The One Tip That Made Me Fall in Love With Fashion and My Body Again

Photo: Jaye Sant

Jacket (Zara, similar here) \\ Top (Topshop) \\ Jeans (Express) \\ Shoes (Steve Madden Daisie Pumps in Black Suede) \\ Bag (Zara) \\ Sunglasses (Adam Selman x Le Specs The Last Lolita in White) \\ Earrings (Topshop)

I gained a lot of weight over the past two years and it affected me in so many ways that I am just beginning to understand. It is a difficult topic to discuss because so many of us struggle with our body image and I feel like vocalizing what I don’t like about myself will inevitably offend some people. I definitely don’t want to take away from today’s body positivity movement, which I support 1000%.

However, this is my reality and I know that there are many of you out there that can relate. Being body positive doesn’t mean you have to ignore those moments when you don’t feel great. I personally got to a point where I didn’t feel well physically. It was as if I could literally feel the extra weight on my chest.

Photo: Jaye Sant

But funny enough, what really got to me were disappointing shopping experiences. I couldn’t find anything that made me truly love my curvier body. And it wasn’t so much that I couldn’t find anything, it was that I didn’t know how to dress for my shape. I have plenty of fierce plus-size friends so I knew there were options out there. But that knowledge didn’t make a difference because I just didn’t love what I looked like.

It wasn’t until I addressed that issue that I started seeing myself differently and actually finding pieces that made me feel fly AF again. I wasn’t waiting until some random date in the future when I lost weight to transform my style. Ironically, sizing up so that things fit looser was my biggest breakthrough. That can be really scary when you gain weight out of nowhere and are having a hard time accepting it. But I am living proof that you really have to ignore the labels. Unless you’re besties with David Blane, no one can see the number hidden in your clothes. However, they WILL be able to see that you look like an overstuffed sausage casing that is bursting at the seams. Getting over my clothing size (which is different everywhere anyway) worked WONDERS.

Photo: Jaye Sant

Needless to say, my newfound confidence and approach to sizing has led me to do a lot of shopping (you can check out some of the damage on YouTube). Getting a cute and concise spring and summer lineup ready has made me less stressed about my body and excited to get dressed up everyday. Having friends that are amazing photographers shoot outfit photos also helps! Lol.

Photo: Jaye Sant

I’ll still have my days when I don’t feel my best and know that hitting the gym to start feeling healthier and fit will lead to clearing out my wardrobe again. I am ok with that.