Letters to Random People

Dear People I Work With, Customers & Other Assorted People,

If I have to hear you say, "Size 14 people don't wear skinny jeans", "Size 14 women shouldn't wear skinny jeans", or even worse "They're called "skinny" jeans for a reason", one more time then I am going to scream. Literally. Probably right into your face. I am a Size 14. I wear skinny jeans, thus disproving your first statement right off the bat. But, let's talk about those other ones now.

"Size 14 women shouldn't wear skinny jeans". Ok, cool. Why not? It's one of those unwritten rules that float around in the air of society, right? I think that makes it even more important for us to ask why we make definitive statements about this, often without even thinking about it. It wasn't that long ago that I believed that there were hard & fast rules about what people of different body types "could" wear. But when you think about it, why would there be rules? Why does there need to be? If you're a Size 14 (or any other size, for that matter), and skinny jeans make you feel great, then why should some silly rule stop you from wearing them? The answer is that it shouldn't - which is why it is so crappy that these "rules" are given so much weight by so many people. I'm trying really hard to rearrange my thinking about body image, and about the "rules" we ascribe to women surrounding their weight. It's something I recommend you try, because it's been really enlightening for me - and has forced me to reconsider a lot of mean things I have said about people in the past.

Oh, and "they're called "skinny" jeans for a reason?" Don't be a dick. So, people exist in the world who are fatter than you. That doesn't mean you get to be a dick, or that you get to dictate their choices in clothing. Fat ladies, skinny ladies, in-between ladies - I've seen you all rock skinny jeans, so don't listen to the people I'm writing this letter to. You're all beautiful & amazing, even the people I'm writing this letter to. And who knows guys? Maybe if you start being nicer to other people (and their skinny jeans), you'll be able to be a bit nicer to yourself.

Until next time, xo.

Letters to Random People

Image.

Dear young girl who left the fitting rooms at my work almost in tears,

You're beautiful. I know you won't believe me when I say this, but it is true. I know that you're not feeling too great about yourself right now, and you're upset that you can't fit into the same dresses that your sister can, but it's still true. You are beautiful.

Try not to hate on yourself too much. I know you think that you're too fat, but that's not true. It's not your fault that you don't fit into the same size dresses as your sister, and the fact that you don't does not make any of the other negative things you say about yourself true. You are beautiful, so screw the dresses that are too small. Find things that fit your body properly, and make you feel wonderful about yourself. Don't sweat the too-small things - just move onto something more fabulous. You are a vibrant, amazing, beautiful human being & you don't deserve to spend a single second feeling shitty about yourself because a dress doesn't fit.

Oh, and by the way - listen to your Dad. When he says that it's not that you're too fat, just that particular dress is too small, he's actually right. Put aside the fact that he's your Dad for a second, and you might realise he's a pretty smart guy. And he thinks you're beautiful too.

Chin up lovely! Everyone around you thinks you're beautiful, so don't sweat the small stuff.

Until next time, xo.