I understand where this comment is coming from, and I know it can be frustrating to see someone you wouldn't ID as fat co-opting the word, but i am definitely fat. i am a size 16/18. my BMI is 31. i get street harassed for my size and i get doctors trying to treat my fatness instead of my illness. in a sense i am "average" because 14 is the average here in the US. thank you for saying i am beautiful but that's not mutually exclusive of being fat.

"'it's a pain in the@ss, and plenty of 'normal' sized people have troubles too. You can't find clothes because your torso is longer than 'normal', your waist smaller, you can't wear poly in the heat, the available colors make you look like you're a terminal hepatits patient, and so on. "

This is definitely true, but I think these are all individual things and not part of an enforcement of an ideal the way plus size clothing marketing is– i.e., cover up as much of the body as possible if it's not a boob.

"Have you read "Truth and Beauty" by Ann Patchett? It's about her relationship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy, who's face was pretty non-standard due to treatment for cancer as a child. In New York she could get laid every single day, and was constantly bombarded with all type of fascinating proposals for how she could spend her time. However, during a stay in Scotland, she was ostracized and harassed for her looks. "

I haven't read it! I got some street harassment that I actually could not understand in Scotland. It was troubling to be yelled at but have no idea what the words were.

"And turning off the tube does wonders"

I think I have worse experiences with people in real life than media in general, actually, but one is a result of the other.

"Thank you so much for introducing me to the Aorta line and your fabulous octopus!!!! "

Thank you for stopping by!

thank you!

"I also wonder why other people put so much effort into justifying my body size to me, as if they were somehow personally invested in my fatness. I don't talk like I hate my body – mainly because I don't – so what gives? "

I get this a lot, as well as a lot of winks and nods in comparison to my very thin coworker. Like customers saying to me, "Oh, we wish we looked like her, DON'T WE?" No! I don't! Even though she is very beautiful. Just leave both of our looks out of it!

"I think that people are just really thrown by those who are at peace with their bodies, because most people aren't. Body tyranny has taught us all that there's only one acceptable body and no one actually meets that. "

I definitely think that's astute. Diet talk is part of creating sisterhood with other women and by not participating in it you alienate yourself from a lot of women.

Thank you so much for your comment! It would be awesome if I could just buy everything from Forever21 or Modcloth, I agree, but I also like the challenge of it. It's taught me a lot.

"P.S. "Dewy-eyed Disney bride" is exactly how I think of Alison Brie. Every time I hear that song I imagine it as the twisted love song of Jeff Winger and Annie Edison."

HAHA YES.

I have seen Catherine's! Definitely not my favorite. My favorite aunt is nearing 60 and thin as a rail and always wears some combination of little black dress, leggings, fabulous heels, and a statement piece of jewelry. I think that's how I'll want to dress as I age. I think having the right accessories makes all the difference, if you can find your favorite little dress. That seems to be the tough part, though, and I'm sorry. Have you seen EShakti (http://www.eshakti.com/default.aspx)? They make dresses to order with a lot of cute Anthropologie-like styles.

thank you very much!

And there's a lot of media-brainwashed, thoughtless, lazy or harried people out there who do not think before they speak. Like when it comes out that i've had severe asthma requiring periodic hospitalization for decades and people ask if i've tried blue green algae. Persistently. My husband is quite thin but around 5'4" and people (usually staff at mobbed events) sometimes mistake him for a woman. Instead of just apologizing, you'd be amazed at the people who twist themselves in knots trying to justify themselves.

Happily media-concocted stereotypes aren't true, and many people realize this. Just because 'the media' doesn't want to present Adele as sexy doesn't mean she isn't, or that there aren't millions of people who think that she is. The same with anyone else, including you.

I find that these things vary incredibly according to different subcultures and geography. Here in Berkeley plenty of boys and even more girls would be banging down your door to crown you 'Miss Thang". Have you read "Truth and Beauty" by Ann Patchett? It's about her relationship with fellow writer Lucy Grealy, who's face was pretty non-standard due to treatment for cancer as a child. In New York she could get laid every single day, and was constantly bombarded with all type of fascinating proposals for how she could spend her time. However, during a stay in Scotland, she was ostracized and harassed for her looks.

In my experience, as you get older people get less stupid about this topic (i'm 50). And turning off the tube does wonders 🙂 Thank you so much for introducing me to the Aorta line and your fabulous octopus!!!! steph