s a child and teen, I would spend hours poring over the fashion pages of magazines looking for inspiration, and trend-forecasting with my other fashion-forward friends. “Nautical is going to be a huge trend next season,” we would chirp. Later, we would learn that Breton stripes are always in style.
But despite my profound appreciation for fashion, it was never a space in which I saw myself reflected.
From a young age, I struggled with my body image. In childhood, I had softer edges than my peers, causing me to stand out in a way that made me feel uncomfortable. I was never obese, not by a long stretch, but my thighs were close friends rather than distant relatives, and I was wearing bras in...