Body-positive bloggers talk plus-size fashion in Dubai

Two of Dubai’s most prominent body positive ladies talk to Good magazine about embracing your shape, plus-size fashion in Dubai and how sometimes it’s important to just forget all of the rules.

The life of a Dubai-based fashion blogger

LuAnne D’Souza from Weesha’s World talks beauty, blogs and body confidence.

Tell us a bit about Weesha’s World Weesha’s World is a fashion and beauty blog mixed with body positivity and inspiration for women to love themselves as they are. Over the years, I’ve shared my own struggles with being fat and learning to accept and love my body, and how fashion played a role in that journey. I mostly post a lot of outfits to show other women that big girls can be stylish too.

What prompted you to start blogging? I was blogging anonymously for a while; it was kind of like a personal diary back then. It slowly evolved into a fashion blog over time because I started to feel frustrated because of the lack of representation and diversity in the media. I’d come across a few plus-size fashion blogs and that inspired me to start blogging about fashion even more.

Who is your plus-size style inspiration? A blogger called Stephanie Zwicky, she has a blog called “Le Blog De Big Beauty” and she was one of the first bloggers I ever followed and I still follow her today. She has incredible style.

Favourite plus-size store or brand? I shop the most at asos.com, and in Dubai, I like Yours clothing and Forever21.

What are your three best tips when shopping? 

– Never compromise on fit; it’s the clothes job to fit your body and not the other way around.

– Try on items just for the fun of it. Even if you think they might not suit you, you’d be surprised by the result.

– Don’t buy something unless you’re 100% in love with it. You shouldn’t have to talk yourself into buying it.

What do you think the hardest item to shop for is and why? From a plus-size perspective, finding great jeans is always a hassle. Because fit is so important, and it’s nearly impossible to find jeans that would fit your hips, thighs and waist perfectly.

Do you find the trends in plus-size lines vary from the catwalk? It still has a long way to go, but I think a lot of progress has been made. You can now find trendy pieces.

What is your favourite trend this season and why? I love that the 70s and 90s styles are back in fashion. Those are my favourite eras of fashion.

Finally, what is next for you and the blog? I’m trying to be more active on YouTube. It’s more time consuming but I really enjoy the challenge of learning a new skill.

iamweesha.com

Fashion tips from Bishambar Das

With more than 32,000 followers on Instagram and a career that takes her all over the world, the often-Dubai-based plus-size model and Yours London spokesperson Bishamber Das is the perfect person to share some inspiration and fashion tips. 

Get the right fit It’s so important to get this right; don’t wear clothes that are too tight or that aren’t flattering to your curves. Also don’t wear the opposite, and choose clothes that are too baggy. This will not do any justice to your body.

Fabrics Fabrics are so important to me. When buying dresses I like to go with more stretchy material so they accentuate my figure naturally. Don’t be scared to experiment – it does wonders! Invest in good fabrics so they give your figure structure.

Shapewear This is a must for me! Get the right shapewear that complements your body and feels comfortable at the same time. It makes all the difference.

Dress for your body shape It’s so important to study this and understand what works for your shape. I have a pear shape body type and I like to show off my silhouette.

Emphasise your assets Ask yourself what your favourite body part is and show it off. I am not afraid to show my bubble butt!

Buying from the right shops Being plus-sized doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable; there are so many stores out there that cater for women like me. Yours London is a personal favourite. Don’t be afraid to explore plus-size clothing.

Makeup and hair styling This will bring your whole look together. Don’t be scared to re-vamp and experiment with your look. This will bring a new-found confidence out.

Be your biggest cheerleader I once heard this quote and have been practicing this every day in my life since: “Before you go out and buy clothes it’s important to accept and love what you have.” We have all been created to look different not the same, and there’s beauty in our differences.

Accessories From shoes and jewellery to handbags it really is important to get this right. These items don’t have to be expensive. You can buy affordable matching pieces from Yours London and match them with your outfit.

Forget the rules Everyone is different and we all carry things off in different ways. Try something on and see how it makes you feel. If you like it and feel great then buy it!

Wise words.

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