may recap
what I wrote, wore and bought this month (+ fashion news)
Before we get into the recap, first up is a wardrobe update.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve bought a lot of clothes. On sale, custom-made, or thrifted.
And so my wardrobe has crept up to over 200+ items.
Living in a small apartment, this isn’t ideal.
And full honesty, I’m still buying clothes.
I’m not on a no-buy. I’m altering what I own. I’m analysing what I’ve got. I’m trying to buy with intention (I still slip up).
But I’ve been left with a pile of beautiful clothes that I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do with.
Mercari? My Japanese isn’t good enough.
Ebay? I have to sign up via Japan, and I don’t have the right bank stuff to get it done.
Local resellers? They don’t know about these particular independent, inclusive, slow fashion, and it breaks my heart to think these clothes could end up in the recycling bin.
Clothing swap? It was awful enough taking my clothes to a friend’s regular clothing swap events, where I was the only fat person. A community-run clothing swap that doesn’t specifically mention being inclusive???? Umm idk.
Run my own plus-size clothing swap? Rent a room by the hour? Or give strangers my address? Make a social media campaign to gain traction? I’ve actually been asking almost every fat person in Tokyo I know, and here’s the thing — we are not a monolith. Fashion can be an incredibly sensitive topic, and most people I’ve met here are not comfortable enough to engage in a clothing swap (nor have the bandwidth or interest to deal with sorting their wardrobe).
Flea market stall? Again, pay the cost and labour (set up, etc.) for no guaranteed returns and no specific plus-size market. And oh yeah, in Japanese!!
Lucky Sweater? This was where I was leaning towards, but last time I checked, there were 2 listings within Asia, both a size medium.
I’ve been feeling crummy about being bad at this part of sustainable fashion. Coupled with shame around ADHD and inability to get shit done, this has been taking up a lot of brain space. Like why can’t I just sort it out???
Then, someone mentioned a very cool, inclusive consignment shop in Melbourne.
So I’m sending them a proposal asking if I can send my LOVELY, MOSTLY UNWORN clothes via surface mail (the cheapest shipping option), and if they could send me cash monies to my Aussie bank account if they accept my clothes??
PLEASE HOPE FOR ME!
How do you deal with clothes that haven’t worked out? How has May been for you?
Everlane being bought out by Shein — To me, this really confirms that there is no real working ethical alternative to fashion right now. The only strategy we’ve been focusing on is limiting or shifting our consumerism, which is a losing battle if companies are lying about their social responsibility claims. I know that consumers who were still searching for an elusive element of quality in mainstream fashion will lose out. But for plus-size customers? The nice stuff was never in stock in the extended sizes anyway.
11 Honoré is back! — Luxury style is so rare for plus-size fashion. 11 Honoré disappeared for a while but recently came out with a capsule collection. Although I’d love a different fabrication, design-wise, my favourite piece is this crescent moon jacket (up to US 28)
So this study came out back in March about how natural fibres don’t automatically biodegrade. This was also covered in Vogue Business by Sophie Benson. I think it’s interesting — NOT because I believe that oh, if natural fibres don’t biodegrade, then why not use plastic? But I tend to prioritise natural fibres while shopping. Often, I am not aware of the amount of processing that textiles go through before they get to us in the finished garment. Even cotton and linen. It reinforces how mass production, consumption, and waste are not necessarily mitigated by switching to natural fibres.
Slow independent fashion brands that have left us (or are going soon) — Loud Bodies (fully inclusive, but have stopped taking orders) and Pyne and Smith (up to 46” waist, few items left).
Looking back at May’s wardrobe goals + check in — I did end up wearing my spring/early summer pieces! I didn’t end up creating a long list of alterations. I thought about what I wanted to wear in the summer and needed adjustments based on immediacy.
Refusing to be a spare boy at my own chips — I know that overexplaining the title kind of takes away the niche charm, but anyway. To me, it meant why make myself the third wheel in my own relationship to fashion? This is a series of micro-essays exploring classism, a sense of belonging in fashion, celebrity worship, passive consumption of content, fashion exclusion, and redefining inspiration and luxury.
Launched my postcard club and sent one out over the weekend!
Made a list of sheer layers available in plus size. I don’t see playing with opacity, layering, and texture as a short-lived trend. This kind of round-up is exactly what I want for our fat community. Pure luxury (without the price tag attached to certain brands).
This month, I don’t have many outfit photos.
