Plus and Proud

Miss Plus America is an exclusive pageant for the plus size women. They believe that every woman is beautiful, inside and out and deserves the opportunity to serve their community with a title worthy of their representation.  There are many more beauty pageants which are not the normal binge-and-purge Barbies of past pageantry. These are gorgeous full figured woman feeling confident about their bodies and what they wear. Actress Melissa McCarthy has also come out with her plus size fashion line. Melissa talks about the frustrations of shopping as a plus size woman. On an interview with Vogue she said “I just want to do a basic closet that I couldn’t find” “I want you to wear it and how you want to”

 

While Melissa McCarthy has her own plus size, Essie of Golden Kaleidoscope is plus-size model, a body positive advocate and respected voice within the plus size community and is plus-size fashion blogger as well.  She breaks the stereotypes that plus size women cannot be fashionable, sexy or on trend. Essie recommends all plus size girls to go ahead and be fearless while experimenting with different styles and silhouettes. Being a plus size herself, she loves body cons, curve hugging pieces , graphic tees, jeans and flats. 

 

The most challenging garment is the body con because it takes confidence and courage to carry it. Thankfully, there are many styles, colors, prints out there which can help decide what type would look good or not. Prints are always the best camouflage to hide those certain parts of the body which people are not comfortable o show. Details like twist fronts, zippers, peplums can also mask the tummy area. Also, do look at the type of fabric.  Lighter fabrics like elastane and polyester look better when there is an exact size. 

  

Other fashion styles can be a simple fringed tank top with the fringe all around the hem line. Denim ankle pants in soft, dark washed colors are a great option. A simple wrap style cocoon cardigan allows the wearer to layer over dresses, tank tops, tees, etc.  Asymmetrical plus size knit tee shirts are also something to look into. 

 

Last but not the least, pleated skirts add a dramatic look which can emphasize on the curve line of the waist. Pair the skirt with a soft blouse and strappy sandals to complete the look and you are all set to go! 

 

We can all see it clearly that the market for the plus size is growing and it will continue to grow. The plus size isn’t talking about the size actually, its is talking about the ability to buy the ‘correct’image. After all, isn’t fashion about accepting the fact that women are beautiful and powerful in every shape possible.

  

Are you, 'you' ?

What is it that makes us who we are? That's a question I seldom ask myself. Let me start by going a few days back when a tiny voice inside me asked a question. It said '' Is that really really you or you're being this just because?''

At first, I didn't know how to respond to that question and I let it fade away. They say when you realize something, just anything, you should catch it and hold on to it  and never let that feeling go. I did that. I did that nut in more selfish manner. A little note to you here: I say selfish because when I did listen to that voice, I  was busy nudging it away from myself and continued doing what recognized at that point of time as selfish. The thought was mostly ''Ok inner voice, you've had your say and you're right but I need to do this because I get all the attention and brownie points, so shush!"
All that i got as a reply was ' NO, I WILL NOT SHUSH"

A few days went by and that voice just kept bothering me. It wouldn't stop pestering me. After the 'incident' , I thought to just finish listening to what the tiny voice is actually saying. I questioned her and i said ''Why is it that you keep popping up every time I do something?" All that she said was ''Don't do that just for the heck of it. you have your own beauty, your skill. You have what it takes to be 'you' and no one else. So stop and just be what you are."

The aftermath of that conversation was actually very simple. I followed it up the next day. Courage was all that I needed with the help of, of-course, my own inner voice. All that I was, I stopped being. Stopped being what others wanted to see and became what I consist of. I bid goodbye to all the masks I owned and peeled out those false layers and just became what my core is. Just became me.