Hello, my name is Casey McKinnon and I’m a size 0. Heck, sometimes I’m even a size 00 as my body measurements are 32-23-33 and I’m 5’1″. So, it goes without saying that when I hear people dissing my dress size, I get a little offended because it doesn’t make any sense. How is it that I can fit perfectly in my mother’s dresses from the 1960s, but the US fashion industry had to invent a size in the past ten years just to fit me?!

Recently I’ve seen a lot of photos being shared by my friends that affirm larger body images with slogans and quotes. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it does become hurtful when they start making fun of smaller sizes as if they are “unhealthy.” Sure, it would be rather unhealthy if you were 6′ tall, but the average American woman is 5’4″. With this in mind, I feel it’s important for my fellow females to understand the history of sizes 00-0 and why they exist in our stores today.

When it comes to body image, one of the most popular tropes in the world is the myth of Marilyn Monroe’s dress size. It is famously said that ‘Marilyn Monroe wore a size 16 dress.” This may have been true in the 1950s and 1960s, but not by today’s standards. If you’ve ever tried to purchase a vintage dress, you’ll know that the sizes are completely different from modern sizes. In 2009, British journalist Sara Buys had the opportunity to try on Marilyn’s dresses and had this to say about her size:

Contrary to received wisdom, she was not a voluptuous size 16 – quite the opposite. While she was undeniably voluptuous – in possession of an ample bosom and a bottom that would look at home gyrating in a J-Lo video – for most of the early part of her career, she was a size 8 and even in her plumper stages, was no more than a 10. I can tell you this from experience because a few weeks ago, I tried to try on her clothes.

In fact, Monroe’s waist size was 22-23 inches. The same, if not smaller, size as me! So how can this be? Thanks to a little thing called vanity sizing.

Also referred to as size inflation, vanity sizing refers to the fact that the US fashion industry inflated the size of their garments to deal with the expanding population of consumers. As America grew outwards, so did the clothes… yet the numbers remained the same. In this New York Times article, journalist Stephanie Clifford has done some really interesting research and has this to say about my 32″ bust size:

A woman with a 32-inch bust would have worn a Size 14 in Sears’s 1937 catalog. By 1967, she would have worn an 8 [...] Today, she would wear a zero.

So why exactly would the US fashion industry succumb so overwhelmingly to vanity sizing?

The CDC reports that the percentage of adults with obesity has been growing since 1980. Last year they reported that, in 2009–2010, 35.7% of U.S. adults were obese. Given that number doesn’t even include overweight individuals, it just proves how large a demographic we’re looking at. It’s no wonder that the fashion industry felt the need to adapt and cater to their growing clientele.

Eventually, however, the industry would learn a very potent lesson: you can increase the size of clothes all you want, but you’ll end up screwing over the petite ladies that still exist in the US!

No matter what your size, it’s always difficult to find the right fit for your body type. In my case, being petite before the invention of sizes 0 and 00 meant shopping in the juniors’ section and dressing like a teenager. It also meant that I couldn’t for the life of me find a store that sold business suits in my size! I was over the moon when I finally took a trip to Vancouver and discovered a magical land called Aritzia… a store that had business suits that were TOO SMALL for me! They carried sizes as small as 000 and XXXS, and their clientele included many beautiful petite Asian ladies that I would not consider “unhealthy” in any way.

Sadly, some stores that carry such small sizes get flack. Last year it was revealed that Zara has had some difficulty in the US because its sizes were “too small” for Americans. Ironically, everything I try on at Zara is still too big for me. :/

The key in today’s world is to find the stores that are right for you and your body shape. We’re all different and we needn’t get upset and blame opposing body types just because our clothes don’t fit right. “Normal” and “healthy” come in a variety of shapes and sizes and it might be hard for us to find the right clothes, but it’s equally as hard on the merchants to decide how many sizes of a garment they need to make to have optimal sales. Sure, it’s frustrating not to find your size in every store, but that’s what seamstresses are for. And to bring it back to Marilyn Monroe; if she were alive today, she would probably have to buy a larger dress size and take it in at the waist because, again, we’re all unique and she had a bangin‘ hourglass figure!

