Dear Gemma Collins – When you go shopping do you like to go on your own or would you prefer to go with friends? When you do choose to go with friends, do you measure them and make sure that they’re going to be able to enter the shop that you choose to go in? I would hope not! I don’t know many people who choose their friends by the size of their waist, so the fact that a clothing shop lets people in depending on how big they are seems ludicrous to me!
Dear Gemma Collins
I realise that this message might be been tongue-in-cheek but really, is this the type of message we should be sending people?
Just because I am fat that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go shopping with my friends! What if my thin friends and I want to go shopping together, do I ask them to wait outside for me while I browse your rails and see if anything takes my fancy? What if I want their opinion… do I need to tap on the window and get them to sign language their opinion through the glass? Of course not!
I understand that it is not your job to make people feel comfortable or to put together a fashion range that it is inclusive, but you have put yourself up their as a plus size model and so that is what you should be doing. As some one who has worked hard to be in the position of influence you should be telling people that the size of their waist does not matter, that there are so many more important things to worry about than what you look like and that you ABSOLUTELY have the right to enter any shop you so want to, no matter your waist size!!
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
I don't think Gemma Collins is a good spokesperson for plus size women. She allows the 'writers' of TOWIE to make her storylines farcical and mocking of her weight, and she supposedly said recently that she finds her body disgusting.
Of course you never know if she actually said that, or if it's press lies, but to be honest it's probably the ol' celebrity diet special which goes like this. 1. Put on a little more weight than usual. 2. Declare body to be gross (and thus alienating half the female populace.) 3. Go on crash diet and attribute it to an exercise routine. 4. Make video & cash in. 5. Repeat cycle as long as there's money in it.
I don't think she's the right person to front a plus size line when it seems she doesn't really care for being plus sized. She may well be a lovely lady, but she needs some PR advice stat as she gives off very conflicting messages. x x
I want to look into this more now because I find the message really unsettling, joking or not. I know I sometimes feel unwelcome if I go into a particular shop that doesn't carry my size. That doesn't mean I'm not interested in their shoes, accessories, or just perusing their fashions. I want to feel included and welcomed wherever I shop, regardless of size. For her to promote a message of exclusivity when the plus-size community is fighting so hard for inclusiveness seems counter-intuitive. I understand her wanting to create a space that embraces and honors plus-size women, but such a blatant message of exclusivity seems wrong. Thanks for sharing. Definitely piqued my interest.
<3 Liz
http://www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
I feel sorry for her seriously, every day I dislike her more and more x
She is not an appropriate spokesperson for the Plus Size community as she changes her mind about her body every five minutes and the sign she is holding is body shaming and being snarky. I have no desire to want to wear her clothes as I don't want to associate myself with that type of a person x
Hi Debz, I'm not sure if it's appropriate to name any names when commenting on a blog, but there is a certain store that I dread to go in even though I like their shoes and accessories (it's Next, by the way, please delete if needed). It's always worse if I'm not actually shopping for myself and have gone in with a slim friend to help her pick something out. When one of the store assistants spots me they all start to home in, like sharks circling a wounded seal! I try to avoid them through the maze of far too narrow spaces between the clothes racks, but inevitably I get cornered. I am then treated to a look of utter disgust and the question "Can I help you?". The look on their face finishes the question for them – "to find the exit?". When I politely say "No thank you, I'm just browsing" they back off a little way and watch me like a hawk, ready to call security at the earliest sign that I may touch one of their garments with my pudgy, greasy, sweaty fingers. I'm sure we are all aware of the fairground rides that have a sign with an arrow pointing to a certain height saying 'If you're under this height you can't go on.' Well I feel like some shops have an invisible barrier at the door that says 'if you're wider than this you can't come in'; although as I've already mentioned, the width between the clothes rails is a good indication of the size of shoppers they expect to enter the store.