YouLookFab Forum » Topic: A challenge for 2020: Please join me

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: A challenge for 2020: Please join me https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 18 Apr 2026 13:36:13 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Kari on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088777 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 20:36:03 +0000 Kari 2088777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I’d like to direct folks to the earlier article I linked to about thin privilege and actions straight sized folks can take if they want to be allies. <a href="https://medium.com/rachael-writes/9-ways-to-show-up-for-your-fat-friends-b2f55a6dd573" rel="nofollow">https://medium.com/rachael-wri.....f55a6dd573</a> I can assure you there’s a lot of cruelty directed towards fat folks that makes this issue way more painful and complex than height or geographical location/market, though I appreciate those issues are also complex. I am disappointed that some took my open invitation to be more inclusive as an opportunity to argue whether inclusivity is necessary. This is my experience as a long time forum member who is plus sized and has been much smaller and also larger than I am today. If you are straight sized, I can’t convince you that marginalization exists in the fashion world as well as here to a lesser extent, but my experience is that it does. Please listen and think about your privilege if you are someone who can almost always rely on your size being made, or on not being the butt of a joke because of your size or shape. Angie and Inge, I’d like to close this thread as I’m not interested in arguing with folks who are challenging whether this is necessary. While I appreciate the majority of comments are supportive, I’m re-thinking how and whether I want to engage with the forum in the future. Again, huge thanks to those who listen. I can assure you I’ve done a lot of privilege-assessing too and it is definitely uncomfortable at times. I appreciate the interest in sitting in a bit of an uncomfortable space and thinking about if there are ways we can do more in the future. Gaylene on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088775 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 20:08:54 +0000 Gaylene 2088775@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kari, Toban pretty much said everything I’d say (except I’m definitely not petite!) and I doubt that my list of Canadian designers whose clothes I pick to fit my 70-year-old body and style preferences would be of much use to you.  <div> </div><div>But I do totally support your challenge to make sure that all shapes, sizes, and ages are visible in our fashion aspirations. I realized decades ago that I wasn’t going to see my tall, muscular, IT shape in conventional fashion images and that much of the clothing in mass market shops either didn’t fit properly or just made me feel ridiculous. Being athletic saved me because, on a ski slope or a hiking trail, my muscular physique became an asset, not a liability. I looked good in my skiwear and my hiking gear because I was inhabiting my body confidently and joyfully. Holding on to this thought pattern has been my goal as I’ve tried to adjust to the realities of an aging body.  Since I’ve rarely seen my shape and style represented in fashion images, I long ago realized emulation was never going to work for me. Developing a personal style meant finding my own path so I designed and sewed many of my own clothes, altered mass market clothing, and found inspiration in all sizes and shapes. Looking for ways to feel confident and joyful in my outfits forced me to look at independent designers and unusual sources but to always temper my expectations about what was being shown or discussed. I found (and stayed ) on YLF because I found Angie’s ability to analyze and distill fashion trends immensely useful since I could use her ideas to help me analyze my own efforts. Her Finds and American shopping sources, though, were rarely useful except as a jumping off point for my own investigation.  </div><div> </div><div>I guess, in summary, my point is that there are ways to use fashion blogs, Instagram photos, and fashion forums even when what you need is not directly addressed or represented. To me, the fascinating part of this thread is how many of us ended up in the YLF forum because we found something here which we couldn’t find on other sites. Learning about others’ challenges made me feel better about my own. Feeling alienated by chain store offerings and glossy blogs is a rather common experience it seems. </div><div> </div><div>ETA:  I also want to support what Staysfit and Jeneva said so eloquently above. Kari, you’ve made a courageous appeal which has struck a chord with many of us. </div> Jenava on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088774 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 20:06:30 +0000 Jenava 2088774@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't think Kari was trying to level critique at anyone.  I know we hate to think that some may feel excluded from something we feel so included in, but it happens.  A lot, in fact.  If you want to know what can we do to make it better let's listen to what those who felt that way say.  