A little about me

Short version: my name is Colleen, I'm 28 and I live in Chicago. Hi, it's nice to meet you.

Longer version: I guess I could tell you that I have a degree in English and my minor was Women's Studies. However, I've learned that once you're out of college, no one really cares what you majored in. I've been blogging for a long time, mostly just about my day to day life. This is the first topical blog that I've stuck with. I also have a personal blog right over here.

I have always been fat, or at least chubby. But I've always identified myself as fat, with the help of peers and medical professionals. I think there's a point in your life where you can either accept who you are and where you're going or you can fight it. I've decided to accept that I'm fat, I've always been fat, and chances are that I'll always be fat. This doesn't make me a bad person, it just is what it is and I am who I am.

I talk a lot about self acceptance and loving who you are but deep down, we all have insecurities. Writing here has helped me work through a lot of that. I believe that everyone, regardless of size or anything else, deserves to be treated fairly, with compassion, and with respect. Because of that, I've learned to treat myself with the same respect I'd expect for other people. It's only fair.

I've always loved clothes but I learned that clothes didn't always love me back, or at least the people who make clothes. I've worn a lot of crazy stuff in my time, mostly because I wanted to have my own style but I didn't have many options.

A lot of people think that fashion is superficial and shallow. I'd argue that it's just the opposite. What we wear can be a reflection of who we are and when there are no real options, it's hard to feel accepted in the most basic of ways. If retailers are unwilling to provide us with the simplest of needs, it's hard to feel like a respected and valued consumer.

Fat people don't have as many clothing options as thinner people but the options are out there. It's a small battle in the fight for size acceptance, but shopping is what I know about and enjoy, so it's what I write about. Deciding where to spend your money can make a very big statement about who you support and what you believe in. Spending your money wisely can be a small step towards claiming your space. We don't have to settle for clothes we don't like just because we're fat.

Deep down, under the politics and the anger and the injustice, I'm just a woman who likes clothes and that's mostly what this blog is about.