For me, it was wrap dresses.
They’re supposed to flatter every woman’s body, but they always hit me the wrong way, emphasizing the thickness around my waist and my big boobs. They’re usually made of jersey, which never hit my body right.
The day I knew I had made a difference with my body was the day I tried on a wrap dress – and it flattered me.
Left, in May 2011. Right, March 2012 – 20 pounds lighter – and in a wrap dress!
I have set a goal for myself to get to Fashion Week in New York at some point during my blogging life, and I’ve been doing research ever since I made that promise. I’ve especially been reading as much as I can from other bloggers who have been there. Amy Odell (now formerly) of The Cut even had 10 tips on how to be photographed during Fashion Week, and as I clicked through her post, visions of myself twirling in Lincoln Center filled my head.
Those visions quickly scattered as I flipped to her next tip: “Be thin.”
Be thin.
Amy went on to reason, “The rule isn’t fair, nor is it news, but it is true: Fashion likes thin, as anyone who lives on Earth knows.”
Oh, believe me, I know how important those on high value being thin.
The only thing thin about me is my budget – and maybe my baby fingers. I was born into a family of tall people; while I’m the tallest granddaughter at 5’10″, most of my male cousins tower over me (though my height means I abide by one of Odell’s other completely unfair tips – hurray for me). I also was born with my mom’s body, which I love, but it means I will never be – according to high fashion standards – thin.
That’s just fine. But it still makes a small part of me feel like shit hearing someone else reiterate in my opinion the very worst part about the fashion culture.
I made a big change in my life over a year and a half ago. I had just had a quick physical and found out my bad cholesterol was too high. I knew I needed to lose some weight, but I had never really been faced with an actual health problem. I was only 25 at the time – and my bad cholesterol was too high? Not a good sign. It took me five months to gear myself up to take the next, very scary (for me) step: joining a gym.
I am not an athlete. My first non-A in high school was in P.E. (and I’m still bitter about it). My dad had to pay me to score a goal in soccer after five years of playing. I was the only eighth grader who could not serve overhand in volleyball. I wasn’t born with the athletic gene, I hate, hate, hate working out, and I love food. It was a wake-up for me realize I couldn’t shovel McDonalds down for lunch, have two bowls of pasta for dinner and still fit into my favorite jeans. College and the endless buffets of fried food and boxes of sweets didn’t help. Somewhere in the span of five years I gained weight and didn’t leave it behind when I graduated. Walking my dogs wasn’t cutting it. I had to go to the gym.
Naturally, this was made slightly better by buying cute workout clothes. But the most difficult part was going for the first time. Here were all these people who were all fit and knew what they were doing and knew how to use that scary workout equipment that terrified the hell out of me and OMG what the hell am I doing here?!
But that’s the nice thing about the gym, or at least my gym: no one cares how bad or good you are at fitness. It’s a victory that you’re even there. And if the most difficult part is actually going in the first place, working out is the easy easier part. Sort of. I still secretly hate it.
Six months after going to the gym religiously, I had only lost six pounds. Not good enough. So I took the next not-quite-as-scary-but-still-stressful step: I joined Weight Watchers.
This program worked miracles for me. It completely changed my diet and made me truly consider what I was eating. It also didn’t deprive me of anything, unless I made that call for myself (bye-bye, peanut butter. I still miss you). After around four months on Weight Watchers, I lost 25 pounds. And I’m really happy with that. I feel good about myself.
And then I read a comment like that from Odell, almost flippant in her bluntness about the reality of the fashion industry.
Perhaps that is what makes me the angriest: not the insistence that thin will always be most acceptable in the fashion world, but the indifference of the people who could do something to change it. If Odell did anything right, she at least acknowledged the truth. “The rule isn’t fair,” she wrote, as if this rule is the way it will always be and she is powerless to stop it.
To be fair, Odell did have some pretty critical comments to say against modeling agencies and advertisers after the American Medical Association denounced the overuse of Photoshop – which made her “tip” even more unlikely and hurtful.
I will never model in a Chanel show. I will also never be a fitness instructor. But at my next wellness check a year after I started working out and eating right, my bad cholesterol was at a healthy level.
That is worth more than a Louis Vuitton bag (or two) to me.
