I remain ever the same potato.

 Many years ago upon being asked what I envisioned as my fashion goals, I responded Xenomorph Nazgul Realness. Often I achieve it. At my big age of 47 I actually surpassed it. I wear exactly what I want when I want. Click here to see a lil tiktok. I've literally worn variants of this outfit for 30 years and I'm still into it. 

How tho?

It isn't money. I know myself. I'm comfortable with what I like and I figured out a special thing. When what you like is trendy, stock up. Don't get offended that your subculture is suddenly monetized. don't take it personal we all exist under capitalism. I am not afraid. 

Furthermore, fuck flattering. If you were around for the Fatosphere days you'll remember seeing that. I can't recall who said it originally. Read about it here. More about it anyway if you're in the mood for an academic paper. Here is the abstract and I'm into it.

Abstract In this article I defend an account of beauty labor as a form of resistance that can enable individuals and communities to combat body oppression. Focusing on the “Fuck Flattering!” movement, a social-media-driven movement in which fat people purposefully wear unflattering clothing to resist antifat fashion and oppressive body standards, I first set three criteria necessary for an act of beauty labor to count as one of resistance. I argue that (1) the agent in question must be situated as a less ideal candidate for attributions of beauty, (2) the agent must have some level of knowledge or awareness of the norms (defined in light of dominant groups) and their harms, and (3) that knowledge or awareness of the harms of said norms must inform the agent’s act of beauty labor. Based on this account of beauty labor as resistance, I argue that beauty labor can combat larger systems of oppression and incite meaningful change insofar as it enables individuals to claim and reclaim space (both digital and physical) from which fat people have been historically excluded, while affording an opportunity for education and unpacking of oppression and bias, and expanding the fashion industry

I have not ever been comfortable trying to fit into western beauty ideals irrespective of my body size at the time. Even before I fully understood it, I knew I couldn't do it so I stopped trying and did my own thing. Have I always done so? To the best of my ability yes. A few old OOTDs below.

This was a favorite Torrid outfit. I got those short pants and just loved them forever. A lot of folks told me how much they hated this outfit. i wore this outfit a lot. This was me circa 2008.

I almost never ask people for feedback on my appearance, constructive or otherwise. I don't care how someone else would wear something. I've been advised not to wear black, prints, stripes, metallics etc. I have no intention of ever obeying said advice. It is for me if I like it. 

What don't I wear? I don't wear things I don't like. If I don't like the fabric nah. Seams doing too much? NOPE. I hate wearing pants I do. I make exceptions for pants I like but most pants can fuck off especially denim I HATE WEARING JEANS. My pussy has rights I don't need to put her through that daily. 

My rule is this. I don't buy things I don't like. Except underwear. I buy underwear because I need to have some on hand, generally speaking I hate wearing draws of all kinds. it is a sensory thing. I abide dress codes that impact my paycheck. If someone isn't paying me for my time there is nothing the ycan say to me about how something looks on me that will change my mind. IDGAF. Unless you bought it fuck off.

I do try to shop ethically when I can. I don't dive too deep it is not a nice place for me and honestly I can't afford ethically produced anything unless I made it. And I also eschew DIY or die ethos we can do that another time, my opinions about that need their whole own entry.

What else?

Sometimes am I over or under dressed? Yah. Am I embarassed? Usually not. I don't go a lot of places so I'm usually prepared when I go. The only other real rule i have is, would 13 YO Shannon be into this? Yes I AM ABSOLUTELY DRESSING TO IMPRESS A MENTALLY UNSTABLE CHILD. It me. I am child. I was so self conscious for so long. I wasn't allowed to express myself for years mainly because that was not how I was raised if what I liked was too grown. 

The outfit below got me the feedback that I might be too mature to purposefully try to look like an anime/video game villain. But like look at that outfit. I don't love how those boots fit me now that I'm thinner but boots aside I LOOK FUCKING AMAZIN. 

The top is a Killstar hoodie I got on super sale. I only shop Killstar on clearance. I wouldn't buy it again honestly the fabric can make it hard for me personally to put on. It looks amazin tho. The fit is weird and fiddly and there's no closure but it looks hot af. I wanted to look like I might give you a side quest. LOL I literally posted this an entry below wow I forgot how to do this. That's fine. 

If I could just throw money at my wardrobe without a care for space or cost here's my pinboard of inspiration. Follow me there I've been using it a bit more. 

