How Our Readers Embrace a Body-Positive Approach to Dressing
We'll admit it—we use the term flattering quite a lot. It's been thrown around in the fashion world for a while now, and we think it's finally time to reverse that language. After all, there's no singular way to dress, a topic we've tackled in a variety of ways throughout the month of May. We firmly believe that wearing what makes you feel like the best version of yourself is what ends up looking the best on you, no matter the cut or color. With that in mind, we're flipping the script on "dressing for your body type" and talking about how you can dress to highlight your favorite body part instead. It's what we call body love, and it's about actively embracing the best parts of ourselves.
Sure, we could tell you all day long about how to embrace a "body love" mentality when you get dressed every morning, but we wanted to hear how you, our impressive readers, are taking it to heart. We reached out to all of our readers, and of the many responses we received, there were eight of you who stood out to us for how you embrace "body love" in your personal style. Whether you're opting for dresses with a leg slit to show off your amazing legs or fearlessly wearing your favorite crop top despite what you've always been told about the tricky top, we can't help but be inspired by your how you highlight your favorite body parts.
See how Who What Wear readers are redefining what flattering means to them by dressing for their favorite body parts and then shop the pieces that make them feel their best.
Name: Noore
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
The body part she loves most: "I've never really thought about which part of my body I love the most. I've always been pretty good about loving my body in general, but I really love my back, I think it looks very feminine. Backs are so underrated."
How she dresses to flatter that body part:
"As a hijabi, my back is never on display, so I don't necessarily shop to flatter it. I try to find pieces that are flattering while keeping in line with my personal definition of modesty. Flattering clothes can make such a difference, but I also need to be comfortable. Well-fitting jeans are so important to me and I always feel great in a high-waisted pair with an oversize crop top."
Shop high-waisted jeans
Name: Nnenna
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
The body part she loves most: "I haven't thought about that actually, but I guess I have to say that my favorite part of my body is my legs. Even though they're not modelesque legs, they are my favorite part."
How she dresses to flatter that body part: "I love to buy dresses that with slits so that I can show off my legs!"
Shop dresses with slits
Name: Ellie
Hometown: Paris, France
The body part she loves most: "My legs because I was a ballet dancer for many years and the training gave my legs a really nice shape."
How she dresses to flatter that body part: "To flaunt my legs, I wear dresses that stop just a little bit higher up the knee or wrap skirts with slits."
Shop wrap skirts
Name: Cassandra
Hometown: Huntington Beach, California
The body part she loves most: "I love my breastbone. It protrudes and is noticeable against my small chest. All the women in my family have similar breastbones, and I think it is so beautiful and feminine."
How she dresses to flatter that body part: "I love wearing lower-cut pieces since they don't tend to look revealing. I especially love a looser low-cut blouse with layered dainty necklaces."
Shop low-cut, looser-fitting blouses
Name: Gess
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
The body part she loves most: "I love my bust and waist the most."
How she dresses to flatter that body part: "I use fashion as a way to express myself in the world and as a way to reclaim my body on my own terms. I love crop tops, even though I'm told that plus-size girls shouldn't wear them. No matter what, they make me feel youthful and flirty."
Shop stylish crop tops
Name: Meeka
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
The body part she loves most: "I love my clavicle bones. I think they're the sexiest part of the female body to highlight without showing too much skin."
How she dresses to flatter that body part: "I love turtlenecks with one side showing the clavicle bone, or a single-sleeved dress."
Shop cutout blouses
Name: Passant
Hometown: Cairo, Egypt
The body part she loves most: "I don't have a favorite body part, but so many people compliment me for my legs that I've learned to love them. Now they've become my favorite body part."
How she dresses to flatter that body part: "I love to wear mom jeans these days, especially with short cardigans and square-heeled shoes. Another favorite is my flared cropped jeans because they elongate the looks of my legs."
Shop square-heeled shoes
Name: Rahayu
Hometown: Jakarta, Indonesia
The body part she loves most: "My legs. I have long legs—maybe not as long as others—but it's a body part that I always feel confident showing."
How she dresses to flatter that body part: "I like wearing skirts, flare jeans, and shorts to flatter my legs."
Shop crop flare jeans
We use the term flattering a lot, but what does it actually mean? Fashion girls sound off.
Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.
-
4 Anti-Trend Outfits I Spot Every Time I'm in Europe
Classic looks that are always in style.
By Natalie Cantell
-
3 Non-Holiday Ways to Wear Velvet This Winter
You're welcome.
By Eliza Huber
-
Hailey Bieber Just Used the TikTok Styling Hack That Will Actually Go the Distance
I'm going to use it this weekend.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
After 15 Years as a Fashion Writer, I Know These Free Style Tweaks Will Make a Big Impact
How to give your wardrobe a new lease on life.
By Emma Spedding
-
4 Dated Sweater Trends I'm Purging From My Small NYC Closet by the Year's End
And the chic knitwear I'm making room for.
By Natalie Cantell
-
Law Roach's World: His New Book, Bag of Choice, and What He Grabs on a Target Run
"[Styling] has made my world so much bigger."
By Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
-
I'm in My 20s—Here Are 6 Style Lessons I Learned to Look More Polished and Grown-Up
Sophisticated styling 101.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
8 Copenhagen Street Style Trends I Plan to Replicate in New York
Pared back yet never boring.
By Nikki Chwatt