Accepting Myself and Being Body Positive

In a few recent weeks, I had been noticing that many of my fall and winter clothes that fit last year were tight or didn’t fit at all. I was uncomfortable with the knowledge of my “new” size and that a good portion of my wardrobe was being put in the “get rid of bin”. (Also known as the clothes you try to consign or the  give away pile) I was being hard on myself because my bra size has changed, my hips and thighs are bigger, and I had began to wish my stomach was smaller. Then I read an interesting fact that changed my mindset.

I can’t remember how it was exactly phrased or where I even read it on the internet, but it said that according to today’s sizes and fit, Marilyn Monroe would wear an 8 in most brands. It got my attention because it’s the size that most of the clothes I am currently able to wear are (that don’t have an elastic waistband attached, that is). She has been deemed one of the most beautiful women to be a star in Hollywood. She was supposed to have the ideal hourglass figure and was labelled as a bombshell! So I took to the internet for more research and to become more body positive.

I bing-ed “sizes of famous women in today’s sizing” knowing it would list Marilyn Monroe as well as others that would be my new size and to see if the fact I read was true. I found plenty of information and began to feel better about myself and accept the “new” me.

The sizing scale that we are subjected to these days is different than the one that was being used in the 1930s-1950s. Today’s sizing can start at 00, 0, or 2 in most brands whereas it used to start at sizes 8,10, or 12. So with this knowledge, it is harder to say that Marilyn Monroe was “plus-size”.  With the measurements found online, she would mostly be an 8 or 10 in most sizes of clothing.  That would make her around the same size as me or a little bigger! So, I should probably be a little nicer to myself. For more reasons than that but the wheels started clicking at this point.

While the average American woman has been said to be a size 14, recent studies are saying the new average woman is actually a size 16.The average woman has also gained 2.5 inches on her waist. This means we are embracing more curves, showing ourselves more love, and stating that despite the models we see in various forms of media, bigger can be better! Many people, including celebrities, are accepting themselves. Amy Schumer took to haters on Twitter with “I am a size 6 and have no plans in changing. This is it. Stay on or get off. Kisses!” Melissa McCarthy created her own clothing brand Seven7 to cover more sizes of women. After her own struggles with her weight, Khloe Kardashian, who is a size 6-8, started her show Revenge Body to help others. No more body shaming, we are becoming body positive!

I am just starting my journey in accepting myself as I am now, but I want to see myself in a new light. I want to figure out how to accent what I like about myself. I may see that I have more of a tummy than I would like and stress over it more than I should, but if I learn to camouflage it, maybe it will be the last thing on my mind. If I see the clothes and the stores as the problem, the numbers and sizes on the tag shouldn’t matter. I will strive to learn what brands and styles work for me and shop accordingly. (Until then, you might be seeing me in a lot of sweats.)Here’s to the journey for the rest of 2017, 2018, and beyond!

(If you are reading this, feel free to share your struggles, encouragement, and any suggestions you may have. I would love to make this a platform to open up conversations.)

Sources:

http://madamenoire.com/506981/celebrity-dress-sizes/

https://www.today.com/style/what-s-average-size-16-new-normal-us-women-t103315

https://www.today.com/popculture/celebrities-responses-body-shaming-see-what-kelly-clarkson-others-said-t13011

http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2013/01/vintage-clothing-sizing-101.html

http://weheartvintage.co/2013/04/04/so-what-size-was-marilyn-monroe-marilyns-other-movie-stars-measurements/