Does My Bum Look Big in This? - And Isn't It Ok If It Does?

The title of this post is perhaps a common question, but we do wonder if it is ever uttered out loud! We are sure many of you mentally ask this question, but perhaps only quietly to yourselves. Why? Are you frightened of the answer? or perhaps you don't wish to be ridiculed by your spouse, family or friends. Well fear not, it is perfectly OK to have a "big bum", indeed fashion history shows that at points in time a large rear was de rigeur. In Victorian times (1870's and 1880's) we had the "bustle" a built up area of cloth at the rear of a dress to accentuate a ladies rear! This combined with rib crushing corsets and a resulting exaggerated bust meant that Victorian Woman while being prim and elegant was also encouraged to massively exaggerate her body shape.

In the modern era we have "Rear of the Year", an award of some 30 years standing that is typically awarded to celebrities who then get to pose themselves and their award winning rear in the sponsors garments. It is awarded to both a male and female each year. The Rear of the Year website makes a very valid point around the way the fashion industry influences the perception of how women perceive the size of their bums and how acceptable that size is. It goes in phases, so one year we will be in "athletic" mode where bums are trim and toned and maybe even masculine, then there is a reaction where the trend moves back towards the more voluptuous derrière.

This explains why Fiona Bruce won the award in 2010 (trim and athletic) and Carole Vorderman (more rounded) won it in 2011, beating Pippa Middleton into second place - well done Carole! The more rounded and full derrière is in fashion at the moment as it was a few years ago when Jennifier Lopez seemed to catch the "rear" limelight. Clover Stroud covered this subject in her well written article "Better from Behind" in the Sunday Times Style Magazine last weekend. Her article was humorous and Clover rightly encourages women to embrace their generous bums and to be proud of them.

Pippa Middleton came in for some commentary at the Royal wedding about how she looked in her dress (very pretty) but dare we say a little ordinary from behind? We can but wonder what the reaction from the commentators would have been if it was Kim Kardashian following Kate Middleton up the steps. We fear that some of the older male commentators would have had to reach for emergency BBC or ITV oxygen supplies while younger colleagues may have been verbally flabbergasted. These days we are lucky that cameras for this type of event are on good solid stands or the picture may have wavered somewhat too!

So on a more serious note ladies, while you may wish to shed an inch or two, be proud of your plus size belle derrière, embrace it, have fun with it, look after it and if you've got it flaunt it!

Of course we'd love to hear your opinions, do you have a big bum, are you proud of it? or do you wish it was somewhere else? Can you help us get to the bottom of the issue? Add a comment, share the article and let's hear other peoples views!

Vida Moda Online shop: wvidamoda.co.uk

Vida Moda was born from frustration, I would shop for clothes and find something I wanted to buy. Often the shop wouldn't have the item in my size. I dreamed of finding stylish clothes designed for larger women. I decided to open a shop selling designer fashion for women size 16 upwards.

Please help me shape my dream, your input and feedback will make the reality better than the dream. Please join me on my journey!