Styling the neon trend when you can't buy off the rack

With more women demanding that fashion cater to all, and this demand beginning to be heard, we investigate how you can engage with the neon dressing trend on your own terms

One of this season’s biggest trends comes in the form of neon dressing. Often taught not to embrace bright colours, or colours that clash with our skin tones, many women may find the prospect of this trend daunting. But we, at Embody, are here to encourage you to rip up the fashion rulebook, even if it’s just this once.

Neon tones aren’t just for a teenage rave, or slim, model-esque women anymore – they’re fun for us all.

Lauren McKenzie, a mental health advocate and body positive model, is certain of this fact. “I’m such a big fan big fan of the neon trend”, she tells us: “As someone who loves to stand out and express themselves through fashion, I think neon really helps me do that. I also think, being plus size, it goes against the ‘rules’ we’re supposed to follow, so it feels like giving the stereotypes and rules of society the middle finger.”

Body positive fashion blogger and makeup artist, Courtney Paige, believes the trend is a resurrection of disco culture, right when we need it most. “The 80s brought us the neon trend, with its neon leg warmers, tutus and beaded necklaces”, she says, recalling her initial love for the style: “I first embraced the neon trend in my early teens, attending under 18s discos with that get up.”

“Now, in 2019, it’s come back around more stylish than disco-ready”, Paige finds.

Reiterating this idea is stylist, self-love advocate and host of Channel 4’s Naked Beach, LaLa Love. “I’m seeing them done in ways that I haven’t seen before; clashed with animal prints, and in more daring styles and I love it”, she states.

For Love, this new take on neon-chic has meant something else also – “I’ve seen a lot more people engaging with the trend too and I’m so here for it”, she says: “I’m really glad to finally be seeing people of different skin tones, ages and sizes wearing what they want and living their best lives because, if you like something, who says that you’re not allowed to wear it?”

The new flexibility of the trend seems to have garnered a whole new audience, and that’s something to be celebrated.

“Neon fits into my style in a lot of ways because I’m always going to be naturally attracted to colourful things”, Love tells us, but she finds “it’s even better having the option of wearing more fluorescent styles over of the pastels and more subtle tones usually afforded to us. It’s nice to see things being taken to another level.”

But is this new level easily accessible to us all?

Unfortunately, it seems not. In the words of McKenzie, “shopping for fashionable plus size pieces it is extremely hard, but especially in neon.” While there are many colours, styles and cuts available for those wearing smaller sizes, it can often feel as though larger women are entirely left out of trend-dressing. “Lately”, she says, “it is getting better, but it’s still a huge struggle.”

This doesn’t spell the end for your future with the trend, however. “Don't be disheartened that a lot of brands still don't see us” the model advises, saying “we won't go unseen forever, but for now we’ll find what we can and make it work.”

As for the best places to find these inclusive neon clothes? There seems to be four top choices, all made for online shopping: ASOS Curve, Boohoo, Fashion Nova and PrettyLittleThing. “I am obsessed with these places as I know they always have on trend pieces for plus size women”, McKenzie shares.

A lasting piece of advice comes from Love, encouraging us all to step outside our comfort zones and ditch the faux-rules holding us back from a lifetime of fun with fashion. “Go for something small and start there”, she says, “because sometimes, we’re afraid of what people are going to think of us if we wear something new. But if you like something, why not try it? What bad is really going to happen? I think it’s more important to life your life and buy it anyway. Be brave – you can always return it!”

So, take a chance on this disco revival and get ready to shine this summer.