Hello! Hello! Hello!
Who am I?
Welcome to my blog. My name is Ria and I want to wish you a very warm welcome to my new blog. If you couldn't tell from the name of the blog this is a blog in which I will be sharing my review of plus size fashion and clothing, but also touching on lifestyle topics which affect plus size women (and men). I'm a personal and professional development business owner, I coach, do corporate training, speak and write. A lot. And I've done it all living as a plus size woman. Why should I make such a statement about that? Because it really has been a battle to earn the respect I deserve for the judgment I have received for being 'overweight' in the business world. There are many other reasons people are 'rejected' in the business world (and other 'worlds' for that matter) because of FDNF, and if you're wondering what that means it stands for "Face Does Not Fit". My FDNF issue just happened to be that I was too big. I mean they really had a lot to choose from with my being female, being ethnic, you name it. The one they had issue with? Being extra large!
What is my blog about?
But that's not what this blog is going to be about! Yes, I will share some of how I overcome my experiences of size discrimination, but this blog is about the way I am just loving being me right now! And enjoying the way in which the world is responding to the fashion needs of bigger people today. I tell you folks although I love what I do for work, which is helping people in life and work in general, my first love was and is fashion. When I decided to return to university and study I had applied to do a fashion course at a University in West London. I attended the interview and it is one of the most scarring experiences I have ever experienced in life! It was clear my size had already put off the interviewer and he basically ripped me and my dreams to shreds. I was not strong enough then to challenge him and I had cried myself all the way home and a good while long after that. I was crushed and I still feel a pang inside of me to think of it. I knew I could do it well if given a chance. I wanted so much to design for someone like myself. Clothes that were comfortable but beautiful. Looking back now, in saying to him I wanted to design plus size fashion, I had scuppered it. His attitude had got worse from the moment I said that. But it had been the truth. But even five years ago, it seems people in that world were not yet as open as they are today about it. So I will write and share about plus size fashion now.
Who my blog is for?
Today, I am in another career but I still love fashion and a lifestyle that allows me to show it off. The Internet has amazingly allowed me to indulge my love of fashion and the ways to becoming a fashion designer are still open to me. I have not let got of that dream. It's a matter of time. I am so excited by that thought and when I am ready it will be readers and subscribers to this blog who will be the first to share it. But while I prepare to take that plunge I enjoy absolute pleasure in trawling through the Internet to see what designers are doing for the extra large and beyond. I have had the unique experience of being both a super sizer at 4-5xl and am now between 3-4xl. This blog is all people XL and beyond, from the slightly curvy to the gorgeous super sizers! I love looking at what they're doing especially for the 10xl-ers plus sized people in the world of fashion. That will tell you where their hearts for the plus size is at. We're getting there... We truly are. But you know plus size fashion can be a little pricey. In this blog I will be reviewing 'designer' plus size fashion and accessories but also the affordable budget online plus size fashion now available from places like China and South East Asia. You see I want to help plus size people understand that when it comes to fashion, 'designer' brands and names are all well and good but at the end of the day for the plus person aesthetics should rule over name. It truly must. Personally I love mixing it up. It's how it looks that really matters. If the dress is 'cheap' but looks great I add my luxury branded accessories and I fee a million bucks! But wearing a named outfit that makes me look every bit as ridiculous as the world feels plus size people are, not so much.
Fashion, but what else?
That's right, I will also write about the things which affect me and others as plus size people. I'll talk about health and lifestyle issues even if the focus is fashion. You see I had a gastric bypass for health reasons and while I lost a ton of weight initially I am back living as a plus size woman. I held back from becoming a plus size model because of this fact. Madness. We stop ourselves from doing things because of what others say. We should stop. I had surgery. It worked a little. I am still who I am. Some might think that it's awful that the bypass failed. I think it did something wonderful for me and it isn't the lost weight! I learnt that life is short and one should enjoy it as much as possible while you have it at whatever size. I really couldn't care less anymore what people think about it. Unless they live with me why should they care? Aren't there more important problems in the world? I'm actually loving me, my bigger body and enjoying what's available to me to adorn it! Also while thinking up my own designs for the future. It's great!
Welcome!
Again, a very warm welcome to my new blog plus size readers. Fam. Yes, family. Every plus size person I am sure has travelled a similar struggle in their life and we will have that pain in common. But here we are, learning to love ourselves as we are, turning deaf ears to our 'nay-sayers', defying the world's beauty standards and being beautiful and gorgeous, for the world to see! I'm excited to get to know my subscribers so sign up with your email and let's get to know each other! Because it's not all about me, it's also about you! From Extra Elle to Extra, Extra, Extra and beyond!
Ria xoxo
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