Archive for June, 2009

• Beth Ditto on Bullying

  Date: 2009.06.13 | Category: Inspirational people | Response: 0

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  Spread Beth Ditto’s anti-bullying video around as much as you can. There are other inspirational anti-bullying videos on Youtube, and here’s the twitter name for the UK Anti-Bullying organisation:  twitter.com/bullyinguk
  Along with their site: http://social.bullying.co.uk

  I was never bullied as a kid because of my weight, but I was regarding my color and well, just because. Listen to the first of my podcast memoirs on iTunes and you’ll hear all about it.

  Bullying is never right, and Beth is correct with what she said; bullying can turn people into bullies themselves. It doesn’t just stop in childhood but go further into adulthood.
  Be inspired by others who’ve lived through bullying and become empowered by it. Better still lets stop bullying altogether!

• Now even Vogue thinks you can be too thin

  Date: 2009.06.13 | Category: Articles, Plus-size Fashion, Plus-size Models | Response: 0

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  I posted the blog below about Janice Dickinson and Haute Coture fashion industry hating on plus-size models. Only to discover this article six hours ago about Vogue thinking models can be too thin. It’s a very interesting read although the writer does get rather preachy towards the end of the article. Now even Vogue thinks you can be too thin

  I agree with so much though that is said in this article. And what makes many women so bitchy towards women they see who are plus-size? Once again they also note how Ann Wintour is not all she’s cracked up to be.
  Once again, we want they ideal and we want equality but when it’s delivered many women just can’t take it.
  I would have been intestested to know the average weight ratio of the ladies who took part in the reader group that the article documents.

  So ladies, do you want reality in ads and fashion or do you want the ideal that you aspire to in your mind, which possibly is more slimmer and glamorous than you.

  Personally I aspire to be myself but it’s a tough battle and I’m not going to say it isn’t. I want to live a life where I don’t have to feel pressure to look a certain way. I aspire to be happy with me. What about you?

• Janice Dickinson’s word is not the last.

  Date: 2009.06.12 | Category: Articles, Plus-size Fashion, Plus-size Models | Response: 2

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  Repeat after me:

  • Janice Dickinson is not the route of all size evil.
  • Janice Dickinson is extreamly insecure with her shape and body.
  • Janice Dickinson loves attention. Good or bad.
  • Janice Dickinson had model fame and proceeded to snort most of it up her nose, and she lost the plot at one point. (Hey, she’s human, we all can lose the plot at some point)
  • Janice Dickinson is petrified of growing old.
  • Janice Dickinson has a sensitity chip missing partly due to the fact that she had a relationship with her father that wasn’t healthy in any fashion (read her books)
  • Janice Dickinson in real life does not look like this.

  Now if you read it, and read it again, you’ll now be totally confused as to why me, Vanessa, someone who has been paid to model (sans catwalk) and is classed plus-sized but in the fashion world I’m actually very fat and cant be used in many European mainstream things because *shock* I have an extra roll around the back and a belly; why would I tell everyone plus-size or not to CHILL OUT when this woman opens her mouth about plus-size models and her distain for them.

  First of all let’s break every element down.

  Janice is not the route of all size evil.

  No she’s not. Although people have said she is because on her last series of Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency she threw a fit when a few plus-size models were brought into the show. She said there was no place in the modeling world for them. What she meant was that unless you’re trying to cause controversy like Jean Paul Gualiter and have Velvet strut down the catwalk there is still a huge resistance by designers to design and showcase plus-size women in haute coutour fashion. Well, who wears Haute Courture unless you have millions or flavor of the moment to get free clothes?  The fact remains Ms Dickinson is simply a very loud mouth piece for a very dated (in terms of thinking) industry.

  Until more designers actually start designing consistantly for different body shapes don’t expect curvy girls on the run way very soon. Fashion and media work hand in hand, and it’s those things that determin how people view and feel about body shape.

  Janice Dickinson is extreamly insecure with her shape and body.

  Ms Dickinson is just like a teenager who constantly worries if she’s looks good in the clique of perfect girls. Ms Dickinson’s click is a mixture of current celebrity and the memories of her past when she was the hottest model in town.  She has proven her insecurity by A) Getting her lips plumped significantly B) Getting a face lift B) Getting breast implants – I could go on.  Now I am not going to knock any woman who wants these things done – more power to them if they can stand the discomfort. But see this for what it is – someone desparately trying to cling onto youth, instead of embracing herself as she is.  Who is she really to tell me I’m not good enough to be in her ‘her world’ when her world is false as the day is long? She is no one to me? No one I respect to give me a balanced opinion. I leave that to the women who are aging beautifully, wrinkles and all.

  Janice Dickinson loves attention. Good or bad.

  Really? How else do you need that explained? Celebrities do and say anything to gain attention. Janice is not the only woman out there trying to say stuff that’s controversial to bring the spotlight on her or anything she’s selling.  Good or bad, it doesn’t matter. But saying something against plus-size people in fashion is going to get the masses angry and therefore bring her show more PR.  For those of you that did get angry, don’t worry, she opens her mouth and its easily done. Trick is to grin and do your own thing, because the chances of Janice Dickinson being a credible spokesperson for the fashion world is slim to none. I’ve got more chance of being a model for Guess Jeans than she has of being credible.

