#_revsp:yahoo_style_uk_301

[bethevenyc]

Melania Trump stands by her man - just like many high-profile wives did before her

President Trump with first lady Melania Trump [Photo: Alex Brandon/AP]

In between promoting oil pipelines and immigration restrictions, President Trump has returned to familiar territory by publicly objectifying women — first when he told an Irish reporter in the Oval Office that she was “beautiful” and had a “nice smile,” and then again on Thursday morning via tweets in which he taunted Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzenzinski about her “facelift.”

And all of that has, in turn, sent First Lady Melania Trump into her own familiar territory: standing by her man.

“As the First Lady has stated publicly in the past, when her husband gets attacked, he will punch back ten times harder,” the first lady’s communications director Stephanie Grisham said in a statement to CNN when asked about the Brzenzinski-related tweets.

Melania Trump’s comms director: “As First Lady has stated publicly…when her husband gets attacked, he will punch back 10 times harder.”

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 29, 2017

Melania is far from alone when it comes to publicly sticking by one’s husband, despite allegations of his sexist behaviour. Take, just for starters, the following women who displayed loyalty (at least initially) despite a lack of it from their spouses: Camille Cosby, Huma Abedin (wife of Anthony Weiner), Silda Wall Spitzer, Hillary Clinton, and Elin Nordegren (ex-wife of Tiger Woods).

Why they remain so devoted in the face of such betrayal is layered and complex, say relationship experts familiar with the phenomenon.

“The deepest and most complicated reason is that it’s familiar — that [these women were likely] raised in a household where inappropriate sexuality was part of the normal equation,” Beverly Hills–based couples therapist Bethany Marshall tells Yahoo Style. “Love, violence, betrayal, sexual perversion was all a part of the equation and becomes fused. That’s the analytic perspective — that it’s part of their attachment system growing up [via their fathers].”

Actor Bill Cosby and wife Camille Cosby arrive at the Montgomery County (Pa.) courthouse on June 12, 2017 [Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/WireImage]

Although each individual woman named above, as well as those in similar situations, are in different situations, there is a common denominator with all, observes Marshall. “[The men] are sexually acting out, or have poor boundaries with women. They objectify women and are not deeply loyal,” she says. “Most of these men — Trump, Cosby, Weiner — are bordering on sex addiction or being sexually compulsive or impulsive. At the core is their wanting to have power over women.”

Other reasons for wives publicly supporting disloyal high-profile husbands, according to Marshall, include the idea of “brainwashing,” as in when the men act erratically but “try to convince the other person that what we do is normal,” and then there is no one outside of the relationship willing to criticise the man (especially POTUS) and therefore provide any helpful perspective. This happened with Nordegren, she notes, who started out supportive of Woods and changed her mind “only when other women came forward and forced her to realise [what was happening].”

Another factor, particularly in politics, she says, is when spouses sometimes “make a pact with the devil,” meaning, “I’ll overlook your flaws if you get me power/status/to the White House.”

Ex-New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner speaks during a news conference alongside his wife, Huma Abedin, in New York [Photo: John Minchillo/AP]

Other times, Marshall explains, a woman in this position may be suffering from a “crisis of boundaries,” meaning “she knows her man is suffering but she thinks it’s somehow her fault. … ‘If only I were better in bed he wouldn’t have to cheat,’ for example.” Also, she posits, there can often be a failure to integrate the positive and negative aspects of a disloyal spouse.

“One of the earliest developmental tasks in life is to be able to see the good and the bad in people,” Marshall says, although sometimes people, particularly abused women, have “not integrated the reality.” For example, as children, she says, “eventually we see that mum is a nurturing provider but that she also lets us down… and it’s part of good mental health to see both sides.”

Paul Hokemeyer, a Los Angeles–based marriage and family therapist, has a slightly different take on the ‘stand-by-your-man’ phenomenon.

“I don’t view it as a stand by your man. I see it as a stand by the institution of marriage and take care of private matters in private,” he tells Yahoo Style. “Women want to resolve personal matters in their own time, based on their own intuitive and factual data. Once they have sufficient data, they make decisions guided by on their moral, emotional, and physical compass. Eventually they act, even if an action is a non-action — and in so doing, own their decision, rather than being thrashed around by the harsh and unforgiving opinions of others.”

Hokemeyer adds, “Women who stand by their husbands in the face of controversy demonstrate an extraordinary capacity to honour this institution. Marriage is also a very private agreement that is constantly being negotiated between two imperfect human beings.” And in his experience, he says, men and women tend to go about that differently. “I’ve observed that in contrast to men who too frequently lack the capacity to tolerate their mates’ imperfection because they suffer from higher rates of narcissism, women overlook extraordinary lapses in their mates’ judgments for the good of the marriage as a social and religious institution and the emotional well being of their family. Simply put, women are not ruled by their narcissistic egos and are able to make less emotional, more strategic and logical decisions then men.”

Bottom line, of course, is that women could simply be afraid of losing their mates, Marshall says, and that “the betrayal is unthinkable.”

As she points out, “We all want to believe our loved ones.” And that can also be said for the public wanting to believe the oft-manipulative politicians and celebrities they adore. “We,” Marshall says, “can be like the abused wife too.”

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. 

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

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A Donald Trump swimsuit now exists

Does Melania Trump really not want to hold her husband’s hand?

[laurentuck]

Ivanka Trump Wore a £2,418 dress and social media is very confused

Ivanka Trump wore a pink Roland Mouret dress to her father’s Joint Session of Congress address. (Photo: Reuters)

For her father’s first address to a joint session of Congress, Ivanka Trump took off her choker and bright red blazer that she wore to the White House earlier on Tuesday and changed into yet another youthful look.

For the evening, the first daughter opted for a magenta dress from French fashion designer Roland Mouret, which retails for $2,995 (approximately £2,418). From the brand’s Resort 2017 collection, the Rawlings Dress in orchid pink, is, according to the product’s description, “an easy choice for that evening affair when you think you have ‘nothing to wear’” and the flourishes also make it the “‘It’ dress for nighttime soirees. The design features an asymmetric neckline with a black spaghetti strap.

