Gusty Dame

I just got an email from Gusty Dame saying that she would be at the Clothing Show this weekend, May 2-4th 2008) with her new spring/summer line. This season's line features

Empire waists, Grecian-inspired draping, open back detailing, and bold colours are all featured in our comfortable and easy to wear spring/summer clothing available in sizes 14 to 22. Featuring the designs of TOGS (Canada), MaiTai, Peony, Fashion Love, Cotton Candy and 1st Choice.

I took a look at her facebook group, and boy is there what to display! The clothing is fun, funky, and wonderfully colourful! Ladies out there who feel that plus sized fashion is too drab, our friends at Gutsy Dame are showing tangerine, coral, hot pink, shocking blue, and even a leopard print skirt (no animals were hurt in the making of the piece though so no worries).

I do have to say that based on the photos I have seen the only drawback to this seasons line seems to be in pants and shorts. I am hoping that it was just overlooked in the early promotional photos (and with Steph it is in actuality probably well covered) but all I saw was stanard black and white, fitted capris and a more swooshy pair of a cross between yoga pants and plazzo pants from the early 90's in a gorgette-like fabric.

Ok, now on to the good stuff.

First off, look at this adorable skirt. It comes in at least 2 colours that I know of (this shocking blue and a creamy white). It looks like it is just the perfect length and drape to be that flirty summer nights skirt that every fabulous fatshionista should have in her closet. I do hope this comes in a range of colours that includes... well... pretty much every colour in the rainbow and then some!

Ok, moving on.

In the perfectly dressed category isn't this just the perfect "Crud, I need to work today and it is such a gorgeous day outside" shirt? Certainly nice enough for any office, but with just a touch of "bite me, if it is this nice out I am going to enjoy it" to make you feel great all day. Oh my gosh do I hope it comes in white so I can wear it with the skirt in the other picture as well as every other skirt in my wardrobe.

One last image to leave you with is this gorgeous dress that I think is going to make an awesome bathing suit cover-up for by the pool, lake, or day when it is so hot you just need to find a fountain to splash in (for those in Toronto, the one in Riverdale Park is Awesome!).

Obviously it can be worn its own also, but lets just say I need a little bit more of a support network than that dress can comfortably care for.

It comes in at least one other set of colours. Bold blue with a bright pink band below the bust.

Toronto Spring Clothing show
Location:  Booth 213, Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
Hours:      Friday 3-9 (Opening night party with Fashion shows, and live music), Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 11am-7pm
Tickets:     $8 Online,        $10 @ Door

***PLEASE NOTE***
Gutsy Dame will be accepting cash only at the show.

Junonia

I just wanted a final update to the snowpants issue.

I indeed get a gift certificate in the mail to the store and I look orward to using it at a store that has shown that they clearly value good customer service.

Don't take this personally, but...

Ok, is it just me or does anything that starts off with some various of "Don't take this so personally (or the catchy alternative, "Why are you taking this so personally") is generally going to be both A) incredibly insulting and B) something I am going to take personally?

Yes I know there is a time and a place for emotionless debate, even over topics of a personal or sensitive nature, but when someone says/writes/implies something negative about me and the way I happen to life, can someoen eplain to me why I should not take it personally? Because it was directed at an entire group and not me personally? BUT I AM PART OF THAT GROUP!!!

Would it ever be okay to say "I have no idea what Canadians have that they think they should be proud of" to a Canadian and not expect them to take it personally? Hell no! So why is it okay to say it about fat people?

Not only that, but to then continue "I can say whatever I want and if it insulted you then you are just being a big fat (no joke intended) baby who takes everything way too personally."

I love when it is followed by "but some of my best friends/family/pets are... _____". So how exactly is that supposed to make it better? Because you are also insulting someone you know and like I should not be upset at being insulted? How does that work exactly?

Ok, sorry for the vent. This situation has just pissed me off more than it should. I am not a lover of internet drama so I have chosen to just let this die, but I am just still trying to figure out how not to take "The world would be a much better place without fat people" personally.

Grrrrrr

Someone on my friend's list on my regular life blog just put up a post based on an article on a MONEY site, about what if no one were fat and how we would all be much more financially secure. This is a person who has a number of medical conditions that many people do not recognize as "real" conditions (Although I do) so you would think to know better. I should add I have tried to be supportive of her when she needed it, even going so far as to send her medication available here and not there and putting my own business liscences at risk to do so.

Obviously it would be highly inappropriate for me to repost a private post here, but the gist of it, is.

She says that she does not "understand that whole "feminist fat pride" movement". She comments that "It just freaks me out that a group of people can be so determined to be unhealthy".

She goes on to compare being fat to smoking. Talks about how heaven forbid anyone should be allowed to say anything about a fat person encroaching on your space on an airplane. But it is okay... she finished with "some of my best friends/family/etc are..."

Well, surprise, surprise I could not keep myself from leaving a comment.

I have no idea why you decided to post on this, but it is similar to me saying in my journal that (her various issues) is all in people's heads without having ever lived through it. Lots of articles have been written about that too. If they would only stop making excuses for why they can not hold regular jobs...

Your comparison to smoking is is both insulting and wrong. Obesity affects me and how people see me. I am not forcing anything on you.
Being near a smoker affects everyone around them. There is no such thing as 2nd hand fat.

How is a person taking up more space on an airplane is something almost every single person on the flight does. Ever recline your seat? Well now you are in the space of the person behind you. Use an armrest? Fall asleep leaning to one side?

Since when is an airline, out to make money by craming as many people into a small space as possible, our arbiter of what is the right size for a human being? If tomorrow they decide that they should narrow the seats a little more so that women with hips of any sort no longer fit, would that just mean giving birth should disqualify you from flying without paying for a 2nd seat? How about a family member who is almost 7 feet tall? Should he be disqualified because of the lack of legroom? Forced to fly first lass? I'll tell you, I flew for the first time in ages in December after years of voices like the one you raise in this article scaring the shit out of me, and you want to know something? I sat by the window. I "fit" fine, and my tiny 4 year old was into the next seat as she fell asleep leaning over.

And people are not proud of the fat itself. We are proud of who they are and that we can love ourselves and accept ourselves regaurdless of size. Something many people overlook. I am learning slowly that I *AM* both fat and fabulous. I have spent a lifetime being told how I was no good because I am fat. Believing that I did not deserve nice clothes, or a boyfriend, or anything else. Guess what, neither you not my family are going to make me feel badly anymore for who I am and the shape God has made me.

Grrrrrrrrrr. Am I out of line or do I have a right to find this annoying?

Sorry about the lack of posts. I was dealing with a death in the family.

I had to come on though just to mention that Lane Bryant now ships to Canada and has Canadian prices!

Ok, they are certainly not the be all and end all of fatshion, but they are a great place with semi reasonable prices for basics.

Seriously go check them out :)