Do you remember how you met your best friend, what drew you to them? Maybe they were the most fabulously-dressed person in the room, or maybe it was just something they said.
We spoke to three sets of stylish best friends about the moment they met, the impact of first impressions and how they continue to influence each other’s style - featuring their favourite pieces from Very's SS19 collection.
Danielle Vanier, blogger, and best friend Lauren Douglass, stylist, both 32
Danielle: "The first time we talked [properly] was at a fancy dress party. I was a pirate and she was a raven – of course she was really chic. She told me to start a blog because there weren’t many plus-size bloggers out there. She was the one who gave me the push.
"We’re very different size and shape-wise, but I’ve always admired her style. I’m a strong believer that your heart, your soul, is ultimately what draws you to people. But, particularly as someone who loves fashion, that initial attraction to somebody on any level - friendship, sexual, whatever – it’s visual. It’s ‘oh my god, their shoes, their jacket!’"
Lauren: "I love Dani’s style because it’s really quite different from my own – she’s Scandi-inspired, more androgynous, while I’m quite girlie. For me, feeling happy in what you’re wearing is the biggest thing. People notice that before the outfit."
Danielle (left) wears: T-shirt, £10, Very; Trousers, £35, Very | Lauren wears: Dress, £45, Very
Danielle: "It’s about self-love. You have one body and one life, so you might as well dress to the max. The media has conditioned us to feel that there’s just one type of beauty and that makes me so sad. Just because I happen to be fat, plus-size, whatever you want to call it, I shouldn’t have to melt into the background.
"I’m here trying to show everybody, ‘no, stand out, love yourself, love what you wear and if anybody’s got anything to say about it, two fingers up to them'."
Simran Randhawa, influencer, 24, and best friend Faiz Shafi, editor, 22
Faiz: "I work for a streetwear brand, organising all the shoots. About eight months ago, I was looking for a model and came across Simran. We really got along on the shoot. Afterwards we went to Nando’s. We were together for hours, but it didn’t feel like hours.
"I remember I dressed up for the shoot because I wanted to impress her. I was wearing men’s trousers and a matching men’s blazer with a bodysuit."
Simran: "Faiz knows what looks good on her, what works for her body type. She doesn’t question, ‘should I wear this?’ She just knows and I really rate that.
"Fashion is a big part of how you express yourself. But it’s a two-way thing. You might be wearing a tracksuit, but if you feel good, you carry yourself differently.
Faiz (left) wears: Boiler suit, £314, Teaspoon; Bag, £84.99, DKNY at Very; Trainers, £85, Fila at Very | Simran wears: Trench, £75, Very; Dress, £26, Pieces
"I have lots of other personas that I put on. That’s what fashion allows you to do. It gives you the confidence to change it up. Even when I look back at my fashion history, I’ve taken on so many different styles. I used to dress like an emo. In a brown family, that’s character building!"
Liv Little, founder of gal-dem, 25, and girlfriend Suhaiyla Shakuwra, jewellery designer, 27
Suhaiyla: "The first time I saw her, she was wearing this backless top - her whole back was out, I remember that - and some really fitted flares. She was very stylish: Red lipstick, shaved head, really hot."
Liv: "She’s a jewellery designer, so she had all these amazing rings on. I remember thinking they were beautiful. We met at an event in London two years ago and we’ve been inseparable ever since."
Suhaiyla: "I use my clothes and the colours I wear to give me confidence and express how I’m feeling. I love yellow and I used to wear it intentionally because it’s a colour of empowerment and creativity.
"What we wear is a huge part of our identity, because we live in an environment where people make assumptions about you based on what you wear - not necessarily in a negative way. People just associate you with a particular look - like Liv's bald head; it's a statement."
Liv (left) wears: Jacket, £129, and jeans, £119, Whistles | Suhaiyla wears: Jumper, £120, Whistles at Very; Jeans, £32, Very
Liv: "I think as I’ve become more confident, as I've learnt more about who I am as a woman, as a person, as a black woman, I’ve got more into what I wear.
"The fashion industry definitely caters to certain age groups, certain body types. For me, Suhaiyla’s grandma is the most stylish person in the world. She’s so fabulous. Society tells her that she should wear nan clothes, but she dresses for herself. I think that’s important [to not lose your personal sense of style.] Ultimately, fashion should be fun. It’s fun to dress up."
Shop looks to help you make the ultimate first impression at Very
