Kelsey Miller is the author of the witty and inspiring memoir Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting and Got a Life and a writer for Refinery29, where she launched The Anti-Diet Project. “I’m so damn lucky to get to be one of the people who writes about body issues,” she said. “One day, when all these problems are solved, I won’t write about it anymore!” Here, Kelsey shares five outfits she wore in a week…
Coat: Eloquii. Dress: TheMogan. Tights: American Apparel. Boots: Everlane.
“This outfit looks pulled together but you feel like you’re in full-body sweats. I want to buy this dress in every single color. The boots are shockingly comfortable. And then THE COAT. That’s the coat I’ve been looking for from the very first time I watched Love Story at age 18. And here it is. I couldn’t be happier. You can just move in and live inside that coat, and yet it looks so chic. I wore this to work and then had dinner with my grandfather that night. It’s a work-to-grandfather outfit.”
Shirt: Eloquii. Leggings: 90 Degree by Reflex. Socks: similar.
“I work from home a lot, and for a long time I wore exclusively yoga pants and old T-shirts. But I realized that nicer clothes made me feel better. It was a form of self respect. I was actually sitting down to work, versus transitioning from pajamas to a slightly upgraded version of pajamas. There was once a tweet from Elizabeth Gilbert that was like, hey listen, put on a bra even if you work from home, even if you’re a guy!”
“For my nails, I wanted an ombre look, so I just picked five different orangey pinks at the salon.”
T-shirt: The Wing. Jeans: Eloquii, similar. Gold bracelet: similar.
This T-shirt is from The Wing, the women-only co-working space. When I was working exclusively from home, my only social interaction was going to the gym or grocery store at the end of the day. But the Wing has a truly engaged community. Also, I’m wearing a bracelet that I had engraved to say, ‘Do it anyway.’ I have no problem embracing the hokeyness of that! That phrase had come up in therapy a few years ago — I’m a big second guesser and deal with OCD, which has made it challenging to move forward in life and take big steps. So, that attitude has gotten me, through — to feel the fear and do it anyway. For a lot of us, that fear is never going away, you just have to bring it with you everywhere you go.”
Sweater: vintage, similar. Dress: Forever 21, similar. Tights: American Apparel. Boots: vintage, similar. Tote: Madewell. Engagement ring: Mociun.
“This dress makes me feel like Lisa Loeb or a Lisa Loeb fan. The boots are so old that I almost throw them out every single year; but they zip over my calves and when you’re a large calved girl, this is rare. Plus, old can be good. The more beat up and crappy this tote gets, the more people ask about it. I don’t do shapewear, like Spanx, but I wear these great shorts from Thigh Society. They prevent thigh chafe and lines. I even wore them under my wedding dress.”
“My husband is a great go-to, if I need a second opinion. He’s a modern fancy gentlemen. This is a man who doesn’t travel with fewer than five pocket squares. One of his style icons is Menswear Dog. He would like to look like Menswear Dog all the time.”
Sweater dress: Mordenmiss. Tights: American Apparel, similar. Boots: vintage, similar. Earrings: Stephanie von Tesmar. Wooden Heart Necklace: Hey Gorgeous, similar. Purse: Red Pearl.
“I never want to chose clothing based on hiding my body. When I first learned the phrase ‘visible belly line’ from Gabi Fresh on Instagram, I decided to pull together a shoot at Refinery29. We chose clothes that highlighted my belly line and then walked around downtown Manhattan. I freaked out for the first few minutes, but there’s only so long your brain will panic before it’s like, ok, well, I’m tired of that. I did the same thing when I wore a bikini for the first time; and when I wore clothes that showed my back. If you have the opportunity to wear something that scares you, take it. You’ll at least come out with the realization that you don’t need to be afraid of getting dressed. There’s nothing that you’re not allowed to wear, really and truly.”
Thank you so much, Kelsey!
P.S. More women share their outfits, including a scientist and two awesome podcasters.
(Photos by Christine Han for Cup of Jo. Interview by Joanna Goddard.)
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Freakin love. Thanks for sharing.
So lovely-such comfort, optimism and beauty!
Love Kelsey’s style, particularly her use of colours! She looks put-together without being matchy-matchy!
Thank you so much for having someone with ocd, who is also a happy, succesful, awesome person. And the fact that they struggle to also find boots that fit… well it all felt like a love letter just to me!
