Growing up with shows like What Not To Wear and Fashion Police, you have probably heard the rule that white is only to be worn between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Fashion rules, even to this day, have shaped our society as the blueprint for not just a good outfit, but for exceptional personal style.
“Fashion is the most powerful art there is. It’s movement, design, and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we’d like to be.” – Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl
Fashion is a beautiful form of self expression and is used to communicate a variety of messages. Unfortunately, some fashion rules are rooted in the desire to appear thinner. We are often taught to use garments to create “flattering’ visual illusions to look smaller. And for people in bigger bodies, so many of these rules restrict that self expression we are all entitled to.
I remember waiting for the bus stop one morning, wearing a (new to me) thrifted white eyelet midi skirt, likely paired with a cotton henley top, oversized belt, and dad shoes. The year is 2006, I am standing among my siblings, iPod nano in hand, when our neighbor greets us.
We exchange a polite good morning before she glances at my skirt and says, “I thought you aren’t supposed to wear white after Labor Day.”
I truly didn’t give it a second thought. I shrugged my shoulders, boarded the bus, and had a great day at school.
When I came home, a letter was sitting on our kitchen counter with my name on it. I opened to find a handwritten apology from the neighbor. It was then that I even remembered the interaction, and at the time I thought it was unnecessary to not only apologize but to do so so formally.
Now as an adult, and especially as a plus size person, I understand the impact and the importance of that interaction. Anyone can either internalize or dismiss a judgmental comment on their appearance. It is in the apology that I learned it is rude to comment negatively about someone’s appearance. Additionally, the overal interaction encouraged me to continue bending the fashion rules.
If you get anything from this: if you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all, and wear what you want!
If you made it this far in this article, thank you so much! Here is a throwback photo of said bus stop fashion show:
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