Trump, who moved to Washington, D.C. following President Donald Trump’s inauguration and has been an active member in his administration, shared an image of herself at the White House with her husband, Jared Kushner, before heading to the Capitol building.

Getting ready to leave The White House with @realdonaldtrump as he prepares to address Congress #JointSession pic.twitter.com/vlR1wPHGkK

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) March 1, 2017

The tweet received nearly 10,000 hearts in less than an hour. However, while it was warmly received by many — “very nice” and “gorgeous” were among some of the many comments — others were confused.

#JointAddress Ivanka your bra strap is showing.

— linda (@lindakento) March 1, 2017

I’m sorry if this makes me a bad feminist but what is @IvankaTrump wearing? This is not a nightclub. #Jointsession

— daniella greenbaum (@DGreenbaum) March 1, 2017

Social media took note of the fact that Ivanka’s seemingly able to flaunt her arms and shoulders at the Capitol without controversy whereas former first lady Michelle Obama was criticized for doing the same.

Remember all that crap about Michelle Obama showing her arms & if it was appropriate? Well, behold Ivanka and her shoulders. ????????‍♀️ https://t.co/eqLrc7misg

— MsH805 (@MsH805) March 1, 2017

And why can Ivanka bare a shoulder and bra strap, but Michelle Obama could not show an arm? #JointAddress #confused

— ohwhatever (@ohwhatever) March 1, 2017

Ivanka’s stepmother was subjected to a similar critique for her £7,749 sequined skirt suit ensemble. Melania Trump’s Michael Kors ensemble was called “inappropriate” for the function and more fit a New Year’s Eve party or “da club.”

Melania Trump’s £7,749 sequined skirt suit ensemble called ‘inappropriate’ for Congress

Why are we still body-shaming women with big boobs?

[suzannebyrne]

'Game of Thrones' star Emilia Clarke dyed her hair blonde — and now looks just like Khaleesi

Emilia Clarke has gone and turned herself into Khaleesi.

The actress is famously a blonde when she portrays Daenerys Targaryen on ‘Game of Thrones’. She’s talked extensively about the white blonde wig she wears on the HBO show — and how it’s been a lifesaver in her rise to stardom because fans don’t notice her when she’s not wearing it.

Well, all that is about to end. On Tuesday, Clarke shared a photo straight from her hairstylist’s chair on the set (see the pic of the Hound, Sandor Clegane, over her shoulder) with the update that she’s officially gone blond.

AAAAHHHHHHH SHHHHIIIII****** I done did it. Mother of dragons meet Emilia. Emilia meet mother of dragons. If you squint just so you might never know. ⚡️ All hail to the magnificence of @kevalexanderhair and @candicebanks74 the genius creators of 'KHALEESI WIG' (and not forgetting all the hair on game of thrones for 8 glorious years) for at long last making this magical moment a reality. ❤️ #khaleesikicksoff #gameofthrones #cominghomeneverfeltsogood

A post shared by @emilia_clarke on Sep 19, 2017 at 6:18am PDT

“AAAAHHHHHHH SHHHHIIIII******” was how Clarke started the post. “I done did it. Mother of dragons meet Emilia. Emilia meet mother of dragons. If you squint just so you might never know.”

She credited “the magnificence” of hairstylists Kev Alexander and Candice Banks for the transformation, noting they were also the “genius creators of [the] Khaleesi wig.” She added that “at long last” they’ve made “this magical moment a reality.”

Because ‘GoT’ watchers are always trying to read the tea leaves, the hashtags she used were “Khaleesi kicks off,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Coming home never felt so good.”

In 2013, Clarke told GQ magazine that while her character has been one of the most recognisable from the hit show, she has been the opposite. “I’m so immediately unrecognisable,” she said. “It takes a die-hard fan to actually spot me. These HBO events, where I’ll be talking to someone for a fair amount of time, and then suddenly they’re like, ‘Oh sh**! That’s what you do!’ They think I’m some crazy Brit who snuck her way into a Hollywood party.”

Here’s Emilia Clarke having her hair touched up on the set of Game of Thrones in Spain last October [Photo: Iconic/GC Images]

Clarke actually even begged producers to let her wear the wig out on the town. No surprise, they declined. “They insist there’s no way,” she said. “They won’t let me go partying with it on. I would be killed on the spot.” She went on to say that she knows her brown locks, which she often highlights, aren’t as memorable. “It’s silly to say, but when I take the wig off at the end of the day, I’m rather disappointed when I look in the mirror,” she said.

Unbelievably, Clarke has even auditioned for movie roles for directors who watch her show but didn’t recognise her. That’s going to change now that she’s goldilocks.

Production on ‘GoT’’s Season 8, which will be the final season, is reportedly slated to begin in October and run as late as next August. It’s likely the show will premiere in late 2018 or early 2019, so it will be some time before we see her new hairstyle on the small screen. Until then, look for it on the red carpet and Instagram.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

These new official Game of Thrones clothing collabs blend streetwear with Westeros

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[elisesole]

You won't believe how these plus-size leggings are being sold on Amazon

Why is this model selling plus-size clothing? [Photo: Arrive Guide/Amazon]

We’ve all heard of companies hiring thin models to advertise plus-size clothing but one company took this concept to the next level — and the images have sparked outrage.

Amazon retailer Arrive Guide sells activewear in both straight and plus-sizes. That’s great news for the average woman who wears a size 16 — a range the fashion industry deems plus-size — but the model used by the company is not exactly reflective of the plus-sized shopper.

Not only is the model slender, she’s showcasing how large the leggings run by pulling the fabric away from her body in one image and in another, standing with two legs inside one pant leg.

