**funky scarf swap partner! I've emailed you back again! Please check your spam filter if you don't hear from me today :) **
So I've been working on some custom orders the last few days. Some specifically asked for green so I decided to play with variations on that color with roving and sock yarn. It was fun. They're all still drying and they're in the bathroom so they're badly lit with the flash but here are a few photos I just took.
I have some other spinning jobs to do today. Doing some neutral toned beaded yarn today. I'm very excited about all the work I've been getting lately and really hopeful that I'll be able to pay for a good chunk of the cruise with my own fiber earnings.
But before I go do some work there's something I have to get off my chest. Project Runway is starting to piss me off. (Get it? Piss and Vinegar?)
Now I've been a loyal viewer since the first season. I don't blog about it much because other people write things that are far more interesting about the show than what I could come up with. But I'm a lifelong expert on the recent issues of weight that have come up on the show lately and I have to admit that I'm getting pretty disappointed in what I'm seeing.
Last week there was the whole size four being called "Zaftig", Heidi intimating she'd rather be dead than thought a plus size, the "aufed" designer blaming having a "fat" model on being kicked off the show in an interview. And I don't think she was *that* far off of the mark, either. I got the impression that she was tossed off the show because she designed something that made her model look fat and GODS FORBID someone looked fat.
But I wasn't that surprised. This is an industry that is designed to screw with women's heads and their concepts of self, and finding new things to sell to convince them that they won't look old or fat if they use or wear this or that. It's the first time it was really out in the open on this particular show but since Project Runway is about the fashion industry I've always sensed a little of that attitude floating underneath.
As a matter of fact I wrote about this issue during Season One: Wendy Pepper may have been a jerk, or someone whose footage was manipulated, probably somewhere in between, but whoever designed her clothes usually had various body types in mind and I thought that was commendable.
This week's episode really bothered me on a lot of levels. When the moms and sisters first came out I was delighted. FINALLY the designers were going to be designing for normal sized people. Then the whining started. "Waaah I have to design for fat people!" Boo freakin hoo guys who do you think is going to buy the clothes when you work at International Concepts?
They're supposed to be such impressive designers and they can only design for human coat hangers? Not very impressive to me. Allow me to quote myself from February 2005:
I probably wouldn't wear any of the clothes that came down that runway. If I had to choose one or go out naked I would put on Uli's. At least she took the body into consideration with modern design. It's sad really because these are supposed to be the top designers and only one could come up with a good design? Shame on you all. Back to remedial body concept for you! Get ye to figure drawing classes! Do they even require those for fashion majors? If they don't they really should.
I don't know much about fashion trends. But I frequently get compliments on what I'm wearing because I usually wear something that is fun, reflects my personality, and usually deals well with my short and stout body. I'm not going to kid myself that I'll wear a magic shirt and suddenly lose 100 pounds but one can still be big and look good. Seriously. And it's not really that friggin hard to do. Anyone could learn tips like these from watching a few episodes of What Not to Wear (at least the English one) or, hell, pick up the "Big Girl Knits" book there are some great tips in there!
So here are a few alternative suggestions for the designs that I can remember. I'm not going to get into colors, I'm just interested in the shapes here. If you click on the photos you'll be taken to the store where you can buy them.
Kayne's model would've looked gorgeous with an empire waist with a V neck. They usually flatter any body type. Especially ones with good boobs and pretty skin like Michael's mom. Rather than cropped tapered pants (a worrying trend which I'm going to just ignore like I'm ignoring the return of the gauchos), a boot-legged, flat-fronted pant. How cute would she have looked in this?
Robert could've done kimono sleeves without making a tent. I think his model could've looked lovely and floaty but still had a waist with a crossover design like this top but with some kimono sleeves added and some good shaping in lieu of the belt. And to balance out the top, a straight skirt to a floaty decorated hem with lots of fabric scraps (geometric as opposed to Santino-y) at the bottom.
I think that would have presented the interesting avant-garde kind of floaty shape Vincent's sister seemed to want without having it be so top-heavy and tentlike
Now, the inevitable Jeffrey. I think the major mistake he's made on this show (aside from being mean to someone's mom and a lot of other people on camera) is losing sight of his punk rock roots. He's supposed to be "Mr. Rockstar designer" but I have yet to see anything that lives up to that kind of title really, aside from the really obvious neck tattoos and bad attitude. Angela's mom, having nothing to lose but not looking like a good sport, would probably have enjoyed if he wanted to play "Dress mommy in punk rock clothes" if he'd been nice about it. And wouldn't that have been fun? This was supposed to be his unique perspective that got him on the show right? Adding some punk spice to high fashion? What a wasted opportunity to make it fun and look like a classy guy with a good sense of humor. What a shame. And don't give me any bullshit former addict alcoholic excuses, that should make you have even more regard for human frailties. Anyway, this is what I would've put on Angela's Mom.
I do think that he was on the right track with the neckline, even if he had said that ugly thing about her body issues. She was wearing a more demure neck than the other moms and I don't think she would've been comfortable for it to be too low cut. But there are ways around that. I keep thinking of the new Glampyre Stitch Diva sweater design - a very low cut worn over a higher cut. With the right waist shaping it could look really nice on a plus size body. I came up with two options there. Of course, he couldn't have knit a sweater or sewn a button down and vest in that time, but the basic idea of low cut worn over high cut with good shaping is what I'm after. I think the pants were where the color compromise could have come in. A sheer layer over a solid layer (like the pants on the right) but in wide legged pants (like the pants on the left) kind of thing. She would've looked longer and leaner with them, and not have to show any skin.