We don't really need to wring our hands so much as just listen and act differently. I know it's super easy to have a defensive reaction.  I doubt Kari's request is meant to shame anyone.  If you don't enjoy looking at inspirational style photos/blogs/etc, that's fine.  I didn't take this post to be trying to get someone to do so who doesn't.  I haven't been around this forum much, busy with kids, but I do love how Angie tends to post at least a small amount of body diversity in her posts.  I'd love to see a wider range of that everywhere.  I'm super excited to check out some of the bloggers others have posted, to the point that I may actually start looking at blogs again.  So thanks, Kari.  I'm sorry you got sort of attacked and had to step away.  You also got a lot of support, so I hope you see that. Staysfit on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088772 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 19:42:19 +0000 Staysfit 2088772@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kari, I appreciate the vulnerability it took to post this thread. I hear your frustration around only wanting people to contribute if they have a resource or comment that is in keeping with the original intent of your thread.  I wish I had something more to contribute but I do follow individual fashion bloggers, nor do I use Instagram, etc.  My thoughts are in line with Echo, Toban and RunCarla.  I personally worry about comparing myself to the unfair and illusory standards set by the pictures posted in social media (blogs, Instagram, FB, etc.).  Most social media pictures pictures show unusually attractive people, posed in engaging ways, particpating in fun or amazing activities. They close out reality.  It's hard to remember that these pictures represent a fiction, a brief instant of time, posed for effect, and designed to leave out any moments when the person pictured has any unflattering facial tics, mannerisms, or emotional stresses.  Their deception leaves us feeling inadequate.  I beleive comparison to an impossibe or unrealistic standard is problematic and am aware that it happens regardless of race, size, orientation, ability, etc.   I do not disagree that there should be more variety and availability of sizes. I worry there could be false hope in thinking that increasing the numbers of diverse style icon options will decrease the negative feelings that come from social comparison.  A social medica post from a diverse style icon is equally likely to have all the problematic factors present in one that you have termed non-diverse (ie. caucasian, thin, non-disabled, etc.).  They will pose, their pictures will represent one moment of time, the will be particularly attractive and engaging and still cause one to feel inadequate in comparison.  It's addressing a gushing wound with a bandaid instead of at it's social comparison source.  Jenava on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088771 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 19:31:24 +0000 Jenava 2088771@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That Japanese comedian lady was on Queer Eye Japan.  Great style!   SarahD8 on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088769 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 19:03:03 +0000 SarahD8 2088769@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kari, thanks so much for starting this thread. You have given me a lot to think about. I am really, really on board with the goals you suggest of increasing the inclusiveness of fashion/style and celebrating the beauty of fat, disabled, and otherwise underrepresented bodies.  I am struggling a little bit with how to put this into action in my participation on YLF. As some others have commented I don't use Instagram much nor do I follow many outfit bloggers. My interest in YLF is less about shopping than styling. And since I shop mostly secondhand* I don't make much use of finds. (*I acknowledge the size privilege that makes this a viable strategy for me.) When I take inspiration from YLF posts it tends to be oriented not around a specific item but an idea -- a styling trick, an approach to thinking about wardrobe structure or color palettes, etc. I don't think I've managed to comment on your recent WIW threads but I've been really inspired by your casual-dressy ensembles this holiday season. That is, you seem to be able to *make* occasions to wear your dressy items, and combine them with more casual pieces in a way that looks festive but not overdone or out of place for our casual city. I hope to work on my dressy capsule in the coming months and will come back to your posts to take notes! So, I hope you'll leave your photos up. I can say that this thread has made me think differently about the fashion-related content that I do consume -- for example, I'd been thinking about how a certain blogger never seems to mention women with kids. Well, now I realize nor do they ever highlight plus-size or disabled or gay women.  But I understand that just thinking differently isn't enough. Allyship has to be visible or audible in some way. So, like I said, I need to think more about how to do this.  