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You rock!! You should be so proud of yourself! You set a goal and exceeded it and you look fantastic but most importantly, you feel fantastic. I think you’re an inspiration and you should continue to keep this type of discourse open. The emphasis shouldn’t be on thin. It should be on healthy. You are rockin it!
BBF! I loved this post! You really look amazing, and good job on taking the scary steps. Working out sucks. Period. I hate doing it and I even more hate that I don’t get to eat McDonalds whenever I want now (my favorite fast food place). But I guess for the health aspects, it’s always worth it. The thin thing is just annoying and so unfortunately true. Every year the designers say they’re going to stop putting “too thin” models on the runway and every year we still see them. But don’t worry, you and I WILL get to fashion week and we’ll be rocking it no matter what size we are.
I can’t wait BBF!!
Love this post! I’m not a thin girl myself and also joined WW an lost 27lbs (mostly so I could buy cuter clothes) I look forward to a day when fashion can truly be for everyBODY
Great, inspiring post — thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and your journey.
Loved you honesty and beauty in this post. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us Catherine and take solace in the fact that I live with a PE teacher and still loath the gym (and girls who wear makeup to the gym and don’t sweat when they work out) too!
love your honesty. you look amazing. you go girl!
You look fantastic! Congratulations on taking control of your HEALTH!!
About a year and a half ago I was done with feeling tired, feeling pregnant (which I wasn’t) and purchasing clothes “that fit better”. At first I thought it was what came with getting older (in my 40s). I didn’t join any programs or a gym, I have a phobia when it comes to going to a gym. I changed my foods and dusted off my treadmill and purchased a few inexpensive at-home work out items. Twenty five pounds off and I feel like me again. Not only is the “thin” rule unfair, so is the height rule. I am only 5’2″, but I can fiercely walk a runway – that was my dream – in my teens and early twenties the fashion world said ” Why are you here? No thank you”.
I am exactly like you when it comes to working out and athletics. My PE teacher graded my a pity C, because I came to class everyday even though I did not participate. That adrenaline gene completely skipped me as well.
Even though the thin rule still applies in fashion, the rebuttal of real women looking good and feeling good in fashion is recognized more so today than it was twenty five years ago.
I wish you great success in your journey to good HEALTH and keep rockin’ it with what YOU feel good in. It’s all about attitude when it comes to pulling off an outfit.
Thank you for sharing this with me – and for reading!
Thank you for sharing this with us! I think it’s awesome that you decided you wanted to get healthier and took steps to do something about it. The before and after photos speak for themselves…you look amazing, Catherine!
-Sharon
Good for you, taking control of your health is not something that everyone can do and it is a very hard journey. I hate that the fashion industry idolizes the extra thin not only is it not realistic those girls really don’t look good.
You look so good! Weight Watchers is working for me too. And I ADORE YOUR OUTFIT! (That wrap dress is so amazing, I am so jealous!)
http://understatedclassics.blogspot.com
Such a great post. I am struggling with my weight after my second baby. But what I am struggling more with is my lack of will power to do something about it. I need to lose about 30 lbs to be back at a respectible weight for my height/build. I need this to click for me and get moving!
Love your post, Catherine…and you look fabulous! I definitely think that it’s not fair how fashion is always portrayed as only being for the thin and waify. Know that you are making a difference here on your small portion of the Internet by showing people that fashion is and should be for everyone! Thanks for your honesty and frankness…I know how brave you are for doing it, and I curtsy to you! =)
http://www.butshoppingmakesmehappy.blogspot.com
Women come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s a shame that parts of the fashion industry don’t recognize that. I love that you’ve taken steps to be healthy because that is really what it is all about. Our quality of life improves when we are healthy, even if we do miss out on the peanut butter {or insert other food weakness here}. Personally, I don’t always “feel” like hitting the gym, but I always feel better when I do. All that to say, props to you! You are doing great, and you look great, and hopefully you feel great too!
- Heather
Words of wisdom – thank you for reading!
I think that your journey into a new you has made you a stronger and more independent young woman. Owning it and being totally honest makes you even a more powerful one. Am so proud to see this new Catherine! of course I loved the old one too…How many women can be brutally honest about their bodies? Love reading your blog…and love seeing the two pictures! Your writing is incredible…your talent is there…love these chapters of your life….now when is the novel?