When it all comes down to it, I love and respect my fellow ladies at any size… as long as they love Star Trek. ;)

It’s not news that 80s fashion has been coming back little by little over the past couple of years, but I’m only starting to get worried now.

It’s a known fact to me that visiting the Topshop web site is like visiting the future of North American fashion. From my experience, it takes about 3-6 months for British fashion to eventually seep into the American fashion market, so here’s a taste of the crap we’ll apparently be wearing (and loving) later this year:

Personally, I just don’t think I’ll be able to get into this one… is there anyone out there who wants this crap?

Perhaps not yet… but will we have a different opinion once Watchmen comes out? This MTV spoof makes me wonder:

So, what do you think? Will you ever be able to get back into original 80s fashion like this again?

Photo courtesy of Jason DeFillippo

Since my Style Guide was such a hit the other day, I thought I’d share makeup tips ala Casey McKinnon.

Like clothing, makeup is a very personal choice. Sometimes you want to wear something classic and beautiful, sometimes you want something casual and easy, and sometimes you want to be creative and/or geeky.

I started getting serious about make up when we started making Galacticast, because suddenly I had to act as a zillion different characters – who all needed different makeup styles to boot! I learned a lot about what exactly looks good on me… so without further ado, here is my method of applying make up:

[Disclaimer: I don't DARE do all of this on a daily basis...]

30 SPF Daily Moisturizer

If you’re not already, start protecting your skin NOW! Four years ago I got strange brown blotches on my face from the sun and was told I had Melasma (aka. “the pregnancy mask”). I then had to bleach the skin on my face with a special lotion that made my face turn red and peel off (horrible) and ever since I’ve been told to wear no less than 30 SPF on a daily basis, and try to stay protected from the sun. I highly suggest getting a 30 SPF lotion that also dubs as a facial cream, I have used both Oil of Olay and Aveeno products. Both seem to work well.

Foundation

I don’t use foundation on a regular basis because I feel like it clogs up my pores. I only use foundation when I’m doing a photo shoot or attending an important public event where I’m likely to be shot in photos! When shopping for a concealer, ask the person behind the makeup counter for something that suits your needs. My needs included looking natural on camera, and ever since I’ve been using Revlon New Complexion One-Step Compact Makeup.

Concealer

I don’t use a concealer, but instead usually put white eyeliner and/or white eye shadow/cream to the inner point of my eyes, as well as under my eyes (in the “bags”), and just under my eyebrows. This will make you look younger and more awake – I learned this from the beautiful Carmindy Bowyer from TLC’s What Not to Wear.

The Eyes

To me, all makeup centers around the eyes… so my guide is much more concentrated in this area. Since my eyes are green, and my skin is so pale, if I’m not wearing makeup in photos I look completely washed out. This is why I try to bring out my eyes on a daily basis (if I’m leaving the house or planning to be on camera!). Here are my favorite looks:

• The Audrey Hepburn
  
  Even before I started wearing fake eyelashes, people told me I looked like Audrey Hepburn. In fact, my own mother mistook this painting of Audrey Hepburn for me! But it wasn’t until I watched a video on YouTube by askmemakeup that I really learned to master the art of Audrey Hepburn eyes.

  To achieve the Audrey Hepburn look, start by applying a white coal pencil (smudgingly) and/or white eyeshadow on the eye lid, the bottom line of your brow, and the inner corners of your eyes. Then, smudge a black coal pencil along your lash line and apply fake eyelashes. Next, apply a black liquid liner on the upper lid along the lash line… and voila!

  Tip: Learn to apply fake eyelashes here.

