Is Bella Hadid’s Style Plus-Size Friendly? I Dressed Up Like Her for a Week to Find Out
Bella Hadid is everywhere. Whether she’s walking the runway for our favorite designers, galavanting across sets in brand campaign shoots, or casually eating a slice of pizza on the NYC streets, the 26-year-old is a staple celeb in our universe. Fashion models are known for inspiring the masses, so much so that it’s quite easy to type in “Bella Hadid style ideas” on Pinterest and strike gold. Lyst even named Bella the Most Powerful Dresser of 2022.
According to Lyst, the rising supermodel’s outfits sparked a 1,900% increase in searches for similar pieces. Over the past 12 months, she’s driven searches for items such as corsets (+70%) and cargo pants (+56%) and made the ultra mini UGG platform boots go viral on TikTok (and subsequently sell out) after wearing them in NYC in September. In just 24 hours, searches for the style increased by +152%.
It’s definitely safe to say, then, that Bella Hadid has a hold on how a lot of people are currently dressing. And, since the internet is always ablaze about how thin women dress, noting that a lot of styles varying models and celebrities wear only work because they’re on thin bodies, I decided to put this to the test by dressing up like her for a week.
Bella’s style is definitely unique to her personality so getting the Bella essence isn’t an easy feat — although I personally feel that I definitely gave Ms. Bella a run for her money! Bella Hadid tends to play with layers and oversized items. She’s big on sunglasses and manages to stay in vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces, so replicating her style isn’t easy for easy-to-tire shoppers — you really need to dig deep! That’s why when she’s seen in pieces that the masses have access to (hey, UGG!), they sell out immediately.
Overall, what really makes the outfits is the confidence Bella manages to walk around with. Fashion and style are so intricately connected to our personas. It’s clearly something you cannot fake, so whether you are trying out new things or sticking to your staples, the key is to own it — just like Ms. Bella.
Below, I tried to recreate a few of my favorite Bella looks as closely as I could as a plus-size woman. There were some failures, but it was incredibly fun, so I’d say it was a definite success. (Though I definitely got a few concerned stares walking around the Condé Nast offices in my Bella cosplay in the middle of winter!).
Whether you are looking for inspo or simply here for the rise, here are some plus-size-approved options for the day you’re ready to walk out of the house giving your best Bella.
