Most body positive and body image posts I’ve seen online seem to be very focused on those who are size 16 or larger. But what about those who are short, regardless of size? Especially those who are on the small side? Show host Cynthia, who is not only short, but small – especially when it comes to shoes – discusses, for the billionth time.

Why is this so one-sided? Is this even fair, especially when those bring up their petiteness are dismissed? How is this even inclusion

Image Credit:  GoodStudio/Shutterstock

The post Body Image Isn’t Just About Being Size 16+ appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

Over the years, I’ve discovered many other petite bloggers, like Jean Wang (who used to blog under the name, Petite Asian Girl). People like Jean became true blue influencers, even appearing in campaigns for stores like LOFT. I didn’t have that kind of luck, but I STILL stand by the fact that height doesn’t really take much of

We can’t ignore the fact that the fashion world completely dismisses height. Sure, you have petite sections in stores like Banana Republic and Ann Taylor, but they tend to be at the back corner section (and fairly hidden online. They don’t get their own section on the top menu while plus does). Department stores are either getting rid of (some got rid of petites a long time ago) or combining petite sections with regular – a big mistake, in my opinion. I get that they believe it makes people feel more “included” – but that’s really more for a size (as in number or letter) issue, not height. When you’re in a hurry, you’re NOT going to be looking for the letter “P” next to a size, you’re just going to be looking for the number itself. Petites, unlike plus, need their own section and it needs to be better promoted. But like us in general, our voices are dismissed. Maybe tall people just can’t see us (though I know of a very petite size inclusivity activist who only half acknowledges (if at all) the issue).

It’s vital that ALL issues relating to inclusivity be taken seriously and equally. But they’re not. Sometimes, activists will say that they acknowledge them, but in reality, it’s really a dismissal. The question here is why? Especially when SO MANY CELEBRITIES ARE UNDER 5’4″! So you’re not going to acknowledge (and I hesitate to mention her) Kim Kardashian? Reese Witherspoon? Both are around 5’2″ from what I understand. I get that Kim isn’t known for being super-sophisticated, but STILL. They are there, and they seem to pull red carpet looks off well.

So here’s what I don’t understand. As short people, our proportions are different from those who are taller. If designers are able to custom/tailor/make gowns look amazing on a 5’3″ celebrity, why can’t they make RTW clothing for us? Why are we stuck, at best, with mall brands who either regulate things online (just like plus) or in a corner of the store? And at worse, they’re boxy clothing that even women over a certain age (and at 40, I suppose I’m AT that age (or close to it)) won’t touch. And that’s considering how they complain or make excuses about not being able to make things look good on larger people.

For regular store brands, including aspirational lines, premium denim and the like, yes, proportion is an issue. I was at a store recently, trying on a pair of jeans. The pair of jeans was labelled a 24 waist and was supposed to be “super skinny.” Tried it on, and not only was it at least half a size too big (not surprised – premium denim, which typically uses waist measurements, vanity sizes just as much as mall brands), but it certainly wasn’t “super skinny.” It was also pulled up a little higher than it probably should be, showing that the rise is not quite proportioned for someone who is 5’2″ or so with a shortish torso.

So what does the above paragraph mean? That designers who are saying that it’s “hard” to proportion things for larger clients (and thus won’t make anything over a certain size) are okay with people who are my size? It’s technically MORE DIFFICULT to proportion things for US, regardless of height! It isn’t just hemming, after all. This SHOWS that it’s about aesthetics. People my size are more “appealing” to look at based on social conditioning. DUH.

Anyway, as I’ve said time and time again for over a decade, I REALLY WISH body image/size inclusivity activists would look at height issues more seriously. Even if they “acknowledge” the issue by telling us to our faces, they seem to “forget” about us in less than a second. We’ll still be regulated to the back corner or online if no one does anything. It’s a fresh new decade, so let’s make the 2020s about height as well.

The post Height and the Size Inclusivity World appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

Why? Mirrors help guide you when you’re working out. Yes, it doesn’t really matter if you’re on a treadmill, elliptical or bike, but for yoga, barre and other movement-based exercises? They help A GREAT DEAL. Especially if you’re not the most balanced person in the world.

I’m a barre and Essentrics person. The barre studio I go to is mirror-free, but I’ve been attending enough classes with a specific instructor to know her routine and feel comfortable without the help of a mirror. However, I’ve found that when there is a sub or if I have to attend another class due to a scheduling conflict, I might have to rely on a mirror to help me with the various movements – especially if it’s a faster-paced class. And mirrors can help prevent injuries, too. Do you REALLY want to hurt yourself, and thus, not be able to go to class? Especially if it’s something you love? I think not.