:)
Cool woman, great outfits especially the first one, love those colors together. I work in a shop and help women select clothing, it can be devastating what some say about themselves, truly heartbreaking. We need stories and photos that show us that there is something inherently beautiful about us that no one can take a way. Clothing is a way to accentuate and celebrate our unique expression of that inherent beauty.
That ombre nail idea is GENIUS!
Yay loved this one. Totally noticing the increase in body inclusivity on Cup of Jo and I am so here for it!
I thought the same! Love it :)
Yes, same! I have been reading Cup of Jo for… well, I lost count, perhaps a decade? Can that be right?! And the whole time there has been a part of me who felt apart from the content and the community. It’s the way that I feel apart from many feminine-focused things because society tells me that as a fat woman, I am not supposed to fully be out in the world until I become an “after” picture. Those old lies used as a net to hold women down have been breaking open lately and Cup of Jo is one of the places that’s opening up to me as a result. Thank you, Joanna and team, for working to be inclusive of folks of different races, sexual orientations, sizes, gender identities, and ages. THANK YOU for letting me feel like I belong here. It doesn’t go unnoticed and it’s more consequential than you can imagine.
I love her! I want her to be my BFF! (Well, second BFF because my BFF really is the cats pajamas!) And the visible belly link kinda rocked my world. I’d never really considered living in a peaceful coexistence with my belly, but damn if she doesn’t make a beautiful argument to give it a try!
I Love this! Thank you! Just what I needed!
I love the diversity of this series – and I mean that in so many ways, like how Kelsey includes a t-shirt and jeans look. But my favorite is the top outfit. I may buy the dress. ( :
“He’s a modern fancy gentleman.” Yes! This simultaneously made my heart melt and want to say – get it, girl!!
Love!! I just finished Kelsey’s book and it’s awesome. Three cheers for intuitive eating and loving our bodies!
This was so good. Love all of it and her personality!
Intuitive eating is the freest I have ever felt with feeling that life is for ME!! I can feel that same joy and energy from Kelsey. What richness. If Cup of Jo or any other readers want more resources I can heartily recommend Rachel Cole who does lovely deep feminist healing work on body and freedom and eating with pleasure and savoring life. thank you so much Joanna and cup of jo team, this post is one of my most favorites you’ve done. You guys are living out what you value and helping us do the same <3.
I love the peach dress and boots-looks…super cute.
Ok, now that I see this gorgeous girl I am going to get out my pencil skirts and tight dresses and not fret over bikinis any more. I am petite and thin, but have always had a little bit of a belly. I would really like a flatter belly, but until that happens I have seen that a little bit should be no big deal. Now, if only I could have (or fake!) that confidence….
I don’t mean to be patronizing so I hope this advice doesn’t sound this way, Rosabella, but I want to encourage you to look at pictures of women who are the shape that you are now, instead of the shape that you want to be, and see if perhaps you can find kindness in yourself for them (and by extension, yourself). It’s a wonderful feeling to find that you don’t need to think of yourself as a before picture and accept the shape your body wants — which is to say, needs — to be when you eat intuitively and only move in the ways that feel good to you, not as punishment. You’re valuable no matter how flat your tummy is!
Shout out to Katie Sturino (@the12ishstyle) who designed that coat!!!! I LOVE her body positivity and she’s definitely worth an Instagram follow. All my favorite internet things in one place today! What a dream :)
my two favorite looks were the sweater dress and the ‘command respect’ photo. you look Amazing in those jeans, particularly because of the hip detail! i’d have thought it wouldn’t work, but it totally enhances your figure in the best way. even though i was born with a stick figure (and chastised for it all my life), i really love the way curves are finally being embraced – thank your work in this area! it applies to all figure types, imo.
I gave my husband a wallet for Christmas a few years back with ‘do it anyway’ engraved in the leather. There is a beautiful poem that Mother Theresa wrote with the same title. I just reread and it brought tears to the eyes of this freshly post partum mama. Love your style Kelsey!
She looks so cool! This post actually had clothes that I would normally wear but more put together and fun. Cute stuff!
stunning! Your confidence is enviable and your laid back comfy yet pulled together style is fantastic!!
Love the last outfit the most – beautiful colours! And those earrings!
I agree AND disagree.
