Oh my gosh I think I died and hit religious fat woman heaven!
I went to the store I had heard about. It is called black and white and it is located in someone's storage space here in Beit shemesh. Yes, yo uheard me right. A storage locker.
Needless to say I was not expecting much.
Lord was I in for a surprise!
The place was tiny, but it was, quite literally stuffed with loads of stuff, and for the first time ever I could wear all of it! Not only did it fit (lets face it, there were stores in the past that dealt in large sized clothing so a store of stuff that fit was, while nice, not totally novel), but it was all totally religiously acceptable to my level of modesty. Obviously there were some pieces in which I would not be caught dead (a stripped chifon sparkely thing comes to mind) but theoretically I could buy and wear every single piece in the store!
Ok, so what was there.
Basically, it was a line of clothing, designed and produced in Israel, for people like me. There is a chain of stores that carry the clothing, but this was an independant supplier. The name of the brand is "Discreet".
The clothign was classy and elegant but not so boring as to scream "Hi there I am a religious fanatic who wants to be sure that men are not tempted by my gorgeous curves". They obviously had chosen not to only carry items for the strictest of the stric,t but also for the rest of us who actually like people to notice that we exist once in a while. (Ok, so I am not beign 100% fair. can you tell I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder).
I tried on 7 skirts. I wanted them all. I tried on 2 shirts. I wanted them both.
Aha, now here is the rub. I could not take them all becuase prices were, well, pricey. I took 2 skirts. One a long lycra mermaid ish sort of cut skirts. It was 140 nis (roughly $35). The other was a very israeli skirt, 2 layers, one a wool and the under one more of a cotton with tulle edging. Shades of brown. It was 240 nis (roughly $60). The shirt I got was just a soft, stretchy, light pink, long sleeved t shirt and it was 80 nis ($20). The prices may not sound so bad, but when you compare the fact that salaries here are lower, and non-plus sized stuff can be had for 50 nis and up, well the prices are a little steep.
Not too steep that I would not go back.
they do not carry sleepware, underwear, tights/stockings or any other sort of lengerie (they are not that progressive) so I still have no idea where to get that sort of stuff other than to bring it in.
Oh, and she wants ot have dispaly of my work and some cards in the shop. As she is the only plus sized show in town, and I do plus sized work, it seems like a good "shidduch" (match).
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Ok, so I have heard of a store, now how to find it
I have been told of a store here in RBS that carries plus sizes and supposedly has really nice stuff. I have been told that although the prices are not exactly reasonable, they are also not as terrible as they could be (greeeeeeeeat...). I even saw an add for them in an English publication that we get (seemingly randomly as I have no idea how often we get it and never know when to expect it) last week that my husband tossed before I told him I actually needed it (thankfully, I got to read the section of short story they printed becuase I am enjoying the serial and do not want to miss a segment).
There is a local private phone book here in Beit Shemesh called, funny enough, the shemesh-phone. It is not there. At least not in the 2 year old version we got for free when we moved here from a friend of ours who has the more up to date version. We can nto get an up to date version as there seem to be none left. In any case, we asked and they do nto seem tobe in there.
So I have no idea where the store is (chances are it is in someone's basement. Most shops here are not in actual store fronts unles they are willing ot pay the big bucks as there is not a lot of commercial space in RBSA). I have no idea what sizes they carry- someone told me they think to European size 62. Anyone know what that is in the old contry?). I haven o idea how to reach them.
This is fun.
On the other hand, my mommy and a friend of mine sent me real, honest to goodness, Canadian tights. I am a much happier camper now when I need to go out at night.
Going into Tel Aviv tomorrow. There has to be a plus sized store in Tel Aviv right? Any idea how the heck I would find it?
There is a local private phone book here in Beit Shemesh called, funny enough, the shemesh-phone. It is not there. At least not in the 2 year old version we got for free when we moved here from a friend of ours who has the more up to date version. We can nto get an up to date version as there seem to be none left. In any case, we asked and they do nto seem tobe in there.
So I have no idea where the store is (chances are it is in someone's basement. Most shops here are not in actual store fronts unles they are willing ot pay the big bucks as there is not a lot of commercial space in RBSA). I have no idea what sizes they carry- someone told me they think to European size 62. Anyone know what that is in the old contry?). I haven o idea how to reach them.
This is fun.
On the other hand, my mommy and a friend of mine sent me real, honest to goodness, Canadian tights. I am a much happier camper now when I need to go out at night.
