#Fashiontruth Monthly Spotlight: Brittney Really ‘Bowls’ Us Over!

Last month, you met the awesome Emily, the first community member featured in our #fashiontruth campaign. This month, we pored over hundreds of submissions, read countless stories of fashion fearlessness, and made our choice… Meet Brittney, the face of this month’s #fashiontruth spotlight!

Brittney is a magazine art director and freelance designer and illustrator in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She loves squirrels, corgis, unicorns, Dr. Who, and in her own words, has “a curious affinity for highlighters.” She was once glitter-banned from her college art department for crafting a glitter-encrusted ten pin bowling set out of foam and plaster, and bowling during her critique, sending glitter everywhere. She’s kind of our hero.

Obviously, we’re big fans of Brittney’s sparkling personality, but her #fashiontruth statement was what really made us stand up and take notice.

So, Brittney, what’s your #fashiontruth?

Looking and feeling great doesn’t stop or start at any particular size. We’re all real women, curves or not, tall or squat. I’ve been every size up and down the scale, so I know how rough it is to find a cute plus-size prom dress, as well as how it feels to be swimming in a size small with this whole vanity sizing thing that’s happening now. So, go your own way and dress how YOU wanna, not how society or a number on a tag tells you!

Would you mind telling us a little more about your experience “up and down the scale,” as you said?
In high school, I was a size 18. I wasn’t upset by my size until the day I went to buy a homecoming dress. I wanted a sparkly, brightly colored dress like I saw in the teen magazines. The cute dresses I wanted only came in sizes 0-14. I tried squeezing into a size 14, sparkly turquoise dress, and it wouldn’t zip. I cried with my mom in the dressing room as the fitting room assistant went to find me larger-sized dresses. She brought in the three dresses they had in my size, but I didn’t think they were nearly as cute as the “little” dress I tried on.

Due to quitting some medications and having to run everywhere in college, I lost weight, eventually stabilizing at the size I am today. Now, I’m sometimes frustrated when the smallest size may be marked a small, but it’s cut larger. I have to walk away empty-handed once again, but this time from the other end of the spectrum. This is actually why I started shopping on ModCloth — the precise measurements given in reviews made me confident that I’d find something cute that would fit my unique size.

#Fashiontruth Monthly Spotlight: Brittney Really ‘Bowls’ Us Over!
By ModCloth on 11/18/2014 in Beauty
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Last month, you met the awesome Emily, the first community member featured in our #fashiontruth campaign. This month, we pored over hundreds of submissions, read countless stories of fashion fearlessness, and made our choice… Meet Brittney, the face of this month’s #fashiontruth spotlight!

Brittany Guest

Brittney is a magazine art director and freelance designer and illustrator in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She loves squirrels, corgis, unicorns, Dr. Who, and in her own words, has “a curious affinity for highlighters.” She was once glitter-banned from her college art department for crafting a glitter-encrusted ten pin bowling set out of foam and plaster, and bowling during her critique, sending glitter everywhere. She’s kind of our hero.

Obviously, we’re big fans of Brittney’s sparkling personality, but her #fashiontruth statement was what really made us stand up and take notice.

So, Brittney, what’s your #fashiontruth?

Looking and feeling great doesn’t stop or start at any particular size. We’re all real women, curves or not, tall or squat. I’ve been every size up and down the scale, so I know how rough it is to find a cute plus-size prom dress, as well as how it feels to be swimming in a size small with this whole vanity sizing thing that’s happening now. So, go your own way and dress how YOU wanna, not how society or a number on a tag tells you!

Would you mind telling us a little more about your experience “up and down the scale,” as you said?
In high school, I was a size 18. I wasn’t upset by my size until the day I went to buy a homecoming dress. I wanted a sparkly, brightly colored dress like I saw in the teen magazines. The cute dresses I wanted only came in sizes 0-14. I tried squeezing into a size 14, sparkly turquoise dress, and it wouldn’t zip. I cried with my mom in the dressing room as the fitting room assistant went to find me larger-sized dresses. She brought in the three dresses they had in my size, but I didn’t think they were nearly as cute as the “little” dress I tried on.

Due to quitting some medications and having to run everywhere in college, I lost weight, eventually stabilizing at the size I am today. Now, I’m sometimes frustrated when the smallest size may be marked a small, but it’s cut larger. I have to walk away empty-handed once again, but this time from the other end of the spectrum. This is actually why I started shopping on ModCloth — the precise measurements given in reviews made me confident that I’d find something cute that would fit my unique size.

dreaming

Tell us a little more about what you do.
I’m Art Director at Occasions Publishing Group, home of Jonesboro Occasions magazine (Jonesboro’s city magazine that’s all about society, philanthropy, and culture). I love working at a place that shares good news that’s happening in its community. I build ads, design magazine pages, and have fun on editorial photo shoots. Essentially, I get to make things pretty all day long! I even get to go to some pretty fun events — charity 5ks, balls, barbecue festivals. You name it, I’m there. I’m also a freelance graphic designer and illustrator.

How does your personal sense of style help get you through the day?
Wearing my favorite colors and patterns can lift my spirits and even inspire some pretty fun designs. My outfit depends on my press schedule. If it’s early in the month, I’ll wear dresses and skirts. About mid-month, when I have photo shoots, I throw on jeans and a tunic, so I’m ready for holding lights, climbing ladders, and rounding up props. Press week, comfort is key! I’ll wear leggings with long, comfy tunics (like the Pam Breeze-lys),and wrap sweaters. This is where cute earrings and infinity scarves come in to dress up my low-key look!

If you could live in one outfit, and one outfit alone, what would it be?
Have to have my leggings. They’re like my security blanket. So it’d be my Love Ballad Tunic (I own two… just in case one is dirty!), a long black tank, black leggings, and my brown riding boots. I’d be comfy and stylish for the rest of my life.

You mention that you love making personalized gifts for friends (so sweet). What’s one of your favorites? Any tips for DIY-ers thinking about the holiday season?
One Christmas, I made personalized stationery for all my closest friends. I used colors, fonts, and illustrations that were unique for each girl, printed them out, and tied them with color-coordinated ribbons. My sister says it’s her favorite gift she’s ever gotten from me. There’s no need to get fancy — just give from the heart. And when in doubt, just put some tiny gifts in a Mason jar with a cute tag and ribbon. Ta-da! Instant gift in a jar!