Facebook user Betsy Abel, a woman in Minnesota, recently posted a photo of Arrival Guide’s Yukata Women’s Active Workout Capri Leggings, captioning it, “Here’s one for today’s ‘Are You Freaking Kidding Me’ file. Scrolling through Amazon looking at leggings… Get to the bottom and see this pair of plus size leggings… That’s fine, no shame if you need a larger size. So what the hell are they thinking using a slim model with two legs in one side??? Talk about disrespectful and being in poor taste. Like oh, hey, in case you don’t feel bad about needing a larger pair…let’s make asses of ourselves and show how two trimmer women could fit in these. Un-freaking-real!”

The post generated comments from people who deemed the image “sad” and “disrespectful.”

Abel, a fitness trainer at Sassy Guns Fitness in Minneapolis, tells Yahoo Style: “I work with women every day who fight stereotypes that go along with being plus-size and unfortunately, they are bombarded with images that make them compare themselves to cultural norms.”

Yahoo Style could not find a contact at Arrive Guide for comment (the company appears to have no website) and was told by Amazon that it didn’t have the manufacturer’s contact information.

However, according to Marie Denee, creator of The Curvy Fashionista Style Expo, an annual plus-size shopping event, the photos represent a missed opportunity. “It’s clear there was very little thought put into marketing these leggings,” Denee tells Yahoo Style. “The company could have hired a plus model — there are plenty out there — used a plus-sized mannequin, or simply featured the product alone.”

Modelling plus-size leggings [Photo: Arrive Guide/Amazon]

The message is also muddled — the photos evoke images of magazine covers featuring women triumphantly standing inside one trouser leg of an older pair of trousers, to show off their weight-loss transformation. Is the idea that these leggings will motivate plus-size customers to lose weight? Or to shame them for requiring pants in a larger size?

Practically speaking, the photos don’t provide a clear image of what the leggings will look like on plus-size women. “What size are these pants? For what body type?” asks Denee.

While it’s important to spotlight the cultural bias for conventional beauty standards, Denee adds that the concept of accountability is often lost. “Does the onus fall on Arrive Guide or Amazon for allowing these images?” she says. “There’s a cultural sensitivity that’s lacking here and a great need for social responsibility.”

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. 

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

Plus-size blogger calls out TV company who asked her to lose weight

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Meet the body positive blogger fighting back against one-size-fits-all beauty standards

[elisesole]

Melania Trump greets Indian Prime Minister wearing bright yellow Pucci

Melania Trump pops in yellow Pucci [Photo: Alex Brandon/AP]

Melania Trump saluted summer wearing a canary-yellow floor-length gown and pink suede pumps.

The first lady wore the ensemble to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House on Monday. The £1,370 bright yellow belted crepe gown by Emilio Pucci was adorned with black-and-white flowers that popped against her pink suede Christian Louboutin heels — the same pair she wore to the June 22 Congressional Picnic.

According to CNN, Modi’s first visit to the White House was a show of unity and military cooperation between the two nations despite tensions between India and Pakistan. “I want to make a point here that U.S. relationships with India and Pakistan really stand on their own merits and terms,” a White House official told CNN. “We don’t see a zero-sum relationship when it comes to the U.S. relationship with Pakistan and the U.S. relationship with India.”

Welcome to the @WhiteHouse Prime Minister Modi! pic.twitter.com/JEAgtlUQcw

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) June 26, 2017

During public remarks, per Business Insider, President Trump said of Modi, “I enjoyed our very productive conversation this afternoon, and look forward to its continuation tonight at dinner. The future of our partnership has never looked brighter. India and the United States are always tied together in friendship and respect.”

The two men also��hugged at the podium.

A White House official even told CNN that the two leaders shared common ground with their Twitter popularity — Trump has more than 32 million followers to Modi’s 31 million — saying, “I think President Trump is slightly ahead of Modi, but I think this shows the kind of leaders they are.”

The Washington Post also reported that first daughter Ivanka Trump will be traveling to India to attend an entrepreneurship summit, on the heels of a controversial Fox & Friends interview during which she said, “I try to stay out of politics.”

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.

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[elisesole]

Can you breastfeed and drink alcohol? It's complicated

Is it safe to breastfeed if you drink alcohol? (Photo: Getty Images)

The parents of a 7-month-old baby were arrested in part because the mother was drinking beer while breastfeeding.

On Friday, police were called to the Wild Beaver Saloon in Indianapolis, Ind., after a woman was spotted drinking beer while nursing her baby. According to a probable cause report sent to Yahoo Beauty from the Marion County prosecutor’s office, when police asked Shari Treba, 42, why she had brought her baby to a bar, she answered that she and her husband, Michael Trosclair, 43, were in town for a work conference, and they wanted to get drinks with her coworkers.

Michael Trosclair and Shari Treba [Photo: IMPD]

Treba and Trosclair are both facing charges of felony neglect of a dependent and charges of misdemeanour public intoxication.

Granted, this case is way more extreme than the average new mum enjoying a cocktail or two — the couple brought their baby to a bar, and according to the police report, Treba couldn’t respond to police questions, and she was offering sex to other patrons in exchange for beer. In addition, Trosclair had chained the baby stroller outside the bar and left the infant unattended.

But the issue of whether or not mothers can consume alcohol while breastfeeding — yes, even in the moment — is wildly confusing. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), women should avoid “habitual” drinking while breastfeeding because alcohol does pass through breast milk and can negatively alter the taste, resulting in babies’ refusing to nurse. The AAP further dismisses the “urban legend” that drinking beer boosts a woman’s milk supply and advises women to wait two hours after alcohol consumption to nurse.

Older studies showed that alcohol could interfere with a breastfed baby’s sleep patterns and that ingesting more than one drink daily impaired motor function at age one; but as ABC News reports, in the latter case, the findings were not duplicated in a later study.

“We aren’t absolutely certain of the affects of alcohol on breastfed babies because the data isn’t strong,” Tami Rowen, MD, a San Francisco-based gynaecologist and obstetrician, tells Yahoo Beauty. “All the studies are observational or retrospective because it’s unethical to give breastfeeding women alcohol in order to study them.”

Alcohol levels in breast milk decline roughly one hour after consumption, so some women simply wait to become sober before nursing. However, those who don’t want to become engorged with milk within that time limit may choose to “pump and dump,” a technique that entails expressing or pumping a certain amount of breast milk and pouring it down the sink before nursing their babies.

