Fatshion: Wearing Whatever You Want

Countless articles in fashion magazines from Vogue to Seventeen sell this idea to fat women that their ultimate goal is to be skinny (or at the very least to look skinny; fake it until you make it, right?)—as if being fat is the worst thing a person could possibly be. To quote J. K. Rowling, “is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is ‘fat’ worse than ‘vindictive’, ‘jealous’, ‘shallow’, ‘vain’, ‘boring’ or ‘cruel’?” 

There are “rules of dress” for fat girls.

Don’t wear things that are too form fitting. No horizontal stripes. Cover up anywhere and everywhere. Cinch your waistline. Make yourself appear smaller. These “rules” are musts, because for every body there is an “appropriate” form of dress—one that will make them look thin or slender. We are told that if you dress in any other way, you will not be attractive or appealing. When fat people break these rules it’s shocking for the viewer—we are amazed that fat people can pull off skinny people fashion. 

We are told that it’s impossible to be fat and beautiful. ”Fat” itself is considered a dirty word so we have a plethora of euphemisms: “curvy,” “large,” “big,” “voluptuous,” “well-built,” “plus-size,” “shapely,” etc. Fat is an adjective not an insult. 

There is no wrong way to have a body. 

Wear things because you like them—not because they make you look skinny. Wear things that are comfortable, that empower you, that express you. Wear anything that you do for you and only you. 

• fashion
• fat
• fatphobia
• feminism