Preppy Pear on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088765 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 18:06:32 +0000 Preppy Pear 2088765@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks so much for starting this discussion, Kari. I think it’s a really rich opportunity for all of us to find inspiration in dressing bodies that are different from our own - size, shape, race, mobility, etc. I am in! I have a four year old daughter and I don’t want her to have to unlearn as much bad information as I have had to (and I’m still unlearning!) about which bodies are fashionable and upheld as ideals. On another note, you and your outfits have been inspiring me for years. Thank you. nemosmom on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088758 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 17:33:40 +0000 nemosmom 2088758@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <div>Kari, I really appreciate you feeling vulnerable and putting yourself out there in this way. </div><div> </div><div>I am not on facebook or instagram anymore, and I don't really follow any fashion bloggers. Even pinterest seems to serve up the same looks for me, so I'm not on there either.  One thing that keeps me coming back to YLF is the variety of outfits and models Angie shows in her blog posts, along with the variety in styles, shapes, and locations of the fabbers in the forum. For my own inspo, I will google something like "style a moto jacket" or "olive chino outfit" and save any image that tickles my fancy - regardless of the wearer's age, race, gender, size, ethnicity, location, etc. I even have fictional characters like Indiana Jones in my collection.  I don't usually post inspo kinds of photos unless I see a post asking for them, but I will certainly keep your challenge top of mind when I select images and finds to share! </div> Toban on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088747 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 16:11:43 +0000 Toban 2088747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kari, I love your style and your WIWs. I am inspired by your color palettes and silhouettes. I love how you dress up and down outfits to make the most of your wardrobe. I generally lurk between meetings and rarely have time to post, but I always read and love your posts even if I don't comment. I come to YLF because it features real women with style budgets. You all are *my* inspiration. The common thread every one has seems to be facing their personal challenges with style, from identifying it to finding it -- that's what I find appealing about YLF. I have limited interest in looking at other sources and even usually skip past the featured blogger posts because to me it rarely represents real life, and I can see how not seeing yourself represented can feel exclusionary (one of the reasons I ignore most fashion bloggers). I rarely dig through the round ups because it is hard to identify which have petite options in clothes or wide width in shoes (my current personal challenges). But every day I am inspired by the real life WIWs of YLF posters. I have been a range of sizes my whole life. I was fortunate that my mom taught me that regardless of my size I could look great. The most challenging time was as a cusp size petite (P16/P18) at 225 lbs. Talbots became almost my only source, yet it was not anywhere near my style. In addition, although I was plus size, it didn't work for me for how I carried my weight. So I do appreciate how having one's size available doesn't actually mean it works and how challenging having a limited number of clothing sources are and having no brick & mortar options. I am excited and grateful to see many brands extend their size range in the past couple of years. Though I agree with you it remains way too small. In a follow up post on moving to rebuilding my wardrobe from a weight loss journey to avoid a family history of diabetes(<a href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-from-transition-wardrobe-to-rebuilding-wardrobe" rel="nofollow">https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....g-wardrobe</a>) my key take away was: Weight loss doesn’t magically solve my shopping challenges. My success rate did not improve. A small number of options opened up, such as Boden, but many petite options remained a bad fit for my body shape (i.e., J. Crew). I still cannot find brick and mortar stores that stock my size with any variety and order almost exclusively online now. Going to a boutique, it's an exception if I find something that actually works, because proportions of straight sizes look like I am a kid playing in her mom's clothes -- close but not quite right. I have almost zero option for investment or high end style (not that my budget would allow it). I have an extensive necklace and scarf collection because that's often all I can find in real world shopping. Let's celebrate our similarities -- we each care enough about our style to seek out a likeminded group to help us work through our personal style challenges. Let's all keep sharing whatever sources that worked for us … because it could help another even if not relevant to all for a variety of reasons (size, geography, ethical philosophy, price range). Through YLF I've identified some new to me options that I would not have otherwise known about and have been inspired to experiment and test my assumptions. I may not be fully able to participate in your challenge (since my own list of possible sources is so short to begin with), but I appreciate your intent and your challenge to us to consider the implicit bias in our choices of