image via Too Fat for Fashion

The Internet is good for porn, for shopping, for taking very inexpensive trips to Hawaii through dubious-looking budget travel companies, and for a lot of very great and beautiful things that make me so glad we live in the future. One of my favorite parts? The communities of beautiful, fashionable plus-size women who are dedicated to providing inspiration, guidance and support like you'll find nowhere else in the world. You want to talk about fashion, about body politics, about health and beauty and power and personal style? These are the places to go to find all kinds of inspiration, like-minded people, and some seriously great leads.

These are my particular favorites:

• The fatshionista livejournal community is a terrific resource--people post their outfits of the day, ask for and offer advice, tips, and a great deal of support. Their list of links and resources is exhaustive, and their spirit is welcoming.

• And the fatshionista flickr group is an offspring of the fatshionista community--members post their outfits every day, and they are worth being photographed. Check them out for their incredible sense of personal style, color and charm, be inspired, and find out where they got those killer tights.

• Too Fat for Fashion is one of my favorite blogs, covering plus-size couture, posting incredible finds, and discussing the state of the plus-size retailing world. The authors have a good eye, and they've always got some great stories, excellent links and sexy fashion round-ups. They've got particularly good coverage on the plus-size modeling world, which always leads to sexy photos of curvy ladies. Yow.

• The Pretty Pear is a blog that started out as a collection of plus-size retailer links, but has become a lifestyle blog. She still posts great links, and talks about the search for personal style, struggling with self-image, kicking ass, and taking names.

• Amber of My Aim is True used to throw Fat Fashion Thursday--a round up of the perfect outfit for a particular occasion--work, brunch, Mother's Day, attending a hanging. She stopped for awhile, but now she's back, intending to put together a series of outfits for the about-to-be married lady. And I hope very much she continues, because her eye is impeccable, her accessories are vegan, and she's always got some so-great ideas.
• The Manolo, he writes about the shoes and the beautifulness. The Manolo for the Big Girl, they write about the shoes, and the beautifulness of being a big girl, as well as the good food, the awesome fashion, the kickass fitness and the fat politics. I love those ladies with my whole heart.
• I don't speak French. But Le Blog de Big Beauty makes me wish I did. The blog, by a French model/actress/hot chick, is mostly in French, but her outfit posts don't need much explanation at all--they're just flat-out inspiring.

In my travels, I also came across some promising looking sites for the fat, fashionable girl that I've bookmarked and have high hopes for. Check them out:

• Fat Chic
• Fat Stylist
• No More Mumus

Have you got any particular favorite fat fashion sites? Share!