“The bottom line is moderation,” says Rowen. “With casual drinking, very little gets into the breast milk. Inherently, there is nothing wrong with breastfeeding and [moderate] drinking.”

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

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[bethevenyc]

How 'thin privilege' may rule your social media feed

Can only thin people celebrate their food binges on social media? [Photo: Getty]

A tweet about “thin privilege” — specifically as it relates to svelte women getting social media praise for posting pictures of how they indulge in highly caloric food — has been going viral.

Incase you wondered what fat phobia and thin privilege looks like. ????????♀️???? pic.twitter.com/obmr6RbVoI

— Gracie ???? (@GraceFVictory) June 15, 2017

The June 15 post, from UK-based YouTube star and writer Gracie Victory, author of the forthcoming memoir No Filter, notes, “In case you wondered what fat phobia and thin privilege looks like,” alongside juxtaposing images: first, screen shots of a tiny young woman proudly polishing off a hideous mountain of burgers and chips, boasting, “still had room for dessert.” Then there are images of a plus-size 13-year-old British girl, who recently made her own Instagram impact for facing her “biggest fear” by wearing a swimsuit to the beach.

The thin woman indulging in fast food inspired many impressed, supportive comments, including “brain says marry her,” “wife material,” “my new hero,” “this is sexy,” and “f***in’ boss.”

Meanwhile, the image of the British teenager in the swimsuit, whose name is Paris Harvey, elicited the following reactions (among many others of support): “that’s disgusting,” “I just see a whale,” “good to know we encourage obesity now,” and “it’s her fault for being fat.”

Victory’s post has resonated greatly, with more than 69,000 shares, 113,000 likes, and 640 comments — many totally getting the point:

The thin girl ate unhealthy and was applauded, the fat girl went outside and was shamed. That’s the point.

— Elizabeth Papandria (@Ezbpapandria) June 15, 2017

THANK YOU TO SOMEONE FOR ADDRESSING THIS https://t.co/YWpVB3LlS6

— whit???? (@notyourmcbae) June 15, 2017

WE NEED FAT ACCEPTANCE!!!! https://t.co/WsvYBY3rcQ

— Hannah VA Clayton (@hvagclayton) June 15, 2017

Others, of course, couldn’t help but use this moment as another fat-shaming opportunity:

“Thin privilege” doesn’t exist

— Kinda Wanna Die (@Suchbandtrash) June 16, 2017

there is no “privilege” of being thin. Proper diet and exercise allow people to be healthy weights

— orby (@LordOrby) June 16, 2017

Thin women getting kudos for stuffing their faces is not a new phenomenon, of course; this past spring, a Long Island–based beauty queen, Miss New York contestant Sarah Gould, went viral after posting an Instagram video of herself downing a two-foot slice of pizza. The post inspired praise and media coverage around the world; she’s since posted images of herself inhaling donuts, a huge pretzel, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and massive pancakes, with no evidence of shaming.

I really want abs but I want pizza more. #throwbackthursday #throwback #tbt to a few months ago when I ate a slice bigger than my head. I am in need of a repeat/do-over/]not fall under peer pressure to stop. What do I look like, a quitter? @pizzabarnyonkers I will see you soon. I challenge you to make a #superslice even bigger and maybe it will actually be a challenge. #womanvsfood #pizza #lieats #nyc #longisland #foodie #justeatit #foodporn #fatgirlproblems #foodaddict #noregrets

A post shared by sarah gould (@just_eatit) on Feb 23, 2017 at 10:54am PST

  It’s the rare social media user, in fact, who can get away with being both plus-sized and a proudly voracious eater. Mega-popular fat-pride activist Virgie Tovar has done it, becoming a body image hero to her 27,300 Instagram followers who adore her cheeky foodie, skin-flashing adventures. But it was hard won, as she had to wade through a lot of hateful trolling along the way.

Still, Tovar noted recently, don’t mistake what she’s aimed for as acceptance.

LIVING MY BEST GINORMOUS BROWNIE SUNDAE LIFE GORL

A post shared by Virgie Tovar (@virgietovar) on Jun 18, 2017 at 10:04pm PDT

  “I don’t want acceptance. I want bigots to shut up and stop hurting people,” she wrote in an essay for Ravishly. “I want the cultural forces that isolate and stigmatise people to cease. I want to be able to choose the life I want on my terms without fear of retaliation from mainstreamers.”

Tovar added that, “in the conversation around body size, fatness is always constructed as the space left behind by thinness or thin people.” She called that a “reductive binary,” and one in which “fatness can never be a stand-alone existence that requires no substantiation. In this paradigm, fatness can never be a choice, a preferred state, a manifestation of wholeness and desire. Fatness is always what resides in the negative space.”

That’s not the way it should be, Tovar stresses — and certainly Victory, who has been a Nike model and who collaborated with the brand on the launch of its plus-size line this past spring, agrees. “Fat shaming me and my girl on our Nike campaign is hilarious,” she had tweeted at the time. “We be laughing all the damn way to the bank.”

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

The body positive hashtags taking over your social media feed right now

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[elisesole]

Melania Trump's blue Michael Kors dress looks very familiar

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. [Photo: AP]

Melania Trump popped in blue to welcome the Panamanian president and his wife to the White House on Monday.

To attend a meeting on crime and immigration with President Trump, President Juan Carlos Varela, and first lady Lorena Castillo de Varela, Melania wore a £1,320 Michael Kors cornflower-blue fitted dress. It was adorned with buttons along faux pockets and paired with Christian Louboutin floral So Kate pumps — the same pair she wore in April to meet the Chinese president and First Lady.

The blue hue was a familiar choice in two ways: because first daughter Ivanka Trump set off to work on Monday wearing a Jason Wu blue sheath dress, and because it was reminiscent of her inaugural outfit.