Going into Tel Aviv tomorrow. There has to be a plus sized store in Tel Aviv right? Any idea how the heck I would find it?
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tights
Well I am no importing tights from Canada and the US becuase I have given up and my legs are freakin' freezing! Thank goodness I have some wonderful people back in the substantially colder (and clearly more plus sized friendly) north to help me out or I might be the first person in the Mediterranean to lose a leg or two to fristbite.
I am starting to think about opening a plus sized shop over here. It seems to be a nice that needs filling. The only problem is that I do not tihnk it would fly hwere I am. Too small town. I think if I am going to do it I need to do it in either Jerusalem ore Tel Aviv. Truthfully, I figure there has to be something, but there is probably a local colloquialism for "plus size" that I jsut do not know to look for.
Be that as it may my mom is sending a bunch of pairs, and my friend Andrea is sending over a whole bunch that are mroe colourful. I am also thinking of ordering a few pairs from "we love colors" but frankly they ar really expensive. The colors are awesome, but once you convert the price into shkalim it just kills me to think about actually doing it.
On the "plus" side, my studio is now back up and running again. I love my new studio here. I am so much light and space. I never imagined the difference that having a seperate, dedicated work space would make. It make me feel so much more professional, and I think it comes across when I am dealing with people as well. I can now actualy have clients into the studio and do not need to meet them at a local coffee shop (which is a good thing becuase there isn't one).
My Etsy shop is slowly getting back up on its feet after months of neglect. I have some local work in both custom work and repairs starting to come in. Other than the fact that having to go on a supply run is a 6 hour trek into Tel Aviv, from a business point of view things have never been better.
Well, except for the fact that I sliced my finger last week becuase I was doing something particularly stupid. Ruined the piece as well becuase my hand jumped and my saw took a huge gash out of the silver I was working on.
Dumb.
Oh well, such is life I guess.
I am starting to think about opening a plus sized shop over here. It seems to be a nice that needs filling. The only problem is that I do not tihnk it would fly hwere I am. Too small town. I think if I am going to do it I need to do it in either Jerusalem ore Tel Aviv. Truthfully, I figure there has to be something, but there is probably a local colloquialism for "plus size" that I jsut do not know to look for.
Be that as it may my mom is sending a bunch of pairs, and my friend Andrea is sending over a whole bunch that are mroe colourful. I am also thinking of ordering a few pairs from "we love colors" but frankly they ar really expensive. The colors are awesome, but once you convert the price into shkalim it just kills me to think about actually doing it.
On the "plus" side, my studio is now back up and running again. I love my new studio here. I am so much light and space. I never imagined the difference that having a seperate, dedicated work space would make. It make me feel so much more professional, and I think it comes across when I am dealing with people as well. I can now actualy have clients into the studio and do not need to meet them at a local coffee shop (which is a good thing becuase there isn't one).
My Etsy shop is slowly getting back up on its feet after months of neglect. I have some local work in both custom work and repairs starting to come in. Other than the fact that having to go on a supply run is a 6 hour trek into Tel Aviv, from a business point of view things have never been better.
Well, except for the fact that I sliced my finger last week becuase I was doing something particularly stupid. Ruined the piece as well becuase my hand jumped and my saw took a huge gash out of the silver I was working on.
Dumb.
Oh well, such is life I guess.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wow
Wow.
Went to an open air market in Tel Aviv this past week. Looked at a number of "one size fits all" skirts- some wrap-arounds, some broomstick like with elastic waists. On the other hand, only one stall guy was even remotely obnoxious about it.
Not one would have fit a leg, never mind both.
And I might add this is after introducing 40 minutes of quick walking a day into my life (we do not have a car here and I need to be a 20 minute walk away by 8:30 every morning and get home in the afternoon) that has none of my clothing staying up anymore and me starting to get desperate for a good seamstress!
In all seriousness, this not being able to get clothing in this country might be a problem much sooner than I expected.
Went to an open air market in Tel Aviv this past week. Looked at a number of "one size fits all" skirts- some wrap-arounds, some broomstick like with elastic waists. On the other hand, only one stall guy was even remotely obnoxious about it.
Not one would have fit a leg, never mind both.
And I might add this is after introducing 40 minutes of quick walking a day into my life (we do not have a car here and I need to be a 20 minute walk away by 8:30 every morning and get home in the afternoon) that has none of my clothing staying up anymore and me starting to get desperate for a good seamstress!
