There is SO much to be angry about when it comes to size/body/fat acceptance. So I don’t know why, today, it is this that bothers me:
“I’ve always thought of yellow as a thin-people color.”
I saw this comment in a community on Livejournal. And, while I don’t want to call the person out, I can’t get over the idea that certain colors BELONG to thin people.
Most of the so-called rules for plus-sized fashion irritate me anyway. I was reading an article in Threads (a sewing magazine) and came across this little gem in an otherwise awesome article about swimsuit construction.
In general, well-endowed women look best in one-piece swimsuits or tankinis in dark solid colors, while slim women benefit from bright prints in both one- and two-piece styles. Light colors and large-scale prints tend to enlarge a garment, while dark solid fabrics will decrease visual volume.
Now, she’s got her color theory down solid, that’s for sure. Bright colors are indeed more noticeable. But I think she gets to the heart of the issue when she uses the term visual volume.
Fat people are supposed to wear solids in dark colors so that our VISUAL VOLUME is decreased.
Be quiet, fatties.
Is there a more effective way to reinforce that fat folk should shut up? Decrease your visual volume and wear clothes that will help you blend into the background. You don’t want to be the loud, fat person. You don’t want to be the highly visible, fat person.
But why? Because someone is going to laugh at me? That’s going to happen anyway, I can promise you. And not just because I dress funny – in a group of friends I can often be, dare I say it, loud and kind of obnoxious. And I’m going to be that way whether I am dressed in slimming black silk pants (as another article suggests we all wear) or in the swirly purple and gold printed skirt with a scalloped hem that I am working on. (It’s so cool, I can barely stand it.)
We’re surrounded by messages that we need to blend, that we shouldn’t stand out. That, if we just try to look thinner, we’ll look better.
This drives me NUTS.
The irony of this is that, though I champion bright colors and bold prints, you can most often find me in solid black. This is usually more about being affiliated with the goth scene than it is because I don’t want to be noticed. Anyone who has seen me do my makeup can attest to that. What I don’t wear on my body, I wear on my face with abandon.
Yellow is a thin-person’s color? Spare me. Yellow is a color and, unless you buy into the idea that we need to apologize for taking up space, it is a color that any person who likes it can wear. No one body type owns it. No color belongs to any certain group.
And before anyone steps in to say that, in this case, volume means the amount of space rather than the relative loudness, well, I know that. But it comes down to the same thing. Take up less space, be quieter, don’t be visible or audible or draw attention to yourself and your body.
It’s bullshit, people.
I look like crap in yellow – makes me look like I’m on the verge of liver failure. But this makes me want to wear yellow in sheer defiance. This makes me want to turn my volume up to ELEVEN.
16 Comments
I noticed that comment as well. It really disappointed me. I consider yellow my signature color-I have auburn hair and brown eyes, so yellow is stunning on me. Yellow makes me feel happy and pretty-so what if I’m fat? I can only hope that the commenter is on the journey to body-love.
Besides, when someone dresses to hide, the only thing it does is make them look downtrodden and mousy. There’s no benefit there.
Now come on, if you go around wearing bright prints and screaming yellow, how are the people reading “The Secret” supposed to keep from visually taking you in? Because you know, they’re supposed to avoid even looking at fat people, lest thoughts that enter their minds cause them to become fat (or fail to become thin) as well.
Have a little compassion, sheesh.
Ha, yeah, that’s exactly it. You’re actually decreasing your visual CONTAGION.
Hey, I just wanted to say hello. I’ve been reading for a little while and really enjoying your thoughts and attitude. Keep up the good work!
I, too, am not a fan of yellow (on me) and prefer shades of black, blue and pink/crimson. But the idea that we should wear only certain colors to minimize ourselves is B.S.
OMG, you are right, Elusis! I really ought to be more considerate, eh?
*snicker*
Thank you, Patia, for reading and for commenting. I’m really glad you are enjoying the blog.
And Jordan – I think you are right. It isn’t the dark colors themselves, it’s the attitude that goes along with dressing to hide.
Elusis: best comment ever.
I noticed this summer that many of the Land’s End Plus Size Swimsuits that correspond to regular size ones are not available in yellow and white — though the regular size ones are. Made me insane, even though I don’t particularly want a yellow or white swimsuit.
You’re right, it’s absolute bullshit. And I cannot wait to see pics of that skirt you’re working on!
I used to buy into the “fat chicks should wear dark colors to look slimmer” BS, but no longer. While I still have quite a bit of black and other dark colors in my wardrobe, I have LOTS of bright colors I love to wear. This fat chick ain’t going to dress to hide
I even have bright yellow, even tho I don’t wear yellow well, but matched with the right top, my yellow jacket looks great.
One thing I have noticed, even wearing dark clothes I am still quite noticiable, so it isn’t the colors, it is the attitude
I had exactly that mental debate when I bought a yellow tank top. It looks great on me and I feel so good when I wear it!
For that matter, I also look good in horizontal stripes. OH YEAH, I SAID IT.
To Kate: I will say, however, that yellow bathing suits, unless they are very well-lined indeed, are not a dark-haired person’s thing, unless that person (a) shaves, or (b) is comfortable sharing quite a bit of detail with the world.
Had one, wore it once, looked down, never wore it in front of anyone again.
It’s amazing…I’m fat and wearing dark colors is not, strangely, going to make me any less fat. So why should I limit myself.
As for those Secret-ers…let them look, perhaps they will find what they are looking for in me!
*snort*
How ’bout this – wear the colours that suit your skin tone best!
I’ve never liked yellow. Or most bright colours. I like deep, rich jewel tones with little to no patterns. My husband also can’t wear yellow – wearing yellow does strange things to the colouration of his face!
Yet I ended up with a bright yellow shirt someone gave me that I love. It’s a deep colour that actually suits my skin tone. The first yellow I’ve ever been able to wear.
Thought it would probably clash with my turquoise hair right now.
I love yellow! And despise the idea of wearing “slenderising” colours. I read the original post too and didn’t especially feel angry with the woman who posted it. Just a bit sorry for her really – though only if she happens to like yellow. Life’s too damned short to deny yourself the pleasure of colour.
On the same subject, I have a 1950s tract called How To Achieve Lovliness Over 40(!), in which “stouts” (don’t you just love that word?) such as ourselves are advised to eschew gaudy baubles when picking accessories. Suffice to say I love my big jewellery too.
“How ’bout this – wear the colours that suit your skin tone best!”
Like that. It goes to twelve. “That’s one louder, isn’t it?”
Hee.
I don’t know if this is ok. I just want to mention that Fashion Bug (www.fashionbug.com) has some really cute swimsuits this year. Eh, since we’re talking about swimsuits and all that.
I only recently figured out that I don’t always have to pick the clothes that make me look the “slimmest”. I always thought “flattering clothing” for a plus size woman meant slimming. Then I realized, as someone posted above, even if I wear all black I am still fat & no black outfit in the world is going to make me look SKINNY. So, I may as well wear what I want. If I want to wear a tie-dye rainbow tube top that makes me look bigger than a house, that’s ok!! As long as I like it, good for me. I am glad I finally realized this.
It makes my life so much happier.
hi. okay, off-topic. the other day, i saw this jello commercial – for the diet kind. it actually went something like this: brought to you by new “jello light” – the snack you can eat and still respect yourself in the morning!!
i dunno. i thought it was a little harsh on everyone’s fave childhood snack’s part.