First ladies Lorena Castillo de Varela, left, and Melania Trump [Photo: Getty]

For her husband’s inauguration ceremony in January, Melania wore a Ralph Lauren powder blue cashmere suit composed of a mock turtleneck dress and a cropped jacket. The look generated headlines for evoking the spirit of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy (save for a pillbox hat) and for the colour — as blue is the colour unofficially associated with the Democratic Party.

Ironically, Hillary Clinton wore a white Ralph Lauren pantsuit to the inauguration, a detail that did not go unnoticed on social media, with some suggesting that the shared designer symbolised a likeness between the two women.

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Inauguration Day in January [Photo: Getty]

And in May, after French first lady Brigitte Macron wore a blue suit by Louis Vuitton that drew comparisons to Melania’s inaugural look, executive image consultant Sylvie di Giusto told Yahoo Style of the colour, “It’s associated with intelligence, trust, and security, and the lighter the blue shade becomes, the more sympathetic, personal, warm, and communicative it is perceived.”

On Monday, Melania’s blue dress stood out next to Castilla’s emerald-green dress, which she paired with white pumps.

Style aside, the meeting between the two couples wasn’t seamless. According to the Washington Post, while posing for photographers, President Trump said, “The Panama Canal is doing quite well. I think we did a good job building it, right — a very good job.” To that, Varela replied, “Yeah, about 100 years ago,” in a comment that Twitter perceived as a dig.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.

Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

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[elisesole]

Why this mum always asks her baby’s permission before picking him up

Nisha Moodley and her 6-month-old son, Raven [Photo: Instagram/Nisha Moodley]

One mum is teaching her infant how to respect the human body in a unique way.

Before picking up her 6-month-old son, Raven, Nisha Moodley, a mother of one in San Francisco, US, always asks his permission.

“Why? Because we want him to know that his body is his, and that others��� bodies are theirs, and no one gets to make choices about someone else’s body,” Moodley wrote on Instagram, alongside a selfie of her and Raven.

Since the moment he was born, we’ve always asked before we pick him up. I always feel for his “yes”. Why? Because we want him to know that his body is his, and that others’ bodies are theirs, and no one gets to make choices about someone else’s body. . #lessonsinsovereignty #bornfree #endrapeculture . Sidenote: If you ever want to hold someone else’s baby, my suggestion is to ask the parent, then ask the kid. It always touches my heart when someone takes a moment to connect with him and says “Can I hold you, dude?”

A post shared by Nisha Moodley ???? (@nishamoodley) on Jun 9, 2017 at 10:09am PDT

Moodley’s post earned nearly 600 likes and lots of support for her unorthodox parenting move from people who wanted to implement the practice in their own families, as well as others who simply thanked the mum for sparking the conversation.

“I don’t ever want my son to be a sexual perpetrator or the victim of one, and the best thing I can do is honor his choices about his own body,” Moodley tells Yahoo Beauty. “I also want him to pay attention to his instincts, and forcing physical touch could interfere with that.”

Of course, because of his young age, Raven may not always comprehend his mum’s message or be able to convey his feelings, but Moodley says she can interpret her son’s body language. “There have been times where Raven has responded by reaching his arms out for a hug or turning his head or body away,” she says.

Moodley says that navigating social situations with friends and family have, on occasion, been tricky. “It’s asking myself how can I prioritise what feels right to me as a parent with social niceties, especially if some consider it rude to not hug,” says Moodley. “If Raven seems like he doesn’t want to be touched, I just explain to the person, ‘Give him a few minutes — he may just want mommy now.’”

A post shared by Nisha Moodley ???? (@nishamoodley) on Apr 15, 2017 at 9:18am PDT

According to Sharon Silver, a parenting expert and creator of the upcoming webinar Why Do I Yell and What Can I Do Instead?, Moodley is doing the right thing.

“This idea is part of the wonderful RIE parenting philosophy, which is essentially respecting a child’s timetable and allowing him or her to experience the full range of consequences as the result of a decision,” Silver tells Yahoo Beauty. “It’s the underlying premise of positive parenting.”

As children grow, however, providing too many choices in general isn’t the best idea, notes Silver. “Some parents trap themselves because they don’t follow through on correcting behavior and wind up losing power,” she says. For example, with an older child, instead of saying, “Put on your shoes now” and forgoing an opportunity for the child to “find their own muscle of cooperation,” Silver suggests saying something like, ‘You have 10 minutes to put on your shoes any way you want — then I’ll do it for you.’”

When an older child doesn’t want to be touched, Silver says a parent can also ask why. “Kids often tell you how they feel,” she says.

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Science says the 'love hormone' drives mothers to protect their kids

What makes a mother fiercely protect her child? [Photo: Getty]

Protecting your kid from danger is a no-brainer, but the origins of your maternal instinct are a bit of a mystery.

For a new study published in the journal eLife, scientists wanted to discover why so many animals either freeze or flee when their offspring are in danger, but humans leap to their children’s defence — even when their own lives are at risk. The answer? It all comes down to a neurotransmitter called oxytocin.

Dubbed the “love hormone”, oxytocin is triggered through physical touch and is responsible for those blissful feelings you get when hugging, cuddling, or kissing another person. “Oxytocin is a powerful attachment chemical that drives maternal instinct,” biological anthropologist Helen Fisher (who was not involved in the study) tells Yahoo Beauty.

Knowing that the release of oxytocin into the amygdala (the portion of the brain that processes emotion) prevents animals from freezing, study authors decided to manipulate oxytocin in the brains of rats who had just given birth.

After separating mother rats from their babies, researchers trained the moms to associate the smell of peppermint with danger in the form of an electric shock.

Despite the upsetting way the study was conducted, two interesting things happened: When the rats experienced a flow of oxytocin in the presence of their babies, they tried to protect them from the odour, either attacking the tube that released it or comforting their little ones by nursing them or keeping them close.

However, when oxytocin was blocked, the mothers froze, leaving their offspring to fend for themselves.

The babies also learned from the experiment. Those whose mothers didn’t comfort them never acknowledged the peppermint smell as dangerous; babies whose mothers did comfort them understood that the scent of peppermint was a threat.

