How To Wear Everything You’ve Been Told Not To, with Ashley Graham

(gasping) OK, guys, come on.

I'm in the middle of getting ready and breakfast,

so just come meet me upstairs so we can get ready.

Welcome to my home, you guys!

My name's Ashley Graham, for those of you who don't know me.

I'm a model, designer, and body activist.

So, today, three words you're not gonna hear me say

are plus-size, pear-shape, and problem areas.

I'm gonna walk you through brunch,

work, and date-night outfits,

and it's all those things that everybody told you

that you couldn't wear; I'm gonna show you how to wear it.

Let's get this day going,

but first I just gotta finish my breakfast.

So when I'm headed to brunch I really like

to show off my shape with high-waisted fitted jeans

and a horizontal crop top.

I've always been told: You can't wear horizontal stripes.

It's only gonna make you look wider.

But I think i look pretty darn good.

And when I wear a crop top I always like

to have something that's over my bellybutton.

I hold a lot of my weight in the lower part of my stomach,

so I like things right above the bellybutton,

and then the crop I like to hit right at the sexiest

smallest little part of my waist.

So, I'm feeling pretty confident in this one.

Another outfit that I think is perfect

for brunch is white on white.

As a curvier girl, I was always told: You can't wear that.

It's gonna make you look bigger.

Please!

As long as you have clothes that fit you properly,

it doesn't matter what color they are.

I always love to wear a fitted blouse

that has a high neckline.

I've always been told silk and fitted on these big boobs

could never actually really happen.

But honestly, as long as you have the right fitted outfit,

it's going to look good on you because it's your size.

I don't always get to wear a suit to work,

but when I do, I make sure it's tailored to the T.

Ladies, do not be afraid to make friends with your tailor.

We're always trying to disguise

what's actually going on underneath all of this,

but you can do it in a very classy professional way,

specially headed to your job.

Another great option for work is prints.

I always believe that if you have a print on,

it's great as long as you have a solid contrast,

just to balance everything out to make it look

perfect, classy, and clean.

As you can see, I've got what everybody told me

I couldn't wear: horizontal stripes.

And to create a waist, I really love to put on a jacket

or a shirt, tie it at the smallest part of my waist

to really accentuate my hourglass figure.

Contrasting colors really help too to accentuate

every little curve you got in your body.

If you're a Brooklyn girl like me,

you like to mix it up with casual and chic.

Another great look for date night

is an oversize jean shirt that's buttoned down,

tied at the waist with a really tight sexy pencil skirt.

And this one, with tons of sequins,

makes this look perfect for date night.

Ladies, don't forget to rock your curves

in every single outfit that you get to wear.

(blowing kiss)