I have been writing for Lip since 2009. When I first started writing, fat acceptance was only a fledging concept in my mind – I had a rough idea of what it was, mostly through livejournal communities such as fatshionista and I had a rough concept of what exactly “fatshion” was as well. It’s no…
Read more
It’s no secret I indulge and sometimes (OK, mostly) enjoy conspicuous consumption. I think fat women in particular have been denied the right to enjoy fashion and consume it the way that straight sized women have been able to (or, I suppose, the way that well-off women, who would likely to be able to afford…
Read more
This morning, a perfume I’ve wanted for years, but was never able to get for various reasons (sold out, unavailable, prohibitive cost and not enough money at the time) arrived, along with a bunch of free samples. I was so excited it was like Christmas had already come for me. Which was convenient, because it…
Read more
Last Thursday night was the Fat Stories launch at the Brisbane Powerhouse. It is a free exhibition being held in the Visy Theatre foyer and runs until November 5th. I had just arrived back from Melbourne that afternoon and was in a bit of a fluster trying to work out what to wear to the…
Read more
Do you ever worry about how your body and/or body parts are perceived by society? Attention: People With Body Parts is a new international project that aims to address the issues of body image – to encourage us to celebrate our body parts and their connections to ourselves and to others. ‘Our bodies are filled…
Read more
‘Are you still interested in the job?’ ‘No.’ ‘Do you still want to come out?’ ‘No.’ ‘Are you going to buy that?’ ‘No.’ Later on: WHY DID I SAY NO? If self-sabotage were a job, I’d be the CEO of the company. I can’t remember when I first became aware that I have a tendency…
Read more
I’ve spoken before about how correlation does not equal causation. There are often links between obesity and diseases and illnesses, that’s true. I don’t deny that at all. But for some health problems, I don’t believe that obesity can cause the illness or disease, particularly when it is one that average to slim people also…
Read more
Real women have curves: the unfortunate slogan of the backlash to a media dominated by stick-thin girls with flawless skin and either disproportionate or no curves. To a fashion industry creating ideals that are near impossible for women to live up to, without sacrificing their health. What was once a stance against heavy Photoshopping and…
Read more
I’ve mentioned before that I don’t read print magazines much anymore. Nowadays, I will usually only read if I’m bored, or if I’m at the airport and need to kill time. There’s too much in “women’s” magazines that raise my blood pressure and I like to keep it low. Caffeine addiction already does the damage,…
Read more
There are lots of fashion labels and companies that have savvy fashion marketing and do it well. Domino Dollhouse, an independent American plus size brand is one such company I can think of. Autograph, an Australian brand, does a relatively decent job too. Then, there are the companies that make you think, at best, that…
Read more
This morning, I was reluctantly watching Sunrise (I know, I know) when, what I assume is a regular rotating panel of women came on to discuss the current issues. One of today’s current issues was: Australian retailer, Witchery, is now introducing a size sixteen to their range. The women were asked what they thought of…
Read more
Just before the London Olympics were set to begin, harsh comments about Leisel Jone’s weight began to arise. Well… they were harsh if you are of one opinion. If you’re of the other, then they were fair comments. While I can guess which side of the fence Lip readers will be on, I am not…
Read more
The Olympics are occurring as I type and what better way to comment on them than to make disparaging and sexist comments on the women athletes and their bodies! Why, that’s my favourite thing to do! We’ve all heard the speculation that was around before Leisel Jones, Australian Olympic swimmer, competed in the Games. Why,…
Read more
Clementine Ford recently wrote an article about our obsession with plus sized role models over at Daily Life. She speaks about the “real woman” debate (we all know my feelings on that, repeat ad nauseum until I’m blue in the face) and the pitting of women against women. She makes mention of the fact that…
Read more
