Dressing to be smaller

Have you ever noticed how many fashion rules are about making you smaller?

• Wear black because it's slimming.

• Wear shapewear because it sucks you in.

• Wear nude shoes because they elongate you.

• Be careful with horizontal stripes because they'll make you look broad.

At first, these sound like harmless style tips. But they're not. They're conditioning.

At some point, we are taught that the goal of getting dressed is to disappear just enough. Blend in, don't stand out. Be stylish, but not loud. Be attractive, but not disruptive.

But who actually benefits from that? Because it's definitely not you.

Dressing well means dressing to flatter. But flattering almost always means making yourself look thinner, taller, or more conventionally acceptable.

However, when people feel small (physically, socially, or creatively), it's easier to keep them quiet. This benefits industries that profit from insecurity, selling the idea that you're never quite enough. It also benefits a society that feels more comfortable when people don't question the rules.

And yet, style isn't about erasing yourself. Style is power. It's presence.

When you play small, you're not just hiding your body. You're hiding yourself.

What if style wasn't about making yourself smaller but taking up space? Because style isn't just about looking good; it's about being seen. And when you stop worrying about whether your clothes are flattering in the way you were taught, you open the door to dressing in a way that makes you feel free.

Do you want to explore more? Sign up for UNLEARN, my free video course.