Sometimes body positive posts seem to promote settling for your circumstances and not having the motivation to improve.
But sometimes it is accepting what you’ve got to work with and just being your best self. Ya dig? So if you’re prone to health problems, keep an eye on them. Take care of yourself. But working towards having abs is essentially futile.
It’s not futile, it just helps to have a trainer or focused gym sessions. It is totally do-able!
@Sam I have a naturally athletic build and always see results relatively quickly. But different people have different body types and what takes one person 3 weeks to achieve at the gym might not be possible for another. Not everyone is the same; that’s what makes life so great!
A great read is the book “Health at Every Size”. Weight is not necessarily an indicator of good or bad health. And genuine health issues are often ignored by doctors if you’re overweight. I had a doctor who refused to treat my borderline thyroid issue because I “just need to lose weight”. Found another doctor who did treat it and guess what? I lost weight and my depression lifted within 2 months of being on medication. Weight is not a catch-all health problem/solution.
I would offer that body positive posts are all about the ability to improve, but the improvement they promote is your own mindset. The notion that everyone should always being trying to be thinner leaves lots of women trapped in cycles of self loathing and terribly disordered eating. Instead of spending everyday planning to lose the weight and berating yourself for failure, spend each day loving yourself, and trying to live your life fully, get out there and do the things you love (which for many fat women includes being active and exercising every day!)
I love her style and her attitude. Thank you so much for showcasing a body I can relate to :)
she’s so great <3
That striped shirt with buttons! Impeccable (where do you get your bras?). It’s hard to find a shirt that’s tailored enough to feel sexy and put-together, but thick and modest enough in the chest area (for busty girls) to feel like you’re not going to pop a button while talking to someone in the hallway.
I love Kelsey’s style and attitude! Would also love to see the COJ team feature more content on Intuitive Eating and Body Positivity. So many women struggle to maintain a healthy relationship with food and weight; it’d be nice to see some of the positive messages from the anti-diet movement highlighted ?
that’s a great idea, natalia!
I just looked up the sweater dress she was rocking because it looks so good on her even though it’s probably not for my body type. Also love the trim on her dress shirt. It’s the little details :)
Wonderful style! That last look has got rethinking my tendency to go simple with earrings. Cupofjo rocks!!!
She looks terrific in every outfit- what great style! This and the other posts have reminded me how much I enjoy vintage pieces. Her weathered boots and bag look great! I say keep them until they fall apart.
In tears at my desk, finally a post that celebrates and normalizes a body that isn’t a size 0, and the comment section is just as joyful as she appears in the feature. You have built the best community, Joanna.
“For a lot of us, that fear is never going away, you just have to bring it with you everywhere you go.”
That hit me so hard. Such a great profile! Thanks, Kelsey and CoJ!
Yes to Love Story!!! It remains a constant in my fashion inspiration.
La classe, tout simplement!
Kelsey is so beautiful! Thanks so much for this post. Reading about her personal journey to self-love is so uplifting!
I loved everything about her attitude towards life and getting dressed!
This is so embarrassing to admit, but I left a fairly nasty comment on a R29 piece Kelsey had written years ago…I think it was a negative article about Gwyneth. Anyway. I quickly regretted it, posted an apology and got the NICEST and most sincere note back from Kelsey. Ever since then I’ve been a complete and total Kelsey Miller fan. She is pretty much the best of the Internet & I get SO excited when I see her achieving victory after victory & I’m thrilled to see her featured here. Kelsey, keep rocking.
She just seems like a really neat person, wish she was my friend. Lots of good nuggets for thought.
This is the most relatable week of outfits yet for me! Thank you! Love her style and attitude and that peach dress, sweater, boots combo is just so pretty. Coj, you folks are just the best.
Love everything about this – the first and last outfits are ON POINT (the others also – but those two had me drooling) and her writing style is fantastic. Thanks for sharing!!
Cackling over parts (I mean, work-to-grandfather outfits and her husband wanting to dress like the menswear dog?! I’m dying!) and tearing up over other parts. Great post!