• The Angelina Jolie
  
  My rendition of smokey eyes. First, I lightly apply a black coal pencil around the entire eye. Next, I use a brush to smudge it out. Then, I take a dark aubergine-color powder and apply on my lids, as well as lightly around the entire eye – focusing on drawing it out a little further in the corners to give it a more oval look. After that, I highlight under my brow and the inner points of my eyes with white pencil (which I smudge) and I apply black mascara to the top and bottom lids.

  I use the color aubergine because it goes well with my eyes. You might want to try other colors to see what looks best on yours. Sephora allows you to try all their products in store… go and knock yourself out.

  Tip: There are great tutorials on YouTube for achieving the perfect smokey eyes, watch one here.

• The Rock Band
  
  When you’re feeling creative and geek chic, go fire up the ol’ Rock Band. I don’t know about you, but I’m OBSESSED with the awesome eye makeup designs they have in the game… so I often treat Rock Band is my makeup consultant. Above, you can see I’ve tried the Fade To Pink design (I’ve also tried Red Out and Stardust, the latter of which looked awful on me! :P). And someday soon, I’ll be trying the Scarlet Ibis, Envy, Lynx, and Woodrobin designs.
• Combinations/Creativity
  
  The most important thing with makeup, especially eye makeup, is to be creative. You might not find what suits you at first, but you will in time… and trying new things or mixing it up will help you stay up to date – even my mother has been adopting my makeup tips at home by highlighting her upper lid with a black line and mascara!

  Above is a photo of me blending intense smokey eyes with fake eyelashes (I was going for a neo-noir Blade Runner-type look). The photo next to it was from a Rock Band party I had where I did my makeup like Paul Stanley (*ahem* the third time I’ve ever done my makeup like a member of Kiss).

Blush

If you’re going for a vamp look, you needn’t apply any blush. You should apply a minimal amount if you’re going for a sweet look, and tons if you’re going for the burgundy-haired-middle-aged-woman-with-20-cats look… there’s a fine line, people.

Lipstick

I usually try to stay natural with my lipstick, using it as a type of lip-blush. I enjoy using Sephora Brand Ultra Shine Lip Gloss, but sometimes venture to a more vamp look with dark red lipsticks. That said, I don’t usually apply it too strongly, sometimes just a dab is all you need to blush up those lips.

Design your own t-shirt with the tweet of your choice? Yes please!

TwitoShirt is like a dream come true… and if I had money to burn, I’d already have ordered about three t-shirts/aprons/tote bags already. The way it works:

1. Enter the permalink of the status message you want on your merch here. Click on Get a T-shirt!
2. It will then show you a preview of the status message. Click on I want this T-shirt!
3. Select what t-shirt style/color/size you want, add it to your shopping cart and buy away!

I’m tempted to buy one, but I’m always afraid of the t-shirt fit and sizing… which is why I stick with nicer quality non-custom brands like Junk Food (as mentioned in my Style Guide). BUT, if I was going to get some TwitoShirt merch… I’d have to get it with this status message, which still rings true to me:

Via geeksugar

An awesome internet friend of mine just lost a bunch of weight and is ready to go shopping for new outfits. She liked my style, so she asked me for advice on shops and web sites I like to buy from. I started writing a ridiculously long email message and realized that I should just make it into a blog post complete with links and photo illustrations… so here is the 2009 Casey McKinnon Style Guide!

TOPS

• FASHION TOPS:
  
  I buy a zillion tops a year… it started because I needed tops to wear for our web shows, but now I’m just obsessive. I love Topshop, H&M, La Maison Simons, Guess, and even Abercrombie & Fitch (for women’s clothes only).
  Tip: I highly suggest branching out your color palette (I highly believe that if you’re wearing the right make up, you can look fabulous in any color). Also, my Korean traditional dance teacher used to tell me that the sexiest thing about a woman is her shoulders… keep that in mind when you’re looking for fashion tops (I often go for a slight puff in the sleeve).
• GEEK TEES:
  
  I used to buy geek t-shirts based on what was on them (photo on the left), but now I’m buying them also based on how they fit (photo on the right). I highly suggest Junk Food for geeky tees – they usually use fabrics that are soft and thin, and they’re often made to be more fitted than the average t-shirt. You can find their stuff (and other cool stuff) at 80stees.com.
• SWEATERS/HOODIES:
  
