When Lara met Mik

As Lara Masters bows out as Disability Now’s fashion and style monitor, she hands her badge to Mik Scarlet who takes the chance to have one last chat with his predecessor

As I wheeled into her mum’s office in Pineapple Studios, Lara met me with a winning smile. Every bit the style icon, she looked a million dollars in a fishnet and safety pin top, red satin corset, floor length strappy skirt and glitter covered stack heel shoes, topped off with a fantastic red sequined and lace hat, with a black spider motif attached. Her dark blonde hair was styled in dropped ringlet curls and her eyes were dark with kohl and an almost black metallic green powder.

How would she describe her style?
“Really varied. I have a lot of influences. Punk, Burlesque, Goth. My wardrobe is quite varied, and I like doing a lot of different things. I wear a lot of corsets and wigs. I wear a lot of make-up and play around with different styles. If I’m gonna go out I like to dress up and make a statement in some way or another. I have always been interested in fashion but now I spend more time in my wheelchair it’s important to me to make a statement. People can be intimidated by the wheelchair and if I dress up they aren’t and it is a real equaliser.”

I wondered if she felt there might be a political element to how she dressed.
“Yeah, I suppose. Subconsciously... or even consciously. It annoys me that it might be part of why I dress up, but I feel that there have been times when people may have been feeling sorry for me. I would much prefer people being comfortable around me, and even make them go ‘what the hell is she wearing?’ rather than have them go ‘look at the poor girl in the wheelchair’. I rather go the other way. Any response is better than sympathy. People NEVER patronise me when I dress up.”

I was starting to feel like I had met a kindred spirit in Ms Masters.

“Having said that, looking back at pictures of me as a child, I was always acting and dressing up. I dressed up when I had a limp. It was all Doc Martens and mini skirts or bike boots and mini skirts. I was always in something quite revealing, more so than my friends, who were quite reserved.”

How much has her disability shaped her style?
“When you’re able-bodied fashion is just a huge spectrum and there is a huge choice. When you’re disabled there’s still choice, but if you want to dress to work with your disability then you need to tailor your style. I tend to focus on those things that I like about myself and accentuate them. I shape my fashion sense to my disability and I think it is easier to have signature that way. The fact that your choices are narrowed down by disability allows you to create a strong signature look for yourself.”

With the fashion industry so geared to meeting the needs and desires of the standard body shape, it strikes me that there must be barriers for disabled people who want to be stylish?
“Of course. There’s the age-old social barrier of the image that disabled people aren’t interested in fashion or aren’t expected to make an effort.”

So what tips would she give to DN readers who want to be stylish?
“Well, choose your best body part and make it stand out. We all have something about our bodies we love, so focus on that.

“Always wear nice underwear. Even if no one else knows, it makes you feel great.

“Go through your wardrobe and throw out anything that doesn’t fit or look good. Don’t have anything for a ‘can’t be bothered’ day. Wear nice things all the time.

“Wear hats. Not only are they stylish but they help break the ice. If you’re trying to pull, hats are a great way in.

“Lastly, don’t save anything for best, because you may never wear it. Make every day an occasion. Give yourself the message that you’re worth it and make every day exciting.”

So remember readers, carpe diem!