5 Inspiring Women Redefining Fashion by Embracing Size-Inclusive Style

Breaking Free from Trial Room Trauma: How These Women Are Celebrating Fashion Beyond Size

Trial rooms can often feel like a battleground. Between the harsh lighting, critical mirrors, and unsolicited opinions, trying on clothes can leave anyone disheartened. A recent visit to a high-end Indian designer store reminded me of this all too well. Armed with a birthday gift voucher, I walked in with hope, only to leave disheartened. When I spotted a dress I liked, the sales assistant loudly proclaimed, “Ma’am, this won’t fit. It’s an XS. It’ll tear.” The awkward silence that followed was suffocating.

Like many, my body has changed post-pandemic. Once a size 6-8, I now fluctuate between sizes 12 and 14. Emotional eating, stress, and lifestyle changes took their toll, and while I tried to accept the new me, self-doubt crept in, especially when facing a wardrobe that no longer seemed to work.

That’s when I stumbled upon a reel by Lauren Brodie, a 34-year-old marketing manager from New Zealand. She shared how her sense of style blossomed after having her daughter. “My daughter taught me so much,” she wrote in an email. “Kids dress without inhibition, without worrying about what’s flattering. They just have fun.” Inspired by this unfiltered joy, Lauren stopped dressing to "shrink herself" and began exploring bold prints, vibrant colors, and playful layering. Her outfits are a celebration of self-expression—like pairing a gingham dress over a puff-sleeved blouse with bright red scrunchies. It was refreshing—proof that you don’t need to lose weight before you deserve

Aiswarya Kutty had a similar revelation when the pandemic led to the closure of her fashion business. As she dealt with significant personal shifts, including weight gain, she began documenting her style evolution online—not for validation, but to rediscover her creative spark. Initially camera-shy, Aiswarya slowly found confidence by embracing her current self. What started as a personal project soon transformed into a thriving business. Her handmade accessories, particularly her unique textile bibs, became a hit. “They elevate an outfit without adding bulk,” she says. She now supports local brands like Nicobar, Doodlage, and NorBlack NorWhite, investing in high-quality, long-lasting fashion.

For Rhea Bhattacharyya, founder of Drawn, the goal is to liberate fashion from its size-shackles. Having gone through body changes herself, she knows the emotional toll of trying on clothes that never seem to fit right. Her designs reject traditional sizing and focus instead on celebrating individuality. “Clothes shouldn’t restrict us,” she says. Her colorful, voluminous styles are adored by women with curves, turning the typical ‘hide-and-shrink’ narrative on its head. “Style is about joy,” she adds. “Play with lipsticks, bags—have fun with it.” At her pop-up events, the look on customers' faces when they realize her outfits already come in their size is priceless. For once, they feel seen.

Angélique Raina, designer at Acquire Studios, creates garments with smocking—an age-old technique that allows the fabric to stretch and mold to the body. “It’s a time-consuming process,” she admits, “but it makes clothing more forgiving, breathable, and adaptive.” Her work challenges outdated Western sizing norms and introduces a new way to think about fit—one rooted in flexibility and kindness. Her clothes don’t just fit; they move with you.

Meanwhile, Spardha Malik, an image consultant, shares that she grew up shopping in the men’s section and reworking her mother’s outfits, simply because there weren’t enough fashionable options for curvy girls. Today, she views styling as a personal, creative expression—an art form, not a tool to conform. “It doesn’t always have to be flattering,” she says. “It can be bold. It just has to feel like you.” Her go-to brands include Lovebirds, Bodice, Cord, and Péro—labels that prioritize thoughtful design over fleeting trends. Though she acknowledges the financial barrier to mindful fashion, her core message remains the same: “Start with self-love and kindness toward your reflection. The rest will follow.”

For far too long, society has equated weight gain with failure—a lapse in discipline or self-worth. But these five women are rewriting that story. They’re choosing visibility over invisibility, celebration over shame. And their courage is contagious. Each time one woman decides to show up fully as herself, she lights the way for others to do the same.