Comments on: Fat and Fabulous

By: a4309891

a4309891 — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:19:45 +0000

I’ve said that least 4309891 times. The problem this like that is they are just too compilcated for the average bird, if you know what I mean

By: Luna Towell

Luna Towell — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 10:50:41 +0000

There may be noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain good factors in features also.

By: Web Design Boston

Web Design Boston — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:21:15 +0000

I appreciate the insightful post. Thanks.

By: Erica

Erica — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:27:57 +0000

Thank you for this great article.

Some info for the fat-phobic to chew on:

There are thin men and women who have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and a host of other health problems popularly ascribed as related to being overweight. I know many “overweight” people who are healthier into their 70s, 80s, even 90s than their slimmer friends and family members. I wear a size 16, but in my 50s can hike or bike all day, while some of my size 6 and under friends (my age and younger) find it tiring to walk more than a couple of blocks. The concept of what is overweight is ridiculous anyhow, with many people thinking any women who wears size 8 or larger is obese.

Fat-phobia is simply one of this era’s culturally and even medically sanctioned blind spots, our version of those scenes in Mad Men where physicians smoke while examining patients.

By: Mezeriah Pyatt

Mezeriah Pyatt — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:54:34 +0000

I just love the concept but where are you located? We full figured women love being sexy also. Thankyou for giving our wardrobe class.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:44:03 +0000

Wow! You are so fantastic! You look great, your store is wonderful and I loved the slideshow. You are a beautiful, smart, clever, successful woman, Deb. All the best to you.
love, Kate,

By: Suburban Sweetheart

Suburban Sweetheart — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:21:57 +0000

Kudos to Deb for this amazing, much-needed (& philanthropic!) store – but more importantly, for challenging societal views of size & beauty & value.

By: Cattie

Cattie — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:17:43 +0000

Thank you so much for this feature. You’ve given me one more reason to move to New York. I’m 21, 5’7″ and 255 lbs. I’ve been overweight for as long as I can remember, and I’ve spent most if not all of that time hating my body and even half-seriously contemplating suicide because I didn’t want to be *so ugly* anymore. Recently I’ve been browsing pro-ana websites for diet tips, and the other day after a particularly discouraging time in the dressing room while shopping for clothes, I practiced c&s (google it) for the first time. Yeah. Not good.

Then I found this article. This clothing shop needs a website with buy-online capabilities, or a store in every city. As an overweight girl, I want to lose weight, yes, because I want to be healthier and because of my personal aesthetic. But I need clothes to wear in the meantime, on the journey to a smaller me. Clothes that don’t make me feel worse than I already feel about my body. To the people who say things like, “popular companies introducing plus-size lines will encourage overweight girls to stay fat” – would you rather I walk around naked? Because I’m so not comfortable with that.

Thanks, Deb, for being awesome. Now just open a shop in Kansas City so I can hug you in person.

By: marta

marta — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:32:10 +0000

To, Marti, the physician: do your homework, read serious medical literature and be careful when you extract conclusions from your observations.
Ms. Malkin, can be fabulous, but she’s on the way to metabolic syndrome.
Diabetes, varicose veins, cardiovascular disease, premature death, higher risk of breast cancer and Alzheimer disease are on her way. Probably her sexual life is limited by her volume.
To Ms. Malkin: love yourself and do exercise one hour every day. Forget about being fabulous, sexy or fashionable. Try to be healthy.
Skinny isn’t good, but your fat is killing you silently.

By: wendyway

wendyway — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:42:46 +0000

Just love this piece about Deb, a fierce, fab fat fashionista. I see that Majorie has NOT written a story about health and obesity, but about style and self-esteem – too bad that others missed that. I celebrate Deb’s contribution to making women of all sizes and choices feel confident and cool.

By: Toni

Toni — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:34:49 +0000

“thearapy dealing with food addiction”

nicola — Assume much?

Not all fat people are addicted to food. I’m not even sure I really know what that term means, although “addicted” is a pretty popular lay diagnosis these days that can be attached to anything. Do you mean that I consume a substance that is sometimes pleasurable even though it’s bad for me physically? And that I’d be very uncomfortable (at least) if I went without it for any length of time? Then, yeah, I’m addicted to food. In that case, so are you.

By: sharon teig

sharon teig — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:06:47 +0000

fighting fat for over 40 years, i’ve learned that it is all relative to how you see yourself. I’m not sure why so many are so fat, over two hundred is a lot to carry around, on any frame. at 66 I can only say, hurray for the choices in clothing now available, but have to emphasize that excess poundage affects long-term health and the physical ability to be in the world.

By: Lori Lamb

Lori Lamb — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:47:18 +0000

I just wish that I was in New York to apply as a salesperson! Right on! Keep up the good work!

