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Dear Fashion

Shopping is a delight to most women I know, except my sister who I can see rolling her eyes this moment at the very mention of the term. I am no exception, for reasons beyond boredom. What is therapy to people is more like OMG I need to find some fabric to cover my modesty to me!

This post is the Fat girl's note to fashion brands!

Dear Fashion,
I know I am not perfect, I know I have flabby arms, a flabby belly, flabby thighs and flabby everything! I know you like to hang out with the more fun type of girls, the ones who fit into you like you were meant to be! I know to you - sizes from L onward are like the Smoker Mukesh ads  - IMPOSED!
You look so pretty and make the ones who fit in so confident - I dream of that confidence! The feeling of having you with them makes them complete - I long for that feeling of being content! The OH SO SHINY pictures on their Instagram - I so wish I had at least one such!
You know so much about whats hot and whats not! You know so much about what prints can do and what colours who should wear. You know so much that you judge!
You know it all but do you know how much I love you?
- The Fat Girl you always hated :(

Such is the tragedy of being fat in India - Fashion never fits ( bodies or pocket).  

@ 60 pounds lighter I thought This Diwali was going to better. Well not really! I did go through all the fear, anxiety and insecurity even this year because you are Fat untill you are Thin! The only difference this time was that I did not panic! I was hell-bent on buying something that I liked and not something that was convenient. I kept looking  and finally I stepped into an AND store and came back with 2 dresses! Call it luck, fruit of hard-work or belief in the universes, it worked! The sales guy din't judge me, showed me 6-7 beautiful dresses and this time I had the choice. Choice - Every customer's dream!

For every Brand - Your sales guy / girl is the actual brand ambassador once a consumer walks in-to your store and while the world goes digital, there are many like me who need to first fit-into a dress before putting it in the cart. Standard sizes don't apply as women with a size 18 may not necessarily be busty!

What is noteworthy is that this guy did not let me down - A sales person is often that one person who I equated with the almighty, the lord who was capable of shoving me into the black hole of dry, drab and ill fitting clothes for my sins of being PLUS Size!

I am a fat woman who happens to be a marketer as well as a customer. With that introduction to my credit, let me share some first hand, sincere gyan to the brands

 "Dos & don'ts of customer service @ retail stores -(Read- FAT customer service)"

  1. Madam aap ka size nahi bechte - OK. No one has put a gun on your head and asked you to sell plus size clothing but let that soul say something. It may be that they were looking for a gift for a sibling - YOU LOST A POSSIBLE SALE!!! And mind you this happens at plush brand outlets!
  2. Aap ke size mein to itna hi variety ata hai! - Agreed that you may have lower number of options. Say it well. Say we ran out of sizes - itna jhooth kisika dil rakhne ke liye maaf hai - anyways we all know how much we sales and marketing guys lie the whole day!
  3. "That WONT fit YOU" - Make your signage bigger! you don't need to worry about torn clothes and not shoo them away with embarrassment. 
  4. Mind you (Body) language - The person who just walked in is FAT not BLIND and in most cases way more sensitive than you. 
Hope this piece reaches our beloved retailers someday, well lets hope. 








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