When Lizzo announced her entry into the shapewear industry last year with her brand YITTY, she made it very clear that she was also going to reinvent the market. Instead of providing shapewear that would help "change who you are", her mission continues to be celebrating every body and empower people to be who they are on their own terms.
Now, one year on, Lizzo is releasing her second YITTY collection, which introduces new smoothing, stretch denim options and reinvents fan-favourite pieces such as the brand's shaping high-waisted shorts. To mark the occasion, Cosmopolitan UK caught up with the artist during her 'Special' tour to chat about everything from her personal style journey and red carpet highlights, to celebrity fashion idols and the motivation for starting her brand.
How would you describe your relationship with fashion over the years?
"It’s definitely changed. I went from feeling like I didn't really have that much available to me. If I wanted to look fashionable or feel fashionable I had to shop on eBay or get the scissors out and make it happen, versus it being available to buy at the store. It kind of discouraged me from fashion and I didn't think that I could be a fashionista or chic or wear designer. That same mentality has gotten me to this point where I'm still custom creating my looks and my style and making those decisions, but the brands exist now, including YITTY. I think it's miles and miles away from where we were even 10 years ago in the fashion space, and there's still more inclusion to be had and more fun to be had!"
Can you describe your personal style in a sentence?
"I like to be comfortable and sexy at all times. I also like to look expensive."
If you could swap wardrobes with another celebrity, who would it be and why?
"Obviously, Rihanna has the greatest personal style I've ever seen in my life. Her and her stylists are just top-tier at making everything on her body look intentional and effortless so I would swap wardrobes with Rihanna any day. She probably wouldn't want mine though… well, she’d probably want the Yitty!"
What’s your favourite red carpet look you’ve ever worn and why?
"Recently I've had some incredible carpet moments, and I'm gonna say that my Brits pink outfit is coming to me. It’s my favourite look right now and it’s because it's just so outside the box - it's so camp and fun and it was so comfortable. Plus, I didn't have to wear tights on stage which is a big deal for me so I felt really free. I felt like a rockstar!"
Your red carpet and tour wardrobes are always so fun and exciting, what’s a non-negotiable for you when deciding on an outfit?
"I know this sounds so wild, but it has to accentuate my waist - I love my waist! I love the shape of my body, and every look we've done on stage I think always has a point where it comes back to that - whether it's a belted moment, a leotard or the YITTY super suit that has these amazing lines that go down the body that enhance the waist, that’s one of my favourite body parts and we always accentuate it on stage."
What’s one change you hope to see in the fashion industry in the next few seasons?
"More inclusivity. There was progress in fashion in showing more sizes, but this is slipping again. We need to see a wider range of models on the runways and in campaigns, and then we actually need to see those sizes represented in the clothing we’re seeing in stores."
What was your motivation for starting Yitty?
"I have spent the entirety of my life trying to change how I look or reshape my body. I felt this pressure of constantly being told through what I saw on television or what I saw other women do to their bodies, that my body wasn’t good enough and I had to inflict some sort of pain upon it to fit into an archetype or a standard of beauty.
"I’ve been wearing shapewear – tight pinching corsets and underwear bottoms - for a very long time since I was in fifth or sixth grade. It was really painful, and I really felt that it shouldn’t be this way; we shouldn't be ashamed of our bodies and we shouldn’t have to wear these contraptions to feel beautiful. Plus, I could never find anything in my size, and the colours were limited to pink, white and black. I thought to myself, who looks like that? I was waiting for someone to change the conversation around this article of clothing that so many people wear. It’s not comfortable. It doesn’t look like us.
Eventually, I started to create my own shapewear pieces based on where I felt I needed to be shaped or hugged. But over time, because literally, no one was addressing this, I realised that I needed to do it. I would drive the change. With YITTY, I have introduced shapewear that fits every body – from 6X to XS – and makes me feel good about myself. It is not about changing my body. YITTY compliments and emphasises the beauty of my body. The curves and the textures and the colour. It holds me. It's comfortable. It’s like wearing a piece of confidence."
How involved are you with the YITTY design process?
"I am heavily involved in the design of each style, from colour palettes and prints to silhouettes and fit details. I personally try on every single style at various points throughout the design and fitting process. I am constantly sending the YITTY team design ideas and inspiration."
If there is one thing you could make people feel when they wear your clothing, what would it be?
"My vision with YITTY was to make sure nobody felt ashamed or left out, that everyone could be a part of it. I wanted to show the world that shapewear can feel and look good and be fun; it can be inviting and bright and something you can be proud of. A lot of times the conversation around shapewear is, 'ohhh it’s going to be painful. Ohhh it’s going to be torture. Oh, don’t let anyone see it. Hide it.' You have your lingerie drawer and then you have your shapewear drawer that’s hidden from everybody. But if you stumble into my YITTY drawer, you’ve stumbled into something sexy and exciting that makes me feel good. I want YITTY to make people feel sexy, confident and beautiful in their own bodies."
Amen! To that end, here's Lizzo's latest YITTY range, with sizes ranging from 6X-XS, available to shop online at Fabletics.
New VIP offer: £19.20
Non-member: £64
New VIP offer: £22.20
Non-member: £74
New VIP offer: £11.70
Non-member: £39
New VIP offer: £22.20
Non-member: £74
Follow Natasha on Instagram.
Natasha Harding is the former Fashion Editor (Digital & Print) at Cosmopolitan & Women's Health UK. Working in fashion journalism for just under ten years, she’s covered over 30 international fashion weeks, hundreds of red carpets and religiously scours the runway every season to create the brand’s bi-annual trend report. Joining Cosmopolitan back in Australia, Natasha moved to London a few years ago and is now the resident expert for celebrity style and industry news, fashion features and e-commerce. Follow Natasha on Instagram