I am LOVING this style week, Kelsey is gorgeous and her book has been on my to-read list for awhile. Joanna I am so grateful and impressed with the way you continue to feature diverse women. Bringing on Ashley, this week of outfits, and in the style inspo posts adding in some plus size options… my heart can’t take it. I have been a reader for years and have always loved following the motherhood posts and the style posts but they were only aspirational and not as relatable. Seeing these gorgeous women in all shapes and sizes has really helped me connect more with your content. Keep up this amazing work! xoxo
I think all of the above is so awesome for women of all sizes. I’m not plus size, but deal with body issues, and ideas about what’s ok that have been stuck with me since childhood. Seeing beautiful diversity here is helping me question my stupid old thoughts about bodies and helping me be more compassionate, and that’s where i want to go. Coj is helping me do better, thank you.
I love “do it anyway.” I have anxiety, and when it gets bad, I do carry around the fear like she describes – there’s so much strength and courage in pushing through that fear and getting things done in spite of it.
I loved this! Approachable and cute. I work from home everyday. Immediately after reading this, I went and changed from my pajamas (and no bra) into real clothes and feel a million times better!
I have a request for a week of outfits post. Abby from shotsnaps.blogspot.com occasionally does a frugal fancypants post and it’s the best. Garage sale stuff she makes look awesome!
Love her style. I want to wear every one of these outfits. Thanks for the inspiration!
That sweater dress is the CUTEST!
I love her style! I need to find my style. I own my baby pooch (I’m 64, no matter how many crunches I do, I will always have a baby pooch)!
Me too! 44 3/4 here, and my belly is going exactly no where. I’m becoming ok with it. I think every time we love ourselves as we are, in spite of our culture telling us we are only lovable if we are physically perfect, it’s a radical act of feminism and it opens our hearts to the beauty and truth in others as well.
I love all her outfits. I don’t think I have particularly large calves, but many tall boots are so tight through the calves. I have a pair of Frye boots(got a great deal) I’ve had for years and the more worn they become, the more comfortable they are. I wore spanx for my youngest daughter’s wedding, and I couldn’t wait to get them off! I am glad you are showing women of all sizes and shapes.
Such a great breath of fresh air….beauty is in everyone. Love her example and hope that one day people of all sizes will be judged for their hearts and their spirits. Great styling and advice for all of us. ..
She’s lovely. Not just about what she talks about but her lovely voice in the writing. Talk about making me feel ok today with my big post baby pooch. More writing from Kelsey indeed :)
Love this style. perfect outfit
Intuitive eating helped me so much too, I am incredibly grateful for Kelsey Miller’s writing. And ‘Do it anyway’ has been a motto that I use often as well, alongside ‘what’s the worst that can happen…?’ I often run through the WORST CASE SCENARIO in my head, if I’m worried about something and figure out how I would deal with it. Most of the time, by the time I’ve gone through all of my different fears I either realise that I can handle it or that I just don’t want to do it, which is okay too!
She’s so cool and very corageous, I’ve read that Refinery29 article about “visible belly outline” and I have to say that she is awesome. I am not a fatty but I have a big booty and I can’t find myself comfortable in a pencil skirt. I am not proportionate and I would not dare to do what she did wearind those skirts. Bravo Kelsey, you are an example to me.
So much to say and think about in this post. How have I not heard about The Wing? And why, oh why, is there not something like this in my area? I may have found a new calling. Also, as a fellow second-guesser and OCD dealer-wither, I love Miller’s comment about feeling the fear and doing it anyway. It reminds me of the Georgia O’Keefe quote: I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life, and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to. I know this post is about a week’s worth of outfits, but there’s too much to focus on in what Miller says! Great post.
That final paragraph is something I, and I think a lot of women, need to take notice of. I have a thing about my wobbly upper thighs, they’re upper thighs, that’s it, they help me walk, why shouldn’t I show them?? And I work from home…off to get properly dressed, now!
She seems to face her demons, chat and laugh with them, then carry on. More Kelsey, please! Love her.
I would be honored to do your hair for your shoots! You are beautiful and this fashion is close to my heart! I can come to you!
Please do Lindy West next!!!
Love Lindy West!!
Love her and loved her book Big Girl! Intuitive eating truly saved my life and I think the anti-diet movement is one of the most positive things happening in the world right now. It is a joy to see all the women on Cup of Jo who are fully engaged in life and not buying in to the pressures of becoming smaller. It’s scary to discard dieting if you’ve been doing it your whole life, but…do it anyway :)
I love this!
Omg I need to shop with Kelsey. And hang out with her. One of the best week of outfits posts ever!!