our inspirations. ETA One of my personal athletic inspirations is Mirna Valerio (The Mirnavator, an ultra trail runner). I follow her on Instagram and have read and loved her book A Beautiful Work In Progress. Without a doubt she has inspired me to dream big in my athletic endeavors despite not feeling like I look like an athlete (ie not having the road runner slim physique). If you aren’t aware of her, please look her up. karen13 on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088743 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 16:02:18 +0000 karen13 2088743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kari, thank you for posting. This and everything else you do. I find your style inspiring, and your voice is interesting and thought provoking. I hope you know how much you are valued. Flytigress on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088734 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 14:28:21 +0000 Flytigress 2088734@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ On IG I really like the Canadian bloggers mycurvesndcurls<div> and  misslionhunter The Athleta catalog always inspires me with its diversity of models.   <div> <div><div></div></div></div><div> </div> <div><div></div></div></div><div> </div> Aquamarine on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088674 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 03:39:21 +0000 Aquamarine 2088674@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Capitol Hill Style usually mentions plus-size options in posts. Barbara Diane on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088659 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 01:36:34 +0000 Barbara Diane 2088659@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Kari, I used to feel more like you, not left out here at YLF as much, but at B&M stores, and I complained in detail about it in a post a while back. The replies were actually comforting to me when I found out that I was not alone, that many, many YFL'ers were sized out for other reasons, such as being too small,  too short or too tall.  I have also been grateful to see Angie's efforts to include inclusive images and clothing. As I only follow family and friends on Instagram, and rarely read a blog other than this one (except the emails I get from the stylist whose blog led me here) I won't be searching for examples. I will consider posting photos, as I rarely do. I haven't been taking photos as most of my photos are to try and style new items and I haven't been shopping. I'm also pretty private and don't really don't post photos on Facebook either. The few there are ones others posted. Actually, I have gotten jealous when I see how good you look in your outfits, and that I can't wear them as I don't wear shape wear and my lumps and bumps won't work in those clothes. I try to remember to check that disappointment with positive self talk. Also, I usually don't find that plus size bloggers fashion works for me as they are usually either younger and in better shape than me or so significantly larger than me, with similarly outsized style and personality, that I wouldn't wear their outfits. I find the examples here are more useful. I guess I'm here for the style direction advice I get from Angie's posts, and the encouragement and sense of community I get from Angie and Forum members. And the new perspectives. I still remember my surprise that someone said that they didn't wear color because they didn't want to stand out. But I knew this person to be quite fashion forward silhouette wise. I would have felt like I stood out in their silhouette but I wear color all the time without a thought and thought that I blended in. I love forum posts like that that let me think or rethink something, along with the personal ones. I'm glad you post photos, even if I can't emulate your looks.  I hope you read this as supportive, even if I didn't post any links. annagybe on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/3#post-2088657 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 01:26:32 +0000 annagybe 2088657@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Another one, though she might be cusp, judging by some of the designers she wears @scarletthalo_ Anyways really fun style with lots of red annagybe on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088654 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:45:40 +0000 annagybe 2088654@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Japanese comedian, have no idea where she gets her clothes because she only posts in Japanese. She dresses so cute though! <a href="https://instagram.com/watanabenaomi703?igshid=1dut7dfhbg1lb" rel="nofollow">https://instagram.com/watanabe.....t7dfhbg1lb</a> The Cat on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088652 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:35:43 +0000 The Cat 2088652@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Can't help you with tips on where to go shopping, as we live in different parts of the world. However, I suppose that plus size bloggers have suggestions on where to shop. And when I google "Plus size bloggers", I get LOTS of inspirational blogs. This list of 9 is just one of many who caught my interest: <a href="https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/plus-size-bloggers" rel="nofollow">https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/plus-size-bloggers</a> Kari