Yahoo Beauty could not reach lead study author Marta Moita for comment, but according to Fisher, a similar effect happens with humans. “If a mother tells her kid, ‘Don’t swim in the ocean because the waves are rough,’ that child understands it’s dangerous,” she tells Yahoo Beauty. Conversely, if a mother doesn’t warn her child, he or she might unknowingly be in danger.

The takeaway, according to Fisher: “Parents need to keep an eye on their children and signal them in times of threat.”

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. 

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[elisesole]

Couple's beach photo inspires a wave of body love

Jasmine and Keenen Owens, a couple with different body types, are happily married [Photo: Instagram/A_body_positive_jazzy/Ryan W Media]

A photo of a curvy woman and her lean, muscular husband is going viral for its empowering message of self-love.

Jasmine Owens, 25, an accounting student in Honolulu, posted the image to Instagram over the weekend. In it, Jasmine wears a colourful bikini — the first one she’s ever worn on a beach — while walking along the shore with her husband, Keenen, 24.

The caption reads: “Over the years this man has loved every curve, every roll, and every stretch mark on my body. I never understood why! How could he love something that isn’t ‘perfect?’ How could a man who was ‘born fit’ love someone like me! I don’t have a flat stomach, I jiggle when I walk, hell if I run up the stairs to fast my body claps (lmao)!! But now I see I do have the ‘perfect’ body!! Every roll, every curve and every stretch mark is put on me just perfect to make both of us happy!!! I love my body and I finally see why he does too!!”

Over the years this man has loved every curve, every roll, and every stretch mark on my body. I never understood why! • How could he love something that isn't "perfect"? How could a man who was "born fit" love someone like me! I don't have a flat stomach, I jiggle when I walk, hell if I run up the stairs to fast my body claps (lmao)!! But now I see I do have the "perfect" body!! Every roll, every curve and every stretch mark is put on me just perfect to make both of us happy!!! I love my body and I finally see why he does too!! • • Photo credit: @ryanwmedia • • • #effyourbeautystandards #effyourbodystandards #everyoneisbeautiful #tummylove #youarebeautiful #aspiringmodel #aspiringplussizemodel #celebratemysize #curvysensedoll #confidence #lovemybody #lovemybelly #loveyourbody #selflove #summerbody #bikini #bikinibody #bodylove #bodypositive #bodypositivity #womenofallsizes #support #love #positive #plussize #positivity #plussizegang #positivevibes #youarebeautiful

A post shared by Jazzy (@a_body_positive_jazzy) on Jun 1, 2017 at 3:04pm PDT

The image prompted more than 60,000 people to share their thoughts — both positive and negative — on the couple’s different body types. “You are my inspiration!” one noted, while another wrote, “Beautiful couple. So inspiring to all sized woman out there.” Yet another fan weighed in with this: “Thank you for posting this! I’m still struggling with body positivity when my partner is conventionally handsome — seeing this makes me feel that I can get to a place of happiness without insecurity with him too someday.”

Some criticised the couple of six years, calling Jasmine unhealthy, and even accusing her of posting a “fake” photo.

But Jasmine tells Yahoo Beauty, “I shared the photo because I’ve been trying to find love within myself for a while. I was tired of dieting and wanting weight-loss surgery, and Keenen was always telling me to remove my beach cover, so I finally did.”

Although Jasmine and Keenen attended elementary, middle, and high school together, they didn’t start dating until their senior year and have been together since. Now they have two children, a 3-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son.

Jasmine has attracted 31,000 Instagram followers along her body-positive journey, but baring it all on the beach was a huge step. “I’m fine posting bikini photos on Instagram because you can always ignore the comments,” she says. “Wearing one in real life was scarier, because there’s always a chance someone will judge you.”

Still, she’s happy she did. “I’ve gotten messages from young teen girls calling me their role model,” says Jasmine. “So I’ll keep sharing my photos.”

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. 

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Mum shares daughter's prom dress fail on Facebook: 'Are you serious?'

A mum who is furious about how her daughter’s custom-made prom dress turned out is calling out the designer on social media.

Dee Lewis says her daughter was devastated when she tried on her custom-made prom dress [Photo: Facebook/Sham Sincere Lewis]

On Monday, Dee Lewis, an aesthetician from Rochester, N.Y., posted three photos of her daughter Malexa Maeweather wearing her prom dress.

“So [the designer] called my daughter the night before prom to pick up her dress, which she charges $300 (£232) for,” wrote Lewis in part. “R u serious. Was I wrong for wanting my deposit back?”

In the images, which received 250 reactions and more than 200 comments, the 18-year-old models a white, long-sleeved, sheer, floor-length gown. “My daughter was devastated and crying when she saw this dress,” Lewis tells Yahoo Style.

According to Lewis, after a dress Malexa loved on Instagram wasn’t available, she turned to local designer Kia Wagner — who did not return Yahoo Style’s request for comment —  to create a $300 dress for her June 2nd prom.

“For a $100 (£77) deposit, Kia told my daughter that she would make her something nice with material she already owned and that she wanted to ‘play around with the design,'” says Lewis. “Malexa didn’t know anything about what the dress would look like.”

On the day of prom, Malexa tried on her dress and was unsatisfied, so her mother asked Wagner for a refund. “She didn’t offer any reimbursement as a professional courtesy,” says Lewis.

With two hours to spare before the dance, a friend of Lewis’ came to the rescue by offering Malexa her own daughter’s prom dress, which she had worn a year prior. Malexa ended up using the bottom portion and redesigning the top with the help of a speedy designer and a few extra bucks from her mum.

Malexa joins the ranks of teens disappointed by their prom looks. On Twitter, prom-goers have been sharing so-called dress fails by posting photos of how vastly different their dresses look online and in real life.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. 

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Ivanka Trump named 'most powerful Jewish woman in America' and Twitter erupts

Ivanka Trump has been called many things from privileged to successful, from accomplice to complicit, but one new label has provoked outrage on social media: “The most powerful Jewish woman in America.”