In all seriousness, this not being able to get clothing in this country might be a problem much sooner than I expected.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Shalom Y'all
Well, my family and I have been in Bet shemesh for 5 weeks now. A little nutty to think about how fast this all happened.
I have received a number of emails asking me where I was and asking that I keep writing, so I am going to. To those groaning and asking why I am back, well- why are you here exactly?
So being fat and friendly in Bet Shemesh is a whole different ballgame from being fat and friendly in Toronto. For starters, there are a lot more people here who do not fit the standard mold. For starters, it seems that almost everyone and their sister's are pregnant. That certainly gives one a more "well rounded" view of beauty.
There does seems to be an easier understanding here that people come in different shapes and sizes. I have NEVER had any trouble here with turnstyles, seats and even plastic furniture. I have never been harrased or teased for my size, and the one time a child did say something the mother responded "so, and you have brown hair" (as in, that is juts part of who she is just like you are who you are).
On the other hand, I should admit that it is hard to stay overweight in a country built into a mountainous desert. For some reason, no matter where you are going, it is always 30 minutes directly uphill. This is not to say that everyone is skinny minies, but I will say clothing I bought just before I left Toronto is desperatly seeking a good tailor.
The flip side though, is that there is absolutly NO plus sized shopping- and there are "processing fees (that seem rather randomly assesed) on ANYTHING brought into the country ON TOP OF CUSTOMS AND TAXES. Yeah, you read that right. It totally and comepletely sucks.
The other things is that the medical sustems seems to try to hide the fact they are incredibly fatist behind a screen of "we know what this is becuase we see it all the time. Yeah, we blame the fact you are fat for everything from a hangnail to a broken nose, but it is not becuase we assume it is, we have seen enough to know that black eye you got from walking into a door was really your fat@$$ flipping up and hitting you in the eye... Ok, so I guess they got me there... ;)
Our stuff finally got here this week so I have set up my studio and today started filling orders and what not. My new studio is twice the space my old one was, with loads of natural light and I love it! It is awesome to be working again.
This country is gorgeous. I can not get over the views. The view from my balcony is to die for. (You can go to http://weloveyoubutwearegoinganyway.blogspot.com/2008/09/channah-on-her-first-day-of-school.html to see the view from our mirpeset (balcony). Public transit is reasonably priced and fairly efficient. Our apartment is lovely.
So far, other than the clothing issue, I have no complaints.
Oh, I should also add that one would think chub rub would be a huge problem with the heat here, but for whatever reason it is mostly non existant. Seriously. Non-issue. I think it is so hot people are essentially (serious tmi here folks) self lubricating.
I have received a number of emails asking me where I was and asking that I keep writing, so I am going to. To those groaning and asking why I am back, well- why are you here exactly?
So being fat and friendly in Bet Shemesh is a whole different ballgame from being fat and friendly in Toronto. For starters, there are a lot more people here who do not fit the standard mold. For starters, it seems that almost everyone and their sister's are pregnant. That certainly gives one a more "well rounded" view of beauty.
There does seems to be an easier understanding here that people come in different shapes and sizes. I have NEVER had any trouble here with turnstyles, seats and even plastic furniture. I have never been harrased or teased for my size, and the one time a child did say something the mother responded "so, and you have brown hair" (as in, that is juts part of who she is just like you are who you are).
On the other hand, I should admit that it is hard to stay overweight in a country built into a mountainous desert. For some reason, no matter where you are going, it is always 30 minutes directly uphill. This is not to say that everyone is skinny minies, but I will say clothing I bought just before I left Toronto is desperatly seeking a good tailor.
The flip side though, is that there is absolutly NO plus sized shopping- and there are "processing fees (that seem rather randomly assesed) on ANYTHING brought into the country ON TOP OF CUSTOMS AND TAXES. Yeah, you read that right. It totally and comepletely sucks.
The other things is that the medical sustems seems to try to hide the fact they are incredibly fatist behind a screen of "we know what this is becuase we see it all the time. Yeah, we blame the fact you are fat for everything from a hangnail to a broken nose, but it is not becuase we assume it is, we have seen enough to know that black eye you got from walking into a door was really your fat@$$ flipping up and hitting you in the eye... Ok, so I guess they got me there... ;)
Our stuff finally got here this week so I have set up my studio and today started filling orders and what not. My new studio is twice the space my old one was, with loads of natural light and I love it! It is awesome to be working again.
This country is gorgeous. I can not get over the views. The view from my balcony is to die for. (You can go to http://weloveyoubutwearegoinganyway.blogspot.com/2008/09/channah-on-her-first-day-of-school.html to see the view from our mirpeset (balcony). Public transit is reasonably priced and fairly efficient. Our apartment is lovely.