What a babe! Love her style.
Looks like Kelsey has a tour-worthy home too!
I love this series. I have a suggestion. I recently cut my hair very short (pixie) and I really love it. Unexpectedly, I now feel like my clothes don’t really match the cut. I feel like I need a kind of chic short hair cut look overall. SO I would love to see a week of outfits featuring someone who is really nailing it (the chic short hair look). I don’t think I am fully realizing its potential and I KNOW there are people out there who are.
I’ve had super-short hair since my 20s and love this idea!
Go for a statement collar or fun earrings to show off!
Ooh I love a chunky oatmeal cardigan for winter. Here’s a very similar one on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/571475883/vintage-handmade-oatmeal-chunky-cardigan?ref=shop_home_active_14
oh, thank you for featuring KM! She is one of my heroes. :)
Love! Feeling very inspired to finally find some tunic/legging/boot outfits. So cute!
Another great week, thanks COJ! Also, her husband sounds equally fabulous. How about a profile for him too?! I mean, you gotta love a guy that has an excellent collection of pocket squares…
I am absolutely loving this series! Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve seen body shapes like mine being featured on a blog that isn’t just for curvy girls. So thrilled!
As someone who suffers from severe analysis paralysis, I need “do it anyway” tattooed on my body.
Kelsey describes clothes in such an appealing way. Made me want to buy all of it!
what a good mantra! “Do it anyway” Love that!
Brow goals!
Might be my favorite to date- both her style and her sentiments are very accessible and engaging!
The belly line and bikini photo shoots are so inspiring. I love her style and the way she seems to stare vulnerability in the face until it’s not so scary anymore. Like, “Oh yeah? What’s going to happen if I wear something someone else says is off-limits for me?”
Nothing, that’s what.
Such an important lesson.
You’re a star Kelsey! Feeling max inspired right now.
I’d love to see her wedding dress!! <3
Awesome. Going to order the dress from the first photo.
Love her! I, too, have a pair of boots that I intend to throw out every season, but they fit so well and they are chic and comfy!
I can’t pick a favorite – you’re radiant!
Is her engagement ring Emerald? So pretty… I love all her colored tights and non- black boots too.
I love her writing! And also her sweater dress :). I wish I had that much style. I tend to dress like everyone around me, just to fit in, even if I don’t like it. Read: Patagonia vests and hiking boots. This is a good reminder to take some risks.
Ok she’s just the best! Love her!!
This….”There’s nothing that you’re not allowed to wear, really and truly.” Sometimes I need reminding because I have a pesky internal voice that says otherwise but yes, yes, yes to this reminder!
Yes! Great outfit out of the week, my favorite yet for so many reasons! Also, where did she get that bookshelf?!
Best ever wide-calf knee high cognac boot- Sam Edleman Penny boot!!
Obsessed with these looks. Thanks for sharing her with us <3
So… tights… Ladies, I need your help!
Being new to the US, where should I shop for tights that won’t bankrupt me, but will also at least last one season?
Also, being new to wearing tights I’d really appreciate suggestions for where to go looking for a comfy pair (other than AA, will check them out immediately! :)).
I’ve had good luck with Uniqlo. And they have a heat tech version, too, if you live in a colder climate
uniqulo has excellent heattech tights! i have athletic thighs, and they’re a dream :)
I third Uniqlo and second athletic thighs ;). I also feel like the tights are way closer to being truly matte than other brands. I also noticed that Target has been carrying tights in all levels of denier this year. They have some truly warm and opaque pairs now.
I’ve had good luck with tights from Old Navy and LOFT.
I pick up Hue tights from Macy’s and they are great with lots of on trend colors and size variety
Kelsey, I LOVE YOUR STYLE!!! I am a professional in a buttoned-up lawyer job from M-F, but I secretly like the business suits and blouses and pencil skirts I “have” to wear. I guess that tailored look kind of translates to my weekend wear – I just can’t fathom why I’d want to hide myself under the shapeless, drab-colored, high-necked, sacklike clothes everyone is marketing to women these days. You have a wonderful eye for color and for pairing the right silhouettes together. You are killing it! I also have a very stylish husband so that part of your profile made me smile :)
Thank you for featuring an advocate of the anti-diet movement! I have really appreciated over the years that Cup of Jo has not promoted food policing or dieting- I love the relaxed and celebratory way you talk about all kinds of foods. Just this year I learned about HAES and intuitive eating and it has been life changing! The podcast FoodPsych has been so revelatory for me and seeing Kelsey featured here makes my heart sing! Great work, Cup of Jo team!! I especially remember a post where Joanna talked about eating a whole casserole when she was breastfeeding lol and that helped me after my first son was born to respect my hunger cues:)
Plus I love your style, Kelsey:)
Natalie, I love the podcast Foodpsych too! I totally agree, cup of jo feels like a really warm welcoming place to enjoy and savor food, and it was so sweet to see them feature Kelsey and the healing work of intuitive eating.