First daughter Ivanka Trump was just named the most “powerful” Jewish woman in America [Photo: Getty]

The title was bestowed on the first daughter by CNN which recently published a story titled, “Ivanka Trump: “America’s Most Powerful Jewish Woman.” The article details Ivanka’s 2009 conversion to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner, who is an Orthodox Jew, and the private nature of her faith.

CNN references a 2015 Vogue article in which Ivanka calls her religion a “personal thing” and a passage in her new book Women Who Work that describes her weekly Shabbat ritual: “During this time, we disconnect completely — no emails, no TV, no phone calls, no Internet. We enjoy uninterrupted time together and it’s wonderful. In addition to being a sacred part of our religion, we live in such a fast-paced world that it’s enormously important to unplug and devote that time to each other.”

I am grateful to have experienced a deeply meaningful visit to the holiest site of my faith and to leave a private note of prayer. ???? Associated Press (AP)

A post shared by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on May 22, 2017 at 8:44am PDT

On Thursday, Ivanka skipped the president’s press conference on the U.S. withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement to attend synagogue for the Jewish holiday Shavuot and during the first family’s trip overseas to Israel in May, Ivanka Instagrammed a photo of herself deep in prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Still, the title of “Most powerful Jewish woman in America” triggered anger online.

Nope. That's RBG. Thanks for playing. https://t.co/6LkLUoypwo

— Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) June 2, 2017

Live look at me looking at @CNNPolitics mentions after they claimed Ivanka Trump was the most powerful Jewish woman in America pic.twitter.com/lpPeardezU

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) June 2, 2017

Calling Ivanka the most powerful Jewish woman in America is nuts and erases women's actual accomplishments.

— bird tweets only ???? (@christapeterso) June 2, 2017

Please RT if u think my wife (who's Jewish) &delivered meds, wheelchairs, microscopes& mosquito nets to Kenya is more powerful than Ivanka pic.twitter.com/tVw8ULdLlg

— Candice Loren (@artist4ever) June 2, 2017

Jewish women more powerful than Ivanka: 1) Sheryl Sandberg 2) Ruth Bader Ginsberg 3) my mom, who has an extremely high rating on TripAdvisor

— Ej Dickson (@ejdickson) June 2, 2017

If only Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Janet Yellen had their own line of lavender sheath dresses https://t.co/A0i09GHGBo

— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) June 2, 2017

Ivanka Trump: America’s most powerful Jewish woman https://t.co/l3cU8UN1jq pic.twitter.com/NJfaNCJ3yF

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) June 2, 2017

Some of the outrage over the prestigious title may be due to Ivanka’s insistence to keep her religious life private combined with Jewish matters seemingly absent in her platform, which so far have solely been women’s issues in the workplace. There are also people who do not consider Ivanka a true Jewish woman due to her conversion by marriage. And many could take issue with Ivanka as a “powerful” leader and someone who is able to sway her father on social issues, especially in a cabinet that includes Steve Bannon, who has been accused of holding anti-Semitic views.

Most recently, Ivanka was roasted on Twitter when her 5-year-old daughter Arabella Kushner was photographed wearing a dress by designer John Galliano, who was fired from Dior in 2011 after making anti-Semitic comments.

  Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. 

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[elisesole]

David Beckham kissed his 5-year-old daughter on the lips and people have feelings

David Beckham and his daughter Harper Beckham [Photo: Getty Images]

While the Beckham family enjoys a fabulous vacation in the African desert, social media is melting down over a photo of David Beckham sweetly kissing daughter Harper on the lips.

On Thursday, David posted a photo to Instagram depicting him and his 5-year-old daughter Harper Beckham in Tanzania, giving each other a peck on the mouth. “Kiss for Daddy,” David wrote alongside the image. Of the 1.7 million people who liked the photo, a lively debate sprung between those who saw the kiss as a loving gesture and inappropriate.

“David, to kiss lips of your daughter that’s wrong,” wrote one person on Instagram. Another opined, “I just think she’s a little too old for that is all.”

Kiss for Daddy ❤️

A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on Jun 1, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

David also had plenty of support from those who deemed the kiss sweet: “Beautiful photo mate. Ignore the people that have a problem with it. Nothing wrong with showing your children affection…” and “I have always kissed my children on the lips. They are now in their mid 20s. All 3 of them and we still kiss on the lips. Nothing wrong with it at all….”

David’s wife Victoria Beckham stirred up similar controversy in July when she posted an Instagram photo on Harper’s birthday featuring the mother and daughter kissing in a swimming pool. Comments on the post ranged from “beautiful” to “ew.”

Happy Birthday baby girl ???????????? We all love you so much ???????????? X @davidbeckham @brooklynbeckham kisses from mummy X

A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) on Jul 10, 2016 at 1:27am PDT

Other celebs who have faced wrath for their parental displays of affection include Hillary Duff who in December posted an Instagram shot of herself kissing son Luca, 4, at Disneyland. After receiving criticism, Duff tweeted, “For anyone commenting that a kiss on the lips with my four year old is ‘inappropriate’ go ahead and click a quick unfollow with your warped minds and judgment.”

Happiest happiest happiest happiest happiest happiest happiest happiest place on earth! We love you @disneyland ????????❤️????????❤️????????❤️????????❤️????????❤️????????❤️????????❤️????????

A post shared by Hilary Duff (@hilaryduff) on Dec 12, 2016 at 6:44pm PST

So why is this such a big deal? “Kissing one’s child on the lips isn’t confusing — it’s society that confuses things,” Jonathan Alpert, a Manhattan-based psychotherapist and author of Be Fearless, tells Yahoo Beauty. “The act is no different than sleeping in the same bed with a child, but people rarely label that sexual.”

The scientific benefits of physical affection are undeniable. Kids who receive regular hugs and kisses from their parents have higher self-esteem and are better communicators and happier adults. Just like any other caring behaviour between a toddler and a parent — snuggling, bathing, co-sleeping — lip kissing (for those who do it) tends to fade out as kids grow and mature.