So far, other than the clothing issue, I have no complaints.
Oh, I should also add that one would think chub rub would be a huge problem with the heat here, but for whatever reason it is mostly non existant. Seriously. Non-issue. I think it is so hot people are essentially (serious tmi here folks) self lubricating.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Fat and Friendly in... Bet Shemesh????
Ok, so I have a confession to make. About a week ago I left Toronto for (what I think is) for good and moved across the planet to Bet Shemesh in Israel. For those who know anything about Israel's geography, Bet Shemesh is in the middle of the country about 2/3 of the way from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
I am loving it here. Ok so plus size stores may be few and far between (ok, I have not as of yet found any, but I have been told there is at least one) but the fat friendly culture is wonderful. The turnstyles are not designed for anorexics. Chairs are meant to be sat in. Busses meant to be relatively comfortable.
It is amazing!
So, I do plan to keep this blog up and running and just change it slightly to things of interest outside the us INCLUDING Canada.
Thoguhts?
I am loving it here. Ok so plus size stores may be few and far between (ok, I have not as of yet found any, but I have been told there is at least one) but the fat friendly culture is wonderful. The turnstyles are not designed for anorexics. Chairs are meant to be sat in. Busses meant to be relatively comfortable.
It is amazing!
So, I do plan to keep this blog up and running and just change it slightly to things of interest outside the us INCLUDING Canada.
Thoguhts?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
I'm Hiding...
Okay no not really. I know I haven't exactly been posting voraciously, But I do have an excuse. My family and I are less than a week away from making a move across the planet. To save them had that would be an understatement. My living room is so full of boxes That it looks like a shipping house!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Bracelets- but will it fit?
I have heard from a number of women that buying bracelets online can be a real pain in the well rounded tushy. If your wrist is under 8 inches around, then any bracelet that says it is 8 inches long should fit right?
Well, in a word, No.
I am linking to a post that has information on why not all bracelets fit, and how to find out if the one you are looking at is a reasonable option for you.
Ask not "How long is the bracelet?", ask instead "What is the inner circumference of the bracelet?".
I present to you
"The Mystery of Bracelet Sizing" Courtesy of D L Pom LLC Handcrafted Expressions.
Well, in a word, No.
I am linking to a post that has information on why not all bracelets fit, and how to find out if the one you are looking at is a reasonable option for you.
Ask not "How long is the bracelet?", ask instead "What is the inner circumference of the bracelet?".
I present to you
"The Mystery of Bracelet Sizing" Courtesy of D L Pom LLC Handcrafted Expressions.
Monday, July 14, 2008
My vacation
Last week my mom, my sister and I went away for a 3 day "girls mid-week weekend to Montreal. We took the train in, stayed at a hotel, went out to eat, and shopped like mad. Ok, not exactly like mad as none of us really have too much money to blow, but certainly at least like somewhat-crazy.
Never having been on a train before I was a little nervous about the whole seating thing, but I needn't have thought twice about it. No seat belts, wide comfortable seats, and at least 3 times the legroom of an average airplane made it a very comfortable (although somewhat boring... trains are a lot more fun and romantic in movies!) 5 hours.
Funny how airlines are cutting back and cutting back and cutting back and the trains are still giving out free toys for kids (And me- I brought back some fold and assemble trains for my husband and daughter).
In fact, the whole weekend was rather liberating. I went shopping and got some gorgeous new stuff. Shopping with my sister always pushes my limits and makes me move out of my normal comfort zones clothing wise- not that I eve regret it after because she really does know what she is talking about. She convinced me into a green shirt (I never wear green) that gets compliments left right and centre.
I also got a neat dress (made out of bamboo!), a really funky black and white knee length print skirt, a few layering tanks in black and white and some headbands (and socks because I forgot to pack any).
It was not all peaches and roses though. The first store we went to only went up to an XL, and it was a fairly small XL. It fit my fairly average sized mom. I looked at accessories, but mostly felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb. My mom (or more likely my sister) saw how frustrated I was so we went to a store "just for me". We went to Addition-Elle.
Ok, first of all the service was better than I have ever had in any AE store here. I mean, there WAS customer service! It was great. I felt a little like a freak show at first with my mom and my sister just sitting around waiting for me, but by the time we had left they had found a bunch of pairs of pants between them that they were taking as well. With my sister guiding some of my choices it actually turned out to be more fun than I remember having shopping in a long time.
