Caroline Hirons #8 Despite what the T&Cs say, the kits have ended up on eBay

[Stonecatlin]

I wasn't really sure what she was getting at there but I wonder if it's because a lot of brands get shots of people of TV wearing their clothes and post it to Instagram tagging the person. I guess this would give CH more followers ths quid pro quo being that she also shares the post on her Instagram and her followers then follow the brand.

There are a few brands who have definately benefitted from her giving them shout outs (Scamp and Dude and House of Neon are ones that come to mind).

I have a couple of friends who are 5ft 10 but both slim and they seem not to have a problem buying clothes. One friend does find a lot of clothes are too short for her liking. I don't think the issue is that CH is tall (I'm not doubting she is) but she is tall and bigger than a size 10/12. I've not met her but would put her at a size 12 or 14.

I completely agree with her that when the average clothing size is 16 but considered a 'plus' size or XL there is a problem in the clothing industry.

Just a note - not trying to be rude so I apologise, but please inform me & educate if need be
I always remember a 16 being plus size- I don't however remember 16 always being the average size? Have people got bigger, clothing been scaled down, or am I remembering wrong?

I saw a friend of mine post on Facebook about discrepancies between different brands and sizes and how she cut labels off a pair of jeans because the label was an 18 but she normally is a 12. I felt really sorry for her- personally a clothing size is a number, if I have to go up or down to find a fit then that's what I do and it doesn't bother me, but it can be very powerful for people and affect self confidence.

 

[cholulamare]

Just a note - not trying to be rude so I apologise, but please inform me & educate if need be
I always remember a 16 being plus size- I don't however remember 16 always being the average size? Have people got bigger, clothing been scaled down, or am I remembering wrong?

Size 16 is rarely considered 'plus size', it's usually the upper end of standard sizing.

You're possibly remembering wrong, depending on how long ago you're recollecting; people have got bigger since decades ago yes, but size 16 has been the average for some time.

"The actual average dress size in the UK is now 16 ... Reportedly 45% of British women are dress size 16 or more" (from YouGov, 2013)

Size 12 is Britain's 'ideal' dress size | YouGov

The public’s average ‘ideal’ dress size is 12 – but while many say there is no such thing, the younger generations’ ideal is lower than their elders’

yougov.co.uk

"Today’s British women are 5ft 5ins tall on average, weigh 11st, have size six feet and dress size 16." (from 2017 in The Independent)

How women's bodies have changed over the years

We're bigger and earning £430 more per week

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Cleopops]

Just a note - not trying to be rude so I apologise, but please inform me & educate if need be
I always remember a 16 being plus size- I don't however remember 16 always being the average size? Have people got bigger, clothing been scaled down, or am I remembering wrong?

I saw a friend of mine post on Facebook about discrepancies between different brands and sizes and how she cut labels off a pair of jeans because the label was an 18 but she normally is a 12. I felt really sorry for her- personally a clothing size is a number, if I have to go up or down to find a fit then that's what I do and it doesn't bother me, but it can be very powerful for people and affect self confidence.

I think its a bit of everything you said to be honest, people have got bigger for various reasons, increase in diet of fast food, processed foods, sedentary lifestyles etc to name a few. also dress sizes are bigger, a 'vintage' size 16 would probably fit a modern 12 or small 14 at push.im a size 16 and pretty average i would say and if you saw me I don't think you'd say I was plus size , I don't think of myself as 'plus size' based on what i see on IG with plus size bloggers or models, I've seen my body shape/type described as mid size, I think its probably more accurate for me and my body shape!
The discrepancy in sizes though is and can be extremely upsetting having clothes labelled 14-20 in my wardrobe depending on where i shop,even though realistically i know it means literally nothing!

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

Tall and fat is a real ballsache
Most tall ranges go to a 18 ish bit over that you're screwed
I have a 36 inch inside leg and wear a 24. Have very little choice. Less than there used to be twenty years ago which is crazy

I'd say Her Royal Hironsness is only about a 14 tho (she lost a lot when she gave up sugar but lots slightly bigger post lockdown) so shouldn't be too horrific

There is also a big gap between the cheap lower end tall ranges (boohoo, Asos, PLT) and the more premium ranges.
The stuff in the middle are all quite blah and boring Next, DPs if it continues, LTS (altho new owners and it's a bit trashy atm)

Just a note - not trying to be rude so I apologise, but please inform me & educate if need be
I felt really sorry for her- personally a clothing size is a number, if I have to go up or down to find a fit then that's what I do and it doesn't bother me, but it can be very powerful for people and affect self confidence.

Height plays a lot into it too.
At a 16 I look pretty slim, but I'm 6ft
Someone a foot shorter would look very different
My ideal, and the way I prefer to look is probably a size 18. Suits my body shape and looks.

 

[WadieHaddadsChocolates]

Thank you everyone for your wishes. My cousin is doing a little better, but is still really down. I think it was likely the cumulative effect of all the passive-aggressive (and also just outright aggressive) bullshit that Hirons has been spouting and that last live was probably the final straw for her. She started following CH about a year and a half ago because she had a flareup of pretty bad acne so she was at quite a low ebb. A couple of months ago she was diagnosed with early menopause and I imagine, because she never misses a live or a story, that she's internalised all the tit Hirons projects about menopause and "old women" so when she listed to that live on (I think?) Thursday the emotional tit just hit the fan.