I know size diversity activists typically are extremely adamant about mirrorless gyms and most will NOT make room for debate. These people don’t even WANT to hear my side of the story (surprise, surprise). I find it very sad and very typical of today’s “snowflakes.” Seriously, people, how can you consider yourself “woke” if you don’t let others speak? Your idea of what’s “right” and forcing it on the rest of the world is just as bad as the other side forcing their views on you. Or, they will close the conversation by saying something along the lines of “thanks for your comment.” And they leave it at that, without anything further. That more or less translates to “you’re totally wrong, dahhhhhhling, and *I* will ALWAYS be right!!!” I really don’t know how many eye roll emojis to insert for something like this.

Let’s just put it this way: mirrors work for some people. It HELPS some people. It even makes some people MORE CONFIDENT about themselves because they know they’re doing things correctly and WILL GO BACK FOR MORE CLASSES. The gym will make money and the client will be satisfied because he or she is becoming MORE FIT. Exercise not only helps improve physical health but mental health as well. And isn’t that a good thing?

Image courtesy by Vereshchagin Dmitry/Shutterstock

The post Why I Believe in Mirrors at Gyms appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.

Parts of Yorkville Village are ready for Toronto Fashion Week (this was taken last week – there’s more Fashion Week-related stuff now)

Unlike most people size diversity for me isn’t just about extending sizes (whether it be availability in stores OR models), but height as well.  Recently, I commented on an Instagram photo of a trench coat from a well-known Canadian contemporary brand.  The coat was long – about midi-length (mid-calf) on the model.  I commented on the post, asking if it was “short person friendly” and whether someone like me would likely need to get it hemmed.  I also wrote that I thought it would be nice for brands in general to show people of varying heights.  They kind of answered my question by giving me the coat’s measurements, but it really didn’t satisfy me.  It also doesn’t help that most size diversity activists dismiss my issues just because I’m currently still very tiny in terms of clothing size.  It’s to the point that I’ve pretty much given up (I used to have a blog about being short called Shorty Stories) for the most part.  It’s not like they’re going to listen, anyway.

A post shared by Cynthia Cheng Mintz (@cynthiacmintz) on Feb 5, 2018 at 11:37am PST

A mirror selfie taken before I was measured (yeah, I know, not the best pic of me)

So here we are at Toronto Fashion Week.  It starts today (Monday) and runs until Wednesday.  Yorkville Village is pretty much decked out, with some entrances blocked for pedestrians because of the shows.  There’s also a pop-up, Reset Fashion, featuring many Canadian brands (including one REALLY COOL service called Passen – it helps you find brands which best fit your body type based on your measurements) near Palm Lane.  I didn’t buy anything – there weren’t many brands featuring basics – but was measured by Passen.  I had to change into blacks to be measured, but their pieces – particularly their tops – were too big for me.  Luckily, I had a camisole, which was form fitting enough.  The leggings were a bit loose, but I was told that it didn’t really matter.  I don’t have my actual 3-D model yet – the service will officially launch in the next few months – but I’m looking forward to being able to know not only about which brands, but which styles within which brands fit me best!  And the best thing is this:  it’s a Canadian based company.  I hope these guys get a deal if they ever go on Dragon’s Den!

A post shared by Cynthia Cheng Mintz (@cynthiacmintz) on Sep 12, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

An outfit post taken back in September.  I’m seen wearing Rachel Sin to my alma mater’s 150th Anniversary gala.

Anyway, while the shows are this week, I’m really not sure if I’m going to go to any. It partially has to do with timing and weather (mostly weather – February isn’t exactly my favourite time of the year and I often prefer to stay in one spot), but also because of my issues with certain aspects of the industry, which I really want to see changed. Basically, I’d like to see the fashion industry accept varying heights. It will just help the consumer better understand how things might fit on their body types, which includes height. Brands (especially independent designers) can take advantage of social media and perhaps post images which say something like “this is one of our favourite customers, Jen. Jen is 5’1″ and a size 12 and just bought a pair of our versatile slim fit pants for work. She’s smiling because the pants have a 28″ inseam and she won’t need to have them altered!” I mentioned the whole height thing to a designer today, and she looked at me as if I was crazy (when I mentioned to her that I have a love-hate relationship with fashion). So no, I doubt designers would even consider something like this!

The post Toronto Fashion Week, Size Diversity and My Love-Hate Relationship with the Industry appeared first on Cynthia C. Mintz.