Just went and read five of her pieces on Refinery 29, including the one about intuitive eating…a book that pulled me out of a disordered eating spiral in college. So happy to know you, Kelsey. And look forward to more of your writing.
I love ALL of her outfits! She has top fashion sense. YES, keep those boots! I laughed about Menswear dog.
i laughed out loud at menswear dog, too. so, so funny.
I work from home every day and I totally go from PJs to an upgraded version of PJs, exactly like Kelsey said. I wear yoga pants so often that if I put on jeans my dog runs into her crate because she thinks I’m leaving the house!!
This are great outfits that will actually come in my size! Maybe I’ll start dressing cute for my home office and completely confuse my dog. :)
I love this post. Thank you, Joanna, for making this feature of your blog so inclusive to all kinds of women. Media at every level needs to strive for this kind of diversity. As a feminist and mother of three, I think these voices and images are critical for raising our daughters and sons to challenge the status quo and empower them to build constructive dialogue about body image, race and sexuality.
Amen! So well said.
Went to her Instagram, saw a shot from Anne of Green Gables and instantly followed her. Looking forward to it.
HA! I did, too! Because if you are instagramming Anne and Diana, you are probably my bosom friend and kindred spirit.
Her final outfit made me gasp- it’s SO CUTE. That dress and those earrings and boots! And thanks CoJ for introducing me to her work; I love the concept of intuitive eating so I just put her book on hold at the library!
SAME.
SAME, that whole outfit is amaaaazing!
This is an awesome post, thanks for lifting us up. Kelsey is beautiful and has great style and I will be checking out all the links.
Love this so much and I def need “do it anyway” like tattooed onto my body to remind myself that my anxiety is not my boss. Love it!
Yes. I think “do it anyway” will be my motto for 2018!
Always loved her writing and attitude when I first came across Kelsey on Refinery29 years ago… so matter of fact and approachable. I feel the exact same way about her closet now, too!
I love the color block sweater. Such a great look.
LOVE. THIS. I’ve been following Kelsey around the internet for a while and I’m always like, “HELL YEAH” every time I see her pop up somewhere new.
Kelsey, I’m wondering about those AA tights — are you wearing an m/l? I’m a fellow fat gal who is constantly searching for the perfect pair of tights, but I have a hard time believing I’d ever fit in AA tights! Please enlighten me.
thanks for featuring Kelsey! Lots of items I can now look into purchasing!
LOVE everything about this.
Love this one! Way to go Cup of Jo!
Thank you so much for A Week of Outfits. You feature the most amazing, real, and individualistic women. Every time I read one of these posts, I’m blown away by how each woman’s style is so very cool, and unbelievably THEM. It’s so natural that I look at them and think “Of course. That makes so much sense on them. They look fantastic.” It’s really helped me go for it when it comes to my own personal style. I’m inspired to reach for the things I love and that feel like me rather than something I think I should wear.
CoJ team, I wish I could give you all a big hug right now. This is exactly the Week of Outfits post I have been needing – someone about my size with FABULOUS style, and affordable price points for her clothes! (seriously going to go buy that dress in every color) (also can totally relate on the boot issue, but I have found a few brands that make wide-calf options…life savers!).
I had’t been lucky enough to read anything by Kelsey yet, but I clicked through on a few links to her articles and *wow*. Going to buy her book ASAP and internet-stalk all her articles. She seems so sweet and no-nonsense, and I love her fresh views on loving and embracing a body type other than the one we women seem to think we “need” (aka hourglass size 0).
My favorite week of outfits yet. Plus I seriously want to be Kelsey’s friend!