When I spoke to her, before I'd watched the live, I didn't realise that some of the things she was sobbing about were word for word repeats of what CH had said in that live: shrivelled ovaries, end of babies, face dropping, old woman, part of her died, etc., etc., etc. Then I watched it and the negativity was just so blatant - even if you're not vulnerable you'd leave there thinking "tit, menopause is awful and old women are wrinkly prunes!" and that's before you get to her calling her detractors traditionally elderly names such as Doris, Ethel or Margaret, etc. It just adds up over time, I guess. On top of being distraught at what her diagnosis means (no children for someone who so wanted to have a family) she said something that was just so incredibly sad: she had always wanted to have at least a small period of time where her skin would be good and she could be happy but it seems that now she's going to go straight from acne to sagging and that she must have been a terrible person to be punished like this. It really broke my heart. The saddest thing is that my cousin really is such a brilliant person but CH has managed to reduce her to believing that she's just bad skin and "shrivelled" ovaries.

We're supporting her as best as we can and her GP has been good despite limited resources, and there are some charities that can offer advice, counselling and support but on top of that we're going to advise that she has a social media break, in particular in regards to Hirons although how successful that will be is another issue - I mean, it's tricky to make me do something sometimes and I'm nearly 30 let alone someone who is only a few years into their twenties. Once again thank you for your wishes and I am so glad to have found a place that isn't all YASSS KWEEEN! #GIRLBOSS! about Hirons and her awful brand of patriarchy serving misogyny disguised as skincare expertise.

Let's get this clear - Hirons is about as qualified as your average Boots counter lass to assess or make predictions on yours, mine or anyone else's skin. Giving facials and shilling product afterwards or at a counter doesn't qualify her in any aspect of dermatology or medicine whatsoever.

If your cousin has a medical condition, whether serious acne or premature menopause, the ONLY people she should be listening to in regards to those things is properly qualified medical practitioners. By which I mean specialists in their field. A properly qualified dermatologist (so, forget that Dr Sam on youtube, she's not qualified as a derm .. forget pretty faces and youtuber fashion types for all this .. the best derm I have ever seen has been an older male consultant on the NHS ... interestingly he was the one who in response to something I said mentioned how many women he sees who have basically fucked up their skin because of the beauty industry's insistance they do multiple trendy things to their faces instead of just washing them and leaving their skin alone). Preferably one she sees in real life at a hospital, not a youtube shill. GPS know duck-all about even common skin conditions, generally, btw. Her endocrine specialists for her hormonal issue who will likely be able to provide her with a hormone replacement regime. Has she even seen a proper specialist yet or has she been left to flail alone after diagnosis because of the covid issue?

Maybe she could also look up support groups/forums online for women going through early menopause like herself which will give her a much more realistic look at medical support for it than a shouty facialist with an ego problem whose main goal is to sell you a box of overpriced, ineffective cosmetics for her own profit while shitting on anyone who has the temerity to age normally.

Caroline is absolutely out of her depth with anyone with a real skin or medical problem. She has no idea what she's talking about and demonstrates it constantly with her one size fits all militancy about washing your face and the products she recommends. I wouldn't trust her to touch my skin, personally. People trained in 'lines' and the selling of them simply eat up and spew up ad copy as if it's fact. Her crap about menopause is on the same level. A learned set of phrases rooted in misogny and lack of real education and understanding of the issue.

 

[Lucia]

Another day another soap box stand for Caroline

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

It's annoying. I agree with some things she says but can't support her as she's such a gobshite in how she expresses herself..

 

[barmj]

is CH only 5’10? lol she seems much taller than that, maybe 6ft? nothing wrong with being tall anyways.

 

[PinkandTwinkly]

is CH only 5’10? lol she seems much taller than that, maybe 6ft? nothing wrong with being tall anyways.

She says 5 10 and a half but all body and shorter legs

 

[Stonecatlin]

Size 16 is rarely considered 'plus size', it's usually the upper end of standard sizing.

You're possibly remembering wrong, depending on how long ago you're recollecting; people have got bigger since decades ago yes, but size 16 has been the average for some time.