on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088647 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:25:05 +0000 Kari 2088647@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Folks - I’m not here to argue the point. This was an invitation to be more inclusive and an honest, vulnerable statement of what has made me feel excluded over the years. If that doesn’t matter to you, move along! I am speaking to those who are interested in making the community welcoming to all, not just those who look like you. If that’s not your jam, please argue the point on YOUR thread, not here. Thanks to all who have been supportive and chiming in with great suggestions. I deeply appreciate it. I’m going to take a break for a while because this has left me feeling pretty raw. I do know that the majority of folks are listening in good faith, and thank you if you are. Anonymous on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088629 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 22:28:45 +0000 Anonymous 2088629@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'll keep it simple and just sign off on what Echo said.  We're all here to find our style, we all have our struggles, and we should feel free to post what inspires us.  Period. Jenava on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088621 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 20:30:11 +0000 Jenava 2088621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't look through much inspiration blogs any longer.  I don't have time to keep up with it all....I love Pintrest for convenience, but it's gotten very boring because there just ins't good diversity and representation there. It's like all young skinny white girls OR if you try to get some results that aren't young it's all "over 50" or whatnot, and usually with some sort of "tsk tsk" tone, like "what not to wear over 50".  UGH. And frankly even what the typical fashion ladies are show wearing I think often they wear quite boring clothes when it's broken down.  I'm excited to look through some of the things people here have posted because I really feel an inspiration desert.  I relate to what Janet said about the age thing, too.  i'm probably a bit fatter than she is.  I don't love that I'm fatter than I used to be, but I still think I can look good and I want to see ladies who look like me - fattish, middle aged, exhausted - who are rockin it! I do love Angie's posts on trends.  this is one of the few fashion sites I still bother showing up to.  Thanks for this thread, Kari.   Gigi on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088620 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 20:29:02 +0000 Gigi 2088620@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kari, I always enjoy your outfits. I look forward to seeing the beautiful colors you wear. I do mostly neutrals and find it fun to see others who dress more brightly. You have great style! As a smaller-size petite, I know well the frustration of seeing a thread without a single item that is made in my size. But I don't have the extra emotional burden of being made to feel that I need to change my body because of it. That adds so much to the emotional picture. I don't follow bloggers because of the issues others have pointed out: many are unimaginative and seem to have a cookie-cutter look that is not me. I have only a few style inspirations with which I check in once in a blue moon. I believe they all wear straight sizes. As you point out, a big reason that there are so many straight-size bloggers is because cool clothes are readily available for them. It is much tougher to have enough content for a good style blog if you are not straight sized. The two main smaller-size petite bloggers I know of, Jean at Extra Petite and Kelly at Alterations Needed, succeed because (1) Jean has a very conservative style that is businesslike, which is readily available at retail, and (2) Kelly has an amazing tailor. (Kelly herself says that her skilled tailor is what enabled her to have the wardrobe of her dreams. Not many have the funds to spend on such extensive alterations.) So I don't turn to them very much for inspo, even though they are my size, because their style isn't mine. For me, what is key is the person's style rather than her size. On YLF, I have screenshot a few outfits of Jenn's for my personal style inspo album (love your outfits, Jenn!) because she has a style similar to my own. Since I am already used to not being able to find a given item in my size at retail, the exact pieces the poster is wearing are not too important, since I know I'll have to do it my way anyway. I see instead silhouettes, individual items, interesting combinations and colors, etc., all of which can be transferred to my own body. I will certainly try to remember when I post a find to note whether it comes in plus. If I forget, I'm open to a gentle reminder. I know that I appreciate it when people mention up front that something is found in petite. Although I think at some retailers, the plus size or petite size is set up as a completely separate product page, and it might not be immediately obvious from the straight-size page. Carla on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088619 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 20:29:00 +0000 Carla 2088619@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is a thought provoking thread, Kari, and those who have responded, have done so with kindness and wisdom.  