logo which I printed, cut out and cut on all of the black lines and then drew all of the black lines on the cami using a black Sharpie.  I used gold leaf because I have gold leafed for years, but it would have been much easier with gold fabric paint like Pebeo.  It dries well and is easy to use. Like most fabric paint it can be fixed by either ironing (cotton position), for 5 minutes, on the reverse side of the fabric; or in the oven, for 5 minutes at 300˚.  Of course you could use any red t-shirt, I happened to have the cami and I like sleeveless tops because I get too warm.

I just found this Wonder Woman t-shirt at Torrid. I generally wear their 4X in tops, but it also comes in a 5X, it would be a good base for a casual costume.

2. Wonder Woman Skirt: For the skirt I used a black skirt I had (I used it for my bee costume this summer) and used fabric paint to paint it blue.  I liked the effect but it of course would be MUCH easier to use a blue skirt.  I also found more traditional fabric (royal blue fabric with white stars, like the American Flag) but since I do not sew, making a skirt was not an option.  I also found some larger skirts at Jessica London that might have worked but by then I had run out of time.  I purchased a star stencil and used gold spray paint, but a better choice would have been non-spray fabric paint since you would not have an over-spray problem.

3. I found a tiara template, so I used it to cut out the cardboard.  Then I gold leafed it and used the red star from the template and just glued it on.  I used Velcro to fasten it in the back and this template was more than large enough for my head, which I found surprising, but I tightened it a little too much.  After I wore the tiara the first time I trimmed about 1/4 inch along the bottom edge.  It was much more becoming, sorry I did not get a photo of the change.

4. For the cuffs I just wrapped some cardboard around my arms and cut it out and gold leafed it.  I then printed the tiara template a couple of more times and cut out the red star and glued it to the cuffs, although you could just trace around the star from the tiara template and color it in.

5. The belt I painted with gold spray paint although of course it would be easier to just wear a gold belt.  I have always worn belts but have a problem finding them in a size 26-28 since I am my biggest at my waist, so creating a gold belt was easier than trying to buy one.

The cardboard did not hold up very well at the daytime event where it was hot.  So before Halloween night I put a little shellac (could use Mod Podge) to make the cuffs and tiara a little more robust and give them a little more body.

photos: Taken at Peralta Junction
Middle photo: Leori Gill
Bottom Photo: Frankie Norstad

Beth Ditto – Purple Hooded Spotted Ensemble

This is my first Beth Ditto Ensemble.  I had never even heard of Beth Ditto 2 months ago and then someone on the Facebook FatToo page, which is a Facebook plus size thrift store, posted these purple, big circle, not quite polka dot, leggings.  I love leggings and I love purple so it seemed like a natural fit.  Then a couple of weeks someone offered to sell me the dress/tunic.  It had the retro 80s vibe so I bought it and when it came I was in love.

The dress is a little long and the armholes are a little big which is odd since it should be too small for me since I am a US size 26-28 and it is a UK Size 22-24.  Each of the Evans Beth Ditto pieces I have tried on fit a little differently, so it is difficult to determine how something might fit.  Very disappointing.  BUT, I love the clothes and you will be seeing more of them. Ciao Bellas…affinity

Dress: Beth Ditto at Evans 2009 size 22-24UK which is a size 22US
Leggings: Beth Ditto Evans 2009 size 28UK which is a size 26US
Necklace: FatToo Accessora $10
Boots: Lane Bryant – over 30 years old

Soul Catcher Photo: Frankie Norstad  Taken at Peralta Junction (that is why there is a little dust on those boots ;D)

Beth Ditto – My Fatshion Hero

I have a new Fatshion Hero – Beth Ditto, a wild and rule breaking fatshionista.  She is an American singer-songwriter, most famous for her work with the indie rock band Gossip.  Above is the cover of her brand new book which I am going to put on my Kindle today.

But on to her clothes.  She had a fashion line with Evans in 2009 – 2010, and I have fallen in love with some of her pieces.  I am not going to post any photos yet, I think her book cover speaks for itself.  But I am starting to acquire some of her clothing and am definitely claiming her for my own Fatshion Icon.  In the video below Beth speaks how she developed her style. Watch this space.  Ciao Bellas…affinity

[brightcove vid=46926461001&exp3=8558003001&surl=http://c.brightcove.com/services&pubid=1568114478&pk=AQ~~,AAAAAF13hy4~,k-0ZIL64dAd–E4Uss2ll130zYPVMSNK&lbu=http://www.style.com/video/fashion-moments/fashion-moments/1896809784/beth-ditto/46926461001&w=300&h=225]

Update: On Thursday I posted on Beth Ditto band’s (Gossip) Facebook Page and they shared both my Facebook Page and Blog on their Page.  It made my little heart swell.  YAY!

Our Guest – Nancy

I went to a little birthday party at our friend’s Bliss Dance Studio last night and met the birthday girl’s friend Nancy.  The moment Nancy walked into the room I knew she had to be on Affatshionista.  I love blogging about my peeps, those of us that were part of the 1960s.  Can you believe this purple coat, and the boots, to die for?

Coat: Sewn by her friend and gifted to her

Boots: T.U.K. – Size 11 – thrifted

Life is good my bellas…affinity

Our Guest – Michelle Ochoa

I ran into my friend, Michelle Ochoa, who works at Burning Man today.  We were at Peralta Junction, a vacant lot that has been transformed into a creative community space filled with art and commerce. Tents have risen, art projects are installed, carnival lights are illuminated and the space has come alive with art installations, creative workshops, performances, micro-retail shops featuring local artisans, Oakland-based food trucks, a tented gathering place, and pumpkins.