"The actual average dress size in the UK is now 16 ... Reportedly 45% of British women are dress size 16 or more" (from YouGov, 2013)

Size 12 is Britain's 'ideal' dress size | YouGov

The public’s average ‘ideal’ dress size is 12 – but while many say there is no such thing, the younger generations’ ideal is lower than their elders’

yougov.co.uk

"Today’s British women are 5ft 5ins tall on average, weigh 11st, have size six feet and dress size 16." (from 2017 in The Independent)

How women's bodies have changed over the years

We're bigger and earning £430 more per week

www.independent.co.uk

I was thinking back to the shops that used to be in the shopping centre for "curvy" sizes, always started at 16.
I'm also probably skewed thinking as most of the women in my family bubble around size 10-14

 

[Shineyshine]

I have two cousins who are both 6ft, one is slightly taller than the other. They were tall even as young girls, and always struggled to find clothing to fit (more lengthwise). They are in their mid 50s now and very stylish, not frumpy at all, and from conversations over the years both say it’s easier now than ever to find good quality, decent fitting clothes on the high street. I’ve never seen them resort to wearing men’s clothes and trainers as Hirons seems to be prescribing

 

[Influenzapandemic]

It’s the way she goes about & handles everything. It’s so aggressive and not in the ‘a strong women is aggressive’ patriarchal narrative that likes to be spouted. Threatening someone with violence for saying you’re tall is just the actions of a bleep. A big bleeping tall bleep.
She has a platform that can be a force of positive change but she spits it out with such venom it becomes the opposite & she’s just rating away like a ‘dried up old menopausal woman’
Her point about clothing size is 100% accurate & I wish women wouldn’t connect their self worth & body image with whatever arbitrary number is put on a pair of jeans. It needs to change. But no one will listen to an angry self entitled ‘crazy hormonal menopausal’ woman. She does nothing to help women’s causes.

 

[sahara_acct]

Has she even seen a proper specialist yet or has she been left to flail alone after diagnosis because of the covid issue?

Left alone, pretty much. Doctor has referred her to a specialist but she's not received an appointment yet, likely because of the pandemic. Her GP was very sympathetic but couldn't really provide all that much help other than some leaflets about diet and sexual health aimed at older women going through non-early menopause. The forum/charities thing is an idea we've been suggesting but she's quite reticent about it. I think counselling would be good but the GP said they were pretty overwhelmed at the moment. Her mum is thinking of going somewhere privately (doctor and counselling) because this has really has hit her bad and there's not a lot of support available currently. It sucks but what can you do.

is CH only 5’10? lol she seems much taller than that, maybe 6ft? nothing wrong with being tall anyways.

Yeah, I always thought she must be well over 6ft for some reason, maybe because she seems to bang on about it in such an extreme way as is her wont. I'm 180cm (5ft11) and I know that's tall but I've never really considered myself enormous or oversized like CH seems to refer to herself. Finding trousers long enough in the waist and shoes that fit plus aren't hideous blocky frumptastic things is a real PITA, though.

 

[cholulamare]

I think counselling would be good but the GP said they were pretty overwhelmed at the moment. Her mum is thinking of going somewhere privately (doctor and counselling) because this has really has hit her bad and there's not a lot of support available currently. It sucks but what can you do.

You may already know this but her GP can refer her for NHS talking therapies and she can be sitting on the waiting list but investigate private counselling in the meantime. The waiting list is basically as long as it's ever been (probably depends on location) but it's worth having your name on it in case things get worse/going private doesn't work out/becomes too expensive. Also, a lot of private therapists will offer reduced rates for people who can't afford to pay full price for whatever reason - particularly if she's unemployed or furloughed at the moment. These aren't always advertised so worth emailing a few to enquire. It may be that if you're looking for a counsellor who specialises in women's health/early menopause and there aren't as many options, they charge a premium/don't offer discounts - but the worst they can say is no so just ask! Good luck.

 

[Parklady]

Have been following Caroline for a while, and one thing I've noticed especially since the pandemic started is there is always a bandwagon for her to jump on. I am going to unfollow now because I don't find her authentic at all

 

[DizzyLizzie]

Have been following Caroline for a while, and one thing I've noticed especially since the pandemic started is there is always a bandwagon for her to jump on. I am going to unfollow now because I don't find her authentic at all

Yes, her constant negativity, bullying and constant rage is not good for my soul. It’s so much better to stay away from such a negative force.

 

[sterling]

Classic case of 'Speak For Yourself and No-one Else, Hirons'.

I mean, if she feels like that, I feel bad for her, honestly, putting THAT level of store in all that tit to the point of such self-absorbed, melodramatic pronouncements, but it's not a great thing to say to other women assuming they obviously feel the same. If she feels she has no worth as a woman or basic human being because she's hit menopause, that's truly sad, and possibly a reflection of the utterly shallow 'beauty' world she's absorbed herself with and the people she hangs around. Or you know, it could be another way to try to sound relatable, ramp up women's insecurities about ageing and sell them yet more pricey anti-ageing shite and recommend more tweakements for kickbacks.

If she isn’t ready for a support group, FB has groups you can join. Just looking at posts and seeing she isn’t alone and others are living and enjoying life. My mother had a hysterectomy in her late 30s, and it didn’t affect her. She stayed thin and pretty. She could giggle early menopause or hysterectomy. Sorry that she was upset.

 

[DizzyLizzie]

I love this quote.

 

[Jools2216]

is CH only 5’10? lol she seems much taller than that, maybe 6ft? nothing wrong with being tall anyways.

I’m sure she said she was 6 feet in her stocking soles when she posed for a photo with Bobbi Brown years ago.

 

[Traazers]

Need to catch up on this thread but just dropping my weekly freaks nonsense - this post is infuriating in SO MANY WAYS