Okay since I get dressed at least 5 days a week I'll try to remember how to be a damn blogger. I'll leave you with me again cosplaying my teen self. Dress ebay for like 8$ probs  came from wish or shein tbh. Very nice quality actually crepey fabric (I like this fabric), good seams. Has held up very well. Fit is as advertised i wish it was bad.

When I was a teen in the 90s someone ONE TIME (HA TISM, yeah I took them literally) someone told me not to wear princess seamed dresses cause I was busy and chubby and not tall enough. Fuck that I look amazing. 13 YO me is feeln like dis here.

With my old platform boots from Asos and my dickie's socks I look cute as hell rn. I don't love my size currently but I'm not worrying about it. My body is doing their best under difficulties.

SO what are you wearing? Always feel free to drop a selfie or ootd in comments I like that shit.

pinterest-site-verification=225f393d35d44fb5321ce6e77a1dd597

@shannons.chiaroscuro

♬ original sound - I'm just a baby

Who the Fuck is This?

 Hi y'all I want to tell you something.

In the last year I've been quite ill off and on. I had long term gallbladder problems and without wanting to lost a lot a LOT of fucking weight. I've been struggling with it very hard. I don't want to be a thin person. I had surgery over the past summer and I was really hoping by now that I'd be a bit thicker but, it is looking like i'm going to be this size.

Part of my upset has been that for the past 5-6 years I got very good at curating my wardrobe to suit myself. For the record I ONLY dress to impress me.

@shannons.chiaroscuro new @KILLSTAR ♬ original sound - Quazy vibes 😝🤟🏼

I did so well I had a wardobe I was purely in love with. In love with myself. THen I had to face the fact that my body has radically changed. I have a fucking thigh gap. Do I want it? Fuck no but this is how I'm built and shaped at this size so, here we are. I've been working to look at my body as it is right now and get to at least neutral. I think I'm getting there. Part of my problem has been that I feel weirdly self conscious about my newly thin body. 

I have been miserable and struggling. I've never once really hated my body. I loved my fat fatter and fattest body. I have for a few years  mourned the loss of my fat community. Right now I'm still learning how to dress my body in a way I find pleasing and I'm finally getting there. I also have been hiding my body. Hiding how small I actually am because I felt ashamed in a way, this isn't the body I imagine having and I have felt weird.

So instead of mourning I'm dressing myself in ways that bring me pure joy. Bell bottoms are in style so I'm buying a shitload of them. I'm buying ones with patterns because they make me feel glamorous.

@shannons.chiaroscuro

new pants. 7/10 no pockets in front. current fave song. cold weather fit.

♬ This Is New York - ScarLip

>

And I'm working on not wearing outfits like the one above when I feel self conscious. I need to emotionally remember that I am entitled to being able to love my body and dress it in whatever way I want. 

I have Fat Liberation to thank for this. If I hadn't really come into adulthood studying these things, if I hadn't been in the Fatosphere, if I hadn't been in Fatshionista I would be falling apart. I'm not.

I look cool as fuck.

 

@shannons.chiaroscuro

ootd. comfy Corp goth forever on my bs

♬ original sound - Quazy vibes 😝🤟🏼

I am starting to figure out my body as it is right now and I feel good. Today I feel like I'm having a pure victory. I picked up this piece from Killstar (for way less we'll talk about how I get more expensive items I have a system) and y'all. I had planned on styling it with a dress but wore it with my tiktok shop unitard and.......I FEEL SO FUCKING BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL.

13 year old me is right this minute losing their whole entire shit. THIS IS HOW I WANTED TO LOOK WHEN I GREW UP. 

Next time I'm going to really lean into my general urban wizard aesthetic and wear OTK boots and do a whole look but for a test run, BAYBEEE.

I MEAN LOOK AT ME RN.

I mean...........come on.

 

My Uniform

 HELLO gorgoeus!

Let's talk about the concept of a uniform and why I love it. As I've been redoing my wardrobe due to bodily changes, I like what I like. 

I am a 90s goth forever. I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE. I also like some specific shapes and outlines for clothes. And I use my knowledge of what shapes, what style of draping and what silhouttes I like to lead me to fashions I like. Lez go. We'l talk my cold weather uniform that I can be seen in most days it is under 50 degrees.

Leggings/tighter bottom, big ass hooded top or big ass tunic. I love to get in some asymetry, dramatic as fuck hem lines etc. As I've long joked my cold weather aesthetic is very much Main character, Anime grey guy, will give yo a side quest urban nazgul wizard.

The fuck does that mean? LEMME SHOW U. 

Let's go back.

