“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” 

-Coco Chanel

The connection between fashion, feminism, and body positivity has been in my mind since starting this blog. It’s certainly a thread that I’ve noticed in my own life, the very notion that pushed my boundaries and helped me create a space for confidence and self-love. This is a blog post based largely on my own experiences and observations of the world – I hope you enjoy!

My own feminist awakening, to borrow the term from Kate Chopin, occurred in 2016, just after the election. I had self-identified as a feminist before that, but the strength of feminist energy and rage that’s propelled me these past 3 years really, truly started with that political shift. I found myself at the inaugural Women’s March in my home state of Michigan, in awe of the likeminded women (and men) around me, all fighting for equal representation and a brighter future for our sisters. Advocacy became a huge part of my life – I often joke that I am always up for a good protest. But I feel that in those moments, standing in solidarity with others, fighting for the values I truly believe in, I am most authentically myself. With the decade coming to a close, I’ve done a lot of soul-searching and reminiscing. I have changed drastically from the person I was in 2009, but most of my change occurred from 2016 onward. I used to think I was more cynical, angry. But I’m reformatting these thoughts – I see myself as more inquisitive, curious, frustrated, and hopeful to change a system that goes against me and my values. My worldview has widened, my perspective has changed – and for that, I am thankful.

So what is the connection to fashion and body positivity? For me, my feminist awakening changed deeply held beliefs inside me. It challenged my assumptions, the media-created belief that if I wasn’t skinny, or generically pretty, that I wasn’t good enough for anything. I felt true value in all areas of myself, including my body. If I could push the boundaries of society through activism and feminism, why couldn’t I push the boundaries of body image and fashion? One of my biggest takeaways from this realization was that I actually started not caring what people thought of me. Such a big part of my life and mind were overtaken with anxiety, always wondering what people thought or stressing about what people were saying behind my back. For maybe the first time ever, I was actually starting to feel comfortable in my own skin. I found a community that validated me for me, and I began feeling that value for myself. I learned to love myself from the inside out. It wasn’t an easy process, and it still isn’t over. I deal with anxieties daily, and still have to push myself each day. But I’m proud of myself for how far I’ve come, for who I’ve become, for the healthier relationship I’ve established with myself.

There are also some physical ways in which I’ve cemented my relationship between fashion and feminism. I purchased one of my favorite sweatshirts in the world just after the first Women’s March – pictured below, it says “A Woman’s Place is in the House and the Senate.” I wear pink lipstick and a pink hat to marches and rallies in solidarity with others. I want to prove that women are multifaceted – we can wear makeup and accessories, do our hair, obsess over current fashion, and still take down the patriarchy. We are powerful creatures, and just because we love Project Runway and shopping at Ulta doesn’t mean we can’t also be strong activists.

Go out there and be strong, loves. As Amanda Lovelace wrote, “women are some kind of magic.”