Cassandra We hope you enjoyed meeting TCFStyle Squad member, Angela of 24 Plus Style last week! Today, we are so excited to bring you a chic style blogger, who happens to be on the better side of 40, Marcy of Fearlessly Just Me!!! Marcy has been blogging for, get this, 17 years, and she brings her skills and experience as a freelance writer and fashion industry veteran to her blog. Through her blog, Marcy helps women over a size 24 to find and fit amazing fashion. In an industry that still discriminates heavily against women over a size 24, Marcy offers tons of fit feedback, explains what brands (and styles) run small or big, and helps her readers find and explore new places to shop. Her body positive attitude and love of fashion make Marcy a must-follow. So if you don’t already know Marcy, learn more about this fearless fashionista today! She is a plus size blogger YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!
Meet Marcy of Fearlessly Just Me!!
Blog: www.FearlesslyJustMe.net
Age: Mid-40s
Height: 5’7″
Location: New York, NY
How long have you been blogging? Overall since 2000, but my current blog has been up since 2009.
What or who inspired you to become a fashion blogger? What led you to it?
Fashion has been a huge part of my self-love journey so that progression led me to talk more to fashion and what I was wearing. Now I have evolved into a blogger that not only talks about what I love to wear but educating my readers on fit and accessibility to those women over a size 22. Trying new styles and opening my mind to wearing things outside of my comfort zone has strengthened my confidence and self-love where I feel free when I wear something I love. Blogging is a way for me to share that with others, hoping to inspire them to do the same.
Do you blog full-time, for fun, as a hobby? Share your evolution!
I currently blog on my personal blog part-time because I am a freelancer with various gigs going on at the same time. I’m the Blog Editor for PLUS Model Magazine and write for various websites as well as work for Gwynnie Bee as a First Fit Model and Reviewer. I also do consulting and create content for various businesses. Blogging is fun but this is my career that I take very seriously as I am inspiring my readers to live their best lives.
What is your favorite asset? Your legs, arms, waist? How do you play that up?
Definitely my waist. I love to wear styles that cinch in my waist and show it off. I have become obsessed with belts lately. I also love wearing fit and flare dresses and peplum tops. Next up are corsets, which are making a comeback.
What are the challenges, if any, you face regarding being plus size?
As a size 26/28, my struggle is very different than my smaller plus sisters. Once you pass a size 24, it’s tough to even shop in plus size stores as many brands stop at a size 24. Add to that how inconsistent sizing is across the board and I’m sure you can imagine how challenging it is for me to express myself via fashion. The companies who do offer my size sometimes offer matronly styles and that is so not me.
Many straight size stores offer up to a size 16 and 18 (Gap goes up to a 20) so the smaller plus girls can shop in those stores too! I don’t have that luxury. I want to dress like my size-18 sisters and my size-12 sisters. Fashion should be accessible to all. It’s as if the plus size fashion industry is telling me I am not worthy of fashion because I am above a size 24. And it makes me wonder where I fit in within the plus size fashion industry, especially since I am also plus size. Am I not good enough? I shouldn’t have to lose weight to be able to dress fly. I should be able to dress how I want right now.
What’s your favorite thing about being plus size?
My curves! My booty, my wide hips, my bust, my jiggle, my fluffiness. My youngest niece Angel always tells me I am fluffy and she loves to hug me and cuddle. I love how I fill out a pair of jeans or how I look in a body con dress. It’s an empowering feeling to love all of you, embrace your large body and be confident. I feel so powerful.
What’s your favorite thing about being a blogger?
I love being able to speak my truth and have my voice heard through my blog. It’s been an amazing journey connecting with women who get the struggle and are inspired by my words and story. I also admit I am a huge fashion geek and being a blogger has offered me opportunities to do things and be at places that I never dreamed I could be. I’ve gotten the chance to meet some of my favorite designers in person and have been able to see fashion being created firsthand. I have been incredibly blessed in the last 8 years I have been a fashion lifestyle blogger.
Who/what are your favorite designers/brands?