Then came the big step off the weekend. I chopped off my hair.
When I say chopped I mean it. I cut off almost 10 inches. It went from the middle of my back to the nape of my neck in the back and to my jaw bone in the front. I still cover the whole top so nothing much changed up there, but I think the rest of the change is actually rather dramatic. I was really nervous about the whole thing, but actually I really love it.
The whole thing was very "What not to Wear" -like, but it was a good thing. I was feeling so confident I actually went swimming in the hotel pool, by myself, without wearing a t shirt on top! Ok, that may not sound like much to you, but for me it was an adult first! Not sure if I would do it again here where people know me, but it was somewhat liberating in any case. No one said boo to me about it either. I shmoozed with people in the hot tub, played with a kid in the pool, and all in all felt totally and completely "normal". No one came to cart me off to the "ugly people assylum" or critisized me in any way. I was just another person there because it was insanely freaking hot outside (and I did not want to stay in the hotel room watching Dr. Phil with my other traveling companions!)
Other than that, we went to Old Montreal and went on a horse and buggy ride (seriously, if you are in Montreal go and do it. It was my favourite part of the trip. We went at sundown so we started it was still lights, but as we went on all the buildings started lighting up and it looked like something out of a fairytale! My sister and I got henna tattoos and all in all we had a really great time.
I have to add that we had some of the best food ever. El Moroco and Morty's were hands down two of the best places I have ever eaten. Seriously, steak to die for!
Never having been on a train before I was a little nervous about the whole seating thing, but I needn't have thought twice about it. No seat belts, wide comfortable seats, and at least 3 times the legroom of an average airplane made it a very comfortable (although somewhat boring... trains are a lot more fun and romantic in movies!) 5 hours.
Funny how airlines are cutting back and cutting back and cutting back and the trains are still giving out free toys for kids (And me- I brought back some fold and assemble trains for my husband and daughter).
In fact, the whole weekend was rather liberating. I went shopping and got some gorgeous new stuff. Shopping with my sister always pushes my limits and makes me move out of my normal comfort zones clothing wise- not that I eve regret it after because she really does know what she is talking about. She convinced me into a green shirt (I never wear green) that gets compliments left right and centre.
I also got a neat dress (made out of bamboo!), a really funky black and white knee length print skirt, a few layering tanks in black and white and some headbands (and socks because I forgot to pack any).
It was not all peaches and roses though. The first store we went to only went up to an XL, and it was a fairly small XL. It fit my fairly average sized mom. I looked at accessories, but mostly felt like I was sticking out like a sore thumb. My mom (or more likely my sister) saw how frustrated I was so we went to a store "just for me". We went to Addition-Elle.
Ok, first of all the service was better than I have ever had in any AE store here. I mean, there WAS customer service! It was great. I felt a little like a freak show at first with my mom and my sister just sitting around waiting for me, but by the time we had left they had found a bunch of pairs of pants between them that they were taking as well. With my sister guiding some of my choices it actually turned out to be more fun than I remember having shopping in a long time.
Then came the big step off the weekend. I chopped off my hair.
When I say chopped I mean it. I cut off almost 10 inches. It went from the middle of my back to the nape of my neck in the back and to my jaw bone in the front. I still cover the whole top so nothing much changed up there, but I think the rest of the change is actually rather dramatic. I was really nervous about the whole thing, but actually I really love it.
The whole thing was very "What not to Wear" -like, but it was a good thing. I was feeling so confident I actually went swimming in the hotel pool, by myself, without wearing a t shirt on top! Ok, that may not sound like much to you, but for me it was an adult first! Not sure if I would do it again here where people know me, but it was somewhat liberating in any case. No one said boo to me about it either. I shmoozed with people in the hot tub, played with a kid in the pool, and all in all felt totally and completely "normal". No one came to cart me off to the "ugly people assylum" or critisized me in any way. I was just another person there because it was insanely freaking hot outside (and I did not want to stay in the hotel room watching Dr. Phil with my other traveling companions!)
Other than that, we went to Old Montreal and went on a horse and buggy ride (seriously, if you are in Montreal go and do it. It was my favourite part of the trip. We went at sundown so we started it was still lights, but as we went on all the buildings started lighting up and it looked like something out of a fairytale! My sister and I got henna tattoos and all in all we had a really great time.
I have to add that we had some of the best food ever. El Moroco and Morty's were hands down two of the best places I have ever eaten. Seriously, steak to die for!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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