Yesterday, the New York Times published an article on plus-size fashion bloggers, and it’s full of amazing quotes from some amazing people. I’d already been following a few of these ladies, but now I have a whole new bunch of blogs bookmarked. Here are the bloggers, with what they told the New York Times:

Gabi Gregg of Gabifresh:

“Once I sized out of mainstream stores, I loved shopping more. It was a challenge. Just because I was a certain size didn’t mean I was going to wear frumpy clothing. I want to show them there are other options. I say there are no rules for plus-size dressing.”

“At the same time, there’s part of me that gets frustrated. Why is someone my size in a bikini making headline news?”

Bethany Rutter of Arched Eyebrow:

 “[Girls] say they never thought they could wear a jumpsuit or a bikini or printed trousers before, but after seeing me wearing one they gave it a go.”

“Sometimes, though, it’s really big stuff, like examining their relationship with their body for the first time, questioning why they feel they should lose weight or why they feel they don’t deserve to enjoy fashion.”

Tiffany Tucker of Fat Shopaholic: 

“I get a lot of messages that I inspire readers to dress well. In the grand scheme of fashion blogs, there really isn’t a lot of plus-size blogs. I want to help people see that plus-size blogging is a valid form of blogging.”

Nadia Aboulhosn, model and blogger:

 “Sometimes I see myself as a role model. American women are size 10, 12, 14. I’m very relatable. People aren’t used to seeing the clothes on somebody with the curves I have. If you’re fashionable, you’re fashionable regardless of size.”

Samantha Rasmussen of Stiletto Siren:

 “I thought, I should be blogging for the curvy girls out there, who are having confidence, looking cute, living life at their weight, not an imaginary weight they cannot reach.”

Amanda Valdez of Fashion, Love, and Martinis:

“People around me get uncomfortable when I refer to myself as fat. I embrace the word ‘fat.’ Fat does not define me, it doesn’t define my character, or where I’ve been in my life. I am just another girl who is posting about her life and style, and I happen to be fat.”

Chastity Garner of Garnerstyle: 

“I want to bring out the body rather than hide the body.”

Alissa Wilson of Stylish Curves:

“The goal is not to look smaller; the goal is to find clothes that make you look good.”

Diane Dennis of Fat Girls Like Nice Clothes Too:

 “Retailers seem to think that once you are over a certain size, you don’t care about fashion and want nothing more fashionable than yet another midlength mock wrap-front jersey dress in an ugly print. Give us something new already and, God forbid, on trend.”

Ragini Nag Rao of A Curious Fancy:

“Fat women need to realize that their bodies are worth dressing well.”

Print some of those out and stick them on your mirror! Then, go check out the blogs and get ideas to fill your closet.

All images from their respective blogs, which are linked below the photo.