Dress Me for…the Weddings on my Calendar

2 min read

In 2018, professional dancer MeganAnna joined the approximately 1.6 million people in the U.S. who are thought to be affected by chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) when she was diagnosed with the condition. Characterized by recurring itchy hives and deep swelling over six weeks or longer, CSU is idiopathic, meaning its cause can be difficult to identify—even with the help of an allergist or dermatologist. Like others living with CSU, MeganAnna has experienced both the physical and emotional toll of managing the condition.

With her friends’ upcoming nuptials in mind, MeganAnna wanted a look that would help her feel comfortable and confident. “I’ve struggled a lot with body image since being diagnosed, and it can be difficult to see myself as anything other than a human covered in hives,” she says. “I’m concerned about flare-ups. I think for me, the way I view myself is an issue with my autoimmune disorder. So if anything, I’m trying to impress at this event.” To help her do that, we partnered with celebrity fashion stylist Jason Bolden to create the perfect wedding-guest outfit.

Bolden leaned on silk to create her black-tie-ready looks. It’s a natural material that can be friendly to irritated skin because its smoothness doesn’t cause harmful contact.

“This dress is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever worn,” MeganAnna says. “If it were up to me, I’d steal it and wear it every day—even to the grocery store. This dress, and this moment, was the first time in a long time that I felt pretty and, honestly, normal. It’s hard to feel beautiful when your body is constantly fighting itself, especially when the effects are visible for everyone to see. For a moment, though, I didn’t feel defined by my skin or my condition. I just felt beautiful.”

See MeganAnna’s choices for the black-tie wedding in the video above.

Content was independently created by Hearst with funding from Novartis Pharmaceuticals.