Dressing the 'Thick Ting'

I begin with an apology towards any one of my Well Endowed readers who might have been slighted by the title. In a reverse, perverse, and twisted way, I feel your pain. I'm not a pleasantly plump chick at all - I still rock the size zero Levi's I bought on sale 7 years ago very comfortably - but I feel your pain. You see, every time a body beautiful friend of mine couldn't find a pair of hot shorts to cover all her bits, or another couldn't pull the dress over her upper body without ripping it, I would feel the wrath of all the larger ladies who couldn't find stylish clothes for their size in the Caribbean.

Funny, because the region is replete with these curvaceous and ample women. Guys from Jamaica , Trinidad, Barbados and the other Countries go on and on about the 'Thick Ting' aka the luscious woman, lusting over and worshiping her front, back and side. The slimmer girls get a glance or two, along with hefty servings of food at dinner parties (We apparently have to 'put on some meat') but I have it on good authority that a little flesh in all the right places can make even the pickiest of men drool... With that being said, shopping for fashionable clothes as a plus size person in the W.I is a daunting task. At least in the US you could visit Ashley Stewart or even order stylish things online in your size. In our region? Steups... Off to the seamstress for you; we hope you find a reliable one who's worth her Singer sewing needles.

Plus size fashion in the C'bean means wearing Mu Mus, maternity wear, sacks, coveralls, boxy suits or squeezing into designs that are a few sizes too small. Very few designers cater for the larger folks - I'm still waiting to see the larger sized rack in Radical Designs! Caribbean Designers and pattern makers take note, there are a legion of ladies with fuller hips & legs or a larger chest & broader shoulders who are deserving of fashionable options too. Store owners and retail outlets, purchase a wider range of designs and stock your shelves with more sensible options. Now, a word of caution though, not just for the Thick Things, but for all of us... Dress for your size! It seems basic enough, but lawd, I had to say it because some people apparently just don't get it. If you don't know what your size is, check it! The two ladies pictured here - Soca Stars Nadia Batson and Alison Hinds - obviously know how to make themselves look damn good regardless of their size. Take a page from their book.

Salut.

LMN Harris.