Beyond the Catwalk: Fashion Isn’t Our Standard, Self-Love Is.

Let’s start with a truth we rarely talk about: for years, high fashion has celebrated a single body type, the tiny, almost impossibly slender “Stockman, sample size 38” (roughly a UK size 6). It’s a size that fits less than a fraction of real women, yet it has dictated what’s considered beautiful, stylish, or even “acceptable.”

For at least 60 years, fashion houses have been idolising and designing all of the garments on the "sample size" (XS). Then, Fashion show and photoshoot samples are almost exclusively made in the "standard" sample size (XS/0/2) because most agency models have the same, very narrow measurements. It is more efficient for brands to create garments that fit the broadest range of available models for promotional purposes. Some high-end luxury brands deliberately keep their sizes small to maintain an image of exclusivity and align with an idealised, often thin, body image.

Think about it. How many times have you tried on something in a shop, only to feel like the problem is your body because it “doesn’t fit”? That feeling, that pang of self-doubt, isn’t about you — it’s about a system that has long celebrated a very narrow idea of beauty. The clothes weren’t made for your curves, your hips, your softness, and that’s the point. The problem has never been your body.

Fashion has historically sent the message that if your body doesn’t fit into their tiny box, you’re the one who needs fixing. But here’s the secret: your body has been perfect all along.

Your Body is Always Changing, And That’s Beautiful

Here’s where we need to start celebrating ourselves, genuinely and unapologetically. Women’s bodies are in constant motion, and that’s something to honour, not hide.

We fluctuate daily, a bloated tummy after lunch, and tightness after a long day. Monthly, our bodies shift with our cycles, with energy highs and lows, with cravings and water retention. Then there are the bigger life changes: pregnancy, postpartum, and even the way your body responds differently to each season, the layers you wear in Autumn and Winter versus the light, breezy styles of Spring and Summer.

Instead of seeing these changes as inconvenient or “wrong,” why not view them as part of your body’s wisdom? Every curve, every swell, every wrinkle, every softness tells the story of your life, your experiences, your resilience.

When you dress to celebrate these changes — not fight them — you start to feel a sense of ease, flow, and even joy in your own skin.

Confidence Beats Conformity Every Time

Let’s get real: we will not be remembered for the dress size we wore. Honestly, no one will recall whether we squeezed into a UK 6 or danced proudly in a UK 12. What people remember is the energy we bring, the confidence we radiate, the light we shine.

True style isn’t about squeezing into a number on a label. It’s about walking into a room and feeling comfortable, empowered, and completely yourself. It’s about saying to the world: I am enough, exactly as I am.

When you embrace your body, every outfit becomes an extension of your personality, not a struggle against your curves. Your clothes become tools for expression, not judgement. And the most striking fashion statement you can ever make? Confidence.

Mindful Ways to Feel Beautiful Again

Now, let’s get practical. Confidence isn’t just a mindset; it’s something we nurture daily. Here are some ways to reconnect with your body and feel beautiful again:

• Check in with your body: Spend five minutes each morning noticing how your body feels. No judgement, no “I should be…” Just observe and appreciate.

  
  

• Move with gratitude: Walk, stretch, dance, or even do gentle yoga. Thank your body for all it allows you to do. That appreciation shifts your perspective immediately.

  
  

• Dress for you: Forget trends and unrealistic standards. Choose pieces that make you feel fabulous and at ease. Comfort is not the enemy of style; it’s the foundation of confidence.

  
  

• Mirror love: Every day, look in the mirror and say one thing you genuinely love about yourself. Start small, maybe your eyes, your hands, your smile. Over time, this builds a lasting sense of self-appreciation.

  
  

• Tune into the seasons: Honour your body’s rhythms and the natural seasons around you. Layer up when it’s cosy, lighten up when it’s sunny. Seasonal alignment is about flow, not restriction.

• Positive/Negative Self-Talk: Whenever you think negatively about yourself, counterattack immediately in your mind with a positive thought. It's all about changing the mindset.

Mindfulness is powerful because it reconnects you with the truth: your body is your ally, not your enemy.

When you treat it with care, respect, and kindness, the confidence follows naturally.

Shine Beyond the Size

Fashion has long dictated narrow ideals, but you don’t need it to validate your worth. Celebrate your curves, your cycles, your story, everything that makes your body, your body. Shine bright, radiate confidence, and elevate yourself — every Friday, and every day.

Remember: the most memorable women aren’t remembered for being skinny or fitting into a standard.

They’re remembered for their presence, their energy, their light. And that light? It comes from loving yourself, fully and unapologetically.

If you need extra help to feel confident and beautiful inside and out, check out our services and let's make sure you feel empowered, because you deserve it xx

Discover Our Services

Lots of Love,

Clementine

Founder of Elevated