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It’s no secret that the fashion industry still largely struggles with inclusivity toward bodies. Today, it’s up to the models, influencers and photographers to spark change and rewrite the rules. Many of them are tirelessly doing exactly that.

Two best friends and social media creators named Denise Mercedes and Maria Castellanos went viral for their “Style Not Size” project which promotes body positivity a couple of years ago. Today, they continue to spread their message, saying that nobody should be confined to what society tells us is the correct thing to wear for specific sizes.

So they’re taking this approach to daily life and the streets of New York, where the duo is putting the same outfit on their different body types. The result is both empowering and normalizing, urging society to get rid of the outdated notion of the “wrong” clothes for the “wrong” bodies.

Scroll down for the most recent Style Not Size looks, upvote your favorite ones and be sure to check out more of the duo’s fashion inspiration in our previous posts here, here, and here.

Denise: DeniseMercedes.com | TikTok Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Maria: Instagram TikTok | YouTube

#1

Two Body Types Same Outfit

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3 Owls In A Coat
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This style fits them both so well 🥵 I have officially been slayed

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The viral “Style not Size” project was launched three years ago when Maria came up with an idea to pose for photos wearing the same bikini. “It blew up on social media and people reacted so positively to it that we continued doing it here and there,” Denise told Bored Panda in an earlier interview.

The very first video that the now famous duo shared on TikTok amassed more than 1.5 million views and three years later, they're nowhere near stopping. “Once TikTok had become popular, we decided to do a fun video and that’s when it went viral,” Denise said.

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Maria and Denise, at first, wore a similar style outfit but not the exact same pieces. “I think we really wanted to push the boundaries and go for it! We dressed from head to toe to really showcase one same look on different bodies,” Maria told Bored Panda.

The friends loved the public’s response, and not much later, they were already treating their hobby as a job. For them, it’s a job to educate and open people’s eyes to the endless possibilities in fashion. These days, Maria and Denise not only post more content more often, they also cater to every style so that there’s content to be enjoyed by everyone.

No wonder that the Style Not Size project has managed to remain as relevant as it was in the beginning despite the fact that much of the viral content loses its relevance with time.

#7

Two Body Types Same Outfit

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3 Owls In A Coat
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Curvy lady absolutely steals the show with this dress 😍 although this dress is making the slender lady look quite curvy too! Both of them nailed it 👏 I have 0 curves so maybe I’ll buy this dress!

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The duo’s key message is to dress however you please and to love your body. The pair believes that it’s time to stop comparing yourself to others, and they hope that their Style Not Size project will inspire people to feel good in their own skin. No matter our bodies, sizes, and whatever people think.

Denise also stated that “the fact that we can inspire so many women to feel confident and be themselves makes us want to continue this movement.” The pair is over the moon to get so much positivity from people on social media.

For curvy ladies, Denise’s go-to combo in the autumn season is “some high-rise mom jeans, boots, a shirt and a leather jacket.” You can’t go wrong with it!

#10

Two Body Types Same Outfit

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3 Owls In A Coat
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Adding this dress to the shopping list! This is so flattering, I feel like anyone would look good in it :)

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#16

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#17

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3 Owls In A Coat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This dress really compliments both of them 😍 where do I get one

3 Owls In A Coat
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Getting downvoted - sorry if that was rude BP, Ijust think they look absolutely bangin and I wanna look at least a tiny bit bangin too sometimes :( I work with the local drag club and one of my curvier girls wants this dress too so I’d genuinely love a tip 😅 I’ll keep it to myself next time I’m sorry, but would love to know what I did wrong!

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Randi Campos
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think they look absolutely amazing, and I'm at a size that's in-between the two ladies. And I would also love to know where they snag these outfits from, do I don't see why you would get down voted for that. I mean there beautifully showing how the outfits work for the different shapes, and some of us struggle with that so the tips are amazing.

Tammy Wait
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not good on either one. The cut is wrong and the fabric doesn't hang right.

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#19

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I’ve Seen Things
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting what clothes do for the visual of body shapes as they look somewhat similar here.

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#20

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butt soup
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2 years ago (edited)

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where do they get all these hideous monochrome outfits? c'mon, mix & match some clothes or at least pick colors that aren't eyebleedingly bright or just an awful beige with no in between. i'm sorry, but no body type looks good in this kind of cheaply made fast-fashion. EDIT: stop downvoting me for having an opinion on clothes. do you really think having my own taste in fashion is a decent reason for my account to get banned? for context, the top comment in the main comment section of this article says "Who designed these outfits? A lot of them look really weird and ugly, regardless of the body type of the wearer." which is almost exactly what i said: that these outfits aren't very good & don't look flattering on anyone. so why do i get my account suspended while that person gets 24 upvotes?

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#21

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Becki Boop
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly I could wear this to work tomorrow (with a longer top, no midriff - and I'd still come nowhere near to killing it this hard)

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#27

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Kelsey Osborne
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what fashion companies should do: show the same outfits on different body types.

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#31

Two Body Types Same Outfit

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RMA
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a cleverly designed dress - either amply and beautifully filled by a larger bust, or elegantly draped on a less curvy woman. Outstanding.

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#36

Two Body Types Same Outfit

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3 Owls In A Coat
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Curvy lady nails it again! (I look just like the slender lady - that blazer would be too big on me too and hide my lack of curves - but she still rocks it better than I could) but holy c**p does this outfit ever suit the lady on the left 👏🥵

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#38

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butt soup
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the lighting is so bad here. it looks like the clothes were photoshopped onto them both. yikes.

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#41

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3 Owls In A Coat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the only outfit I don’t like on either! Even the most gorgeous girls can’t save a fucky dress 😬

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#44

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Em
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The lighter skinned lady looks so beautiful in this one

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#45

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Stephanie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Idk if it's just me. But I think the curvier woman looks better in basically every outfit or dress.

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