Love her! Great, classic taste in clothes
She is quite beautiful and I love her style. I also love her ‘Do it anyway’ bracelet and her openness about OCD and second guessing. I have received the same very powerful advice — feel the fear and do it anyway. “For a lot of us, that fear is never going away, you just have to bring it with you everywhere you go.” Thanks for being generous enough to let us readers know that everywhere we go, we’re also surrounded by other brave people who are doing it anyway. :)
The coat in the first outfit – SWOON! I clicked on the link to check it out for myself, and sadly found that it’s only available in plus sizes. Then I realized –
this is how my plus-sized sistas must feel every time they click on something made in size 12 and under. What an eye-opener.
Thank you for featuring a wide range of body types, colors, sizes and shapes on this blog – the world needs to see more beautiful women like Kelsey.
Kay you are soo right! Many of the bloggers I follow are fans of Top Shop and other sites that cater to size 10 and under. The struggle is real and just because I’m not a size 4 doesn’t mean I don’t want to look and feel beautiful. Thanks for posting this!
I have that Madewell Tote and it’s so beat up… it’s true that the grosser it looks, the more people ask about it! I have wondered if anyone out there has ever cleaned or conditioned theirs. I’m hoping my Cup of Jo tribe of exceptional blog commenters can help.
It’s so true! I’ve had mine for 5+ years now, and it’s officially in the “old-beat-up” stage. And in the past year, I’ve gotten SO many compliments on it. Just last month, a guy at a coffee shop stopped me to tell me he loved the bag and asked what kind of leather it was. (Knowing nothing about leather, I said “Uh… old? And poorly cared for?”)
That said, I welcome thoughts on how to give my tote some TLC.
My favorite Week of Outfits to date. I can’t relate to many of them, but I relate to this one (especially the wide-calf boots!).
Her vintage boots are amazing!
Aw, I love her! I laughed out loud so many times reading this. “This dress makes me feel like Lisa Loeb or a Lisa Loeb fan.” Perfect. And working at The Wing is my dream, in my imaginary life where I get paid to do creative writing instead of legal briefs. :-) Kelsey, you’ve got it made!
Joanna, I would love for you to invite her to submit more pieces for COJ. What a gifted comedic writer — and crazy good style sense, too!
great idea, heather!
Agreed! I’d love to read more from her :)
Agreed! Love her style—writing and fashion!
PLEASE can we have a tour of the wing? I keep seeing it pop up everywhere recently and it looks amazing, I love all the women involved.
You look great, you are great, you are smart and I love your style.
THANK YOU!! I’m always looking for where other plus-size women shop affordably (we can’t all afford universal standard’s pricing!), plus I love Kelsey’s R29 writings
YES, thank you, all of it, fantastic! ” If you have the opportunity to wear something that scares you, take it.” This is so true. “There’s nothing that you’re not allowed to wear, really and truly.” Of course! I want to shout this from the rooftops!
I’m low-key obsessed with her memoir’s title. Haha, it’s so good!
“If you have the opportunity to wear something that scares you, take it. You’ll at least come out with the realization that you don’t need to be afraid of getting dressed. There’s nothing that you’re not allowed to wear, really and truly.”
Love this. <3
Me, too!!
Love her laid-back style. I’m a plus size and have never been brave enough to wear leggings. I think I just might try some!
Wow, I love this post. Kelsey has such amazing style. I wish I could take her shopping with me!
Oh, I just LOVE Kelsey! I’ve been a long time reader of practically everything she writes. She’s so funny, REAL and genuine. Thank you for sharing, Cup of Jo!
As a fellow big calved girl who finds it impossible to find boots, my magical pair that I found after trying on what felt like a million boots are finally deteriorating after 5 years! I totally relate to keeping them “just one season longer”. Thanks for the fun and fresh wisdom on owning your style at any size!
Hi Leah,
Have you checked out the British brand Duo boots? You order by shoe size – AND by calf measurement (!). They’re a life changer.
I love all her looks. And I totally get it about getting dressed even when working from home. I am much more productive on the days I have to get up for my volunteer gig (so I get dressed right away) vs. the days I don’t leave the house for anything.
Having trouble focusing on her clothes, because her RING is so gorgeous!! What is that, an emerald? Love love love!
I love Kelsey Miller, thanks for featuring her!
Kelsey is beautiful. So inspired by her. <3
Most gorgeous engagement ring!
Last two looks are very cool!