I have wanted to feature Michelle for a while now because I love her style.  The tag in the dress she is wearing says “The Hanger” and she bought it in New Orleans.  I love the color and it looks great on her.  Thanks for letting me take your photo Michelle! Ciao Bellas…affinity

Domino Dollhouse Redux

In celebration of Domino Dollhouse getting a tune-up on the TV show on the Sundance Channel, Joe Zee – All on the Line I want to show you my favorites in their line because I want Domino Dollhouse to succeed because I LOVE their edge.  I have been watching Joe Zee since the beginning of the series and although I would not want him to criticize me personally I think he has a great eye for making a designer’s work more commercial and often helps improve the quality.

Everytime I wear the Size 4 striped sweater above I get compliments on it.  They still have it but only in a size 1X, but I will certainly be looking for the next one and will buy it when I see it.  Just fun and comfy.

This black size 26 jeans jacket is fun also.  They still have this jacket but in limited sizes. I love the cropping and it think it is similar in cut and size to the black and white heart denim jacket.

And the sheer shirt I just posted about a few weeks ago is the size 4X Lana Blouse, which I would love to have in lavender, but I do not have a lot of opportunity to wear it.

And a special shout out goes to Domino Dollhouse’s owner Tracy Broxterman’s Blog Post about her Betsey Johnson find, an oversize sweater.  Just thinking I could own a Betsey Johnson made me happy, and LOVE is just so me.

Thanks to Joe Zee, Domino Dollhouse is now working with Lane Bryant to bring some of her look to their stores and it seems that she is continuing to design her own line, so I am pleased.  Good luck in the transition Domino Dollhouse, but we can always say “we knew you when”.  Ciao Bellas…affinity 

The Fat Girl’s Guide to Living: a life hacker for the full-figured set

How could I not love a blog that is named The Fat Girl’s Guide to Living: a life hacker for the full-figured set. This was an epiphany for me.  There is a group of women out there checking things out for women my size.  YAY!

After I discovered this blog at 2am, I woke up with this post in my head/heart, so here we go.  I was skinny until puberty and then I started to gain weight and diet, I had boyfriends, I married right out of high school, always trying to lose weight.  I did Weight Watchers, Thin Within, and then I went to college and law school.  After that I started swimming at the Richmond plunge at a women’s “fat” swim (we rented a pool and only women over 200 lbs. were invited – you remember that era of divisiveness, 1982.)  I was mid size by their standards, at 275 lbs.  Yes. I have weighed 275 since at least 1990, per my Dr.’s records. And during that period I became radicalized.  I could love myself just the way I am.  Perhaps eat healthier and by then I was exercizing often with either Dr. Deb Burgard or Cinder Ernst, but it did not have to be about my weight.  I had a couple of periods of weight loss, when I fell in love with MonkeyBoy and one winter when I had the flu, but the weight returned.

So that is how Affatshionista evolved into a pragmatic guide to making clothes work at just a little larger than standard plus sizes.  The standard for “Plus Size” is a Size 24 or a 3X.  I am a Size 26 – 28 and a 4x, as I have been for over 20 years. So the blog’s question has become, how do I find clothes that work for me and you?

But size and mobility touch every part of my life.  When I was 45 years old and exactly this size and weight, it was just a social inconvenience but that is no longer true.  It is now a mobility issue and although it has not manifested, perhaps a health issue.  I chose a funny time to give up exercising which I have done for the last two years.  But there is a segue in here, that is where the The Fat Girl’s Guide to Living: a life hacker for the full-figured set come in. I love their ABOUT page, asking questions about all the things I might choose not attempt because I am fat.  I bet you have seen me do that, but you also see me living large.  Which is really interesting since MonkeyBoy and I just had a LONG talk about the viability of going on a cruise next fall for my 65th birthday, longer and harder than the one we just came home from.  I had thought I was going to have my knees done this winter, but that has not worked out.

But somehow I feel some relief that there are these young women out there to speak the things I am up against but not verbalizing to the world.  What is the workaround for? What do I need to know about before?  Thanks for being there for ME!  Yep, that is why my AFFINITY photo is the lead, this resource feels like it helps me and my peeps.  Check it out. Ciao Bellas!…affinity

Plus Size Sheer Stripes

I posted recently about the Cult of California purchases I made and that my favorite was the stripe tank, that even has a little pocket, how cute is that?  When I went to volunteer at the Burning Man office this week I decided to try something a little different.  I am still looking for a racerback t-shirt to wear under the shadow stripe tank that will complement it and make the outfit look a little more put together.

I am usually a match-matchy girl, or I just use black as my basic if the other colors are not all the same, but I am trying to break out of my box.  So what do you think of the colors in the tank, the skirt and the tights all being a little different?                   Ciao Bellas…affinity

Black Shadow Tank: Cult of California, Temple Tank – Size 5
Brown  Cami: Avenue Size 26-28
Black and Tan Tights: We Love Color – They are quite snug, I do not think they would fit anyone larger than I am at 280 lbs. and 5’5″
EGO Necklace: A gift from the artist, Laura Kimpton
Ballet Flats: FatToo Accessora, thrift site on Facebook- Size 10