I guess I left the house a lot less than I remembered. And forgot to snap a couple of photos while in errand mode!1
Repeat of a cute, comfortable outfit for a friend date (wore the same thing last month — thrifted Punyus skirt, Variety House turtleneck). I’ve been trying to put myself out there and meet more new people. Why does making friends sound and feel so uncomfortable in your mid 30s? Acquantainces are fine, I’m talking friends.
Thrifted skirt, Uniqlo men’s tee in XL. Went out with my husband to see a movie. It was Golden Week, so we ended up going on a festival day, which meant live music and food trucks. At first, it was fun, but it got overstimulating fast (crowds), so it was nice to go home. But I was so excited to wear these new shoes. Comfort-wise, they’re about a 5/6 (when a proper wide-fit cushioned trainer is a 10).
I loved this thrifted errand outfit. Blue and brown are so good, especially with a Gaji bag. I was bringing home jhol momos, which I speed-rushed to finish before my Japanese class.
I was SO excited to wear this outfit (all thrifted), and it fell flat. It was for an irl feminist bookclub meetup. And in my head, this outfit was a dream. But my chub rub shorts started bagging out, and I got self-conscious that they were peeking from underneath the skirt. I also really wanted to tuck in the top, but the curved hem and split sides did not sit well. The skirt is a thrifted handmade item, and the try-on at home was very different from wearing it out. I’m going to give it another go, though! Maybe skip the shorts and go all-in with the anti-chafing balm?
This was actually my backup outfit (dress from a boutique in Brisbane) for the bookclub and ended up wearing it to the psych clinic. Do I look well-adjusted? I feel like this dress gives off mentally well vibes, except one of my buttons was undone for most of the time I was out. I wonder if it ruined the mentally well effect??
Another errand outfit, throwing on whatever I had lying around! (Thrifted except for the same brown Uniqlo tee from the first outfit).
Pottery studio, then I picked up some sewing supplies as I’m back to classes this week! (again, all thrifted). Plus, a sneak peek at what I made at the pottery studio recently.
The pinnacle of this month’s outfits was this sporty fit. Let’s begin the overshare. I wore men’s boxer briefs instead of my usual chub rub shorts because I had my period, and I thought they’d work well as a protective barrier. Boxer briefs slipped right up. Then my blue shorts rolled up so high while sitting and struggling to get on my skates that my inner thigh rolls were on display. I was self-conscious for nought five seconds, before remembering that I’m not responsible for how other people perceive my body. Cause I fucking rocked this outfit.
I went to sewing class this morning and did a monochromatic blue look, and got to wear these new sheer socks!
Three shirts from the imperfect/rejected rack in a random donki, 100% cotton in colours I liked in lilac, raspberry pink, and light blue. Despite the discount, I didn’t notice any defects, and I think they work well for gym, and casual errand outfits.
Two tops from Uniqlo. I feel a pang of guilt for this purchase. They were on sale, and I loved the colour and boxy cut. Honestly, I really wanted this red top to pair with these shorts. But the fabrication (rayon-nylon blend) is definitely not airy enough for mid to late summer. Although it holds its shape well.
Two skirts from Adrift Clothing (up to 46” waist, but some of the garments run larger). I was on the hunt for a sheer skirt, but found a powder blue linen one from Adrift on deep discount. (And then I bought the red one too…)
Swimwear via Land’s End, up to US 26. Okay, so my current swimmers are fine when I put them on, but they shift a lot on my body after any kind of movement. I do want to go to the beach later this summer, and I’ve been casually scrolling through options. Recently been making firmer plans with friends for the beach, and my anxiety flared up because I want to feel comfortable. Land’s End was having a sale, and they ship to Japan. I ordered a one piece, board-shorts, a swimming skirt, and a cropped bikini top (half tankini?), so I am holding out hope one of these combinations will work.
What did you buy in May?
Period undies via Period Aisle (they had a 50% off deal). The main thing that held me off was that I felt like this month I’d already bought a lot.
Dotty cotton pants, but my measurements were the absolute maximum stretched waist, and they didn’t feel worth it. What happens if I have a meal? I want to trust that my clothes can manage slight fluctuations.
Anything you almost purchased in May? What was your reason for holding off?
As always, in gratitude,
Sushmita
I figured it out! So the days I went to the training sessions at the gym, I often had class and ended up wearing my gym clothes (loose-fitting men’s tees and stretchy pants), so I didn’t have to change twice. And on those days, I didn’t take photos!!
What are those cute silver strappy sneakers??
As someone who HAS to wear shorts under skirts and dresses (and honestly even with pants?? idk it’s just started to feel the most comfortable to me), I find it ideal to actually have a synthetic (actual bike shorts that I normally use for exercise) or a blend (poly-cotton). And they have to fit tight like bike shorts too!