From Our Closet To Yours

Heading out to go browsing recently at some shops in London, Ontario, I sported one of my favourite plus size tops, the Abby Twist Top in Purple with a gold broach, a pair of black capris and a black open-toed heel. I was feeling stellar in my polished ensemble. What a great feeling it is to piece together just the right look!

While I was out with my friend, I casually caught a glimpse of my reflection in a mirror and noticed my elbow fat below the sleeve of my top. However, my reaction was different that time. I just smiled within and kept on walking. I didn’t awkwardly tug at my shirt hoping it would magically grow another inch and a half to cover the most-annoying wing-span of arm fat, but instead, knew I looked great and went with it! I’ve been thinking about what caused me to just ‘let go’ of that vice with my large upper arms and my thoughts took me through a mini-journey, reminiscent of those ‘life flashing before your eyes’ scenes. Here’s a tidbit from that.

As a plus size woman, I now believe that confidence naturally exudes a sense of appeal. As a plus size child and teenager, the looks I received were those of, ‘Oh, there goes the fat girl’. The commentary was never in short supply either. For so many years, a part of me was expecting the fat cracks or the inappropriate stares when out with my slender girlfriends.

I became accustomed to that but was so very fortunate to never accept that as the all-defining truth as to who I was. It’s very easy to lose focus of who we are when the peanut gallery around us always has to have the last word on how we should look, dress or act.

With years gone by and the natural maturing process that we go through, the peanut gallery has now meandered off. I am no longer veered at as a fat woman, but simply, a woman. Confidence in your intelligence, wit, sense of fashion, singing abilities, that weird thing you can do with your right pinky finger or whatever it is that makes you original, will speak volumes to those around you, without having to say a word. I believe, for myself, that the grasp of that simple truth over the years contributed to that moment of ‘letting go’ at the mall, finally.

With the opening of Satin Woods Plus Size Clothing Boutique in Canada, we have been asked what we are passionate about. In addition to an obvious love for affordable, designer plus size fashions, one of the most impacting life belongings that I hold within and that I’ve touched on in this blog entry is that of selfworth. Selfworth is something that no one can take from us and that no scale can dictate to us either, no matter where that dial lands.

As we approach fall here in Ontario, Canada and turn a new page with the change of seasons, my hope is that everyone will find something about themselves that they love, be it internal or external and to focus on that positive. Play with some new colours in your makeup bag, pick up a sexy plus size skirt to sport out with the girls or simply give yourself some ‘me time’ by reading a book with a cup of tea. These small things that often go missed with the busy, multi-tasking ways of us gals, can make a big difference in refreshing us and in our overall daily lives.

-Shannon