DORIS JEONG: I think it is a bit difficult to get others to see that fashion has no size limit.
DORIS JEONG: People thinking, you know fashion is only for the tall, skinny and beautiful.
But, I definitely think with a little bit more effort you can make it work and fashion
is for everybody.
DORIS JEONG: Growing up with dwarfism, it was really interesting because not only do
I have dwarfism, I’m also Korean, so it’s kind of, like, a double minority. The Korean
community or even, like, it might even be the Asian community in general. We don’t
really like to talk about stuff. So, it was, kind of my dwarfism was never really addressed.
My parents helped me, I guess, with my dwarfism by not treating me any different. I don’t
know if it’s because they are Asian and I have a tiger mom, but she didn’t really
expect anything less than the best for me.
DORIS JEONG: I actually didn’t get bullied too much. I actually had a pretty good childhood.
I definitely think I face more bullying and harassment as an adult. One of the biggest
misconceptions that people have of people with dwarfism is that we are very helpless and we absolutely
cannot be independent. Most little people I know they are living very independent lives.
DORIS JEONG: I first started blogging in 2009. I was in college and I had bought a, kind
of, a long tunic, woman’s tunic. And I thought it was really cute and I wore it as a dress.
And I realised I can totally wear shirts as dresses. I was like, ‘Oh, my God! My blog title.’
So, my two main goals with my blog: first is to just express myself. I have always
been a creative person and I also do fashion illustration. So, it was more of just showcasing
my artwork as well as my outfits. And the other objective of my blog is to just, kind
of be like a resource for other little people.
JULIE PARK: I love Doris’s blog. I love reading her blog because it’s so fun to
read. She doesn’t only talk about her fashion but she also talks about, lot about travelling,
friends, photography, her drawing and lot of inspiring life quotes. Doris can pull off
any kind of style, from girly to elegant and casual and edgy looks, and she looks great
in every style.
DORIS JEONG: Being born with dwarfism definitely affected my love life. I think
manoeuvring through all the fish in the sea is already hard in itself in the 21st century.
But I think when you add dwarfism to it; I think it definitely makes it a little bit
more challenging. I think it either goes one way or the other. Like, guys just see me as,
kind of like a cute little sister or the other end of the spectrum is like, the ones kind
of like fetishes. And I am just trying to find like the middle ground, so.
DORIS JEONG: I think a lot of the times, you know, in general women might think, you know,
if you show more skin or wear like a tube top, it’s more sexier or if you do this,
it’s more attractive. But, I think when you know your body type; you just need to
find what works for you. And I would say don’t just follow trends.
DORIS JEONG: I have a couple of goals in the fashion world. I would like to learn how to
sell and actually make garments. And then also I am going to be a model for the International
Dwarf Fashion Show at Paris Fashion Week this October.
JULIE PARK: If I can describe Doris in one word, I would describe her as very strong.
Any hardship that she may go through, she never gives up and she always pushes through
and she is very inspiring to me.
DORIS JEONG: What I hope people will learn form my blog is that fashion really is for
everybody and it’s kind of, like my title, ‘I Wear Shirts As Dresses,’ it’s kind
of a metaphor for everything in life. Even as a little person you can do whatever you
want. I hope that’s what readers take away from my blog that you can only do whatever you want.