A Week of Outfits: Jordan Sondler

Jordan Sondler is a Brooklyn-based author and illustrator who draws cool pet portraits and comics about major life moments, like advocating for yourself or losing a parent. When asked to describe her ideal garment, she said, “Easy and comfortable but speaks loudly. Also, no zippers.” Here, Jordan shares five looks…

Dress: Wray, similar. Clutch: Gentle Thrills. Sneakers: New Balance. Earrings: Laura Lombardi.

“My love of clothes came from my mom. When we were kids, my mom always dressed my sister and me in bows, twirly dresses, patterned denim, and matching sets. It was very ‘90s Northeastern, and they’re all things I’d still wear now.”

“I’ve been fat for a long time — since I was 15 — and I went through a period as a teen and early adult where I wasn’t into dressing up. I remember my mom taking me to Lane Bryant, and I was mortified because in my mind it was an old person’s store. I also had size 11 feet and had to shop at Nordstrom for loafers, which felt so embarrassing. In college, I would thrift things that were either too big or too small. Basically, I was stuck wearing whatever drab clothing fit me.”

Dress: Wray. Barrette: Chunks, similar.

“I started coming into my own style seven years ago when smaller designers — like Wray — came onto the scene and offered inclusive sizing. I found out about Wray from Aidy Bryant, who was vocal about loving the brand’s fun clothes. As a loyal customer, I really hope they do well. So many businesses today have returned to offering only limited sizing, and it’s terrifying.”

Barrette: Chunks, similar. Earrings: “My dad gave these diamond studs to my mom; they’re one of the last things I have from him.” Lipstick: Chanel in Immobile.

“For hair, if I can do a style in 60 seconds, I’m into it. I love a high pony with a fun clip or scrunchie. For makeup, I just swipe on lipstick and an eyebrow pencil. I used to wear more, but the quarantine pushed me to stop doing things I didn’t like — I stopped wearing heels, I stopped applying makeup, and I stopped putting on bike shorts.”

Bodysuit: Samantha Pleet. Jeans: Eloquii. Heels: Paloma Wool.

“Seven years ago, I was in a relationship, and by the end I was the smallest I had been in my adult life. I was actively trying to lose weight during that time because I thought that attaining the world’s ideal body was expected of me. Once we broke up, I realized how much I hated my body. That was the catalyst of my figuring out how to make peace with my body and become body neutral. My whole life opened up when I started making fat friends at events thrown by Emma Zack; following fat influencers, including Jessica Torres, Marielle Elizabeth TerHart, and Virgie Tovar; and reading books by fat people, like Body Talk.”

Top: Berriez, “my friend Emma’s vintage store, which carries extended sizes.” Jeans: Wray. Sneakers: New Balance. Bag: vintage Fendi from Gift of Garb.

“I remember when I was having lunch with someone I didn’t know well, and they referred to themselves as ‘fat,’ and then referred to me as ‘fat.’ It was so jarring because, until that moment, the term ‘fat’ had always felt weaponized against me, but they meant it neutrally. The book You Have The Right To Remain Fat helped me unpack a lot of emotions. Today I’m the largest I’ve ever been, and the difference between how I feel about myself now versus then is night and day.”

Bandana: Gentle Thrills.

“This is Ramona, a rescue I got seven years ago. She’s like me — really f*cking stubborn! — so it’s my curse to have to raise her. She does things I would do, like dig in her heels when we are walking in a direction she doesn’t want to go in. Every time I get mad at her, I feel like I’m getting mad at myself. But I love her. She lives for getting stopped on the street. If she goes outside and there are no people or dogs around, she’ll cry.”

Dress: Osei-Duro. Socks: Girlfriend Collective. Shoes: Dr. Martens. Bag: Susan Alexandra. Dog bandana: Gentle Thrills. Leash: Mr. Friendly.

“I started putting ‘I am fat and happy’ on my dating profile, and it took the anxiety out of worrying if someone wouldn’t be able to gauge my size from my profile and then think I tricked them into going out with me. I am hot, funny, successful and interesting, and I no longer have to wonder if future dates are confused about who they’ll end up on a date with. I date a lot!”

Dress: Osei—Duro. Socks: Girlfriend Collective. Shoes: Dr. Martens. Bag: Susan Alexandra. Dog bandana: Gentle Thrills. Leash: Mr. Friendly.

“I lost my dad to alcoholism when I was 15, and during the pandemic, my friends Anna Toonk, Bridget Badore, and I were exploring our grief for our dads. Eventually we thought, ‘Why don’t we just get people together and talk about this?’ That’s how we started the Dead Parent Club, an online group full of people I’ve never met: people who lost their parents to addiction, people who were their parents’ caregivers, people whose parents were killed. We meet online once a month and talk about things that go hand-in-hand with losing a parent, like dealing with estranged family members and figuring out death-anniversary rituals. I never thought I would like a grief group, but it has changed me. I’m so glad there are more resources out there — like the Instagram account Option B and Anderson Cooper’s podcast All There Is — for people who have lost parents and want to feel connected.”

Thank you so much, Jordan — we adore you.

P.S. More people share their week of outfits, including a mother of five who mastered the art of layering and an artist’s love of colorful tights.

(Photos by Yumi Matsuo for Cup of Jo.)

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