UNIQLO Jegging Review for Plus Size

Four years ago I road tripped up to New York with a friend. She explained to me that one of her friends, John, always wore the best fitting pants. It is a really weird descriptor for a person, but I took one look at him and fell in love...with his pants.

Notice how all these people look thin; Photo from their site

We headed to Uniqlo and I was really nervous that nothing would fit. All the clothing was so perfectly tailored and fitted, which normally means bad news for me. Looking for clothes in "straight size" clothing stores is a constant theme in my life. Sometimes it works and sometimes it just doesn't... Imagine looking at beautiful, pressed clothes on the hanger and looking in the mirror and seeing a twisted roll of clothing pinching you, probably above or below your chest depending on how determined you were. I just don't understand why companies make clothing for large audiences but don't include a wider range. 

So I was very surprised when I found Uniqlo's x-large jeggings fit! And fit pretty well! I was running around grabbing every different color and fabric in a frantic. 

Photo from their site

It wasn't until this year that I was able to purchase some more. The style is different, they took the drawstring away in favor of an elastic waist. I think I preferred the drawstring tbh. They were on sale for $13 (originally $20) and I bought 4 pairs. Two black trouser leggings, one faded black jegging and another in a true blue color. I am a size 14-16, so I am surprised they fit. Though, the different materials and washes fit me differently.

Pros:-extremely skinny
-jeans are fairly thick fabric
-back pockets
-different colors and fabrics
-free alterations

Cons:
-not good in the dryer
-not good for short shirts 

-rolls sometime
-might not fit people with bigger backsides
-not good for most sizes over 16
-not in a lot of locations...yet!

P.S. my shirt say "no nos puede deportar a todos" :)

BCBG: A Forgiving Brand

Shopping has really sucked since I have gained weight this past year. I am surprised/disappointed how a desk job could effect my body so dramatically in the span of 11 months. In my last post, I mentioned how my weight was taking a toll on my body and how I am actively trying to change that.

Until then, I need clothes that fit my body NOW.

BCBG is a surprising choice for a plus size blogger, but I almost always am able to find clothing that will fit my size. Not everything is forgiving. Leather blazers, zippered pants, and most cocktail dresses are too narrow and form fitting for me.

As for everything else, I have several skirts, blouses, dresses, and a few jackets that not only fit, but look good on. I always shop sale and I don't find something every single time (which is a blessing in disguise for my debit card), but if you are sizes 12-18, maybe even 20, you will be able to find some great pieces. 

Though, I have to give a warning. This is not a plus size store and an article of clothing that is wrong for you can be a trigger. I suggest this brand because I have found several articles of clothing over the past few years, but I understand how difficult it is when trying on clothing that is too small. When I was younger, I would take my body frustrations out on my mom unfairly. Yet, her unconditional love and kind words have calmed those frustrations and allowed me to accept and move on without affecting my self-esteem too much. She is also the person who bought me this outfit because she got all crazy motherly last time I saw her.

This entire outfit from BCBG + a shoe bonus after the cut! 

Below are sweater details and the shoe bonus!

Bra-less Summer

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Summer might bring an influx in street harassment (Yes, I mean harassment, men - you're being vulgar and scaring me. Not complimenting me), but I am determined to have a bra-less summer in support of the mounting awareness of female toplessness and the Go Topless campaign. This loose, gauzy dress from UO has just the right amount of slinkiness for me to feel quite free. Unfortunately, I do not have the courage go to fully topless in the streets. However, my boyfriend works at the Highline and he claims that some women sun bare-chested at the park, so maybe on a warm night when there isn't a huge crowd I'll bare it all. 

BC

Last summer, someone who is very important to me miscarried her baby. She was 28 years old and it would have been her sixth child. I brought her to the post-miscarriage follow-up appointment and sat beside her while she gave the details of what happened. It saddened me so deeply to hear how it was so emotionally and physically painful, but I can't lie and say that I wasn't a little heartbroken to hear that she had been trying to conceive. Her partner was not a nice person and he treated her like crap, hence me being the one in that doctor's office with her. While I was there, I asked the doctor to talk about birth control options -- maybe that wasn't my place, but I really felt like I absolutely had to. Her response to the question, "has anyone ever talked to you about your birth control options" almost made me fall out of my chair and onto the floor. No one had.

