Are we compromising our style to wear something “flashy”?

“Flattering” is a word that sounds flattering on the surface, but honestly, often when someone says something is “flattering,” they’re using it as a synonym for “it makes you look thinner.” Like a generation that grew up on TV shows 10 years younger And what not to WearDescribing a dress as one that “graces your shape” and “hides lumps and bumps” has become as important (if not more) to their description as the colour, silhouette or trend in which they are categorized. But as famous club kid James St. James symbolically (and correctly) said, “If you can’t hide it, decorate it!”

As a woman with multiple jobs, I work as a personal stylist. A common problem my clients have is that they want to try new silhouettes, but feel like they look like they’re ‘wearing a sack’ or like they’re ‘soaked in their clothes.’ My advice is always the same: drown in the clothes. Wear a sack. Allowing myself to break out of the prison of the ‘stripped waist’ and develop a part of my wardrobe that is completely plus size, the most clothing free decision I have ever made. I always show them an image of Rihanna in oversized gray tailoring which I think is one of her best looks ever. I’m looking painfully cool as always, but certainly not in an outfit that makes her look short. Always Praised her for showing the humanity of letting her weight fluctuate over the years. She has never wavered in her every iteration as a fashion icon, and why should she? In fact, why should any of us do this?

extraordinary stylist Gabriella Carefa-Johnson The origins of his contempt for the word come to mind. My disdain for the word “flattery” dates back to my teenage years. When others (usually older) imposed their own outdated concepts of beauty on what I should dress like – no horizontal stripes because I’m already wide, no mini skirts because I have cellulite. Recently I was reminded that there is more. One of my fashion editorial icons saw me in a midi skirt, at the age of 80 she showed me solidarity by telling me that she loved my skirt and that it was much more flattering than mine. Those silly little dresses that I normally wear… my first thought was, whatever happened with The Rapture, we needed that.” If you’ve seen Gabriella styling a mini skirt then that’s all the proof you need to know that these outdated ideals have no place in a real fashion girl’s wardrobe.

Destroying or challenging the beauty standard is nothing new, but is like a tug of war that is pulled from one side to the other. In 1997, Rei Kawakubo showed the history-making ‘Lumps and Bumps’ collection at the Commes des Garçons, which was In fact called Body meets dress, dress meets body. The collection acted like a bell that echoed throughout the industry, creating uneasiness and intrigue among the audience. Kawakubo was exploring where the body ends and clothing begins, while also questioning why one part of the body was considered desirable and another considered disturbing.

Nearly 30 years later, has there been any progress? Rachel Broussard, founder of Posh Showroom, who has been helping brands find their way into stores since 2004, is hopeful, “I believe that the designers who are really in the direction of fashion are moving away from the traditional emphasis on the nipped waist that has been in place for many years. There is a clear shift toward the silhouette as a statement in its own right that feels more directional, expressive and visually impactful in designs.”

Evidence of this was certainly present on the spring/summer and autumn/winter 2026 runways, where cocoon-like dresses and drop-waist silhouettes were frequently seen. One of Chloé’s standout pieces for spring was an ultra-low waist funnel-neck trench coat, for Ferragamo it was a dress adorned only with elastic at the cuffs and legs, creating an oversized, sack-like silhouette. amazing? Yes. Flattery in the so-called “traditional” sense? No, I heard someone describe the drop-waist trend as “the opposite of a flattering silhouette.” Good! Imagine rejecting these looks because it defaults to the perfect hourglass shape or the newly (read: once again) vaunted optimal figure: improbably Thin

Even outside Paris and Milan, Copenhagen Fashion Week is being watched with increasing attention. Attendees defined the look of the city with their layered and expansive street style – it seems that the new generation of fashion folk is expanding beyond boundaries in geography as well as proportion. Rachel Broussard, founder of Posh Showroom, which has been helping brands find their way into stores since 2004, says she’s noticed a change. “I’ve noticed a clear shift toward more unconventional silhouettes. Designers are pushing the boundaries more than ever, and in particular, the most recent brands we’ve brought into showrooms are introducing a higher proportion of statement-driven pieces than before. What’s particularly interesting is that this directly aligns with buyer demand, there is a strong appetite for distinctive, extraordinary designs.”

Changes are probably being seen on the red carpet too. The latest favourite, Audrey Nuna, continues to lead the way with a silhouette created by herself and stylist Daniel Brown. The voice and cast of K-pop Demon Hunters have appeared on the carpet with masks by Marc Jacobs, S/S25’s oversized doll dress, Thom Browne’s toy-like dress and Margiela’s gold necklaces. Moving away from the norm, Noona is someone whose pictures we eagerly wait for after award ceremonies. Where Nuna is artistic and avant-garde in her dressing, stars like Billie Eilish who became a woman before the world’s eyes used baggy silhouettes and more androgynous clothing to remove her body from the conversation, yet developed a recognizable and much emulated style.