Blake Lively, wife to Ryan Reynolds and mother of three, took to Instagram on Friday to chat to her followers about how she felt in her own body post-baby number three. Lively, if you’ll recall, was in a movie, “The Rhythm Section,” that premiered in January 2020, and little Betty was born, as far as reports can estimate, in October 2019. Which means that mama was doing press very quickly postpartum.
We actually did a little happy dance for Blake ourselves for this very fact, taking note of her grace and elegance walking the red carpet and making appearances in New York dressed to the absolute nines, and so soon after having a baby! Of course, it was quite the feat for her.
On Friday, Lively shared some thoughts on her Instagram Stories, talking about how she had trouble being dressed after giving birth. She offered a glimpse into how her outfit came together for an appearance on “The Tonight Show” in January 2020 -- apparently, she finagled herself an ensemble out of a Lanvin shirt and Net-a-Porter dress because none of the outfits chosen for her ahead of time had fit correctly. Her successful stint as an amateur fashion designer aside, Lively makes a point that’s been deemed either too taboo or too awkward to discuss outrightly: that women’s bodies aren’t meant to just snap back to pre-baby form, and they shouldn’t be expected to.
“...No one had samples that fit me after giving birth. And so many clothes from stores didn't fit either. So. Many,” she wrote. “It doesn't send a great message to women when their bodies don't fit into what brands have to offer. It's alienating and confusing.”
Lively talked about how instead of celebrating her body for what it had just accomplished, she was worried about the number on the tags of her clothes -- and how she had to remember that that wasn’t right.
“I wish I felt as confident then as I do now, a year later looking back. That body gave me a baby. And was producing that baby's entire food supply. What a beautiful miracle,” she said. “But instead of feeling proud, I felt insecure. Simply because I didn't fit into clothes. How silly is that in retrospect.”
Sophie Turner chimed in this morning, reposting an E! News tweet to her own Instagram Story and praising Lively’s candid message, adding a cheeky “Game of Thrones” reference for good measure. Turner recently welcomed baby Willa with husband Joe Jonas in July 2020.
Lively capped off her Story with a shout-out to MegaBabe founder Katie Sturino, who she said is “challenging brands to do better, helping women to not feel alone. And she's making meaningful progress. She reminds me, we all can ask for better from the brands we love.”
According to CNN, Sturino started a trend with the hashtag #MakeMySize after trying on a skirt in the largest available size and it not fitting right.
"It's never boycott this brand, this brand doesn't support women with real curves," she told the outlet. "I think that it's much better to call a designer in, or a brand in, and educate them on the fact that like, 'Hey, you're missing out on a part of the population, the majority of the population, and you should maybe think about offering larger sizes.'"
Sturino’s a loud advocate for women and their bodies on Instagram, and MegaBabe puts out products like natural deodorant and an anti-friction stick, refusing to shy away from the less glamorous parts of what keeps a woman comfortable.
Sturino routinely calls out unnatural body standards put forth by the forces of Hollywood and beyond, but follows that up with relatable, attainable fashion and body image advice that brings the conversation more easily into households that need it.
Consider Katie Sturino on our "people to vibe with" list.