The Great Debate: Do Skinny Girls Have More Fun?

Jennifer Hudson: Before & After weight loss

The other night I found myself in the middle of an intriguing discussion on Twitter with a well-known maven in the fashion & entertainment industry. The discussion was so thought-provoking, I figured I would bring it to LoveBrownSugar and get you guys' opinion on the situation. As you all know, from my Curvy Girls Ode and all the hype that generated in the fashion blogosphere about that post, I'm very outspoken when it comes to the great debate about plus size vs. skinny in the fashion industry. If you haven't read it, check it out HERE.

So on last Tuesday evening as everyone on my timeline revved up for the premiere of BET's new series The Game, I stumbled on a tweet from a prominent black socialite and fashionista while she was watching a rerun of hit TV series Glee. I've always loved her sophisticated style as a plus-sized vet in the industry. So I was surprised and intrigued when I saw this statement from her on Twitter...

Sick Sites Spotlight: Responses to "Curvy Girl's Ode..."

Christina of Profreshstyle highlights her experience on Lookbook.nu

 This week's "Sick Site Spotlight" is dedicated to the overwhelming response I've received to my Curvy Girl's Ode to Outfit Posts. I am so incredibly humbled and inspired by all the post comments, emails (including one from Gabi of Young, Fat & Fabulous) and subsequent blog posts that have gone up as a result of me addresssing this topic! It warms my heart to know that there are other people who felt the same way I did. Just a disclaimer: I didn't write the post to deter anyone from enjoying sites like Chictopia or Lookbook.nu as I personally still think they're great places to find inspiration. I simply wanted to address an issue that I felt wasn't being discussed. All that to say, you guys rock! Thanks for your support. Below are some amazing posts by some fabulous bloggers, in response to my Curvy Girl's Ode. For your reading pleasure...

Vahni of Grit & Glamour discusses the alarming statistics behind some of these street style forums & the demographic of the true "winners" in her post Why I'm Not on Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lookbook, or Hypeed.

Screenshot of stats from Grit & Glamour report.

Christina of  Profreshstyle (pictured above) talks about her lack of "hype" on Loobook as a curvy mixed chick, and the lack of substantial traffic the sites bring to user's blogs. Check it out HERE.

Beautifully Invisible explains her disgust for the "plus-size" classification of blogging and terms like "fatshion" in Can't We All Just Be Fashionistas?

Evie Kemp of One More actually posted last Wednesday about the divide between the "plus size" blogger and the "others". Read her post "Getting Serious: That Weighty Issue".

 So grab a cup of coffee and indulge! And feel free to keep the conversation going. Post links if you've been compelled to discuss the issue on your blogs or you've seen something on topic. Looking forward to it!

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Why Don't You Love Me? A Curvy Girl's Ode to Outfit Posts

 I know what you're thinking. No, this post isn't about Beyonce. While I'm wildly obsessed with the singer and I happen to love the WDYLM video (posted about it HERE), this isn't about her. It's about me. Me and every other plus-sized fashion blogger out there who gets discouraged or thinks twice about posting an outfit series or exposing our curves to fashion communities like Chictopia or Lookbook.Nu to name a few. On my weekly blog-hunting trip this week, I stumbled on a post by curvy British blogger Jettica of Feeling Stylish entitled "Why Do I Need To Be Thin?" After reading her words and sentiments - a mix of curiosity and disappointment - I came to the realization that I too have the same insecurities and harsh feelings. Here's what she had to say...

 "It seems that on sites like LookBook or Chictopia you only get 'HYPE' and fans if you are thin...I sort of feel that I don’t get a great deal of comments or love on my blog because I’m a fat girl writing about fashion."

- Jettica of Feeling Stylish

After reading these words on Jettica's post, I became overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions. Part of me was angry. Not at Jettica, but at myself, for feeling the exact same way. "I mean, who cares? It's just a fashion community. It's just for fun, it doesn't mean anything", I uttered to myself in defense. As much I tried to shrug it off, the reality is - it does matter. The validation of having someone else credit your style choices and give you their stamp of approval feels good. Knowing that you inspire others and that your fashion efforts are duly noted gives a high nearly equivalent to narcotics. But sadly, only a certain "type" of user gets to revel in these emotional rewards...

Snapshot: Lookbook.Nu Homepage, Oct. 23rd, 2AM EST

Take a homepage snapshot of any of these fashion communities, on any given day. They will undoubtedly be flooded with images of rail thin, model-esque (or so we think) users who generate tons of followers and rack up all this "HYPE" because essentially their pictures look like editorials snatched straight out of Vogue or Harper's Bazaar. Now considering the lack of anything above a size 0 in the modeling industry, let alone in fashion editorials, how is a plus sized girl to compete in an arena like this? I can't tell you how many outfit posts I've decided not to reveal for fear of criticism or because of the overwhelming and devastating assumption that no one will care.

Snapshot: Lookbook.Nu post with no comments, October 23rd, 2AM EST

I'm new to Lookbook.Nu, so granted I haven't had much experience, but I've personally posted 2 looks on there since joining two weeks ago and it seems they've both gone completely unnoticed. Not a comment, not a "HYPE", not a peep. Is it because I'm new? Or is it, like Jettica points out, because "I'm a fat girl writing about fashion" who is not interesting enough for the masses or not worthy enough to be noted or regarded?

Via PeopleStyleWatch.com

Karl Prouse/Getty; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty; Alfred/Sipa

Now don't get me wrong, the fashion industry has definitely come a long way. It warms my heart to see curvy models like Crystal Renn stomping the runways in Paris, and shows like One Stop Plus actually getting shine during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC, and fashion icons like Diane Von Furstenberg cracking down on eating disorders in the modeling industry with CFDA regulations. Tyra Banks and DVF even got rid of the first contestant on this season's ANTM because of her anorexic image! But while the industry can try and correct itself over time, the real power is truly with the people. If users on sites like Chictopia, Lookbook.Nu or Weardrobe are in any way indicative of the fashion-forward masses, then these sentiments still resonate loud and clear. Plus size isn't posh. Curves aren't chic. Hips don't get "HYPE". And thus the unsuspecting outfit-poster who boasts a size of double digits is left to wonder if there's room for her, or if she should just stand by and look.

What do you think? Is there room for the plus sized fashionista in these communities? Soundoff below!

Style Candy: Beyonce's "Why Don't You Love Me" Video

I tend to take inspiration from a number of things - street style, red carpet photos, fashion mags and even music videos. I was too hyped when the pics from the set of Alicia Keys' and Beyonce's "Put It in a Love Song" were released. Well, when I ran across Queen Bey's new music video for "Why Don't You Love Me", I died then came back to life. This video is laced with style inspiration from the pin-up housewife attire to the studded turbans and neon stilletos. Just watch...

"Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyoncé from Beyoncé on Vimeo.

Notable fashion pieces from the vid: the turban (updated version of the doobie head tie), Betty Boop-esque two-piece suit, neon platforms, vintage lace and veil headpiece, seersucker jumpsuit, bright lips, pastel nails...


Stay tuned for a follow up Style Candy with some of these cool pieces and where you can cop your own!