La Grande Fripe: a major affair for the Redonnaise Noëmie Divet Reserved for subscribers

What was the trigger for you to embark on the adventure of the Grande Fripe?

In December 2019, I was walking in Redon with my sister. We walked into a thrift store and, for the first time, I noticed a plus size section. I said to myself “ah but that's great! There must be sites devoted to plus sizes”, but in fact, nothing. At that time, I was also doing the rounds of my office manager position. I asked for a conventional break and I started.

Although it's not easy to find plus size clothes in thrift stores, which do you find the easiest?

One can find dresses and shirts for men which can sometimes be large. I like it because it can be worn as a dress or over little shorts in the summer. It dresses up the outfit. But it's true that finding large sizes in second-hand clothing is not easy.

What do you find more difficult?

The jeans. My thighs rub and when I buy jeans, in six months, they are dead. Vintage is not easy either because the sizes are smaller. At Emmaüs, I found dresses in size 50 but I couldn't fit in them, even though I'm a 44/46.

Currently, you offer clothes only online. Have you ever thought about setting up your project in physics?

Yes of course. I love contact with people. I already made a deal in physics. I will try to organize more.

You also have a blog where you talk about topics that affect you. La Grande Fripe, is it also political?

For me, this is super important. I was bullied at school and it was partly about my weight. I remember a scene in the locker room, a girl showed me her belly saying: "Contrex my slimming partner". It built me ​​and I wanted to fight against fatphobia, which is still internalized and I'm not the only one. It helps me to have this militant side. And if it helps me, it can also help others and that's cool.

On Facebook, you talk about your hairiness, you appear on your site without makeup. What drives you to convey this image?

For two or even three years, I have been trying to be as “painting nature” as possible. There are already so many accounts that are complexing on social networks that I stay like that. And I don't want to give money to companies that make us believe that a woman should always wear makeup. Because sometimes I'm lazy.

What relationship do you have with your body?

I'm fat and I've always found myself well, even in a period when everything was not necessarily going well. I have always enjoyed having new clothes and liked to show off. In Redon, there weren't many shops. I was always told to be careful, that I was going to run out of clothes. Today, with La Grande Fripe, things are much better, I even have too many (laughs).

Regaining self-confidence, does it go through the clothes?

Yes a lot. It's the first thing you see in someone. I am convinced that if you feel good in your clothes, you are better.

Practice

website: www.lagrandefripe.com; Instagram: @lagrandefripe