Style Like U, a project founded in 2009 by a mother-daughter team Elisa and Lily is ‘a movement that empowers people to accept and express their true selves’.
By recording the stories of different people, and posting the videos and images on their various social media outlets, Elisa and Lily aim to change perceptions about what fashion is and show that ‘true fashion can’t be reduced to a trend, price tag, or air-brushed photograph. True fashion is the foundation for one’s identity.’ They challenge the idea that we have to change ourselves to fit a certain image in order to be beautiful.
Some of the key messages from the The StyleLikeU Manifesto include…
-Don’t wish to be someone else.
-Beauty is confidence.
-Your imperfections make you you.
-Vulnerability is strength.
-Dress for yourself.
-Style is political.
Here’s a selection of just some of the wonderful people who have been featured on the project:
1. ‘A Fashion Muse turned Fashion Revolutionary’ Bethann Hardison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY7KdnbVQp8
‘’Even twenty years ago, or thirty years ago, I used to think: Just one good jumpsuit, you know? And to me it’s still the same, and you wear it everyday. It’s like, you know, like a mechanic puts on before he works on a car’’
”Why, in your body, is it a good place to be?”
‘’I’m very happy, in many ways to be in my own skin…you just want to make a difference to people’s lives…one of my favourite mantras is the lighter the load the freer the journey’’
2. ‘The What’s Underneath Project: Melanie Gaydos’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdvaTzWvbPA
‘’Can you talk a little bit about what your style says about you?”
‘’Well hopefully that I’m cool, comfortable, and creative’’
‘’If anyone says something to me, or like judge me in a certain way, it’s really just a reflection of themselves and their own issues they’re dealing with’’
‘’[My body is] a good place to be because it’s the only place you can be’
3.‘What’s Not to Love? OITNB’s Lea DeLaria’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2F2R2vGE98
‘’My entire life has been trying to put a positive spin on what it is to be butch’’
”Why in your body is it a good place to be?”
‘’Because I love me! What’s not, look at this! What’s not to love?’’
4. ‘A Pinup Model Pins Down Cancer: Elly Mayday’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR3jMZhUWY8
‘’I think that people think that I have it all together, that I made cancer look easy’’
‘’when I started modelling it was all just about spreading my confidence around to girls’’
‘’My body has brought me through hell and back. I would choose this body again, even if it had cancer, because it’s mine and I’m happy with it’’
This is a campaign about self-acceptance, self-expression, and empowering people to be confident in their own body and mind. Style Like U reminds us that we deserve to feel great about our own individual style and being. Here at Her Campus, we truly believe in this message and implore you to love yourself and your body. Be confident in being you!
Check out the Style Like You blog here: http://stylelikeu.com/