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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 The result is both empowering and normalizing, urging society to get rid of the outdated notion of the “wrong” clothes for the “wrong” bodies.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
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago (edited)
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.
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
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago (edited)
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!
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
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago (edited)
Adding this dress to the shopping list! This is so flattering, I feel like anyone would look good in it :)
#12
#15
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#19
I’ve Seen Things 2 years ago (edited)
Interesting what clothes do for the visual of body shapes as they look somewhat similar here.
#21
Becki Boop 2 years ago
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)
#24
#27
Kelsey Osborne 2 years ago
This is what fashion companies should do: show the same outfits on different body types.
#29
Ghost Of Panda Rats Past… 2 years ago
It's beautiful! But the string looks a little photoshopped lol. But both ladies are gorgeous.
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What do you think ?
Elliot Fowler 2 years ago (edited)
Who designed these outfits? A lot of them look really weird and ugly, regardless of the body type of the wearer.
Alex S 2 years ago
I think they're just fast fashion. Very cheap looking, poorly made clothes. That these ladies can actually make these clothes look decent, is a testament to their attractiveness and nothing to do with the clothes
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butt soup 2 years ago (edited)
when will bp learn that nobody is here to look at instagram influencers taking poor-quality photos of themselves in ugly clothes to prove a point that didn't need to be proved? all of us here are decent folks who know people can be beautiful & fashionable regardless of body type. this article is pointless clout-chasing. not to mention the curvy girl is still conventionally attractive, with a perfect hourglass figure, flat stomach, & 0 stretch marks. not a whole lot of curvy women look 100% flawless like that, so they ruined their own point of "everyone can be beautiful in the same styles!" by only using conventionally attractive models.
Kathryn Lundgren 2 years ago
You would be right, except you forgot one important fact. These ladies are not models. They only represent themselves. Your judgement is unfair to their whole concept, which is to love the body you got and to wear what you want, regardless of societies expectations. No one should put oneself in a box.
Load More Replies...
Felix Grace 2 years ago
Body positivity is great. but maybe it should stretch beyond a conventionally attractive plus size person and a somewhat curvy skinny person. I'd have liked to see people with more "imperfect" bodies, too
Elliot Fowler 2 years ago (edited)
Who designed these outfits? A lot of them look really weird and ugly, regardless of the body type of the wearer.
Alex S 2 years ago
I think they're just fast fashion. Very cheap looking, poorly made clothes. That these ladies can actually make these clothes look decent, is a testament to their attractiveness and nothing to do with the clothes
Load More Replies... butt soup 2 years ago (edited)
when will bp learn that nobody is here to look at instagram influencers taking poor-quality photos of themselves in ugly clothes to prove a point that didn't need to be proved? all of us here are decent folks who know people can be beautiful & fashionable regardless of body type. this article is pointless clout-chasing. not to mention the curvy girl is still conventionally attractive, with a perfect hourglass figure, flat stomach, & 0 stretch marks. not a whole lot of curvy women look 100% flawless like that, so they ruined their own point of "everyone can be beautiful in the same styles!" by only using conventionally attractive models.
Kathryn Lundgren 2 years ago
You would be right, except you forgot one important fact. These ladies are not models. They only represent themselves. Your judgement is unfair to their whole concept, which is to love the body you got and to wear what you want, regardless of societies expectations. No one should put oneself in a box.
Load More Replies... Felix Grace 2 years ago
Body positivity is great. but maybe it should stretch beyond a conventionally attractive plus size person and a somewhat curvy skinny person. I'd have liked to see people with more "imperfect" bodies, too
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