Thanks for writing this post and sharing a piece of your self with us! Congratz on your hard work!
Way to go girl! You look amazing and I love the wrap dress on you. It looks beautiful. Those colors together are just gorgeous!
Thank you so much – that’s one of my favorite outfits!
Girl, (I’m saying that because we’re besties now, I decided after reading your article posted & linked on buzzfeed) do your damn thing. You’re getting fit, you’re looking fine, and you’re taking care of yourself. I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum- way too dang thin and you-really-don’t-need-another-milkshake. Being thin isn’t fun. You don’t look glamorous. You look like a stick. Clothes look big on you. Nothing fits. Nothing I could afford anyway. You know what your partner (if you have one) wants? You. You to grab on to and you to hold and you to snuggle on the couch. Not an angry, mopey stick that looks pretty in pictures on the internet in a fancy dress. (This is something I learned this year: when someone likes you for you, they… like you for you!) I made a rule this year, on New Year’s, and then reaffirmed it on my birthday as the most important thing: be nice to yourself. When I’m nice to myself, I exercise and eat well and do things I like. I treat myself sometimes and don’t beat myself up. I buy clothes that fit and that are well made (as well made as I can afford, anyway), and I don’t worry about not fitting into clothes I fit into when I was mean and mad and skinny. I look at my pinterest, and I see all these pictures of pinup girls from the 30s-50s with their small waists and real hips and real breasts. That’s more the shape I am. And their clothes are flattering and they look quite happy, so that’s what my goal is. Flattering and happy. Good on you, and I’m happy to have read your article.
Sara, you are my new bestie too. Seriously, I want to buy you a drink!
Thank you so much for reading and for your kind words. You freaking rock!!!
I just joined Weight Watchers this week and one of the reasons why I chose Weight Watchers….your success! After week one of being on it and thinking “how in the world can I do this when EVERYONE I know wants to go out to eat or drink or have a party with tons of unhealthy food?” It is extremely hard to still go out with your friends and try to make healthy choices. Oh and not to mention working a desk job where you sit on your toosh for 8-10 hours. My next challenge is to finally get back in the gym. If you have any favorite workouts and recipes, or tips and tricks for going out and staying on track, please share! You definitely shared this post at just the right time! You are such an inspiration for both my wardrobe and weight loss!
Congrats on taking a big step and joining WW! It’s one of the oldest programs for a reason – it works! I downloaded the app – that was incredibly helpful. I also started drinking Skinnygirl Margaritas – they’re zero points! Also check out skinnytaste.com – all her recipes are amazing AND they include WW points!
Okay I’m going nuts with her recipes. Thanks!!
25 pounds is to be commended. That is a lot of weight to lose. It sounds like your weight loss program is smart — healthy eating habits plus exercise. I have lost almost 70 pounds in 1.5 years. It is not easy. I struggle every day staying focused on my health goals. Make sure you record your measurements because I have found there are times I have low or no weight loss, but have lost significant inches – which means I am developing muscle. I incorporate cardio and strength training along with common sense eating that focuses on lean protein and low carbs. You look great! Keep your head high – standards are changing in the fashion world. It is unrealistic for most women to be a size 2/4.
Hello! You have a great blog! This post is very beautiful and interesting. Let’s follow each other. If you agree, then let me know!
Thanks for this inspiring piece!
You took back your health and that’s a great thing. My mom joined weight watchers, lost weight and has kept it of for 3 years. The reality of the fashion industry (and those “rule”) suck, seriously and is #1 I read so many fashion blogs and the odd fashion magazine here or there. On top of that there is almost no diversity in terms of ethnicity when it comes to most magazines, which means I just can’t relate. I enjoyed this heartfelt post
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Em. Thank you for reading!
I’ve had a few friends who’ve seen great success on WW. Congrats on your accomplishment and feeling good about yourself (the most important aspect of course)! While i’m thin that doesn’t mean I don’t have body issues. However, I think the more we all understand and support one another through these things then we’re making some progress. Kudos to you for being willing to talk about it AND look amazing while doing it
xo
Nic
mymannersandmoxie.com