The first rule of fashion in 2019? There are no rules. Pink definitely goes with red, double denim is cool (Britney and Justin were ahead of their time tbh), culottes are back and you can pull off any look as long as you wear it with confidence.
We spoke to four body-positive influencers about the outdated fashion ‘rules’ they love to ignore, as well as choosing our favourite rule-breaking pieces from the new Very Curve collection.
Michelle Elman, aka ScarredNotScared, says that having 15 surgeries before the age of 20 made her really appreciate what her body could do. She's now a body confidence coach and author.
"I would describe my look as classic and colourful. I’m a big fan of breaking the rule that fat women should only wear all-black because it's slimming. I love black every once in a while, but colour is definitely what I feel most confident in. The same goes for stripes or any other pattern that fat women are supposedly not meant to wear - if you like it, wear it.
"I don’t agree with the idea that there are flattering or unflattering clothes - flattering is often a subtle way of saying you look slimmer than you are, but that's not what I seek to get out of my clothes. I'm happy looking exactly the size I am."
Stephanie Yeboah runs the style blog Nerd About Town and is a self-proclaimed fat acceptance advocate.
"My go-to style at the moment is normally some variation of a crop top with either mom jeans or chinos, complete with a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors. I find crop tops especially empowering because for years they've been associated with being thin and washboard stomachs, and have been used to promote a specific body ideal. It's such a great feeling to be able to take that power back and show society that fat women can wear crop tops, have our stomachs showing and look amazing.
"Also, what's with that weird rule that you can't show cleavage and legs at the same time? I love both parts of my body."
Curve model and style blogger at The Fashion Killer, Lauren Nicole has spoken out about her battle with body dysmorphia and her journey to embracing her curves.
"There’s that classic rule that bigger women can’t wear stripes. Just to rebel, I'll wear a dress with both vertical and horizontal stripes at once. Because if you feel good wearing something, why should anyone stop you from having fun?
"Up until the recent resurgence of the animal print trend, it was the same with bold prints. It was all wrap dresses with muted florals that looked like they should be hanging on your grandmother's curtain. But, if the recent looks seen on the catwalk and Instagram haven’t tempted you to buy something bold and in your face yet, this is your last call. Fashion should be about having fun and experimenting with your style."
Model and body confidence activist Jess Megan regularly posts about self-love. "Your cellulite and saggy boobs aren’t as important as you’ve been made to believe," she writes in one post that has over 11k likes. "But YOU are. And YOU can make a real difference, because when our time is up, that’s the stuff you’ll be most proud of."
"I want to be looked at and admired, not fade into the background, and my clothes reflect that.
"One rule I break constantly is the need to wear a bra. I’m proud of my saggy breasts. I often let them hang low. They’re doing their thing and I let them.
"Another thing I definitely don’t agree with is the idea that everyone has to find that perfect pair of jeans. The perfect pair doesn’t exist. So many women find it really stressful. Just find a stretchy pair that’s comfortable and ditch the fear of jeans. They’re cute but not cute enough to stress you out."
For all your new season curve fashion, head to Very
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Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
