Small Girl, No Pants

The dislike for shopping isn’t just for the heavier girl, skinny girls hate it too. In a world where only 5% of the population can fit into “off the rack” items, why are companies catering to vanity sizes? Companies should be focusing on catering to different body types, not a number.

Vanity sizes are ruining a skinny girls’ self-esteem and chance to own a decent pair of pants. In 8th grade I weighted 75 pounds, yes I'm that skinny, and I wore a size 0. Ten years later, 30 pounds later and size 0 is too big. How does this happen? We live in a society where no one wants to be over a certain size, the fashion industry is caving in and making last year’s 1s or 3s the new 0. That isn't fair to those of us who are actually small sizes.

Runway models are getting criticisms for being too skinny but here’s a thought, what if she’s naturally that skinny? I don’t agree with people starving themselves to be a certain size but some people are just naturally thin. Why are we punishing those people when it’s just how they are?

We are told that curvy is good and bones are for dogs, how is that not supposed to be damaging to a girl who is naturally thin? I know I’m not the only one who has celebrated gaining five pounds but is shut down right after but some jackass, “Where?” You might not see it but I do. Heavier girls are praised for meeting their weight goals, well I have weight goals too. Yes, they involve exercise and a meal plan just like everyone else’s. So why undermine and mock my goals?

Marilyn Monroe, everyone’s favorite curvy girl? Ha! In the late 30s early 40s at the peak or her career she was recorded as a size 8. Back then that translates to a size 2 today...sorry to step on toes. She was not plus sized, out of shape sure but not plus sized. How can I prove this? I was given a skirt from 1980's from my cousin, size 8. I weight 105 on a good day and it fits me like a glove. So what is it going to take for me to find a pair of jeans that fit me?

I'm not fat shaming or anything like that. If you're healthy and happy great, but don't complain about a number on a pair of pants. That doesn’t define you. If you're a bigger girl that's fine but don't make it a trend asking for vanity sizes. All this does is invalidate us skinny girls. The true size 0s are gone so what am I supposed to buy? I gained 20 pounds in a year and I hate it when people say I'm still the same size, I'm skin and bones. I'm not nothing. I know I'm more than a number on a pair of pants but if we have to label them something quit changing the labels. Companies that choose to partake in vanity sizes take away my chance to see my progress. I worked hard but I’m still too skinny to even get a real number and now I’m too skinny to get real pants.

When you call last year’s 1 the new 0 I have to gain 10 pounds to fit into them. What happens when I maintain weight? For me weight gain is hard (insert eye rolls, and body image slams “Oh it must be so hard for you…") but if I gain 5 pound in a year that’s progress, don’t take that away from me. That's what I'm dealing with this year. I maintained at 105 and now nothing fits.

There are still skinny girls. 24 in waist, 34 in hips. Give me some pants!