Clothes that make you feel strong

5-minute read

Power dressing means something different to us all – just look at Audrey Hepburn with the little black dress or Sarah Jessica Parker with her tutu and Manolos. So, to celebrate how fashion makes you feel empowered, we talked to six women about the clothes that make them stand strong and what dressing with confidence means to them.

To help find your own unstoppable look, we hunted down some similar fashion buys from Victoria Leeds.

Emily

When Emily’s not in front of the camera, she dances and likes to perfect her hobby of circus arts.

For my power outfit… I like simple, bold colours and silhouettes with a strong structure. I always have to feel comfortable, because if I don’t then I don’t feel as strong and confident – and feeling confident is important all the time. There are so many reasons to feel self-doubt in life, but I’ve always used my clothes and hair to remind me of who I am on the inside.

‘I’ve always used my clothes and hair to remind me of who I am on the inside’

Get Emily’s look Asymmetric mini shirt dress, £75, & Other Stories; fitted button wrap mini dress, £75, & Other Stories; Self Portrait floral guipure lace mini dress, £250, Harvey Nichols

Ruth

Mum-of-three Ruth runs the enviable @WearItLikeRuth. She celebrates relatable style and is a cancer warrior.

For me, fashion is important because… Clothes are my armour. They’re how you identify. It can tell a story and it can tell your story, so it’s a way of expressing yourself. It’s your opportunity to show someone a bit about you, and can completely change the way you’re seen, so it gives you that individuality and I think that’s so important. It’s fun, as well, especially when you look at the patterns, shapes and colours. It gives you that individuality and I think that’s so important.

‘Clothes are my armour’

Get Ruth’s look Diane Von Furstenburg tiger-print silk-chiffon trousers, £360, Harvey Nichols; Aurora Rebecca Vallance Aimee black puff-sleeve dress, £475, Harvey Nichols; pleated culotte trousers, £135, Reiss

Natalie

Natalie is a very busy mum who turned her passion – @StyleMeSunday – into her full-time career. She champions body positivity through her Instagram and her @IamFeelingMyself2020 dance events.

My go-to confident outfit is… Something with a bold colour or print. I don’t care what anyone else thinks about my outfits: if I like and I feel good in it, I will go ahead and wear it, regardless. If you wear bold prints and bold colours, when you walk out the door it makes other people look at you and smile, which then makes you smile. It just helps to make the world a better place.

‘If I like it and I feel good in it, I will go ahead and wear it – regardless’

Get Natalie’s look AND/OR Sasha snake print skirt, £69, John Lewis & Partners; Martina Remix dress, £148, AllSaints; hush Helena leopard print shirt, £49, John Lewis & Partners – limited stock, order online and collect in store

Kiera

Kiera might be little, but she’s fierce. She loves dancing (and does everything from hip-hop to contemporary ballet) and is also pretty good at boxing and kickboxing, too.

Feeling confident in how you dress is important because… I don’t care if people say girls can’t wear boys’ stuff. I wear what I like to wear. All the clothes that I have make me, me.

‘I don’t care if people say girls can’t wear boys’ stuff. I wear what I like to wear’

Get Kiera’s look Scamp & Dude leopard leggings, £30, John Lewis & Partners; Viola sweatshirt, from £32.95, Joules; Runaround high top trainers, £34.95, Joules


Coral

Coral is a full-time model, but she’s also majorly in to skincare and is working with brands to discuss the future of beauty.

Power dressing is all about… the silhouettes. A suit, especially in a bold colour, is always empowering. It makes you feel confident, but also comfortable. Fashion is another way of expressing yourself. If you’re constantly trying to look like someone else then you’re never fully you. You have to stick to what makes you feel good and that’s it.

‘If you’re constantly trying to look like someone else then you’re never fully you’

Get Coral’s look Structured single buttoned blazer in purple, £95, & Other Stories; single breasted suit jacket in green, £205, Tommy Hilfiger; Phoenix single breasted blazer in apricot, £235, Reiss 


Emmanuelle

Emmanuelle is a design historian and model. She uses her Instagram – @TheDesignerist – to showcase her love of aesthetics, and how total paralysis of her left arm and hand doesn’t get in the way of her style.

Fashion is important to me because… It’s always been part of who I am. I always loved dressing up and then I had a motorbike accident, which changed my life. But I’ve never lost my love of fashion.

I did used to hide my arm a lot and it’s only in the last few years through what’s happening now, which is all about diversity and inclusion and accepting that our bodies are different, that I’ve stopped.

Instagram has helped show that being disabled doesn’t define who you are and stop you from wearing amazing stuff. Fashion is empowering and positive and about celebrating my disability, my hair, age, size – all of those things. For me, wearing colours and bold jewellery give me the confidence to do anything.

‘Colours and bold jewellery give me the confidence to do anything’

Get Emmanuelle’s look Ginnie dress, £149, Hobbs; panelled jersey dress, £79, Cos; Traffic People Dalliance backless long sleeve dress, £95, Harvey Nichols

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