They're just my suggestions. But I think they're pretty good ones. I don't have twelve hours to sew them and know absolutely nothing about construction so they could be impossible ideas. I doubt it though. My point really is that there are ways to dress larger women that aren't mumus or boring. And I think it's really sad that these designers don't know that. If they don't know that, how are people who don't know anything about clothing supposed to know that?
So, of course, the designer that had the thinner model won and the one with the fatter model lost. Ho hum. Talk about baaaauuuring, Heidi.
Here are some good plus size clothing stores:
Avenue - I get my pants from here. I love their bootcut jeans and yoga pants.
Torrid - love their tops. I'm young and still have my punkish roots to really enjoy their stuff. They have a half-off clearance sale every month that keeps me in some fun shirts. I have to be careful to not go too young here. I don't have the boobs for halter tops and probably never did to be honest. They also have some great bras.
Kiyonna- Not quite as well-known but really great, simple designs that are pretty current. I have some of their older designs that have held up really well too.
Junonia - plus sized active wear. Some great yoga and swimming stuff.
Silhouettes - some older stuff (read: boring preppy crap) but there are some slick designs and affordable prices.
Nordstrom - is probably the most popular plus size shop for designer names. If I needed a formal dress I'd go here.
I personally don't like Lane Bryant because I found their clothes fall apart sooner than the others. So those were my resources for dressing the ladies.
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.egeltje.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/760
Comments
AMEN!!! Why do they think that every woman is a size zero with no hips or bust? Why aren't there any good designs to emphasize the beauty and curves of the more "Reuban-esque" type of body? Why do they only make clothing in teen-ager or old-lady and nothing in-between? I guess that is why I don't watch many shows like Project Runway...
Anywho, I love the dye job you did on your roving... I may need to go out and purchase a disposable pan and some kool-aid and start experimenting myself on some fun stuff....
Miss you lots!!!!
Posted by: Laurie at August 25, 2006 3:44 PM
I was really mad that Vincent won. I think his outfit SUCKED ASS! Uli's was the only one I liked. I really liked MIchael's too but he had it totally easy with this stick model!
Posted by: Scout at August 25, 2006 3:55 PM
Thank you!
I sat there stunned last week. I actually wondered if I misheard Tim or if I had forgotten what "zaftig" meant. I could not believe that. Sure, the girl didn't have much a waist, but dig deal. That's on the designer to work with. Not all women are stich creatures.
I was a little disappointed that not all the family members were of a "larger size". I think that would have been fairer and shown who really does have talent as a designer. Real life women come in all shapes and sizes. Designers need to know that.
Posted by: Cookie G! at August 25, 2006 4:03 PM
WOW! Thanks for all the great pics and links. This is a post I will definetely have to come back to before I shop next. You rock!
Posted by: wavybrains at August 25, 2006 5:37 PM
I don't know what the hell Jeffery was thinking!
Posted by: Ramona at August 25, 2006 6:34 PM
I also like Talbots women. A little pricey full price, but their sales are good. Great for those business work clothes and their jeans fit fantastic.
Posted by: gwen at August 25, 2006 9:30 PM
Another good catalog is J. Jill -- not everything is in what I like to call "real sizes," but a lot are. And they don't look like grandma clothes. I've got quite a few from there and I love 'em. They are online too.
Posted by: KayTheArky at August 26, 2006 7:48 AM
I've never watched Project Runway, but I liked your post on clothing shapes. No matter what size a person is (male or female), I think a key to the development of personal style is understanding what shapes flatter one the most. From there one could go as wild or demure as wanted with fabric and details, which is where the personality of a piece comes into play.
I heart Nordstrom's. With a passion!
Posted by: beverly at August 26, 2006 1:57 PM
Great links! I'd been looking for a new dress, so I checked every one of those out!
Also, I came across alight.com while I was looking - they have some really cool stuff, and their Blue Plate dresses are awesome!
Posted by: Gabby Kang at August 26, 2006 2:20 PM
I so agree that Uli should have won that contest. Michael's dress was cute, but Uli's was more innovative and she really thought about how to work with her model's body. Other than that, great writing on your part!
Posted by: Holly of HollYarns at August 27, 2006 1:54 PM
i totally agree with you! when you blame your model for getting kicked off...what a load! i always like uli's stuff, it would look pretty on a stick, or on a zaftig woman. and that is good design. of course not everything looks good on everyone, but the fashion industry is just a bunch of bull anyway. so many of the clothes are ridiculous and don't look good on the models even.
and he is so not punk rock. i think he got that crappy neck tattoo to distract people from his hideous face. i'd rather be fat then look like him.
Posted by: natasha fialkov at August 29, 2006 6:20 PM
Comments are Closed
In order to control comment spam, comments are automatically disabled on entries older than 30 days using Conversation Killer. This entry is over 30 days old so comments are now closed.
If you'd still like to share your thoughts there are several options: You can email me or use the contact form on the sidebar - let me know you want it posted here and I'll include whatever info you want. Or you can visit the most recent post and leave a comment there. Thanks!