Faith 21...Fab or PseudoFab?

Trendy-Chic, ballin-on-a-budget, skinnie minnie retailer Forever 21 has announced that it will launching it's official plus sized line called "Faith 21" on May 1st both online and in stores.


It will offer the same clothing styles in the same price range (Under $30) as traditional Forever 21 clothing, but sizes will range from Xl to 2XL to fit a "curvier" girl.

And while I'm all for the thick sister movement, and am proud of Forever 21 for realizing the demand for young fashion to bigger ladies (the type that Lane bryant markwets but only your momma want to wear...sometimes...) I have to call into question the service that this is really doing to the unhealthier Americans.

I'm not going to lie and say, as a bigger girl, that I'm not excited at the prospect of being able to buy a party dress for under $30 and not have to tape down my boobies. It would SIGNIFICANTLY decrease the amount of money I spend on party dresses and significantly INCREASE my wardrobe options.

However, as someone who has recently dropped a jean size (HOORAY!!!), I know that part of the motivation for losing weight, besides being healthy long term, is the fact that I can't wear what I want to wear. I like the litle dresses hat Forever 21 has, and am on a constant quest to fit into the ones with zipper closures as oppossed to the summer dresses with runching (which will make there appearance in the 80-degree weekend we are suppossed to have.) I run on the treadmill and chant my mantra "I have to wear shorts to six flags, I have to wear shorts to six flags...but if I can get $10 shorts, what's the point?

I fully understand that there is a need for bigger girls to feel better about themselves. And I understand that feeling better often comes from how you feel in the clothes you are wearing. But I think we should feel better about being healthy than being trendy.

So, I guess there's no conclusion to this one, kids. Will I be at Forever 21 on May 1st scoping out cute club/summer outfits? Sure. Do I hope they may skinny jeans in larger sizes so i can get a pair for $18. You bet!

Am I gonna stop working out and eating right because I can finally shop there?

Not a chance!

I Might be a Little Off...

Now, I'll be the first one to say that my vision isn't what it used to be, especially since my *ahem* problem (please hold comments- NATALIE) but...



Doesn't she look a bit on the "pale" side to you?

Portraits of Lady O and El Commander in Chief were unveiled at Madame Toussaint's Wax Museum today.

And while I love the fact that they captured the essence of Michelle's tea length shift dresses, signature double strand pearls, and perfectly cinched cardigan by a KILLER belt (I'm going to excuse the flats, we all know she does pointed toe kitten heels), I can't help but think something's a little off.

And it's not Barack's slightly off center smile, his a la top model smiling with his eyes or his Dennis Quaid (think--new Parent Trap) laugh lines...

(Excuse me. I'm allowed a groupie moment for the President.)

I can't help but swear that Michelle, even in a wash out color like red, is darker than her hubby.
See?

And Madame Toussaint has gotten the melanin pretty right before...

I don't understand why the "yellow"er Black people look real close to the real color, but Mrs. First Black Diva in the White House looks like:
well, like she took a wrong turn on that European tour and took a 2 month vacay on that piece of Antartica that broke off...

Now, the optimist in me want to believe that this is just bad lighting. But two pictures have indicated that Barack is depicted, in the same light, darker than Michelle.

So, the realist in me can't help but wonder if this is just a manifestation of the "White woman" complex. Or, in other words, the notion that a pure, accomplished woman who stands behind her man and is successful in her own right has to be fair in complexion.

What do you all think?