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A Picture of Beauty By Sharie Ruth Radin
website: http://sharieruth.com
t is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Picture this: a stunning woman, dressed impeccably from head to toe, radiating beauty, sexiness, and self-confidence. What do we typically think of? We think of a slender, long-legged female as the picture of perfection, not a healthy, attractive, full-figured, size 20 woman. Why is this? I believe that society bombards us with unrealistic images of what beauty should be, and we are conditioned to believe in that certain ideal, which in reality, represents only a fraction of the female population. Why is it that "women of substance", as I like to refer to the majority of females (including myself), are pigeon-holed into a discriminatory category that breeds shame as well as a lack of acceptance and respect? This treatment is evident in the way that females are portrayed in the media, in the public eye, and in the fashion world.
I feel that the issue of fashion is the most personal, as every woman is faced with getting dressed every day. It became so important to me that I took on the challenge of designing a unique line of clothing for women of substance. I became tired of shopping in the back corners of stores designated for "larger women". Regardless of size and shape, every woman needs to look her best in order to feel good. How can a woman accomplish this when she is offered poorly-designed substitutes for fashion that she must accept only because they are big enough to fit her? What about stunning color, flattering cut, unique fabrics, and eclectic style? I have devoted myself to addressing this issue and designing for women like myself; women who are infuriated by the narrow-minded designers of today's so-called plus-size fashions.
If a woman of size has the tools, knowledge, and motivation to put herself together in the most favorable way, she will learn to love herself for who she is. Every woman can radiate beauty by learning to embrace and work with what she has been blessed. It may be a challenge to find decent, yet exciting clothes that accentuate the positive, but when she does, I believe it is imperative that a woman not be afraid to indulge. In fact, I encourage her to spend a little extra on something that she may not think she deserves.
Case in point: I have encountered many women who fall in love with my uniquely feminine dresses. However, these women often deny themselves this indulgence, feeling that at the weight they are now, they can't justify spending the money. What these women are saying is, "I'll just wait until I lose 20 pounds, while thinking and wear the unflattering clothes I have, and continue to feel unattractive because I am supposed to." This is how these women rationalize not treating themselves to something special. This is what our society perpetuates by portraying an unrealistic view of what is beautiful and sexy.
Another comment I have come across is, "Where would I wear this?" My response is, "Well, I wear these clothes to the post office, and the bank, to the grocery store and to functions at my kids' school." In other words, this is how I dress, always! It is vital for me to feel attractive, color coordinated and fully accessorized, wherever I go. Just because I am not a size 8 doesn't mean I am relegated to wearing stretch pants and an oversized t-shirt. Maybe that is what people expect, but my utmost goal is to alter that thinking. It is time we gave ourselves the permission to dress and act like the attractive, exciting women we are! We have to get past the fear of projecting ourselves as feminine, pretty, and sexy, just because we have been taught to cover ourselves in drab colors, never wear prints, and hide behind anything black!
As a designer and a woman of substance, I have become an advocate with a mission to create awareness and acceptance of a broader scope of beauty. My message is to women of voluptuous size and curvaceous proportions, as well as the rest of the population that hasn't yet been enlightened. That message is to encourage women, especially those of us who have been neglected, forgotten, or ignored in the fashion world, to make a personal statement of confidence and self-respect. I am passionate about each one of us creating a "look" for ourselves that projects our individuality. I urge women of size to go out and splurge on a fabulous new garment, add some dazzling accessories, experiment with fun make-up colors, try a wonderful new hairstyle and anything else to feel wonderful. Then look in the mirror and see the picture of a glorious woman, not only accepting, but embracing and celebrating herself for all she is. This picture is worth a great deal more than a thousand words.
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