Wearing ✶ Benji jumpsuit in Atlantis gifted by Ace& Jig ✶ ASOS oversized boater hat {similar here} ✶ Clarks cut out oxfords {similar here}

It seems almost a lifetime ago that we took these photos, which translates to maybe a couple of months in our new Covid infused timeline. This was during the last proper heatwave (what a damp, dreary summer it’s been!) and it was the close of a perfect summer’s day out in the countryside. I wore my new Benji jumpsuit that had been gifted to me by Ace & Jig and I was worried that the doublecloth fabric (Atlantis) might be a bit too thick for lounging out in the sun. To my surprise and delight it wasn’t, and I was as cool and comfy as can be.

Of all the Ace & Jig garments I have, the Benji jumpsuit is one of most generously sized ones, alongside the Faye dress. All my Ace & Jig garments including this are in a 1X but with my recent lockdown weight gain, I’m wearing more 20s and 22s (in UK sizing) which feels like it’d better translate to 2X. This still felt rather roomy though which is how I like my clothes to fit. I’ve been battling a good deal of anxiety and negative self thoughts about my body of late (no one is immune to the ill effects of living in a diet obsessed, fat hating culture, least of all me) and one of the things that really helps negate that anxiety is wearing clothes that fit well and allow me room to move around in.

It’s a lot easier to feel at home in your body when you aren’t constantly uncomfortable in clothes that painfully dig into you. That’s one of the first lessons in fat positivity I learned a long long time ago when I stopped equating my self image with the number on a garment tag. I’m slowly working on building a current wardrobe that better fits my body as it is right now, and I’m glad to say that the Benji jumpsuit is the perfect start to it.