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Star designer reveals the fashion trap making women afraid to trust their mirrors

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If there’s one thing I hope never goes out of style, it’s the moment a woman looks in the mirror and quietly says, “This feels like me.”

In Los Angeles, where red carpets, social media and celebrity culture help shape fashion trends around the world, it’s easy to believe looking good is the same thing as fitting in. But long before a dress ever walks into a ballroom, down the aisle or onto a dance floor, it spends a few quiet moments in front of a fitting room mirror.

That’s where I’ve spent much of my career, and over the years, I’ve learned it’s rarely just about the dress. It’s about the questions women ask.

Lately, I’ve found myself hearing the same ones over and over again.

Is this still in style? Can someone my age wear this? Is this too much? Will this photograph well? What if everyone else is wearing something different?

Those questions aren’t the problem. In many ways, they’ve always existed. But in a place like Los Angeles, where every scroll delivers another celebrity look, influencer recommendation, or “must-have” trend, it’s become harder than ever to separate personal style from outside expectations.

What has changed is how many voices are answering those questions before women have the chance to answer them for themselves.

Social media. Influencers. Trend forecasts. Celebrity culture. Endless videos explaining what’s “in,” what’s “out,” and what women should or shouldn’t wear. In California, where entertainment and fashion often set the tone for the rest of the country, those voices can feel impossible to escape.

Somewhere along the way, inspiration quietly became instruction.

I’ve had........

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