Comments on: Bride ideas http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/ Watch out. We've got sharp sticks. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:56:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Knit Sisters » Blog Archive » Like a fish needs a bicycle http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1425 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 15:59:51 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1425 [...] Now, in “honor” of this new t-shirt offering and the ongoing, full-court press by the bridal industry to get all brides to “drop a dress size” before the “big day” (discussed in greater depth on this blog here) AND Alex’s recent resolution to start pumping iron in an attempt to look more like Daniel Craig, I have made the following deals with my beloved: [...] […] Now, in “honor” of this new t-shirt offering and the ongoing, full-court press by the bridal industry to get all brides to “drop a dress size” before the “big day” (discussed in greater depth on this blog here) AND Alex’s recent resolution to start pumping iron in an attempt to look more like Daniel Craig, I have made the following deals with my beloved: […]

]]> by: Juno http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1055 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 04:01:01 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1055 I struggle with this all the time. I'm 6'3 and striking, I'm big, strong, smart - and I know all the things you just said and I STILL catch myself tucking in my edges. Ugh. Thanks for the reminder. I struggle with this all the time. I’m 6′3 and striking, I’m big, strong, smart - and I know all the things you just said and I STILL catch myself tucking in my edges.

Ugh.

Thanks for the reminder.

]]> by: Amy http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1038 Mon, 06 Nov 2006 15:53:51 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1038 Ellen - Bravo, indeed! I just stumbled on your blog (through Lorinda), and will definitely be back to read more posts like this one. I could go on forever about weddings and the scary culture surrounding them, but many of your other readers have already covered it. Thank you for the insightful post! Ellen -

Bravo, indeed! I just stumbled on your blog (through Lorinda), and will definitely be back to read more posts like this one. I could go on forever about weddings and the scary culture surrounding them, but many of your other readers have already covered it. Thank you for the insightful post!

]]> by: Ellen http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1006 Sat, 04 Nov 2006 06:16:07 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1006 Hey, everyone, I'm away in Canada at the moment and not on the internet much, but I just got a chance to read all your comments. What a great bunch of observations! Thanks for commenting and writing such honest and smart responses! Hey, everyone, I’m away in Canada at the moment and not on the internet much, but I just got a chance to read all your comments.

What a great bunch of observations! Thanks for commenting and writing such honest and smart responses!

]]> by: Jennifer http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1003 Sat, 04 Nov 2006 04:53:57 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-1003 Well put Ellen! It's amazing how prevalent the "you need to be smaller" attitude is in our culture. Obviously there are huge economic benefits to be reaped from convincing people to hate themselves as they are, and to acquire "self esteem" through self-modification (botox anyone?). Not surprising then that this has spilled over to the bridal industry, which seems to be predicated on the idea that there are a million ways to do a wedding wrong and only one way to do it right - expensively! But, like you I also wonder about the implications of the way we tell WOMEN to shrink, more than we do men. What's up with that? And why are we told that we're infinitely malleable, as long as we have enough willpower? I had enough willpower to put myself through U of C, but I'm still a size 16. Failure of willpower? Or just the body I have? Well put Ellen! It’s amazing how prevalent the “you need to be smaller” attitude is in our culture. Obviously there are huge economic benefits to be reaped from convincing people to hate themselves as they are, and to acquire “self esteem” through self-modification (botox anyone?). Not surprising then that this has spilled over to the bridal industry, which seems to be predicated on the idea that there are a million ways to do a wedding wrong and only one way to do it right - expensively!

But, like you I also wonder about the implications of the way we tell WOMEN to shrink, more than we do men. What’s up with that? And why are we told that we’re infinitely malleable, as long as we have enough willpower? I had enough willpower to put myself through U of C, but I’m still a size 16. Failure of willpower? Or just the body I have?

]]> by: Anne http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-993 Fri, 03 Nov 2006 18:14:20 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-993 Sing it, sister! This is *exactly* how I feel and part of why I've been so resistent to losing the extra weight I carry for so long. Love me like I am! Also, for your other readers---there *are* men out there who like their female friends and/or partners to be themselves! I married one of them. They are out there. Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials. Make the day yours. And enjoy yourselves! Sing it, sister! This is *exactly* how I feel and part of why I’ve been so resistent to losing the extra weight I carry for so long. Love me like I am!

Also, for your other readers—there *are* men out there who like their female friends and/or partners to be themselves! I married one of them. They are out there.

Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials. Make the day yours. And enjoy yourselves!

]]> by: Lynda in Oregon http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-992 Fri, 03 Nov 2006 15:32:53 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-992 HALLELUJAH AND AMEN! This whole thing about THE WEDDING is a continual source of amazement to me. Why should you "drop a dress size" before the wedding? Because if "they" can convince you that you're not good enough just as you are, then their biggest hurdle has been leaped. You are now a quivering mass of consumer, feebly waving your credit card at anyone or anything that will promise to deliver that elusive notion of "perfection". Because nothing else is acceptable. BULL PUCKEY! I will admit I'd never thought of the size 0 / 00 concept as being part of the whole "sit down, shut up, don't make waves" attitude of the Great American Consuming Machine, but I think you're spot on. I wish I could afford to have your "I will laugh loudly" paragraph engraved on every mirror in the land ... so that every young woman in the world reads it every day as she prepares the face and body she will present to the world. You rock! HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!

This whole thing about THE WEDDING is a continual source of amazement to me. Why should you “drop a dress size” before the wedding? Because if “they” can convince you that you’re not good enough just as you are, then their biggest hurdle has been leaped. You are now a quivering mass of consumer, feebly waving your credit card at anyone or anything that will promise to deliver that elusive notion of “perfection”. Because nothing else is acceptable.

BULL PUCKEY!

I will admit I’d never thought of the size 0 / 00 concept as being part of the whole “sit down, shut up, don’t make waves” attitude of the Great American Consuming Machine, but I think you’re spot on. I wish I could afford to have your “I will laugh loudly” paragraph engraved on every mirror in the land … so that every young woman in the world reads it every day as she prepares the face and body she will present to the world.

You rock!

]]> by: JoLene Treace http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-976 Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:49:26 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-976 What an interesting topic. I think anytime we have something that is such a microculture (the wedding industry for example) that it becomes twisted and distorted, rather like in-breeding. You see this in other areas, too, like college campuses. Nothing like mixing in the rest of the real world for a reality check. Is the world going to be brighter if your nails are a half inch longer? As to your friend, well, you know your friend best. At least you know he was well intentioned. Not everything in life has to be simple. Not every person needs to be easy to understand. Not everyone needs to be married at the age of 21. It is good for young women to have roll models of all types because we come in so many flavors...and good for you, for being happy to be who you are and showing that you don't have to be a micro scoop of vanilla. What an interesting topic. I think anytime we have something that is such a microculture (the wedding industry for example) that it becomes twisted and distorted, rather like in-breeding. You see this in other areas, too, like college campuses. Nothing like mixing in the rest of the real world for a reality check. Is the world going to be brighter if your nails are a half inch longer?

As to your friend, well, you know your friend best. At least you know he was well intentioned. Not everything in life has to be simple. Not every person needs to be easy to understand. Not everyone needs to be married at the age of 21. It is good for young women to have roll models of all types because we come in so many flavors…and good for you, for being happy to be who you are and showing that you don’t have to be a micro scoop of vanilla.

]]> by: Susan http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-970 Thu, 02 Nov 2006 04:23:04 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-970 HA. I -guarantee- you that at my wedding, my mother will tell me that I look lovely but isn't it a shame that I'm not thinner, because then I'd be beautiful. She's told me this every other time I've been dressed up, in public, or being photographed. I have no reason to suspect my wedding will be different. (I mean, overall your point is correct, well said, and well taken. I just had to point out the exception that proves the fricking rule.) HA. I -guarantee- you that at my wedding, my mother will tell me that I look lovely but isn’t it a shame that I’m not thinner, because then I’d be beautiful. She’s told me this every other time I’ve been dressed up, in public, or being photographed. I have no reason to suspect my wedding will be different.

(I mean, overall your point is correct, well said, and well taken. I just had to point out the exception that proves the fricking rule.)

]]> by: debsnm http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-968 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:04:38 +0000 http://www.knitsisters.com/2006/10/31/bride-ideas/#comment-968 I have one, no - 2 questions for you - why are you reading those magazines? & why did you sign up for the emails? LOL The only thing that makes one truely (legally) married is that piece of paper you get at the judge's/magistrate's/county clerk's office - all the rest? It's just show. I have one, no - 2 questions for you - why are you reading those magazines? & why did you sign up for the emails? LOL The only thing that makes one truely (legally) married is that piece of paper you get at the judge’s/magistrate’s/county clerk’s office - all the rest? It’s just show.

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