Androgyny

A style I've never really aimed to achieve, I find androgyny to be one of the most interesting features in fashion and the media.

Some might think this is a recent trend in fashion but, if you've been watching, you'll know it's been around a lot longer than 2010. Though, it does seem to be coming into the spotlight in 2011, androgyny was huge in the 70's/80's with music artists like Annie Lennox and Boy George being the poster children for it during the 80's. And, of course, we can't forget David Bowie in all his glory during the 70's.



Personally, I've always thought there was something sexy about someone who leaves you guessing. But, than again, I've always dated very macho men (construction workers, poker players, etc haha), so it's possible that androgyny is simply a change of pace from the wide shoulders and 5 o'clock shadows I've grown use too.



Jean Paul Gaultier's use of androgynous models come as no surprise to me, as it seems like the next step in acceptance of different people from all across the spectrum that he seems to extend. In the past he's used plus size models in his show including Velvet d'Amour and punk rock goddess Beth Ditto. It only seemed natural that ended his most recent show with Andrej Prejic, a new but popular male model, in a wedding dress.

Yes, that's a man.

Maybe there's just something fun about playing with people expectations. I think, ultimately, androgynous people lend themselves to artists as a sort of Muse. Here is this person existing between both worlds and, as an artist and creator, you can shift them from one world to the other seamlessly. How amazing is that? Tilda Swinton is a great example of this in movies and film.

As much as I admire it, it's not really a style I've tried to capture for myself. Perhaps it's actually due to my plus size qualities that I try to emphasize my womanly features instead of down playing them. Bringing attention to my hour glass figure instead of hiding it, for example, is a constant battle with clothes. Maybe I just like having boobs far too much.

Adult Decisions

Some days I feel like an adult. I'll call my bank and transfer money into my Tax Free Savings Account and than I'll talk to my renter's insurance provider to renew for another year. Those are the days where I feel assured I've crossed that invisible line into adulthood. I'm twenty five motherfuckin' years old, bitches! I'm all grown up and this is how it is. I have my own library (like..in my apartment), a salary and a cheque book. Get use to it!

Ladies, books don't work through osmosis.

Than I do something like...forget to pay my cell phone bill which explains why I am currently without cellphone service.

Oh shhhiiiiiiiiiiit...

I also feel like I am on the verge of making some semi-adult decisions. I am looking at what it takes for me to enter university as a "mature" student. Many people who will be entering university will be 18-21 while I will be 25 or older when/if I get around to it. It's odd to think I'll be older than most in my class but that kind of makes it less intimidating. I've got some life experience under my belt as well as job experience. But I've also got a full time job and a nice, big rent cheque to write out monthly. I've gotten use to having money for years now (since I was 16) and am not too excited to put all my vacations and shopping on the shelf for 3-4 years while I go to university full time.

I feel my dietician would not agree with this

Don't get me wrong, I see the potential awesomeness in getting some post secondary up in here and I actually love ramen noodles. But...I also love rib eye steak, so you can see how this is going to be a sacrifice for me.

I have one more class I need to upgrade and then I can apply for university. While I look at my options for upgrading that one class, I'll have to start thinking about what kind of degree. English? Fine Arts? Art and Design? Do you sense a theme with the direction I am going in?

I promise you, whatever degree I end up going for, I will not be going to class in Uggs and sweatpants. Fuck that shit! I may be a student but that doesn't mean I'll have to dress like one.

Shannon

Pan Out, Assholes!

Dear whoever makes music videos happen,

I wish you'd stop making videos where plus size performers are only shown as bodiless wonders with only bust shots. Perhaps the creative directors/camera person of these videos could zoom out, so we could get more than a few seconds of body shots of artists who are body proud like Adele and Beth Ditto.

This doesn't happen in all videos, but I've noticed a bit of a trend that disappoints me when I go to watch talented artists in videos which, although beautiful and great quality, come off as static or limited.

For example, Adele's "Cold Shoulder":



Or Gossip's "Heavy Cross" (Not really a "static" video but the few times they do show her body it's dark, unfocused and only a glimpse):



These are just a couple examples and I am sure I could find examples of videos of both artists in which more full body shots are present but it still irks me. This heavy (no pun intended) reliance on face shots just makes me think of a phrase every fat girl gets sick of hearing, "You have such a pretty face" which always seemed to imply, to me, that the rest wasn't pretty. Just the face.

Not only is this insulting it's annoying as all hell. Us plus size women have so few fashion icons, that when you're video only focuses on the face, we don't get a chance to admire, critique and enjoy the fashion statements the performer might be making. In some videos, I don't even know if the artist is wearing pants or a skirt, because every shot of the lower body is either blurry or left behind on some cutting room floor.

So, how about you step back and give us the whole picture. I mean, honestly, it's not like you're somehow tricking us, the audience, into thinking these ladies are a more "marketable" size by only showing their faces.

Sincerely,

Shannon

P.S Just so I'm not a hypocrite here is a recent picture of me legs and all!

I'm the one on the left and, obviously, my twin on the right.