It’s no shocker that finding stylish, well-designed clothing is much harder for the fat community. Brands and designers have actively ignored and rejected men and women larger than what they’ve considered to be their “ideal” size.

There are more options now than ever, but that doesn’t mean that designers are actually crafting their designs with fat bodies in mind. Often times smaller blouses, pants, and skirts are simply upsized, resulting in a poorly fitting garment that misses the mark.

I’ve been designing fat-positive women’s clothing since 1997. I decided to focus on plus size design in 1998. After 5 years of speaking with members of the fat community, listening to their frustrations, and testing designs, I was finally able to release my first clothing line in 2003.

It hasn’t been easy. Creating comfortable, fashionable garments for fat women has become the complete focus of my business. It has required years of adjustments and tweaks in an effort to find the perfect combination of fit and style. But it’s also been immensely rewarding.

I am so grateful to all of the women who have shared their stories with me. And for the feedback I’ve gotten from friends and customers - it’s helped me create clothing I’m truly proud of. Many women told me, “There’s nothing stylish for my size. I don’t want to dress like I’m going to a funeral – but that’s all I can find.” They told me that they loved color and wanted to see more options than just black and navy blue.

I have to give special thanks and appreciation to my sister – she’s been my mentor during this journey. She struggled to find plus size clothing that she actually wanted to wear all her life. She was my first model and was extremely helpful when I was trying to find the right fit for my designs. It’s thanks to her that I was able to craft garments that I’m truly proud of. Without her, I likely would have missed the mark on fit and construction like so many other designers have.

Making fat-first design my business has helped me push myself personally and creatively. I’ve been able to branch out into producing batik fabrics, tie dye, and hand screen prints. I’ve learned to work with a wide range of fabrics - including rayon jersey, cotton knits, and rayon Lycra.

If you’re frustrated with your clothing options or feel fed up with the fashion industry, I hear you. But don’t give up!

There are more and more designers like myself working to make fat-first fashion. If your local stores and boutiques aren’t offering the styles you want, shop online. You have more options now than ever before - so enjoy your style and unique approach to fashion. Share it with the world!

About the Author: Stephen Hadley, founder of Generous Fashions, has exclusively designed plus size clothing since 2002. In 2009, he relocated to Bali to handcraft fabrics and garments from his home studio for Generous Fashions and his Etsy shop.

Last month I suggested that watching/listening to the news might help you feel lousy and so doing that less might help you feel better. How about intentionally choosing things that feel better? Here’s what I mean. Feeling good emotionally is part of feeling good physically. I am someone who has significant physical pain. I intentionally choose to be hopeful (instead of despairing) in the face of physical pain. But if I’m already feeling negative emotions, that hopeful place is not accessible.

So step one is to find a relaxed, good-feeling mood. Do that by delaying your news intake (and other aggravating or sad topics such as Facebook or emails). Try replacing that with something soothing or uplifting. I start each day with a 15 minute meditation. That is my step one. It has taken me a number of years to develop my meditation routine. I started by finding a song or a short video on YouTube that would help me sit still and feel good. You can also just sit in comfortable clothes and close your eyes and follow your breath or listen to the refrigerator, LOL.

Out of meditation, I listen to uplifting happy music while I get on with my day. I always do a few Easy Fitness exercises at this time to get my blood flowing and check in with my body. I make peace with where I am and I feel a sense of satisfaction. When I get a start like this I can be selective about where I put my focus and I can keep track of how I feel. The better I feel, the better I feel. The opposite is also true so I’m always course correcting when I don’t feel good.

So, back away from things that feel inflammatory and move toward things that feel good. Notice what thoughts bring which feelings. Have fun with this!

April 20, 2017: An article on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website recommends that healthcare providers avoid stigmatizing fat patients by focusing on physical activity and health goals rather than on weight.
https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2017/17_0006.htm

June 2017: For patients with BMI (body mass index) that classifies them as class 1 or 2 obese, the clinical outcome after total knee replacement surgery is not affected by BMI seven years post-surgery. Higher obese classifications were not included in this study.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317622070_Body_Mass_Index_Related_ Clinical_Outcomes_After_Knee_Replacement

June 1, 2017: A Washington think tank, working with other organizations and experts, but no fat-centric or weight-neutral groups, recommends that healthcare providers avoid shaming their fat patients, but maintains the basic idea that fatness is bad per se. Deb Burgard, PhD comments on the report in an ASDAH blog post.
https://cdn.bipartisanpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Provider-Competencies-for-the-Prevention-and-Management-of-Obesity.pdf
https://healthateverysizeblog.org/2017/06/30/the-haes-files-healthcare-providers-get-our-marching-orders-for-the-war-on-fat-people

June 6, 2017: David Rasmussen’s paper on the fat rights movement reveals a deep misunderstanding of weight, health, the effects of fat bias, fat economics, and the lack of proven effectiveness of obesity interventions. Like many, Rasmussen believes that fat is a choice and fat equals unhealthy, and goes downhill from there.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2981737

June 9, 2017: A meta-analysis of 20 studies finds a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality for overweight diabetics and those who are both obese and elderly, as compared with lower weight patients.
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2017/06/09/Study-Being-overweight-linked-to-longer-life-in-older-diabetics/1011497017876
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jdi.12677/full

June 10, 2017: Comments regarding a study published in The Lancet are questioning the finding that high body mass index (BMI), including the overweight category, was associated with higher all-cause mortality.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)31438-1/abstract
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)31437-X/abstract
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)31436-8/abstract
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)31369-7/abstract

