Wow this part…’Do women in fashion become skinny because they are women in fashion, or do they become women in fashion because they are skinny?’ Thank you for sharing this Julia.
I have been slowly feeling the ick about this subject for the past year or so, watching the women on substack shrink but also normalize $1700 pants, and only feature white women as style inpsos. I feel like the few years of progress with inclusivity and body acceptance has just disappeared overnight?? I try to be more mindful of who I consume and support but it's hard out here on these emaciated/wealthy/homogenous substack streets. As a 43 year old who was skinny most of her life without effort (annoying af), and then had to rehaul her entire wardrobe the past few years because of the changes in my body--it's been a mindf*ck to be faced with the same nonsense I faced as a teen in the 90s. Luckily you get a lot tougher to it as you grow older, and I think you are showing wisdom beyond your years, Julia!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Maurene, and I definitely appreciate the reminder to be more mindful myself of including a variation of people in my moodboards and so on. I shouldn't need the reminder, but I guess I do. I just can't believe how there seems to be such a strong correlation between popularity and thinness STILL. I was a child in the 90s but I saw all of this going on around me, my sister and my mum - feels like we're right back where we started with fad diets, diet pills and "tips" on how to lose pounds. It sucks.
Omg Julia--I do not categorize you as one of the perpetuators of homogeneity on here! I love your substack and your corner of the world and how you think. But yes--it's been really demoralizing to see this trend come back with a vengeance!
My mantra for years has been “I want to look like whatever I look like when I’m living my best life.” My body is a byproduct of my life, not the other way around. Now, from an outsider perspective you might say “easy for you to say, you’re tall and thin.” Which is true, I am. And that’s my natural body type yes. But I’m 20 pounds (and several sizes) larger than I was when I used to think my main purpose in life was to be skinny. And my life sucked then. The expression “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” is UTTER BULLSHIT! Life is better when enjoying food is a big part of it, in my opinion:)
You're so right and I love that mantra! I also keep thinking to myself that I'm enjoying foods I love, doing exercise that makes me feel good, resting when I feel like I need it, and if this is what my body looks like doing those things then this is what I look like I guess!
Wow this part…’Do women in fashion become skinny because they are women in fashion, or do they become women in fashion because they are skinny?’ Thank you for sharing this Julia.
Thank you for reading! I adore your writing!
Likewise Julia!❤️
"But I’m still growing and I don’t ever want to shrink myself." This is how I want to feel. Thank you for this, Julia!
Thank you Sigrid!
SO good and relatable!
Thank you Stephanie!
this was so powerful I love it.
Thank you <3
I have been slowly feeling the ick about this subject for the past year or so, watching the women on substack shrink but also normalize $1700 pants, and only feature white women as style inpsos. I feel like the few years of progress with inclusivity and body acceptance has just disappeared overnight?? I try to be more mindful of who I consume and support but it's hard out here on these emaciated/wealthy/homogenous substack streets. As a 43 year old who was skinny most of her life without effort (annoying af), and then had to rehaul her entire wardrobe the past few years because of the changes in my body--it's been a mindf*ck to be faced with the same nonsense I faced as a teen in the 90s. Luckily you get a lot tougher to it as you grow older, and I think you are showing wisdom beyond your years, Julia!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Maurene, and I definitely appreciate the reminder to be more mindful myself of including a variation of people in my moodboards and so on. I shouldn't need the reminder, but I guess I do. I just can't believe how there seems to be such a strong correlation between popularity and thinness STILL. I was a child in the 90s but I saw all of this going on around me, my sister and my mum - feels like we're right back where we started with fad diets, diet pills and "tips" on how to lose pounds. It sucks.
Omg Julia--I do not categorize you as one of the perpetuators of homogeneity on here! I love your substack and your corner of the world and how you think. But yes--it's been really demoralizing to see this trend come back with a vengeance!
Well it's a good reminder nonetheless! But thank you.
My mantra for years has been “I want to look like whatever I look like when I’m living my best life.” My body is a byproduct of my life, not the other way around. Now, from an outsider perspective you might say “easy for you to say, you’re tall and thin.” Which is true, I am. And that’s my natural body type yes. But I’m 20 pounds (and several sizes) larger than I was when I used to think my main purpose in life was to be skinny. And my life sucked then. The expression “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” is UTTER BULLSHIT! Life is better when enjoying food is a big part of it, in my opinion:)
You're so right and I love that mantra! I also keep thinking to myself that I'm enjoying foods I love, doing exercise that makes me feel good, resting when I feel like I need it, and if this is what my body looks like doing those things then this is what I look like I guess!