“At the end of the day, people are parenting from afar and the public is drawing a big conclusion based on a fleeting moment of affection between a father and his daughter,” says Alpert. “Sometimes a kiss is truly just a kiss.”

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Lace shorts have arrived for men who want to wear them

In case you’ve been on the hunt, lace shorts for men are finally here [Photo: Instagram/Sparkie Baby Official]

Lace shorts for men are inexplicably here — and no one seems happy about it.

On Monday, an Instagram account titled Sparkie Baby Official uploaded a photo of the pastel pink, blue, and green lace belted shorts, modelled by men wearing white socks and sneakers. “#LaceyShorts for men are here,” wrote ZJ Sparks, the owner of the Instagram account. “Would you wear these gentlemen? Ladies would you like to see your boyfriend or husband rock one of these?”

#LaceyShorts for men are here. Would you wear these gentlemen? Ladies would you like to see your boyfriend or husband rock one of these? #malefashion Made by @hologramcityla for @cazwellnyc video

A post shared by ZJ SPARKS!! ????D WILD ONE ???????? (@sparkiebabyofficial) on May 29, 2017 at 1:55pm PDT

The answer from his followers was a resounding no. “Stop LOL,” wrote one commenter. Other comments included, “Who is designing these clothes?” and “First rompers, now this.”

are the high socks part of the outfit?

— Stephen Gunter (@stephengunter) May 30, 2017

I would definitely break up with my boyfriend if he wore this.

— Cat ???? (@HotYogaCat) May 30, 2017

Ummmm No!

— Moe Betta (@Byg_Tymer) May 30, 2017

No amount of reverse image searches yielded the origin of the photo, and ZJ Sparks did not return Yahoo Style’s request for comment. However, lace shorts for men seem like a natural extension of the RompHim (male romper) trend, which recently blew up the Internet.

In May, a group of business school students launched a Kickstarter for the RompHim, a light and airy one-piece (available for preorder on the company website) that aimed to answer the “What should I wear?” question men typically ponder before heading out to a summer concert or pool party.

The lacy shorts phenomenon is actually nothing new — in 2013, Versace male models wore black lace undies during the autumn/winter collection show in Milan.

Hey, anything to keep cool in the warm months ahead.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.  

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Size 12 woman asks H&M to solve its 'absolutely ridiculous' sizing policy

Lowri Byrne, who is a size 12, is calling out H&M for its ‘ridiculous’ sizing policy [Photo: Facebook/Lowri Bryne]

A size 12 woman is calling out H&M for its “ridiculous” sizing policy after trying on a size 16 dress that left her feeling like she could “barely breathe.”

Lowri Byrne, an H&M customer in Plymouth, England, expressed her frustration on Facebook Thursday after trying on a blue, strapless dress at the retailer. “Please sort your sizes out because this is absolutely ridiculous!” she wrote in the post that acquired 2,000 comments. “I’m a size 12 and small busted and today in a H&M store I had to ask if this dress came in a size 18 (it didn’t…). The dress I have on in these photos is a size 16, and I could barely breathe. Not only was this annoying because I wanted to buy this dress, but so many women take what size dress they buy to heart. If I was one of these girls (thankfully I’m not) requesting a size 18 dress would seriously devastate me!”

Byrne added that when she asked a salesperson if the dress was available in a size 18, she was told, “Ahh yeah you have to go up a couple of sizes with these.”

In her Facebook post, along with a follow-up post written Monday, Byrne’s followers vented about similar experiences trying to fit into H&M clothing. “I’m not joking when I say that a size 12 dress I bought from H&M fits my 5-year-old daughter! Doesn’t fit me of course,” one mum wrote. Another commented: “I know exactly what you mean — tried on two pairs of size 12 shorts today in H&M — one I could get on without unbuttoning them and the other wouldn’t fasten! It’s crazy!” A third added: “That’s one of the reasons why I stopped shopping at H&M…their sizes are for kids not for women.”

H&M sent the following statement to the Daily Mail on Tuesday: “H&M hugely values all customer feedback. It is only ever our intention to design and make clothes that make our customers feel good about themselves, any other outcome is neither intended nor desired. H&M’s sizes are global and the sizes offered in the UK are the same in all the 66 markets in which we operate in and online. As there is no global mandatory sizing standard, sizes will differ between brands and different markets.”

The statement continued: “Our dedicated, in-house sizing department works according to an average of the sizes and measurements suggested by the markets we operate in. H&M sizes are continually reviewed by our in-house sizing department.”

Neither a representative from H&M UK nor Byrne returned Yahoo Style’s request for comment. However, there has been controversy over sizing policies at other fashion brands, such as American Eagle Outfitters. In May, a woman in Iowa, Riley Bodley, posted a Facebook photo of two pairs of pants purchased from the company, one from five years ago in size 0 and the other a few months before in size 4.

Bummed to have gone up two sizes, Bodley compared the two pants and realised that they were roughly the same size. “This made me wonder, how small has a size 0 actually gotten?” she wrote on Facebook. “The media makes young girls feel the smaller the number they wear, the more beautiful they are, and this is certainly NOT true. I post this as a reminder that size is literally just a number and does not define you. Find clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident, and know your beauty is not defined by the size you wear.”

In 2014, after J.Crew released a new size, 000 — claiming the size was to be sold in Asia and not in America where sizes tend to run larger — customers lashed out at the brand for offering “vanity sizing.”

The practice of vanity sizing involves offering clothing in so-called smaller sizes to appeal to customers’ egos and increase brand loyalty. In other words, if a shopper fits into a surprisingly smaller-than-usual size, she’s more likely to purchase the item and return to the store that makes her feel happier about it.

According to a story in Time, vanity sizing began as a response to the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and as a way to make customers feel optimistic about the shopping experience. The problem, reports the magazine, is that one particular size can vary by as much as several inches.

There’s no evidence that H&M (or any of the aforementioned retailers) participates in vanity sizing. But one thing is clear: the number on the dress tag, just like the number on the scale, is not a measure of anyone’s self-worth.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK. 

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