Stick-thin models rule the runways and women’s magazines alike. Also ruling magazines is a litany of guilt-ridden food and fitness advice. Advice that often makes us feel bad about ourselves and even encourages disordered eating.

Along with this advice, we also get photos of barely-there models and clothing that most of us can’t wear. And fashion tips that really don’t even concern us (or worse, insult us). What we don’t get, with the exception of Glamour’s recent gorgeous photo spread, is realistic advice and realistic-looking women. Until now…

Since November, plus-size writer and aspiring stylist Ashley Falcon has joined the ranks at Marie Claire with her column, “Big Girl in a Skinny World,” writing about everything from taking office wear into evening to finding the best boots for bigger calves. (She also regularly blogs at Marie Claire.)

I’m happy to see a fabulous plus-size writer who can give fashion advice to us regular folk. Along with good advice, Falcon’s writing is fresh, fun and engaging. And I look forward to more articles from her (next month is spring trends for all shapes and sizes). Personally, I’d love for her to tackle the bad eating and exercise advice magazines dish out and the ways in which magazines demonize fat. But considering she’s writing for a women’s magazine, this is likely wishful thinking.

Still, I applaud Marie Claire for giving this great writer/stylist the opportunity to bring us some good advice and challenge the notion that only skinny-minis can be fashion forward. Falcon sends the message that you don’t have to hide your shape just because it doesn’t fit some ill-conceived “ideal,” that you can find fun, flirty, fashionable pieces for every silhouette (though, unfortunately, you’ll have to look harder).

But is she playing it safe? Jezebel writer Latoya Peterson also applauded the column but had a few minor issues with it. She noted that Falcon may be trying to be the “self-deprecating big girl” that a “smaller audience” may expect, and included these examples from Falcon’s first column:

“Of course, it surprised no one that I decided to pursue a career as a fashion stylist-though at 5’2″ and 220 pounds, I’d need an elaborate pulley system and a can of Crisco to shimmy into the clothes I dress models in.

Big girls love accessories-they always fit, no size tags required.

Let’s face it, it’s a maddening task for girls even half my size, but I go through at least a few pairs of jeans every year, routinely wearing holes in the area where my thighs rub together.”

Peterson also writes: “It’s clear that Falcon has made peace with her body (after all, she dresses beautifully) but her column seems more practical than celebratory when it comes to the transformative power of fashion.” She calls this a “minor quibble,” and I agree. I’d love to see celebratory comments. Falcon has embraced her shape, but it’d be great to read some inspirational, body-loving messages sprinkled throughout her articles, along with the how-tos.

Here’s a taste of Falcon’s second column, where she discusses her fashion frustrations (which so many women can related to!) and offers several practical pointers:

“Still, despite the endless hours I spend hunting for clothes, I usually walk out of stores empty-handed. The major plus-size chains seem to think their only customers are 40-something lite FM—ers who keep a set of shoulder pads stashed in their sock drawers. Sorry, but there’s nothing chic about a faux-leather vest, whether it’s in a size 0 or 18. And I won’t settle when it comes to cut. A big girl wearing ill-fitting clothes? Tragic.

As a result, my wardrobe is a small but well-curated collection of versatile workhorses—mostly in black, of course—that I dress up or down depending on the occasion. Case in point: A few months back, I assisted a Marie Claire editor during New York Fashion Week. I knew the pressure to look chic amid the pin-thin crowds would be crazy intense. So I packed seven mix-and-match outfits—leggings, skinny jeans, jackets, embellished tees, opaque tights—that saw me through every single event, from backstage photo shoots to I’m-on-the-list after-parties. It’s true, I was routinely the heaviest woman in attendance. But thanks to my savvy wardrobe picks, I held my own among fashion’s “bitch, please” cliques.

This holiday season, you’ll no doubt need similarly effortless ensembles that can take you from office meetings to post-work cocktails, with only minimal tweaking. Here’s how I do it: The foundation of my day-to-night outfits is always a well-tailored blazer. I pair mine with a fine cami and, depending on my mood, a pencil skirt or black leggings. I’ll accessorize this work-friendly look with a cute pair of ballet flats and some simple jewelry. When quitting time rolls around, I’ll ditch the flats for killer heels—metallics are hot right now, so opt for a pair that has some serious sheen. I’ll cap off the outfit with an eye-popping necklace, the kind that would require a shoebox to store. If you’re going to invest in one piece of jewelry, that’s the one I recommend—your lazy Sunday T-shirts will be instantly reborn as Saturday night showpieces.”

While I’m excited about Falcon’s column (again, I think she’s doing a great job!), I do wish that Marie Claire and others would go against the women’s magazine-grain even further by including a range of shapes and sizes in the rest of its magazine (and stop with its body bashing articles!). How about the cover? How about the fashion spreads?

Yes, I’ve heard the argument that fashion designers send itty-bitty sample sizes, so models have to be super-slim to fit into the clothes. But I just don’t think that defense is good enough. There are plenty of stores that offer beautiful, trendy pieces that magazines can easily feature. Aren’t these spreads all about creativity, anyway? What’s more creative (and unfortunately, considered out of the box) than showing readers how to pair clothes we can actually afford on stunning women in a variety of shapes and sizes? What about offering fashion advice that caters to everyone, whether you’re a size zero or eighteen?

Some say that fashion is fantasy. Perhaps, but to an extent. If magazines aim to offer how-tos on everything from eating right to living life, surely infusing their pages with a hint of reality is in their job description – and absolutely welcomed by their readers. Glamour received an outpouring of letters and comments after the gorgeous Lizzi Miller appeared in its pages.

I do think Glamour and Marie Claire are going in the right direction, and that I wholeheartedly welcome. These are all good first steps. I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned to see if they keep it up and go beyond. Weightless will be watching!

Your thoughts? Is “Big Girl in a Skinny World” progress? What features would you love to see in women’s magazines?

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Dr. John Grohol (December 10, 2009)

    Last reviewed: 10 Dec 2009