10 July 2012

Not Photoshopped


Hey everyone,

A little while ago I was contacted by Feel More Better (previously Off Our Chests) an online magazine - who are launching a collection of t-shirts called StoryTees.
They are called StoryTees, as every t-shirt has an empowering message, and also for every t-shirt sold - Feel More Better donates a book to an underprivileged girl.

One in particular is the Not PhotoShopped shirt, released alongside the proposed Media and Public Health Act, which hopes to pass federal legislation requiring advertising and editorial that meaningfully change the human form through photoshopping or airbrushing to carry "Truth in Advertising" labels.

You can find t-shirts here and are available in a large range of sizes.
(The one I'm wearing below is a size 3 and it's huge on me!)

Here are some shocking statistics:
  • 42% of girls in grades 1-3 (7-11 year olds) want to be thinner.
  • 51% of 9-10 year old girls feel better about themselves when they're dieting.
  • 53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies; by the time they're 17, 78% of them will be.
  • By the time they're 17, these girls have seen 250,000 TV commercials telling them they should be a decorative object, sex object or a body size they can never achieve.
  • 7 million girls and women under 25 suffer from eating disorders. (myNEDA.org
  • 40% of newly identified cases of anorexia are in girls 15-19 years old. A rise in incidence of anorexia in young women 15-19 in each decade since 1930. Anorexia has the highest rate of mortality of any mental illness. (myNEDA.org)
  • 80% of women feel worse about themselves after seeing a beauty ad. 
  • $20B is spent on beauty marketing in the US annually. 
  • Nearly 25 million people - male and female - are suffering from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder. (myNEDA.org
  • 3-12% of teen boys use anabolic steroids in pursuit of a lean, muscular ideal.

Now the campaign is going guerrilla:

Today on the 10th June 2012, 30 girls (including myself) are going to wear their shirt, styled as they wish and post it to their blog - hoping to reach potentially tens of thousands of people.


EDIT: 28 bloggers ended up taking part - you can see all the photos and blogs by clicking this link!



SKIRT: Red Herring
GILET: Dorothy Perkins
SUNGLASSES: Vintage Foster Grant (my dad's from the 1980s!)
HAIRBAND: New Look
NECKLACE: Urban Outfitters
SHOES: Office
POINT OF FASHION: Not Photo Shopped

One of the real joys of reading blogs for me, is seeing how pieces look on a 'real' body - and yes, all bodies are 'real' bodies - whether that body is a size 0 or a size 32+! 

Sure, it's lovely when some retailers have handy 360 views, or even a short video of a model sashaying down a catwalk - but there's something about seeing how an outfit hangs on an everyday person you would see in the street that I personally find very inspiring.

I think that some big names in UK fast fashion are quite rightly jumping on this idea, and just a few of these include: 
  • AX Paris has a very successful campaign showing their clothes on bloggers of all shapes and sizes (you can view the girls on their Facebook albums here and here - plus a lot are also intergreated into their website).

It's all happening!

And I hope today you're all feeling more better. Because you're made of awesomesauce. 
All of you!



Muchos love,
MessyCarla.


PS: Apologies I've been AWOL the past week - the building work on our house has begun, and although the contractors seem friendly enough, I don't fancy posing in my yard while they stare at me slightly confused, haha! 

I also stayed with Lauren in London this weekend for Unskinny Bop - and also to hang out with my friends Sam and Hattie who currently live in Radlett. 
I planned on posting lots of pictures from my time there - mostly of delicious food - but my phone got caught in the rain and unfortunately I've lost most of the photos, which I'm a bit gutted about. But rest assured, a marvellous time was had!


DISCLAIMER: Shirt sent courtesy of Feel More Better. I was not paid to blog about this campaign. All words and opinions are - as ever - my own.

19 comments:

  1. Love your look! :) Quite playful and sassy! :)

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  2. Scary statistics, but it looks like a great campaign. And I love your orange skirt!

    I've recently subscribed to your blog (although I don't think I've commented yet) and I must say, I'm really enjoying it!

    xo

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  3. I love love love your shirt! Slouchy shirts are my vices, haha.


    bonjourgazel.com

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  4. Love the colour of the skirt with the top! Lovely :)

    www.thoughtfulsunday.blogspot.co.uk/

    xx

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  5. Love love love the whole outfit, espec the shoes and skirt! xoxo

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  6. You look fabulous! What a great initiative.

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  7. You look fabulous! What a great initiative too.

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  8. Really interesting stats, and love this top/outfit and message Xo

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  9. That's a great top and I love the whole idea around all of their tees.

    http://www.rafflesbizarre.blogspot.com

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  10. Brilliant message and you look fab! I much prefer to see clothes on a real women, you're right, it's much more inspiring xxx

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  11. really like the statement of your shirt!! and you're so sweet :)!

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  12. I love the idea behind this and I love how the other bloggers have styled theirs!

    Maria xxx

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  13. Love the story behind the shirt !
    Love your styling too :)
    Really cute skirt x

    www.launainponderland.blogspot.com

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  14. What a great idea. We all definitely need to send the message to younger girls that it's ok being the size you are - as long as you're healthy and happy :) x

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  15. This is why I love blogs - no photoshopping! Well, maybe a bit ;-) but nothing drastic like in magazines.

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  16. I love the not photoshopped batwing tee - but more than that i love they have a kid's tee that says 'when i grow up i want to be me'

    Tess x
    http://fashionresister.blogspot.co.uk/

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  17. i found you through Look magazine's street style website and im now following you. i absolutely love your style, your outfits are amazing and your message is fantastic, more power to you!! :)

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