Jackson Free Press

There is only one thing I hate shopping for:jeans. It seems that The Gap is the only place that caters to my body type. I have curves. I have a tiny waist with pin-up hips and I am only 5' 2". I really don't like having to pay $70 to $80 bucks for a pair of jeans either. It's the only thing besides shoes I will spend more money on.

Clothing is not made for a typically sized person. There is a petite section in most department stores but the styles usually consist of powder blue polyester and matronly, mother-of-the-bride type dresses. The juniors section rarely has pants that could fit me withought paying extra for tailoring. Are all 16 year olds becoming Amazon women? I don't think so.

I have read that only 9% of American women fit the model insustry's standard of the perfect body type. So why are designers only designing for 9% of the country? That makes absolutely no sense. How are they even staying in business? I can only think of about 3 stores that have petite pants that I can actually afford. This must be the reason I see so many high school girls with jeans that are so long that the bottoms cover half their feet and their tattered remains are discolored from dragging the ground and getting sandwiched between their heels and their flip-flops.

One advantage I do have is the ever so popular trend of the tunic style shirt. I can usually wear them as dresses. They are everywhere right now and very affordable in most stores so I have a gazillion of them. They are perfect for keeping cool in Mississippi heat. Some 50's style clothing is regaining popularity and I have a body made for those waist-cinching tailored knee-length style dresses and really short shorts so I definitely use it to my advantage. (See Mother's Day Jackson Free Press cover, yes that's me as a hot-mama pin-up girl).

Previous Comments

ID

113296

Comment

I'm 5'3", so I understand the issue with pants that swallow your feet or necklines that plunge when you didn't want them to. I'm pear shaped, so that complicates matters further. I hate trying on a cute dress that fits great on top and is too tight on the bottom, or fits great on the bottom and is hanging off of me on top. Hopefully one day I can afford a tailor. Safety pins can only help so much.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-29T07:37:00-06:00

ID

113297

Comment

((((Some people might need a great photographer and make-up artist, who can make anyone look great, to make me them over so they can post a "hot mama" cover,' and some of us dont need the elaborate props to be a "hot mama" .)))) Actually, Styrofoamboots, I was the makeup artist for the cover, not a professional one, and there were no camera tricks or airbrushing or touch-ups of any kind...I would never allow that. And it's not a matter of needing "elaborate props", it's just fun. It's definietly not my daily attire. I very much agree with you about everyone having a distinct beauty. Although I do have a passion for very high heels, I do own a couple pairs of sandals and even a pair of sneakers. You are absolutely right that we should embrace who we are regardless of fashion, but the point I was trying to make is that that is exactly what the fashion industry is NOT doing. They are not helping us embrace our own distinct beauty if they mainly create clothes for a certain type of person. It doesn't really have anything to do with what "makes us look hot", it has a lot more to do with wanting to have clothes that fit. I don't think wanting clothing that fits takes away from embracing my own beauty through my personality, wether it's a trendy tunic or a Sex Pistols t-shirt..I just want the darn thing to fit.

Author

caroline

Date

2007-07-03T07:28:30-06:00

ID

113298

Comment

Caroline, were you at the book signing? I thought I recognized you but I didn't get a chance to introduce myself.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-03T17:47:11-06:00

ID

113299

Comment

No...wasn't me..I have been told I have a twin

Author

caroline

Date

2007-07-08T09:29:26-06:00

ID

113300

Comment

Oh, okay. Maybe some other time.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-07-08T09:32:51-06:00