Beyond Trends: How Fashion Can Be Your Self-Love Journey

We talk a lot about body positivity and self-love, especially at the moment with many diet injections, pills, and cosmetic procedures that are flooding the market. It’s easy to say these words on the surface. I’ve been reflecting over the last few months as a designer and what I enjoy wearing, comfort, observing how friends dress and what style they wear.

We all know that body positivity isn’t always easy. Some days we feel strong and radiant and then other days self-doubt creeps in. As women we see how our bodies fluctuate each month and year depending. We are all different, curvy, petit, athletic, postpartum, menopausal or anywhere in between and beyond. We have been living in a world where for far too long, the fashion industry and society has upheld a narrow definition of beauty - often unattainable and unrealistic.

The impact of this can run deep. So many of us grow up believing that if we don't fit a specific image, we’re somehow failing. That we need to shrink, be bigger or more athletic in order to deserve love, style and attention. Fashion should never be about exclusion. It should be a mirror that reflects all of us, not just a select few.

As a woman, mother and creator I’ve experienced the pressure to conform to what the world and society thinks I should look like - within many industries that often reward sameness over individuality. Every woman deserves to be seen, whatever our shape and size, I’ve learnt that there’s power in refusing to conform. There’s power in creating space, strength and everything in between.

It's an absolute joy seeing many of our Eve Rose customers wearing our pieces and feeling that they belong to you. Not because you changed your body to fit the clothes - but the clothes were made to honor the body you are in. We don’t follow trends, we’re not fast fashion. We are constantly learning and always listening to your needs, whether it be sizing, the cut and fabric. Always remember you were made to take up space and to glow. To feel good-really good-in your skin. If Eve Rose can be a small part of that journey, even for one woman… Then that means everything.

   

I'm so excited to share an inspiring blog article from Barbara below, a wonderful client from Germany who has also become a dear friend. She often told me that wearing our clothes and being asked to be part of our brand shoot was like therapy for her, but I only truly understood after reading her beautiful words.

Receiving it truly touched me, and it's a testament to how our designs resonate with women of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds, empowering them to feel feminine.

I hope you enjoy Barbara's article as much as I did!

Wishing you a fantastic summer,

Lots of love,

Eve Rose

 

 

Blog article by Barbara K.:

"Could I take a photo of you in this outfit—only if that’s okay with you?" Eve asked in her beautiful, polite, and empathetic way. At first, I could hardly believe that she wanted a picture of me and might actually need it for her social media platforms and so on. This stunning woman with the fantastic figure - next to her, Jen, who also models and looks absolutely amazing.

Even when both of them were helping me tie the pink top, I felt a bit clumsy and, above all, quite large again - old insecurities started to surface inside me.

It was a lovely evening in November at Jen’s place. Eve came over especially to meet us - in person for the first time, after only exchanging messages between Dubai and Germany.
I had really wanted to see and try on her fashion “in real life,” which I had admired from afar until then.

And so there I stood - in a beautiful skirt and that pink top (pink is one of my favorite colors too) - and on one hand, I immediately felt good in the gorgeous fabrics, colors, and patterns. But at the same time, without meaning to, I was swept into a brief emotional spiral, of course triggered by many experiences that people - especially women - still constantly have in our society.

For me, degrading comments like:
“Oh, you look so pale - why don’t you get more sun, or try this or that product?”
“We don’t carry clothes in your size for curvier, heavier, or shorter women.”
“You’re so pretty - if only your belly wasn’t so big,”
 - along with unsolicited weight loss tips - are thankfully a thing of the past.

They eventually stopped - probably because, after many long and often painful processes, I was finally able to begin accepting myself as I am.

There were some excellent films here in Germany, like “Embrace,” during which I cried almost the entire time because I could identify so deeply with so many painful moments. My friend sitting next to me kept wanting to applaud during several of the powerful scenes featuring strong women.

She later opened a boutique with beautiful clothing in all sizes, saying, “We’re starting a rebellion now - this body shaming has to stop!”
And it truly affects everyone - men too, people of all skin colors, nose shapes, ears, mouth shapes, eyebrow types, skin textures, or supposedly "too thin" bodies.