  I get inexpensive fitted hoodies from pretty much anywhere. Just make sure that what you get is flattering… you want to try to find some that compliment your waist line. I’ve also been wearing a lot of long, loose-fitting sweaters. The fabric is nice and thin so, although it’s not fitted, you can still see my figure.
• JACKETS:
  
  I got my sexy black leather jacket at Zara. It’s perfect for going out and looking frakking cool! :P I also love getting suit jackets to wear with jeans (great for looking casually professional). I try to find creative pieces in a staple color so they match anything. I’ve purchased really nice jackets at Guess and La Maison Simons.

BOTTOMS

• JEANS:
  
  It takes a LONG time to find the right jeans… so if you go jean shopping and feel discouraged, don’t worry… it happens to all of us! I’ve found nice jeans at Guess, Parasuco, and Buffalo. The jeans I currently wear are “skinny jeans”, but they aren’t flattering to everyone. Try on different cuts and different sizes to get the right pair… tight is good, unless your skin is bursting out!
  Tip: Don’t be afraid to get higher waisted jeans if you wear long tops.

DRESSES

• Betsey Johnson is great, but expensive… so you can also find some nice fun dresses at Topshop, H&M, Jacob and La Maison Simons.
  Tip: The key with Betsey Johnson dresses is the tiny waist line… but if you go shopping for a dress somewhere else, just remember that this can also be achieved with a funky belt. You can always buy them separately and still put together a fucking awesome outfit! In fact, in this photo I actually tied a pretty black ribbon (about 1″ wide) around my waist… this detail made the dress more fitted and unique.

FOOTWEAR

• FLATS:
  
  I usually get flat ballet slipper-type shoes, they’re sleek and comfy, and I try to get shoes with some kind of feminine detail (a tiny bow, fun color, etc.). I’ve found gorgeous pairs at Steve Madden, Aldo and Browns/B2.
• BOOTS:
  
  Every woman needs a pair of knee high sexy black boots, don’t they? I got mine at Aldo. I also have killer rain/snow boots which I got at Browns/B2.
  Warning: Buying rain boots encourages you to step in more puddles.

SLEEPWEAR

• NIGHTIES:
  
  I LOVE NIGHTIES!!! I own about 10. Go out and get yourself something cute and sexy. It doesn’t matter if you have a boyfriend or not, it’s all about feeling fabulous when you lie down to sleep! I have nighties from Betsey Johnson, Victoria’s Secret, and La Senza.

ACCESSORIES

• NECKLACES:
  
  Necklaces can really complete whatever you’re wearing. You could wear a completely plain top, dress it up with a beautiful or artistic necklace and look like a million bucks! I buy a lot of cheap jewelery at Also Accessories, and my sweet Rudy gets me lovely crystal jewelery from Swarovski.
  Tip: Don’t worry about getting matching bangles or accessorizing with watches, they make your arms look shorter.
• HATS & SCARFS:
  
  Totally optional, but fun! Hats are great for me because I’m only 5’2″ and the sun visor in the car isn’t always helpful to me while driving! I’ve purchased kick ass hats at La Maison Simons, and scarfs can be found almost anywhere these days.

The most important thing to remember when shopping is your attitude. If the clothes you try on make you feel confident and perhaps even a little exhibitionist, they’re probably perfect for you. And remember too that my daily self portraits are all posed and color edited… no one’s perfect.

Happy shopping! Post photos of your new outfits on Flickr for me! :D

PS: A couple of general rules:

1. Have fun and be creative with your accessories: Long gloves or even the wacky skirt from your Halloween costume can really make an outfit.
2. Always cover up your mid-section in public, no matter how thin you might be.
3. Always wear flattering undergarments. You never know when you’re going to die, and you don’t want to be caught wearing holey panties when the coroner is giving you an autopsy!