In 2007, I purchased my first vintage item, a neon-pink polka-dot 50s-era day dress, for $35. I never wore it, but it proudly hung in my closet, a reminder that there was more to life than being overlooked. I vowed to have an entire closet of gorgeous vintage clothes. True to my word, I continued shopping primarily from vintage and used stores for the next decade. Vintage clothing provided a community for me, showing me that my peculiar sense of beauty could be appreciated. However, when I gained weight in my late twenties, I struggled to find plus-size vintage clothing. The vintage world I once found solace in didn’t seem too excited about my new proportions. Most shops tended to max out at size large or extra-large, and a vintage shop proprietor told me: “There’s just not a lot of plus-size vintage clothing out there. People used to be smaller.” Her words daunted me. I didn’t know where to look for plus-size vintage clothing, and I stopped trying. I lived in Austin, Texas, home to some of the country’s best vintage, but I mostly kept my shopping to random knicknacks and vintage UT Austin memorabilia. All that changed when I discovered the Instagram account @historicalfatpeople. Following the account empowered me, and I was ready to dress like myself again. I spent the last few years cultivating a network of vintage, thrift, handmade and reworked-clothing purveyors who offer plus-size items. I treasure these finds and my relationships with the dedicated proprietors and makers. However, finding items online and waiting for them to arrive can get old. I craved the in-person camaraderie of shopping with friends. That is, until Thick Thrift arrived on the scene last year. Thick Thrift is Los Angeles’s first all-plus-size flea market. Co-founded by Rachael Frank, Aya Kajikawa, and Mia Fernandez, Thick Thrift is a rebuke to the experience of being marginalized in the fashion world. At Thick Thrift, fat people can shop for clothes in their size and celebrate their bodies. The market features a diverse selection of vendors, including Proud Mary, La Más Bella, and Cantiq. Thick Thrift is creating a community where fat people can feel celebrated and accepted, and find joy in dressing their bodies in whatever way they choose.
Thick Thrift: A Plus-Size Vintage Paradise Empowering Fat Fashion
