Becoming comfortable in your own skin–in the body you exist in–is actually really difficult. For many, myself included, it’s a constant struggle. This is why I love the fact that Amy Schumer has been outspoken about body positivity and self-acceptance.
This doesn’t come as a huge surprise, considering the Jewish comedian brought us the boy band parody, “Girl You Don’t Need Makeup.” Recently, the 35-year-old opened up in an interview with Barney’s blog, The Window. She spoke about her longtime stylist Leesa Evans and how she helped her become more body confident in a world where beauty is defined by being a size 0-4. And for anyone who isn’t, well, it seems you’re on your own. Schumer describes how Evans showed her it’s possible to love your body and to dress it with love, stating:
“It was really emotional. I had never, ever known how to dress for my body—and I don’t want to say ‘body type,’ because it’s not about five specific types or anything…”
Evans also said that it’s just about figuring out what works for you:
“It’s about proportions. We all have out own individual shapes that make our own silhouette that gives us confidence…It’s all about the psychology of what makes each of us feel good. That’s where I began with that first fitting. What I wanted to accomplish that day was to show her how great it could be.”
What also changed Schumer’s life is tailoring–which makes sense, since all bodies are different:
“I’d never had anything tailored in my life. I thought if something rode up in the crotch, I’d just pull it down all the time. It didn’t occur to me. Tailoring doesn’t have to be crazy-expensive either—it can be as simple as taking something in an inch at the waist. Leesa gave me the tools without pushing it down my throat. There are ways to dress for all of our different bodies, and we can accentuate the areas we feel confident about. These tools changed my entire feelings about both clothing and about myself.”
But it wasn’t just a realization about Schumer’s own body image, but for all women everywhere–as she knew it wasn’t just her alone, stating:
“It really is something that connects all of us. The first time I ever met Hillary Clinton, it was at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards. One of my jokes had been that in L.A., my arms register as legs, and she mentioned to me afterward that she related to that joke. Someone in her position can feel the exact same way as a single mother returning to the work force—we all have these insecurities. Such a big part of my standup and my work is about wanting to make women feel connected, because we are. I wanted Leesa to transform my best friends and change their self image, and then I was like, Wait, why can’t we share this with everyone?’”
This is where her collaboration with Evans comes into play, as they both started Stylefund, which is a fashion initiative meant to help all women in transitional points in their lives build up self-confidence–and also teach them the tricks of dressing well for your body. Schumer explained:
“The change in how they see themselves affects how people’s family sees them, how their employers see them. It’s amazing see these women leave their excuses behind and get down to the reason why it worked instead of the reason that it didn’t.”
While it may seem superficial to focus on how someone dresses, how we present ourselves is more than skin deep. It affects how we see ourselves, which changes our entire perception of the world around us–and what we are capable of. I’m glad Schumer is using her influence to better the lives of other women around her.
Read More:
This is What It’s Like to Live with Severe Depression as a Mom
I’m Trying to Love My Pregnant Body, But These Comments Don’t Help
Amy Schumer is Going to Star in a Live Action ‘Barbie’ Film
