The fashion edit: Six plus-sized fashion bloggers show how style is for all!

Meet the stylish influencers who wear their ‘big’ tag with pride and are making body positivity an accepted reality, one post at a time

#PlusSizeAndProud, #BigIsBeautiful, #FightBodyShaming… How many of these hashtags have you used? Body positivity as a movement has been going through various changes all over the world, but in India especially, the idea of “thin is in” is changing, particularly in the fashion industry. Multiple homegrown brands and online portals are launching lines for the bigger bodied, which is not just about providing clothes in bigger sizes, but clothes in bigger sizes that have a good fit.

(Clockwise) Sonal Somani, Amena Azeez, Tanvi Geetha Ravishankar, Dimple Mehta, Neelakshi Singh and Shubham Yadav show how style is about confidence, not weight (Location courtesy: Butterfly High, Mumbai; Make-up and hair: Ashu Mois)(Photos shot exclusively for HT Brunch by Shivangi Kulkarni)

Six fashion bloggers whose essence is self-acceptance above everything else (Shivangi Kulkarni)

Putting forth the idea that fashion is for everyone, HT Brunch brings together six fashion bloggers whose very essence is accepting their body and making each day stand out stylishly in the best outfits possible!

Tanvi was selected for India’s first plus size fashion show at Lakme Fashion Week in 2016. (Inset) Tanvi’s bikini post on Instagram received a lot of praise (Dress, Forever 21; bomber jacket, Stalk Buy Love; sneakers, Westside) (Shivangi Kulkarni)

Very few people can be trolled for their weight and refuse to care, Tanvi was one of those.

“A neighbour once thought I
was pregnant... I said ‘Yes I am pregnant, I have a food baby inside!’”

“I am apple-shaped, so even at my thinnest, my tummy was still bigger than the rest of my body. A neighbour once thought I was pregnant because I was walking a certain way after a very tiring day. My mom took offence, but it’s okay. Sometimes I chime in and say ‘Yes I am pregnant, I have a food baby inside!” she laughs.

Sonal feels the Indian fashion industry is still far from making stylish clothes for bigger beauties. (Dress, Asos; jacket, SheIn; shoes, Nike Levi’s Jordan; neckpiece, Accessorize) (Shivangi Kulkarni)

A finance graduate, Sonal loved playing dress up. “I loved posting my pictures online, but never thought I could be a blogger. My brother Karan suggested it, and my husband said he doesn’t know anyone as confident as me, so I went for it,” she smiles.

“...Plus size is often associated with being unfit. but what about someone who isn’t big? Are you sure they’re fit!?”

The battle is not between fit and unfit. “In India, even UK 12-14 is considered plus size, which is often associated to being unfit. But, what about someone who isn’t? Are you sure they’re fit!?” she questions.

Amena feels celebrating plus-size bodies means you are anti-fitness, which is a classic case of fatphobia. (Kurta, Amydus; jacket (kurta), Global Desi; bracelet, Aldo; watch, Kate Spade; rings, Accessorize; earrings, Bandra street shop) (Shivangi Kulkarni)

Amena started her blog in October 2011 to combine her love for style and writing. While it took her some time to accept her body and love herself, learning about the global body positivity movement helped her to become the beautiful, self-confident girl she is today.

“We have plus- size athletes, and they are just as fit as non plus-size people”

Then comes the myth that thin is fit. “Fitness includes both physical and mental health and many people who look fit are not always so. We have plus-size athletes, runners, yogis, dancers, and they are just as fit as non plus-size people. Celebrating plus-size bodies means you are anti-fitness is a classic case of fatphobia,” she states.

Shubham thinks the plus and proud movement is yet to imbibe men and their comfort with their bodies.(Jacket, Octane; T-shirt, Copperstone; Shoes, Vans; watch, Fastrack) (Shivangi Kulkarni)

A tech guy who loves design and graphics, Shubham was in college when he started experimenting with looks. He was always called a ‘big guy’, and while he loved trying out new outfits, a certain insecurity always stopped him from making it his path, until he found out plus size blogging is a real thing.

“I’ve seen plus- size men cry [including me] because we’re big but we’re not allowed to feel bad about it or cry, right?”

The son of a single mother, he told her about his idea of starting a blog, and she was thrilled. The idea also involved tackling the toxic masculinity. “I’ve seen plus-size guys crying to themselves (even me!) because we are considered big but we’re not supposed to cry and show emotions, right? That just worsens things for us,” he continues.

Dimple thinks being curvy should be out of choice, not convenience. (Dress, FabAlley; watch, Guess; footwear, Lulu & Sky) (Shivangi Kulkarni)

A fan of fashion and language, Dimple studied fashion designing, only to realise she doesn’t like designing as much as styling. People discouraged her, made fun of her, but it never mattered. She loved herself! But soon, she was hit by depression for almost two years.

“My grandma altered my clothes because I love high slits!”

A super supportive family, however, made up for all the jokes. “My mother was my photographer for the longest time and my brother gave me honest feedback. My grandma tirelessly altered my clothes because I love high slits. I have friends and family who’ll happily click a hundred pictures if need be,” she smiles.

Neelakshi is body positive, not fat positive. (Dress, Shein; footwear, Lulu & Sky) (Shivangi Kulkarni)

Neelakshi Singh found her goals in the lowest phase of her life when in 2012, she went from posting self-deprecating content on her social media to making dress up with her bestie her favourite hobby to document. “Little did I know that it’ll up my self-esteem so much,” she says.

“Being body positive means someone who is okay with their body at any size: Big, small, scarred disfigured, differently-abled, whatever!”

However, she says, I’m not fat positive. I’m body positive. “Fat isn’t my personality or my identity. Being body positive means someone who is okay with their body at any size – big, small, scarred, disfigured, differently-abled, whatever it is. It doesn’t mean eat junk,” she says.