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
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
Every once in awhile I just like to let you know who else is reading Affatshionista, because I think we are all in this together. So since Affatshionista started here is a map with viewers. I love to know this kind of data. Each of us are making a difference, thank you. Ciao Bellas…affinity
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 
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
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
Since the first moment I heard about Cult of California I knew I had to have some of their clothes, the question was, would it fit? I bought tights, 2 jackets, 2 styles of sports bras and my very favorite, a sheer and opaque striped tank with a racer back. I weigh 280 lbs., I wear a size 26-28 sometimes a 30 and carry a lot of weight in my torso. I have had very mixed results with the Cult of California sizing, but I am really glad I bought some because I love the pieces that have worked.
Black & Turquoise Sports Bra: 4X – Precious, fits well, not as much support as the Black racerback..
Black Racer-Back Sports Bra: Let me tell you how cute this bra is, although it will never be seen. It has beading on the cross straps in both the front and the back. It fits well and I have been wearing it a lot.
Tights – Sheer/Opaque: I love these but the 5X is too big and I have sold them, but I am going to buy them in a 4X.
Moto Jacket: 5X but the jacket will not zip because I have a large waist/hips.
Hooded Jacket: 5X fits, but of all the pieces this feels the least like me. I have not actually worn it yet, so I don’t know whether I am going to keep it or sell it.
Sheer/Opaque Tank Top (Black Shadow Stripe): My very favorite item and it fits, I always get compliments when I wear it, and I am going to buy another one. I am looking for a racer-back t-shirt to wear under it.
I would love to know if you have tried any Cult of California pieces and how they worked for you. Ciao Bellas…affinity
Recently (stretching that word a little) my friend Glynda had a birthday. I love this photo. You know how it is just easy to be friends with some people, well Glynda is like that, she wants to like you. You met Glynda previously HERE, and I love her style and how she puts outfits together so I thought I would share her birthday with you.
Glynda is wearing a dress that was a hand-me-down (and don’t we love those), with a little attached petticoat, with last season’s shimmer fishnets from Torrid. I am wearing ASOS Curve, a size US 22, which is their largest size. I love it with tights, it is comfy and easy to wear. They have this look now and then in a stretchy sheath, right now their version is sold out in the larger sizes, I am wearing a 22 (I usually wear a Size 26-28), but it is a look they often carry. If you like it you can watch for it.
This is my favorite shot of Glynda. She loves stars, and in this shot I feel like she is channeling Wonder Woman, one of my heroes. Ciao Bellas…affinity
I have been waiting for a chance to wear my sheer shirt from Domino Dollhouse as a cover up. I am sure there are other uses for it but that has been my vision since it is cut very generously. Sometimes I cannot wear their 4x because I have such a large waist and many of their clothes have more of an hourglass shape (which I love).
Well last weekend we went to a fabulous party in Healdsburg and it was 100°, so I waited for the shade to come over the pool (I hate the sun) and spent several hours in the water. It was fabulous. And then I was able to make my exit in my coverup. Ciao Bellas…affinity
Coverup: Domino Dollhouse – Size 4
Bathing Suit: Size 24 – 10 years old, my first ever Bedazzler project
The theme at the festival on the desert I go to was Fertility 2.0 this year. My personal take on it is that because the event is spreading into the world they thought Fertility 2.0 was a good theme. I do not usually pay much attention to the theme but I was asked to help with registration at a party and could we please dress as bees or flowers or some such thing. Well guess what, no one else showed up in a costume, but it is a party, right, so we put our smiles on our faces and had fun.
I had not intended to write this post because there is not a perfect photo that is becoming and shows my wings and antennae and outfit. But we had so much fun and it so makes me smile that I decided to go ahead and write a post. I bought 2 pairs of antennae and a pair of wings, and then I wrapped my black skirt and tshirt in yellow masking tape, and wrapped up Edgie, who was helping me with registration and has my friend for over 20 years, right at the party. After the party I took off the masking tape and gave the wings and antenna to a 10 year old who was thrilled to have them, so it was a win all around. Sometimes it is okay to just be a little silly. Ciao Bellas…affinity