By: Sherry G

Sherry G — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:12:02 +0000

Being who you are is more important than what you look like. Thin may be in, but fat’s where it at now a days. You go girl!!! Be beautiful in whatever skin you’re in!!

By: Karen

Karen — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:50:32 +0000

The article doesn’t say–where are you? Keep up the positive work; nothing to be gained in being negative! (pardon the pun)

By: Amy K.

Amy K. — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:43:30 +0000

What a cool story and cool resource for plus-sized women. And a civilized discussion in the comments to boot — nice going, Tablet Magazine!

By: Lisa Maxwell

Lisa Maxwell — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:24:16 +0000

Im very proud of you sis!!

By: Meg

Meg — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:30:47 +0000

All I can say is when will Deb be opening a store in London ?

By: Golda Poretsky, H.H.C.

Golda Poretsky, H.H.C. — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:45:02 +0000

Great piece on such a great woman! Deb really has created an amazing hub for plus sized women, particularly plus sized women who love awesome clothes. It’s such a joy to go there!

Since I’m the person linked to above who does the wellness workshops at Re/Dress, I will say that health is really possible at any size, and that dieting is often antithetical to health. I’m really thrilled to see the other commenters here who know whereof I speak!

Kudos to Deb and Tablet!

By: Rivster

Rivster — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:16:46 +0000

One of my kids recently looked at my post-baby belly (and when I say “post-baby,” you should realize that the baby is THREE)and wondered if it bothered me that I am fat. I explained how my belly is a constant reminder of the life-giving power that my body has.

Now, in all reality, I would certainly be happy if I had a slightly smaller reminder. But that is more because I really would be healthier with a lower BMI. There is NO WAY I would ever say anything disparaging about my body, weight, etc. in front of my kids.

Producing cute clothing for larger sizes will certainly not be what causes someone to be obese. It can, however, encourage positive body-images.

By: Rachel Mishory

Rachel Mishory — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:43:20 +0000

Loving ourselves at any size is so important-because if we don’t love ourselves when we are fat, or ill or whatever is a guarantee that we will have trouble loving ourselves when we achieve a transformation. I also am troubled by the celebration of an unhealthy lifestyle. I agree with the previous post.

By: marjorie

marjorie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:15:40 +0000

great comment, marti! thanks.

the thing that gets me loopy is the argument (recently espoused when Forever 21 announced that it was adding a plus size line, for instance) that cute clothes shouldn’t be available for fat teenagers because this encourages obesity. UHHHH.

By: Marti

Marti — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:42:38 +0000

As a physician, I have read and examined an extensive amount of research on obesity. So many of the studies are flawed in that they do not take into account “yo-yo dieting”, gender differences, height extremes and other important issues. I always emphasize healthy eating and activity. Not everyone is supposed to be thin. What is more important is taking care of ourselves. Genetics, enviroment, disability, povery, and a hostful of other factors all play a part in our habitus. Instead of finding fault and discriminating, imagine a world where we simple accept our differences and try to live in harmony instead of judgement and acrimony. As a woman of substance I lead a healthy life and am happy too! Cudos to Malkin.

By: Hadd-Jud

Hadd-Jud — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:01:46 +0000

I fail to understand why someone feels compelled to defend their weight. If being heavy set makes one feel good. More power to them. Weight is subject and not for others to pass judgement.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:01:22 +0000

I don’t think we should see these issues in terms of an either/or dichotomy, but as a spectrum. I know a woman who chain smokes because she is convinced it keeps her slim, and therefore “healthy” and “attractive.” I know more than one woman who would be considered “overweight” or “obese” by the usual BMI standards who are actually strong, fit, and healthy: they “eat right,” exercise,and lead zestful, active lives. The assumption that a larger person is automatically unhealthy is in itself unhealthy, in that it can lead people to look at the wrong aspects of wellness. The point is that we need a more nuanced understanding of what it means to be healthy, and a more expansive (pun intented) conception of what bodies “should” look like. Say

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:42:50 +0000

Nicola,

There’s no lack of materials on “healthy foods” and strategies for losing weight. But your remark: “instead of feeling good …” implies that feeling bad about being fat is somehow helpful. Believe me, it’s not and makes it much harder to do anything positive. Why worry about living longer if I’m miserable?

By: nicola

nicola — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:33:13 +0000

deb looks young and healthy – however being overweight produces serious health problems when one gets older – ask any doctor. so if you want to live a long and aktive life being overweight is not good for you. you don´t have to be thin but being fat cuts down your life expectancy. so lose that extra weight while you are still young – the older you get the more difficult it will become !

if you do not encourage smoking why encourage being fat ? instead of feeling good about schlepping about lots of extra weight and getting heart problems and/or diabiets they should be more invisted in teaching people about healthy foods and thearapy dealing with food addiction.