I was present when her first child was born. I cut the umbilical cord and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. She was only 16, and I keep wondering, if someone had talked to her about birth control then ... what would her life be like now? It's a sensitive subject for me because it's this giant vicious cycle in the community I've been raised in where there are so many babies having babies. Often times, children are brought up in over-worked, single-parent households, or have absent biological parents with other family members raising the baby. It was a similar case of how I was raised, how the gal in my story was raised and how her children will be raised. 

In my opinion, it seems that my culture (mostly referring to Catholic and Mexican) has made it more acceptable to have a baby at a young age (or just unprepared)  than to promote safe sex. My parents are really conservative, more traditional, Mexican-Catholics. However, since they were both very, very young when they had children and knew how hard it was to raise a child, work, go to school, etc ... they always stressed the importance of knowing my options when it came to birth control. For educating me without judgement, and for overcoming their Catholic beliefs for my sexual safety-- I am eternally grateful. 

I've done a little bit of research, in case you or someone you know would like more information and birth control resources:

The Affordable Care Act (from National Women's Law Center)

Birth Control Options (from Planned Parenthood)

Get Tested! (from Planned Parenthood)
If you're in the Northern, CAfor area (Women's Health Specialists)
Help women Globally (Global Fund for Women)

I have Kaiser through my work and was pleasantly surprised to find that fees and co-pays for STD exams, pap smears, birth control, female sterilization services, family planning counseling and other women's health services are waived. If you have health care insurance, it might be beneficial to check it again after the Affordable Care Act has passed.

As a quick parting note, I wish more more WoC in the media spotlight would promote the importance of safe sex. I remember being really young and watching Left Eye wearing a condom on her face and thinking that the statement was so badass. I've watched a few interviews of TLC and their fashion statement and I didn't like how they had to preface their message with, "we're not promoting sex" (although, I think that was to cover themselves against critics), but I did appreciate them saying that they wanted to stop the shame of wanting to protect your body from disease and unwanted pregnancy.  

If you have any resources or tips or advice to add, please let me know. Also, I'd be interested in knowing how the issue of safe sex is handled in your culture. 

The Least Summery Summer Dress and Other Reflections

Today's high in New York City was 93 degrees (no, not 98 Degrees), which is, in my opinion, the worst thing ever.  My dress code at work is less strict than many other places and I am incredibly grateful for this.  However, today was one of those days that made me wonder when Business Casual Underwear will ever become A Thing.

Dress: Forever 21 / Belt: Necessary Clothing / Flats: Zara / Lipstick: NARS Heat Wave

It doesn't exactly scream "carefree summer," but I was really just kind of aiming for "work appropriate and sufficiently stretchy."  At this point I'm starting to feel like I'm taking you guys on a trip through Val's Favorite Black Articles of Clothing and Animal Print Accessories, to be quite honest.  Once upon a time, I ran another (now defunct) fashion blog.  At the time, I wore semi-obnoxious pieces every day and I loved it.  Electric blue tank tops, watercolor print skirts, a whole lotta everything -- I didn't necessarily take it to gold lamé jumpsuit levels, but if it was an affront to your aesthetic sensibilities, I probably loved it.  My style is still growing and changing, naturally, yet I still gravitate towards statement pieces, but a lot of my confidence has waned over the last couple of years for a couple of reasons.

I know I promised a Serious Post and this won't be as serious as it could be and it also isn't necessarily going to be one centered on race or ethnicity, although those certainly play a part.  It's still hard for me to write about this stuff so publicly, but I'm considering it part of my self-care.

Consider this a trigger warning as the second half of this post talks about self-perception and body image.  There are no numbers (regarding weight) or specific details regarding eating habits, but the rest of the post will be under a cut, just in case.