Although not a very active participant in the movement for Fat Acceptance, I do support the majority of their goals and aims. We need more people to make the world realise that being yourself, at ANY size is what counts, not what we see in the media and in magazines. Magazines claim they publish what the readers want, but the magazines are also those people who perpetuate and advertise the world view. If you do not believe in the stereotypes, then show you don't, or do not wax poetic about society. The world does not need to be under size six, only those whose bodies will not allow them to be otherwise. Just as my body will never allow me to go under, probably a size 14/16.

Being an Architecture student, and interested in all facets of design and self expression, I would one day be interested in trying my hand at clothing design. Whether or not I ever lose my weight, I think there is a greater need for fashionable and decently affordable clothes in a better size range.... Someone my size, being just out of the range for tailored clothes in the larger size fashion outlets, SHOULD be able to find a suit, tailored up to a size 38. There is no reason why I should have to walk around in t-shirts and tights all the time because I cannot find oversized size 26's in nice shirts and blouses. I find it ironic that manufacturers decide that because the "regular" clothing stores that sell sizes under a 14, deem that a slim or tight fit is in that the rest of us should wear it absured. There are some things you can do it with and others which you cannot. I fear too many *large persons* clothing stores assume that we are all either petite or regular, they forget those who are a little on the tall side. Too many blouses and jackets I find are not long enough for me. it is much easier to hem a garment up then it is to add to a garment if it is too short.

Fashion is not only the colour and cut of the season, but also the body type. Every fashion will not suit every shape, and seeing as there are far more shapes out there then are portrayed on runways, I think society and manufacturers on the whole have lost touch with reality in regards to what a normal human being can wear.The other things that upset me are looking at these plus size catalogues. Claiming that a size 14/16 is a plus size is ridiculous. The average Western Woman falls into that category. And I think that the models in today's catalogues, although very attractive and perhaps with a rounded tummy are nice to see, they do not reflect the people trying to buy the clothes. I think a broader mix of sizes are needed in catalogues. I want to see someone who is a size 32 modelling the size 32 clothing, i want to see how it hangs and looks on those bodies, without seing on of those models and thinking to myslef, well, it will never look good on me.

Rant over.