I’m not on Instagram or FB, and not much of an on-line shopper, so I can’t help you there since that is not where I get my fashion inspiration.  YLF is where I get the info and inspiration to sharpen my fashion chops - and I’m as likely to get my inspiration from fellow fabbers as I am from Angie, Inge, and the bloggers that might be featured.  As such, I would encourage more participation in WIW posts so that there is greater exposure to beauty in all it’s variety.   I will admit to being drawn to folks who have similar characteristics - curly hair, older bodies, specs wearers - but I’m also drawn to folks who have a love of classic tomboy style and a love of colour regardless of their hair, age, or size. Since there is always something to learn from individuals who have very different styles and ideas, I will LOOK at just about anything - but it has to be there to look at!   I will also admit that I’m not drawn to YLF for the shopping as much as I am for the styling.  When I see something I like - a silhouette, colour combination, or styling trick - I try to replicate from my closet or keep an eye open for something similar, but not necessarily the same. Styling is not the pervue of the young, slim, and white - or even women!  celia on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088592 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 17:44:36 +0000 celia 2088592@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Kari, Thank you for posting this and also the articles you share on Facebook. I don't consider myself as a particularly judgmental person but I do know that my first mental reaction is the one I was raised to believe it was normal, the one I felt others had about me in some occasions. Sometimes that reaction is not pretty and I have to give myself a mental shake for it. I am learning how to be a better human being, though. Regarding your challenge, I am pretty diverse in my instagram following although I don't intentionally do it. I follow friends and add suggestions that I like or bloggers featured on YLF. I will be more aware of what I follow in the future. A big shout out to Christina F. because I always try to see her outfit posts not only because they are fab but also because I feel that we kind of share the same body type and she is a good reference point for how clothes would fit on me . And to Jenn because we like the same color combinations. I appreciate the diversity that YLF provides and how Angie nurtures this inclusive environment. I know that your words trough the years on YLF and in person have had an impact on how I see the world, Kari. Hope that you continue to be courageous and speak up. Angie on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088578 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 15:51:18 +0000 Angie 2088578@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for the shout out Synne, Kari and Suz. Read today's blog post: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/2019/12/30/highlights-of-2019/">https://youlookfab.com/2019/12.....s-of-2019/</a> Halfway down: Best Instagram Hashtag: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/makemysize/">#makemysize</a> Kari, I have been participating in your challenge for years and with great pleasure! I am always looking to showcase great outfits on a range of diverse models on YLF. There is room for improvement of course, but diverse visual representation in the fashion world is better than it used to be. It's tricky though, because I can't freely use the best images that I find online. We take privacy and patent policies very seriously, and can't afford to battle in a lawsuit or have YLF taken down. I do what I can to make YLF a diverse and stress-free place. Always open to suggestions. Thanks for posting visuals, making yourself vulnerable,  and making a difference. This is how change happens. I appreciate it.   Thanks for the additional resources too.  Christina F. on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088557 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 14:50:12 +0000 Christina F. 2088557@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <div>Thanks for posting this. I'm in the higher end of the "conventional" size range (esp my bottom half) and got tired long ago of all the blogs and Instas because no one looked like me. Also, each person's style never seemed to evolve, and they all seemed to be moms with long shiny hair, etc etc... the lifestyles didn't fit with mine, in short. (In the past at least, I read that a lot of them were Mormon SAHM's. Don't know if that's still true.) </div><div> </div><div>I get most of my "inspo" these days from here and from people I see on the street in NYC, and the latter is as diverse a population as I could wish. Even in my own office, there are very stylish people of different sizes and gender presentations. So I don't seek out or post that kind of style inspo stuff, but I can certainly be aware when I create Finds. Madewell, for instance, has extended sizing and includes pictures of how things look on more than one body. That's been very helpful to me in buying jeans. I've given them more of my money recently, and that is a big reason. </div> Liesbeth