ROCHESTER, N.Y. — As many people set a resolution to lose weight, the organization ROC ONly created the event Our Bodies ROC to celebrate being comfortable in your skin.
“I believe, and I preach this to all of my clients, that when you look good, you feel good, and you don't really have to wait until you're a certain size to do that,” fashion consultant Rubi Rodriguez said. “So I really believe in celebrating all your curves, celebrating the way you work in your current state today.”
The organization is creating a clothing swap catered to plus sizes.
“It is long overdue and any chance that we can give people to feel like themselves, to feel amazing no matter what size they are, you know, that's what we want to do,” editor in Chief and founder of Flower Power Magazine Andrea Westerlund said. “The magazine, along with some other amazing folks, are putting on this event just to spread some positivity and to create a space where people can feel comfortable, refreshing their wardrobes and being themselves.”
A variety of positive and plus-sized vendors were incorporated throughout the event.
“I really enjoy being part of all different types of events, like self-care events are great,” venue manager of 962 East Avenue Kerynn Laraby said. “But there's I just love being part of our community and anything that we can do to make people feel better about themselves, give them something to do, something to care for. I just love that, that's really our mission.”
Through donating and receiving clothes through the swap, guests even have the opportunity to capture their confidence.
“I wanted to set up a little elevated photo booth just to have people who found, like, an awesome outfit come and pop in and show off their outfit and just kind of like boost confidence and just spread body positivity,” photographer Sarah Fredenburg said.
Some even received advice from a fashion consultant at the venue.
“I think we want to kind of hide our midsection and as women, that's where we carry a lot of our weight,” Rodriguez said. “But I found that if you cinch the waist the right way, it actually accentuates your curves and actually does not draw attention to the belly. So that's kind of what my thinking was behind adding the belt to this top.”
Organizers hope clothes are not the only thing guests walk away with.
“When you look confident, you start to feel that way,” Rodriguez said. “So I really think that's the premise of today, is wanting to make sure that, you know, we should all be celebrating whatever phase that we're in our lives and not wait until you get to a certain point to start celebrating yourself.”