June 15, 2017: An article published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that weight loss programs are not effective for African American women, and that perhaps instead of using BMI as a measure of health for this group a more “holistic, multifaceted approach” should be used. How about broadening this idea to include all fat people?
https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2017/16_0573.htm

June 20, 2017: An article about flying next to someone you find unpleasant gives several practical options. NAAFA’s Peggy Howell provides the point of view of the fat passenger as well as resources for flying while fat.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/next-to-an-airplane-seatmate-from-hell-heres-what-to-do-2017-06-19

June 20, 2017: The US Protective Services Task Force is updating its recommendations regarding screening children (6 years and up) for obesity, claiming that (a) intensive behavioral intervention can lead to improvements in weight for up to 12 months, and (b) these screenings and interventions are not harmful, even though other recent studies have shown that simply identifying as fat can lead to lifelong emotional and physical problems.
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2632511
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/evidence-summary/obesity-in-children-and-adolescents-screening1#table4

June 26, 2017: A recent study finds that perceived weight discrimination can lead to health-risk behaviors beyond eating and physical activity; and these behaviors may contribute to the association between weight discrimination and poor health.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.21845/full

June 26, 2017: While acknowledging that there is no known way to achieve significant long term weight loss for almost all fat people, researchers believe that a study of the forces that affect the body’s homeostasis will reveal the causes of fatness, and allow them to find a more successful “treatment” for being fat. Good luck finding that magic pill, folks.
https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/3892397/Obesity-Pathogenesis-An-Endocrine-Society

June 29, 2017: A recent study finds that overweight to mildly obese patients are associated with significantly lower mortality following an ischemic stroke when compared to lower weight patients.
http://www.cardiovascularbusiness.com/topics/vascular-endovascular/extra-weight-may-improve-survival-after-stroke-%E2%80%98obesity-paradox%E2%80%99
http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/6/6/e004721

June 30, 2017: Disabled and fat protester Carrie Ann Lucas is being charged for interference because she did not explain to arresting officers the operation of her wheelchair. An ACLU attorney claims the charge is excessive as Lucas did not resist arrest but simply declined to assist in her own arrest.
https://www.denverite.com/refusing-tell-officers-operate-wheelchair-activist-carrie-ann-lucas-charged-interference-38538

June 30, 2017: A fat passenger who bought 2 seats on a flight was removed from the over-booked flight so that 2 thin passengers could have his seats. Spirit Airlines – fail.
http://www.ravishly.com/fat-passengers-cant-win-airlines

June 30, 2017: Another study finds an association between being mildly obese and better outcomes following a heart attack, compared with those in either higher or lower BMI categories. Improved outcomes include fewer days of hospitalization and living longer post heart attack.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4654786/Obese-patients-30-likely-survive-heart-attack.html
https://academic.oup.com/ehjqcco/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcx010/3098576/The-obesity-paradox-extreme-obesity-and-long-term

June 30, 2017: Cook County, Illinois has been temporarily restrained from imposing a tax on sweetened beverages because of allegations that the tax violates the Illinois Constitution. The tax is touted as a revenue source and for purported health benefits. Other areas that have imposed such a tax have found that it has not affected the consumption of sweetened beverages.
http://wgntv.com/2017/06/30/judge-blocks-cook-county-beverage-tax

July 2017: Researchers were surprised to find that having a BMI of over 40 is associated with a significantly decreased risk of aortic atherosclerosis. The researchers suggest a number of avenues for further study but at this time have no real explanation beyond the “obesity paradox”.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28593612

July 1, 2017: A new paper concludes that weight loss cannot be achieved simply with calorie restriction as the body actively attempts to maintain existing body weight in a complex and multifaceted system.
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1745691617690878

July 2, 2017: Plus size model Natalie Hage describes how she was body shamed on a flight and how she decided to deal with it.
http://www.allure.com/story/plus-size-model-body-shamed-flight

July 2, 2017: Curvy Girl provides some tips for reducing stress for flying while fat. Despite a bad reputation, Southwest Airlines now provides the best policy for its fat passengers.
http://curvygirlinc.com/tips-for-flying-while-fat

July 7, 2017: Thursday nights, Bevin Branlandingham throws the Fat Kid Dance Party at a gym in Los Angeles. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate at whatever level they can. You get a cheer from the group if you admit to feeling awkward, and taking care of yourself by taking a break will get a self-care cheer!
https://www.facebook.com/PopSugar/videos/10155862999209367

July 7, 2017: Two recent studies show that negative weight bias exists in school children at approximately the same rate as racial bias, and that fat children are often the targets of bullying. Results that I am sure will not surprise anyone who has ever been a fat child.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/07/health/frenemies-bullying-obesity-study/index.html
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0178130
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/140/1/e20163936

July 7, 2017: A fat woman at a UK mall strips down, puts on a blond wig, and stands between two very thin mannequins in a store window to protest fat shaming.
http://www.ravishly.com/fat-woman-naked-in-mall

July 10, 2017: Professor Traci Mann explains that there is no obesity crisis and that obesity does not necessarily mean a shorter lifespan.
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/magazine-40505399/think-again-there-is-no-obesity-crisis

July 13, 2017: The “Your Fat Friend” blog discusses fat jokes about celebrities and what telling those jokes shows other people about your own priorities and values.
https://medium.com/@thefatshadow/what-your-chris-christie-fat-jokes-teach-fat-people-a-letter-from-your-fat-friend-a4a324ada7fe