on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088548 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 13:55:03 +0000 Liesbeth 2088548@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Kari, I wanted to say I appreciate you raising the issue knowing it puts you in a vulnerable position. To be honest, ylf has opened my eyes to the idea that people so different from me could be an inspiration (admittedly, still often white and in a certain weight range, but way more diverse than your typical fashion blog). I'm a naturally skinny, young white woman and aware that that makes me very lucky clothes-wise. I used to look for people like me in fashion blogs thinking their style I could more easily emulate and still follow mainly other skinny white women as they are overrepresented in minimal and sustainable fashion. I can follow your challenge and pay more attention to this and actively seek other images and will check resources others post. Yet 'making a difference with my wallet' I'm afraid, at this point, is not something I can commit too. I've already had to dial back from my sustainability ideals because it has lead me occasionally to less than ideal purchases (Limited choice) and so, faster churn, which I don't want either. I understand that you are up against that nonetheless and hope you will still find inspiration, cameraderie etc in this space even if it seems hard for many of us to immediately provide an answer to the issues you raise. Bijou on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088544 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 11:36:01 +0000 Bijou 2088544@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kari I like to read Lili's blog at Frocks and Frou Frou. Lili is a bit sporadic in her posts, but I really enjoy her sense of style and natural beauty. Lili works in publishing, so her posts are well written and she writes about issues that many women face - but especially her frustration in finding fun fashion that caters to plus size women. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://frocksandfroufrou.com/">https://frocksandfroufrou.com/</a> I would like to say thank you for raising this issue and congratulate you on your focus on a healthy body and being open and honest on this forum.  Kari on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088520 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 04:03:00 +0000 Kari 2088520@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes. Thank you so much for acknowledging that, too. Because we ALL have a bias for what we aren’t used to seeing (or what we are maybe just used to seeing as advertised as “this is bad and unhealthy.”) Jaime on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088512 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 03:32:46 +0000 Jaime 2088512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kari I truly appreciate your putting yourself out there to post this. I have lots of thoughts but the most important comes down to exposure. I really do believe that seeing images of the 'other' - whomever she is - is the best way to combat our prejudices.  Jessikams on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088505 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 02:45:08 +0000 Jessikams 2088505@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love that you bring this up. Thank you for not stepping away but instead stepping closer and shining some light, Kari! Kari on "A challenge for 2020: Please join me" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-challenge-for-2020/page/2#post-2088492 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 01:22:46 +0000 Kari 2088492@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just to take it a step further:  <div><div>“9 Ways to Show Up for Your Fat Friends;</div></div><div>Concrete steps to being here for it as an ally” ”Where do you buy your clothes? Are you able to walk into whatever store you’d like, knowing they’ll have your size? My shopping options as a size 24/26 are extremely limited, and for someone just a size up in a US 28? The options are dismal. Feeling cute, put together, or professional can be really hard when nowhere has your size, and the places that do are online only and two or three times more expensive. One way to be an ally is to vote with your wallet. Give your support to stores and brands that are inclusive (see <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.universalstandard.com/">Universal Standard</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.modcloth.com/">Modcloth</a>), or at the very least who don’t <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lululemon-plus-size_n_3675605">actively support fatphobia and stigma</a>. When you see a store <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/a8573201/urban-outfitters-uses-plus-sized-model-campaign/">using a curvy model in their ads, but not carrying any plus sized clothing</a>, let them know that’s not okay. Fat bodies don’t exist to help them make money off things we can’t even buy ourselves. Use your voice to encourage companies that only carry plus sizes online to carry them in their physical stores.” </div> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://medium.com/rachael-writes/9-ways-to-show-up-for-your-fat-friends-b2f55a6dd573">https://medium.com/rachael-wri.....f55a6dd573</a>