When I hear someone say “dress for your body type,” what I'm really hearing is: “prepare to feel bad about yourself.

Because that phrase automatically makes you scan for flaws.

Are my hips too wide? My chest too small? My body too much? We’ve been trained to hide every so-called “problem area.” It’s no surprise Gen Z and millennials grew up the most insecure generation.

Fashion has spent decades teaching us that comfort equals failure. That if you’re not squeezing, tucking, or layering shapewear like emotional armor, you’re doing it wrong

But holy fuck, that’s the worst fashion advice ever. And it’s time we stopped treating it like fashion gospel.

The History of This Trash Rule

“Dress for your body type” has been around forever, it just keeps rebranding.

If you want a good laugh and a history lesson, check out this visual deep dive on the history of corsets from The Museum at FIT, It’s basically a timeline of how women have been squeezing themselves into pain in the name of fashion.

In the 1800s, women were literally suffocating in corsets just to create an “ideal shape.”

By the 1950s, fashion magazines were printing diagrams of “figure flaws” and “fixes.”
That’s not body positivity babe, that’s control.

Every decade, beauty standards change just enough to keep us chasing them.

That’s not empowerment. That’s marketing designed to make you feel broken just so they can sell you the fix.

You’re Not a Fruit, You’re a Person

It's time we stop comparing women's bodies to shapes of fruit.

We don’t need to “balance our proportions” we need to feel good in our clothes.

As someone plus-size and non-binary, I’ve spent years thinking I had to overcompensate to be respected.

Because apparently, there’s nothing more offensive to society than a fat person who’s also comfortable.

That’s why body neutrality (the idea that you don’t have to love or hate your body) matters more than trends. It can feel almost impossible at first to shift from body positivity to body neutrality, but damn, it’ll do wonders for your self-esteem.

You don’t have to love your body every second of the day, you just have to stop fighting it every morning when you’re getting dressed.

Comfort Is Confidence

Not only does feeling comfortable come with its own layer of confidence because you’re not overthinking your outfit, you’re just living in it.

And it’s not just me noticing this shift. Comfort is officially the new status symbol as soft, cozy lifestyles take over our feeds, pushing back against the tight, rigid looks that ruled the early 2000s. Warmth and quality are finally having their moment.

If your waistband digs, your tag scratches, or your bra wire bites, your brain is too busy surviving to feel confident. That’s true for anyone, but especially if you’re neurodivergent like me.

Sensory-friendly clothing isn’t just for kids, it’s long-lasting self-care. Soft fabrics, stretch, breathable fits. These aren’t luxuries; they’re my newest fashion boundaries. And when your clothes feel safe, your body finally relaxes.

My rule lately, if I can’t nap in it, I don’t buy it.

Fashion Should Be Self-Expression, Not Submission

Forget the whole “flattering clothes” myth. Wear what feels like your personality, not what earns the most approval.

That’s exactly why I started Letter Shoppe, to make big, bold, comfy graphic tees that say the things I actually want to say and attract my kind of people.

I live for bold knit pants, oversized tees, and boots that don’t murder my feet. Fall and winter are my favorite fashion seasons because, honestly, I get to wear stylish blankets every time I leave the house.

For you, that might mean alt fashion covered in weird prints, dopamine colors, or chaotic layers that make you feel like a cartoon villain. Or if you’re into a darker aesthetic like me, maybe it’s all black everything because easy to match, low effort, and gives off that don’t mess with me vibe I adore.

The whole reason I built this brand back in 2013 was because I was tired of choosing between comfort and personality. Now, my closet’s full of oversized tees from my own designs, and I still get endless compliments every time I wear them.

Rethink Your Closet, Not Your Body

This article is not meant to make you run and buy all new clothes. But more of a way of reframing the way you look at the ones you already have.

Start by asking:
– Does this feel good on my body?
– Can I move freely?
– Do I feel like me in this?

If yes...keep it.
If no...let it go.

Fashion for real bodies is about feeling safe, not looking smaller.