Sports Illustrated model Ella Halikas’ tips for fashion at any size

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As fashion trends ebb and flow, one thing is certain: confidence and creativity never go out of style. Take it from Sports Illustrated Curve model Ella Halikas, who recently recreated two of model-actress Julia Fox’s famous skin bare styles, writing in her powerful Instagram captions, “Fat girls can rock this fit too.”

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Halikas, who walked the runway for Miami Swim Week 2022 and appeared in Sports Illustrated’s 2021 swimsuit issue, is known for flaunting her sense of style both on and off the runway. If you’re looking for tips on sporty, celebrity- and model-worthy styles yourself, follow Halikas’ advice to find looks you love in every size.

Copy the outfits of your favorite stars

Seeing Fox sport a tiny, low-slung skirt – while social media lamented the resurgence of the Y2K trend – Halikas tried to prove that the return of the style statement isn’t all bad news. “I looked at something like that [the social media reaction] as motivation to prove people wrong, that you don’t have to be very small to wear this and rock it,” she says. She recreated the iconic look by cutting apart an Aritzia crop top and an Amazon dress, and showed off the homemade matching set in Instagram posts, which were liked by Fox herself.

Whether you’re adapting to the occasion with a low seat, thinking barbiecore pink, or copying a look from your favorite influencer, don’t be afraid to take celebrity-loved trends for a spin. “Once you do it once or twice, you get used to buying pieces that you wouldn’t normally wear,” says Halikas, who also recreated Fox’s iconic Calvin Klein lingerie store look.

The key to making celebrity fashion your own? Let your own confidence shine through. “I think overcoming the fear of ‘I can’t wear that because I don’t look like her’ really empowered me, but also [for] so many people who have seen it,” says Halikas of her celebrity-inspired looks.

To put your own spin on Fox’s (and Halika’s) style, show your stuff in a high-heeled boot like the Vince Camuto Fenindy Over-The-Knee Boot. The shiny model is sold in black in women’s shoe sizes 5 to 12.

$110 at DSW

Pair this eye-catching shoe with a simple tank top like Torrid’s Scoop Neck Cami. Rated 4.8 stars and over 430 reviews, the top is available in white in women’s sizes M to 6X.

$20 at Torrid

Show off your curves with cute crop tops

If you’re looking for a more everyday look than Fox’s leather and low rise combo, consider showing some skin with crop tops instead. “Have a few staples that you love, wear and reuse,” says Halikas. “Whether it’s a top with biker shorts or a top with jeans,” she adds, you can “create different looks from so many staples.”

Try the H&M+ Ribbed Top, available in white in women’s sizes L to 4XL with a pink pattern. Halikas recommends pairing similar styles with floaty pants or whitewashed boyfriend jeans.

$10 at H&M

The right crop top can also do double duty, from going out to working out. Halikas often wears a crop top with a blazer, biker shorts, gold jewelry, and “some cute sneakers” to go out, noting that “you could take the blazer and jewelry off” to work out in the outfit.

For a versatile athleisure style statement, try the Lululemon Invigorate Crop Top in a neutral hue. “Lululemon has some great options,” says Halikas of the brand – and from our testing, we agree that Lululemon offers some of the best athleisure products. Shop this extra-stretchy, sweat-wicking top in women’s sizes 0-20 and nine colors.

$68 at Lululemon

Keep it simple with matching sets

Sometimes you just don’t want to worry too much about your fit. The solution? Matching sets that make dressing a breeze. “No matter what, even if you don’t feel like getting ready, pull on a matching set – whether it’s a cute maxi skirt and crop top or a cute flowy dress [outfit]’ says Halikas. “Only things that give you confidence and make you feel good about wearing them.”

For a monochromatic moment — one of Halika’s favorites — consider meshki sets like the Kara mini skirt with ruffles at the front and the Sara crop top with a square neckline. The coordinated parts are available in white, blue and light brown in women’s sizes XS to XXL.

$49 at Meshki $45 at Meshki

Get seamless underwear

To rock an over-the-top outfit, you might feel more comfortable wearing invisible coverage underneath in the form of seamless underwear. Whether in a spandex look or when shooting on set, Halikas swears by skims. “I always have to bring them to auditions and shoots,” she says of the favorite outfit, which she calls “a really big piece.” [style] Hack for me.” The Kim Kardashian-owned, size-conscious label’s offerings include the Free Cut Mid Waist Thong, a classic bikini style that comes in 11 colorways in women’s sizes XXS to 4X.

$16 on skims

Compliment easy-to-conceal underwear with standout style like the bodycon dresses from Skims, also favored by Halikas. Consider the Soft Lounge Cut Out One Shoulder Dress, for a look that you can dress up or down with your accessories. It is available in four colors in women’s sizes XXS to 4X.

$78 at skims

Make string bikinis a warm-weather must-have

Don’t be afraid to dive into more skimpy swimsuit styles. “I think the idea [that] Curvy girls and plus size girls probably want more coverage, it’s just wrong,” says Halikas, recalling Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editor-in-Chief MJ Day, who gave her a “super small” string bikini for the runway. “I think it was an eye-opener,” says the model, who now “always” chooses thong swimsuits. “[As a person with a curvy body]we can still join the micro bikini trend.”

Try the Mesh Top String Triangle & Swirlfriend Cheeky Plus Size Bikini Set by Cupshe, one of the suits Halikas rocked on the runway during the brand’s Miami Swim Week 2022 show. The colorful two-piece suit is available in patterned pink in women’s sizes 0X to 3X.

$37 at Cupshe

Show off your shape with bodysuits and leggings

If you’re looking for hot trends that are made for colder weather, find a bodysuit that covers without concealing. Halikas says that “everyone should invest in a good” long-sleeved black bodysuit to wear under a blazer or coat in the fall and winter. Good American offers a classic crew neck option; At Reviewed, we love the brand’s jeans, and shoppers rave about the Good Form Crewneck Body, with one praising its “lovely fit” and “amazing quality fabric”. Shop it in white and black in women’s sizes XS to 2X.

$105 at Good American

Another body contouring staple: black flared leggings. Halikas calls Artizia’s pairs “Chef’s Kiss” and says she wears them with a bodysuit and sneakers “almost every week.” Try the TnaChill Atmosphere High Kick Legging, available in 20 colors in women’s sizes 2XS to 2XL.

$30 at Aritzia

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