85. Unflattering: Clothing Grief with Dacy Gillespie

In this episode of The Body GrieversⓇ Club, Bri interviews anti-diet, weight-inclusive personal stylist Dacy Gillespie about clothing grief, style, and size accessibility. Dacy shares how styling clients revealed the need to address body feelings and how "flattering" advice often aims to make bodies appear smaller, rooted in white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism, referencing work by Sabrina Strings and Sonya Renee Taylor. They discuss real scarcity in plus-size clothing, including brands dropping extended sizes, and the grief and privilege tied to beauty standards. Dacy shares some of her practical tips for rejuvenating your closet through size changes, while still taking care of your own emotional wellbeing.

 

01:50 How Mindful Closet Began

03:58 Size Access and Hidden Grief

07:42 Unpacking "Flattering" Culture

13:34 Scarcity Mindset vs Reality

25:52 Client Clothing Grief Questions

30:19 Move Clothes Aside

33:02 Budget Shopping Tips

37:04 Unlearning Body Shame

44:30 Dream Your Style

EPISODE RESOURCES:

"Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fatphobia" by Sabrina Strings

"The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love" by Sonya Renee Taylor

"Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness" by Da'Shaun L. Harrison

Episode 67: Being SEEN: picture grief with Lindley Ashline

Summer Support Anti-Diet Panel

Study on Women's Clothing Size

WANT MORE OF DACY GILLESPIE?

Join Dacy's newsletter at https://dacygillespie.substack.com/ 

"Mindful Closet" styling services with Dacy https://www.mindfulcloset.com/ 

Watch for Dacy's upcoming book, "Unflattering: A Radical New Way to Get Dressed"

WANT MORE OF BRI?

*Instagram: @bodyimagewithbri


*Website: https://bodyimagewithbri.com/

*Bri's Free Resource: 7-Step Guide to Shift Body Grief to Radical Body Acceptance

https://www.bodyimagewithbri.com/seven-steps