[Image description: a photo of the author hands on hips they are wearing black jeggings, black docs and a black cardigan]

The outfit (YES I had that shit archived boo) remains very close to my general casual cooler weather looks. I love a good bottom (HA don't we all), a cute sweater or sweatshirt and that's what I do.

This is my outfit from the other day:

@shannons.chiaroscuro #VoiceEffects ♬ original sound - I'm just a baby

The top came from my current fave goth brand Killstar. Honestly I was slow to jump on board the Killstar train, I picked up a couple of cheaper items from them years ago and was unimpressed until I thrifted some pieces and figured out the best way for me to shop with them.

Killstar is not cheap and some of their stuff isn't worth it. For me I buy a lot of tops there. I love the big oversized unisex hoody type, long type tops and dresses. I don't wear expensive base stuff like leggings, camis etc. I buy those on the low so I can splurge on a hot top I like. I also create wishlists and stalk sales.

Here's how I manage it. Yesterday I was wearing the Atmos pull over hoody. I picked it up at their super clearance for $15.00 since it wasn't an I can't live without it piece, I let it chill on my wishlist after the initial drop of that line and when I saw a price I liked YOINK. That's how I do it. Or I will save for a good piece. Not on sale I don't buy tees, tanks, undies, tights or leggings from them. I had a couple of pairs of full priced leggings from them and the quality just didn't justify the cost.

And below another variation on the uniform. Your uniform can make getting dressed, buying clothing and just feeling joyful in your ass covers way easier. 

I'm wearing the boots shown today and I'll have a full feature review of them up soon. 

Okay I love you byeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

@shannons.chiaroscuro

do not. the gremlin

♬ Sex and Violence - The Exploited

One Thing Gay and Two things Glamour

Hello dearest friend!

An outfit post, small review.

First the outfit. For reference here are my stats and these are not aspiration or good or bad. It is just for reference and the state my body is in now. 

I am 5'3", currently I wear a size 3-4.

@shannons.chiaroscuro #CapCut ♬ Increments - Realxman

 Let's talk the details and you're gonna find out how I feel about fast fashion right this instant. This whole outfit is a mall goth fit. The way my body is built Jrs sized clothing fits me best and because I've had to replace my whole wardrobe from draws on up, I can only afford stuff from not great sources. And we'll talk more about that later. 

Now the details.

First up those mother fuckin pants. These are the Cosmic Aura Black & White Stripe Girls Flare Pants from Hot Topic in a size sm. First impression these are very nice quality. Say what you want about being a mall goth but in the many many years I've shopped HT, often their pants are great. They are soft and silky, Not see thru. I am not a huge fan of the rise.

I'm short. I'm smol. I have a short torso and it is a struggle. I would say on a person with a longer torso they'd be mid/close to high rise. On me without folding them over at the waist I can tuck them under my titties. 

And y'all, I love bell bottoms. These are big bells, they swish when you walk and I felt so god damn glamorous. 10/10 recommend.

The rest of the fit is a cardigan I got at Forever21 about 4 years ago, the tank is one from amazon that I got in a pack.

I LOVE how these fit on the booty. I don't have much but look ain't she cute. As I get older the general outline of my aesthetic hasn't changed that much. I am having to learn to dress a different body shape and this outfit is a winner. 

And here's a link to that awesome song. I discovered this artist on tiktok, enjoy!

Love,

Shannon

New Blog Same Old Face! Ft Juvia's Place

 Hi welcome.

I'm your host Shannon holy damn I'm a blogger again.

[image description: the author a Black femme wearing clear gloss, purplish blush, light eyeshadow]

I'm your new buddy Shannon and we're gonna talk a lot about style but not in the way you might be used to. First up I don't believe in or participate in the following:

• Flattering/age appropriate/size appropriate etc type rules. Nah. We ain't do that over here.
• Shame folks for shopping in the ways they can. I will talk about my own ethics in shoppin g but that is not an invite to try and correct me. If you want to do that, bring cash or leave me alone.
• Obvious but, we don't do racism, homophobia, transphobia, colorism, TERFS/FARTS CAN FUCK OFF GET OUT, sizeism, ableism. Nah we don't do that. So if you see tips or things for people who aren't you, don't freak out.

I will sometimes use affiliate links. If I do I will tell you. I am not currently famous enough for PR or whatever so you'll get what I think.

I'm building some shop links where I'll recommend stuff and add to it here and there. Soon I'll have a page of links for stuff to read, etc.

AND while we're talkin about looking good I hope you stick around for the Fat Liberation politics and ranting!

Welcome!

 Welcome to my new home on the internet. Get style inspo, commentary and more here!