I know many women who have always been very slim and constantly had to deal with envy or judgmental remarks.
“She’s probably anorexic.”
“Well, at least she has big ears and probably had a nose job.”

As a psychotherapist, I’ve accompanied many people who felt extremely unhappy and insecure about their appearance.
Some even developed eating disorders - not solely because of body issues, but often triggered by deep insecurities - alongside other addictions or psychological conditions.

Many young people dream of undergoing numerous cosmetic surgeries.
“Only then will I finally be able to start really living.”
It makes me so sad how many people withdraw from life because they don’t feel “beautiful enough.”

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with cosmetic treatments if they help someone feel better in their own skin.
No one has the right to judge someone else for choosing to wear more or less makeup, get extensions, dye their hair, or improve their smile.
Everyone should be free to do what makes them feel good.

And naturally, there are health-related reasons to gain or lose weight.
But the endless, unsolicited judgment and devaluation from others can leave lasting wounds - especially for young people.

Open conversations about “optimization goals” shouldn't stop us from trying to enjoy life in every phase.

So often I hear - both privately and professionally - about how people felt devalued again and again, especially as children when they saw adults around them putting themselves down.
How often people felt ashamed and vowed to eat less so they could finally, finally become thin and “enough.” Or desperately tried to gain weight and week after week felt like they had “failed again.”

I think many know the feeling of looking at old photos and thinking, “I actually looked good back then,” while remembering how dissatisfied they were at the time.
In recent years, I’ve made a conscious effort to notice this.
I vividly remember moments when I hated a photo of myself - say, three years ago - and now I look at it and think, “That’s totally fine - I actually look good there.”
I’m pretty sure the same thing will happen with the photos from today a few years from now.

Of course, there are also pictures you just want to delete immediately - and that’s okay too.
Sometimes you’re simply not captured well in a photo or barely recognize yourself.
In a time when so many pictures are taken, it can be overwhelming to face so many images of yourself.

That’s why, in my opinion, it’s so important to stay honest - with yourself and with others - and to not allow photos to be posted that you don’t feel comfortable with.
I think staying true to yourself is important in every situation.

Ultimately, the question remains:
Why is it so important to always look “good,” fresh, energetic, cheerful, with smooth skin, thin, and well-dressed?

How boring would it be if that were always the case?
And how wonderful it is that we can show so many different sides of ourselves - not just in terms of appearance.

All of these thoughts can be applied to any kind of excessive perfectionism, to all forms of self-criticism and the feeling of “finally being good enough.”

The people who can truly see us even when we’re not doing well, who stand by us unconditionally yet can still be lovingly honest, who understand when we just want to dress comfortably and casually - or feel like dressing up glamorously - those people are what bring real joy and fulfillment to life.

How lovely are the moments when you get ready with friends and go out together - especially in Cologne during Carnival!

How beautiful would a world be in which every person is accepted for who they are—with all their facets, in every phase of life?

We are liked and loved just the way we are - and we never have to earn that.
It’s simply a gift. And when it fits, it fits.

Tastes, styles, and forms of expression are all so different - beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder.

But one thing I truly believe is this:
Inner beauty - like empathy, humor, kindness—always shines through on the outside.

And that’s exactly what Eve brings out with her fashion. You can see it in the photos on her website:
Three very different women wear her clothes - and on each of them, the designs highlight something unique, flattering different aspects of who they are.

And so, that evening at Jen’s and the following photo shoot - where I not only wore Eve’s clothes but genuinely felt my very best in them - turned into a kind of mini therapy session in fast-forward.

At first, when I stood beside the two models by the Christmas tree, old self-worth doubts flared up again.
Then, we had so much fun - I relaxed more and more, and especially in those clothes, I felt increasingly confident.
By the end, having my picture taken on the beach - despite the time of day and my initial anxiety - was incredibly fun.
I walked away from the shoot feeling empowered and strong.

And now, whenever I put on those clothes, I feel just like I did on those two beautiful days in Dubai - happy, confident, and completely myself.