Breaking The Fashion Rules: Why You Don’t Always Have To Dress To Suit Your Shape

Growing up I vividly remember reading articles that patronisingly likened women’s body shapes to fruit. Encouraged to discover which fruity item of food you were, clothing and style recommendations were based on whether you fit the apple, pear, banana or bunch of grapes formula – and often involved ‘highlighting your best bits and concealing your worst.’ Honestly, it’s no wonder that this pear spend the best part of fifteen years wearing what she *thought* she should, rather than what she wanted to. Sure, midi lengths and nipped in waists flatter my big hips and relatively small frame, but sometimes fashion isn’t just about wearing what looks good; it’s about wearing what feels good too.

Although I have my own style (that mainly involves those midi dresses and nipped in waists) I’m coming to learn that often you don’t have to necessarily follow the ‘rules’ – fashion is supposed to be fun and it’s supposed to make you feel good, so trying something new or wearing an item just because you love it should top the need for it to be flattering. Maybe it’s something that comes with age, but I now couldn’t really give two hoots whether or not I’m channeling the hottest Topshop trends; I’d much rather feel good and use these expensive pieces of fabric to express who I am, or reflect the person I want to be that day.

My wardrobe was practically a sea of monochrome for the best part of a decade, so now it’s an utter pleasure to open it to see so much colour. My twenties were spent wanting to blend in, unsure of who I was and what my own style should be, but my thirties are the antithesis of that: I know exactly who I am, I really don’t care what people think of me and I use my clothes as a form of self expression. I’m not afraid of standing out, of being overdressed or of wearing something that may not necessarily be the best look for my body shape. As long as it makes me smile, I’m here for it.

Case in point is this fab little red shimmering number from Joanie Clothing that I picked up before Xmas on a whim. (I think it was during the Black Friday discounts!) The red metallic midi dress features quite thin and clingy material (something I’d historically avoid) but the frill detail counteracts it and keeps it fun. I got a size too big so it didn’t cling too much and allowed plenty of room for eating, which sometimes is all you need to feel more comfortable rather than constrained; it actually ended up being one of my fave dresses to wear over the festive period. It probably cuts me off just at the wrong point, rather than elongating my legs – but if you can’t wear something just because you want to and not because it makes you look your very best, what’s the point?

So here’s to breaking the fashion rules and wearing what you love, not just what you think you should!

SHOP THE LOOK

Joanie Clothing Red Metallic Midi Dress | £40.00 | LINK
Faith Velvet Bow Heels | £35.00 | SIMILAR HERE
Furla Metropolis Mini Bag | £290.00 | LINK
Olivia Burton Watch | £98.00 | LINK
Marks & Spencer Earrings | £12.50 | LINK

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