I absolutely love City Chic, Universal Standard, Courtney Noelle, Rachel Roy, Melissa Masse, Jill Alexander Designs, Cherry Velvet and Retrolicious. City Chic and Rachel Roy only go up to a size 24 and 3X but I can fit into those sizes on a few pieces. Same with Melissa Masse and Jill Alexander. I also shop at Lane Bryant for their designer collabs and wide width shoes as well as Catherine’s for their Right Fit jeans, which are amazing. I have been obsessed with this new boutique that just opened up in Brooklyn called plus BKLYN that offers up to a size 6X. It’s great to be able to shop in a boutique that carries my size and is so body positive.
Describe your personal style.
I always say my style is Audrey Hepburn meets 80’s hip hop meets sparkle. I grew up in the 80’s and was very into streetwear like ripped jeans, Adidas and hoodies but always added a feminine twist to it in the form of retro details or something Audrey-like, such as a string of pearls or a french twist in my hair. I love color, prints, sequin, metallics, denim, leather, lace, bomber jackets, retro sneakers and hoop earrings. I’m obsessed with graphic tees and little details in clothing that stand out. I want to show the world that style has no size or age. Wear what you love and it shows.
Which bloggers inspire you? Plus or straight size! Any bloggers currently on your radar?
Lyn Slater of Accidental Icon (@iconaccidental)
Sheena of I Am She Global (@iamsheglobal)
Mo Handahu of Lion Hunter (@misslionhunter)
Meshel of The Muffin Queen’s Closet (@the_muffin_queens_closet)
Thamarr of Musings of a Curvy Lady (@musingsofacurvylady)
Dan of The Big Sartorialist (@thebigsartorialist)
Bianca of Bianca from Brooklyn (@biancafrombrooklyn)
Veronica of Vero I Am (@veroiam_)
Elaine of Square Pearls (@squarepearls)
Syed of The Prep Guy (@theprepguy)
Jorgie of Curves and Eyeliner (@curvesandeyeliner)
Liz of With Wonder and Whimsy (@withwonderandwhimsy)
Gaelle of GaellePrudencio.com (@gaelleprudencio)
What do you think about where plus size fashion is today versus a few years back?
It has evolved leaps and bounds. I grew up during a time where you had two fashion choices: either dress like my grandma or shop the men’s dept. I chose the latter. We only had Lane Bryant back then and it was for the older customer. Avenue didn’t emerge until the late 80’s and their styles were very matronly in the beginning, but I was able to get jeans, tees, underwear and bras from them so it was an improvement.
Back then, I was a size 14/16 teen and the struggle was real! I used to steal my dad’s jeans, take a razor blade to them to distress them and also would take men’s tees, cut the necks off and shorten the sleeves. I also owned a Bedazzler, which to this day, I still think is the best invention ever made for us non-sewing fashionistas. So when I hear a millennial complain about the lack of plus size fashion, I have to laugh at them and shake my head. We still have a ways to go but it has come a long way. They have no idea.
What do you think or hear from readers, is one of the biggest myths about plus size fashion?
That we all want to wear baggy clothes and cover up our bodies. Sometimes I see the detail placements on some styles and have to scratch my head. I don’t want a big bow over my belly area for coverage and I certainly don’t want to wear a shapeless baggy style to cover my curves. Many of us love color and prints and we love how our clothing fits us. I know I’m not trying to cover up.
Are you working on anything or have anything to share? Anything else you want The Curvy Fashionista’s readers to know?
I’m going to be blogging more about traveling as I have traveled the world at a size 26/28, most of the time by myself and will continue to travel even more in 2018 (First stop: Australia!). I also will be hosting a breakout session in October at the DREAM BIG CurvyGirl Rooftop Fashion & Beauty Conference in Chicago, talking to how to build confidence in your life at any size and age. I plan to take my workshop on the road in 2018, to various cities across the US. I have some other exciting things planned for the end of 2017 into 2018 that I can’t share yet but will soon!
Lastly, what does Curvy.Confident.Chic mean to you?
It means loving all of you, knowing your beauty and worth, and reveling in that. There’s only one you in the world and that’s an amazing thing. We are all worthy of fashion, style and loving ourselves as we are. It means walking with our heads up high, feeling empowered by the jiggle of our hips, the sway of our arms and looking at our reflection in a passing window and saying to ourselves, damn, I look good!
Check out Marcy’s blog at www.FearesslyJustMe.net!!!
Do you dig her style? Which look is your fave? Let’s talk about it below!!
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