  Janice Dickinson had model fame and proceeded to snort most of it up her nose, and she lost the plot at one point. (Hey, she’s human, we all can lose the plot at some point)

  Well lots of models were doing that and in high fashion they STILL do that. Make no mistake, all sorts of crazy crap goes on behind the scenes of fashion. It’s very easy when you’re older  and wiser to look back and think you should never of done half the things you did, but life has a funny way of grounding us. And Ms Dickinson was grounded by failed relationships and years of obscurity when the real Supermodels started to be featured in George Micheal videos.

  Has she learned her lesson? No, not really. She still trying to keep up with the pretty young things of Hollwyood and comes out with no more respect. There may have been a glimer of hope with her modeling agency reality thingie but nope she’s blown that pretty much with her opinions which hold no weight because of her mental imbalance. So off to the jungle she goes with all the other Z-D-listers.

  Janice Dickinson is petrified of growing old.

  Do we need to go over how much plastic surgery she’s had. No? Well good because I can’t be bothered to write it again.

  Janice Dickinson has a sensitity chip missing partly due to the fact that she had a relationship with her father wasn’t healthy in any fashion (read her books)

  If you don’t know about Mr Dickinson and her father then google it or read her book. Make no mistake this woman has been deeply traumatized and every time she tries to belittle someone or a group in society this is the first thing I think of. There is no way to make light of it at all. It was a terrible violation and the ramafications of the  mental bullying he put her through as a small child show every time that woman opens her mouth in objection.

  I see it, because occasionally I do it too. Childhood trauma can do that – rage and more rage.  The trick is to learn to control it better.

  If she ever had therapy she should be suing because they did a crappy job. There is one thing to speak your mind, but to belittle someone or a group because you have issues you’ve never dealt with properly about looks, size, human interaction and compassion is not really the best way to live your life.

  Janice Dickinson in real life does not look like this —-> See picture above.

  

  And nor do I, but with the wonders of photoshop!!!

  You see, even that well toned look and perfect skin Ms Dickinson is showing is not real. None of what you see in magazines or ad pictures is real. The pictures are taken, granted, in the best light and make-up. They are then edited by the editing department that has not only photoshop but other image programs to enhance features and the editor sees them through all these processes. Often lbs are shed in the process.

  Remember when Kate Winslet kicked up a storm because she had been grossly over photoshopped regarding her size. She made a statement quick smart : ‘Ladies, this is NOT how I really look.’ Good for Kate.

  Ladies, we love illusions so why is it that when we’re faced with an illusion and realize it’s not all it’s cracked up to be with moan?

  Is it me or does my head look bigger in the pic above? Meh!

  Some people were meant to be slim. Some weren’t. I think Ms Dickinson was, but even super thin people have that tiny belly/back roll. You can’t fight gravity in its raw form – only by photo manipulation. Remember that.  P>S Yes that’s a terrible photoshop jobbie, but I was doing it quickly!

  So… let think about all of this rationally.

  Janice Dickinson’s opinion is her own. She is entitled to it. Her reasons for dis-appreciating plus-size models is a reflection of the majority of high end fashion, which does not cater for plus-size people in any way. It also stems from her distain (although she won’t admit it) of anyone who’s not standard model size to be accepted into a world which is elite. It’s almost like she is thinking, ‘Why should those plus-size girls model when there are some of us who need to work out and possibly get extra ribs removed to be a part of this elite world?’ She probably throws her teddy out the pram as she says it.

  She’s not the only person in the world who thinks that. Don’t you just hate it when people say to you, ‘Fat is unhealthy’, when what they really want to say is, ‘You being fat disgusts me’. I could also say, ‘That having all that collegen pumped into your lips is not healthy.’ But what I really mean is, ‘ Trout lips are disgusting to look at.’  You see how it works? The false justification game.

  To any one who reads this and is thinking that Ms Dickinson’s word is law, think on. There are opportunities to model when you’re plus-sized. You have to seek those opportunities out and WANT them. If you have to ask if you want something you’re not ready to want it. Many plus-size women ask for validation or approval. Why? Because we’re plus-sized. No, you just have to be ready and want to model. You have to want to show off. Only you can want that in your life. If you don’t, then stick to dreaming.  Although it wouldn’t hurt to have a lot more designers on the high end designing for plus-size woman; there are so many other avenues you can showcase your ability to model other than the catwork.

  You are your only barrier towards modeling in mainstream, not the Janice Dickinsons of this world! Never forget that.

  Vanessa Reece

  Proud Professional Plus-size Model.

  Coments welcome.

• Update from Victoria at Revolution 1228

  Date: 2009.06.12 | Category: Plus-size Fashion | Response: 0

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  As promised yestarday, here is a quick update from Victoria (co-owner with Mia Tyler) of plus-size clothing company, Revolution 1228

  Victoria let me know that size 18 and 20 will be back in stock in about two weeks. Just remember when ordering your t-shirts that they need to know whether you want it with the logo or without the logo.

  Personally, I love the logo and it’s good advertisment for them because lets face it, how long have us ladies been dying for a comfy t-shirt to wear which doesn’t shrink in the laundry or rides up to our armpits? Too long!

  Join the revolution and get yours!

  
  Picture courtesy of Revolution 1228