So … does size really matter to you?

Unfortunately in the fashion world it seems to mean EVERYTHING …  size O this, size 00 that.  Here I was thinking that the only thing people wanted more zeros after were there bank balances, it appears that Size really is the BIG issue.

 But who, may I ask, invents these sizes and categorizes them? , They seem so far apart.  I walk into a shop and try on a pair of size 14 jeans….  And they don’t fit …  are they too big? or too small ? It’s really hard to say, I mean the cut

 is just so completely wrong for my shape! The jeans they sag around my relatively flat bottom but then create that wonderful treat of a muffin top at my hips … a sight for sore eyes? I think NOT!  A sight to be left in the store … Definitely…

So I go on my merry way with a little bit of a complex … “ is everyone looking at me …  do they think I am huge? do they know I couldn’t fit into a size 14 jeans”?  Uh. No…  actually probably none of the above.  I consider myself to be a regular size 12-14, however, this obviously changes when you consider the individual garment and cut of the clothing you are wearing/trying on.

The next pair of jeans I try on are a size 12, and whilst yes, they are quite firm …  all of my complexes actually fit snugly within the flesh binding threads, and a big bonus …  I can actually bend over in them and still be able to breathe in a normal manner!! The decision is made “I’m taking these babies home”.  The feeling you get when a piece of clothing actually fits nicely, is quite in describable, it’s like a “breathe of fresh air”, ironically!

Wakeup Ladies....

Recently, whilst watching a news program I was brought to attention by the issue they were bringing to “the wider Australian community”.    Basically the story was meant to be a wake up call to all Australian Women.  Apparently according to this particular channel, women’s clothes in Australia are actually larger in size then what they are labelled as and that women need to cop onto this and start to look after themselves. HA … I don’t know where they are getting this information but I think they are definitely not shopping anywhere near any of the places I shop in, in contrary, most of the clothes that I try are marked at least a size or two above what they actually are, so instead of being a size 12 (as they are marked) they are actually cut to a size 10 …hmmm   not great for the old self image issues I think.  Needless to say I was so disgusted with this program , I had steam coming out of both ears and my nearest and dearest were getting ready to take cover.

So where does all of this come back to? Shape , that’s what… and everyone’s varying opinions of course.

I would have to say that I have an hourglass figure, I am not slim, I have my problem areas, my bust and hips are pretty much bang on the same mark of the tape measure , I have generous thighs and athletic legs.  I also have quite narrow shoulders, which causes me some grief when buying jackets and tops due to the difference between my bust and shoulder widths.  Another person who would have had this problem when she was a plus sized model is Sophie Dahl, (pictured below)

Sophie Dahl

 Whilst, I do not claim to be exactly the same size or shape as this image, there are definitely huge similarities between 

the proportions.  This is what a lot of people do not take into consideration. I am not a small hourglass, nor doI consider myself a large hourglass, but I am an hourglass and the tape measure does not lie.

Many people would say that Kate Moss is pretty petite and almost straight up and down,but if you look at the picture below of Kate , I think she is more of a petite hourglass …  who would have thought? …  oh ,and this just confirms my theoryabove.

People, place far too much emphasis on size, and don’t seem to concentrate enough on the beauty of variation and shape.  Fortunately, some have started to catch on, some such as Just Jeans, with their range of denims that have a varying size chart and curve depending on the persons shape, whether it be slightly curved, partly curved (demi) or extremely curved (bold).  In this way, I think, it would be much easier for everyone, be it sharp curve or slight curve to find a great pair of fitting denims.

So it all comes down to you, will you give in and buy something that is a size 12 just because it is a size 12, that is ill fitting, doesn’t suit your shape and cuts off your breathing, or will you succumb to the brighter side and look for cuts that suit your curves?  ITS UP TO YOU!!