Finding Style Inspiration When You’re Plus Size

As a plus size teenager, it was very difficult to find a plus size fashion icon whose style you wanted to emulate. First of all, there weren't that many plus size women on television twenty years ago. I mean one of my few favorite plus size, female icons from childhood was Miss Piggy and she isn't even a real person (she was BADD tho…).  The other is Queen Latifah and even though I think her style was kinda fly back in the day, it wasn’t the look for me. Finding fashion inspiration that actually looked like you and had anything near your body shape/size was HARD.  If you did decide to just look up to someone thin, it was exceedingly difficult to copy their style because cute clothing for plus size teens was NONEXISTENT. 
Shout out to all the fat girls who made it through the 90s.  It was truly a decade that was a constant reminder that your body didn’t fit anywhere. 





   I recently had a small conversation with plus size model/blogger Leah Vernon where we both revealed that we worshipped Gwen Stefani's style as teens but wanting to dress like her was next to impossible with the limited clothing options for plus size teens at the time. This forced us to shift and alter the clothing that we had into the clothing that we wanted.  I remember adding buttons, cutting up jeans, stacking accessories and tons of other clothing hacks.  It all sounds so tacky now- and I didn't know it at the time, but what I was doing was training myself to build and create my own unique & personal style.  Now when I see celebrities, bloggers or just your everyday fashionista, I can be inspired by them no matter what size they are and still keep my own unique touch without looking like a copycat. Right now, one of my many style inspirations is Lindy Booth’s character Cassandra Cillian from TNT’s The Librarians. 





This woman is the complete opposite from me as far as looks are concerned.  She’s a thin, white, red-headed woman.  The only things that we have in common is that we’re both women, around the same height and around the same age.  Yet, I still find inspiration in her character’s quirky, flirty, nerdy, preppy wardrobe.  I’m inspired after every episode with her adventurous print mixing and funky leggings.  Her look inspired this look:





Red Striped Dress from ModCloth
Polka Dot Button Up Shirt Thrifted
Black Gladiator Sandals by Nine West
Black Tights by Just My Size
Black/Clotted Cream Lyla Weekender by Kate Spade
Gold Watch by Michael Kors
Gold Hoops from Belk
Lippie Cherry Blossom by Coloured Raine
Photography by Joanna – Ng Photography


Who was your fashion inspiration growing up?  Who is it now?

Until Next Time...

   

   

http://bit.ly/TLCSInspiration

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