Redefining Beauty

Fashion blogging is becoming more and more popular - but it seems many women shy away from the world of expressing their passion for fashion due to fear of judgement and criticism. "I'm not thin/pretty/savvy enough for this, that, or the other," we gals often tell ourselves. Natalie Craig, known for her popular fashion platform Natalie in the City, crushes the stereotype that women must fit a cookie-cutter mold to leave a dent in the fashion world. Perhaps Natalie explains it best in her blog's introduction:

Although I loved fashion at an early age, I realized that the media and the fashion industry did not love me back. I grew up receiving harsh criticism for my full figured shape, and the thin standards of the fashion world made it difficult for me to embrace the trends that I loved.  It's hard out here for a plus size fashionista, but it's also the most amazing feeling to be able to rock an ensemble that takes time, effort, and creativity to master.

Natalie Craig is an inspiration for ALL women - from a size 0 to XXL. M&H had the dear pleasure to chat with Natalie about her outlook on life!

(Editors note: You rock, girlfriend!!!!)

Tell us about yourself, lovely girl!

• Name: Natalie
• Age: 24
• Occupation: Blogger behind Natalie in the City; editor at a trade magazine
• Location: Chicago
• Favorite outfit: Gym attire (Although I consider myself a fashionista, I am also all about a good, lazy day outfit or something I can run around the city in.)
• Nickname: Nat / Natalie in the City

How did you get interested in fashion?

I have been in love with fashion for as long as I can remember. My parents used to tell me I was going to school to learn, and that it wasn’t a fashion show. But ever since I could dress myself, I have been taking that form of self expression very seriously. Fashion hasn’t always been easy to understand for me. I was always chubby growing up, and I never really shared the same size clothing with my friends or other people my age, which often presented me with challenges, and made me feel like an outsider. During my early college years, I was able to refine my style, and I noticed that everyone wanted to take me shopping and get my advice on what to wear, even my friends who were 8 sizes smaller than I was. I held a couple of fashion related internships, wrote trend pieces for my college’s newspaper, and then I made the big leap to start a fashion blog.

Favorite recipe?

My favorite recipe right now is my dark chocolate pumpkin oat muffins. These muffins are perfect for fall, and they are healthy!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup pumpkin 
• 1 tablespoon oil (vegetable, avocado, canola)
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon oats 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Oil muffin tin with nonstick spray or place muffin liners. 
Combine pumpkin, oil, brown sugar, honey, vanilla, and the large egg in a bowl. Mix together until combined
Place oats in a bender or food processor to create oat flower. After oats have been blended or processed, remeasure to ensure you have the accurate amount. 
In another bowl, mix the oat flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.
Combine the chocolate chips, pumpkin, and flour mix together into one bowl and softly mix. Make sure not to over mix the two.
Separate the mixture evenly into the muffin tin. 
If you are obsessed with chocolate, like me, feel free to add a couple of chocolate chips on top of each muffin before placing into the oven.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cupcake.

Advice for full-figured women in the fashion world?

I realize that falling in love with yourself and your body is a difficult task for just about anyone. It’s not easy to love yourself and love fashion, which has always been known for shaping and creating harsh beauty and body ideals. The only way I can describe self acceptance and love is with the word “journey.” It won’t happen overnight, and it is truly a path you have to take yourself down every single day, and some days will be harder than others. I think I really chose to start loving myself when I started blogging. I was always a pretty confident girl throughout my life, but I really started trusting in my vision and trusting in myself when I started posting pictures of my style for the world to see. It’s scary being put out in front of the entire world for everyone to judge—and people on the internet are much more harsh than they are on the streets. My advice is to find something that you love, something that is truly and solely about you, and do it. For me, that was my blog. When I started it, it was all about me, and it was all for me. No one was reading it, but it was the only time during the day that I got to take time to just do what I wanted without anyone telling me what to do or how to do it. The more you feed into your wants, needs, and goals, the happier and more successful you will be.

Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle with confidence and self love on a DAILY basis. It will never be easy, but it’s a commitment I have made to myself to try every single day.

Fashion, today, is much more accommodating, inclusive, and diverse than it was when I was 11 years old. Anyone and everyone can express themselves and find clothes that make them feel beautiful. My number one fashion rule has always been “If I like it, wear it.” Even if it’s not trendy, I will sport it. It’s all about what makes you feel happy and beautiful. Whatever anyone else thinks, is obsolete.

Do you hope to help bend the stereotype of beauty standards?

As I mentioned, when I first started my blog, it was solely for me. I never envisioned it becoming a community and serving as inspiration for other women of all shapes and sizes. I absolutely hope to show every woman and man that comes across my blog that beauty shouldn’t have standards, and that it shouldn’t be defined. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I truly believe in that.

I hope to be a positive role model for young women. Growing up, I never saw plus size women in magazines or on TV. But now, young girls will see their body type, ethnicity, and culture represented more and more in magazines and on blogs, which makes my 11-year-old self so happy. There are really no words to express the happiness that I feel knowing that I am a part of showing young girls they belong in fashion and that they should love themselves.

Favorite verse?

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

The journey of growing up and coming into your own makes you question everything you thought you once knew. I have found that faith is the base of everything. At the end of the day, you have to have faith even if you have little hope. It will guide you, and it will reassure you at your lowest points. If you have faith, you will have everything you need at all times.

Favorite quote?

I come across so many quotes that I love, but the one that stuck with me since the first time I heard it is Shakespeare’s “Though she be but little, she is fierce!”

Tell us about life in Chicago!

Moving to Chicago was one of the greatest things I have done. The city is diverse, challenging, and always keeps me on my toes. It’s the place where I was able to finish college with a degree in something I really loved and believed in, and it gave me the perfect environment to grow my blog into what I envisioned it to be. I love that Chicago’s Magnificent Mile has great shopping and dining, but Chicago is much more than just its downtown area. Each neighborhood of Chicago has it’s own, very distinct vibe and culture, and I really enjoy exploring each of those neighborhoods. If you are ever in Chicago, you have to make it about the food—pizza at Loumalnatis, polishes at Portillos, and a scoop of peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream at Bobtail Ice Cream Company—and make sure you catch a breathtaking view of the skyline at the Adler Planetarium.

Fashion trends you're loving right now?

I have been wearing a lot of bow tie blouses lately. My wardrobe needs to look good on both my blog and in a professional work environment, and I love how chic and sharp the blouses look while also being versatile.

Follow Natalie on FB!