For Stacy London, style has always been about more than what looks good. It’s about how something feels on the body — and that perspective was shaped long before she became a household name. It’s also a philosophy she’s continuing to explore in her upcoming podcast, Why’d They Wear That?, co-hosted with Clinton Kelly, her former What Not to Wear co-host, premiering on April 16. As they revisit iconic style moments in TV, film, and on the red carpet, London finds herself questioning the looks in more practical terms. “We ask, would you actually wear that? Is that what you’d wear on a date?” she says. It’s a shift that mirrors her own relationship with fashion — one that’s less about fantasy and instead grounded in reality.
She’s been bouncing between those two style settings her entire life. Diagnosed with psoriasis — a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that affects more than 8 million people — at just three years old, London grew up acutely aware of what she called her “chicken skin.” By age 11, she recalls being “completely covered in scales” from her neck down. Growing up, London faced teasing. “Kids are mean,” she says simply, recalling how difficult those years could be. The experience shaped not only how she saw herself, but how she approached getting dressed.
“Psoriasis is an attribute of mine, like brown eyes,” London tells KCM in a new interview. “It’s not who I am as a person.”
Ultimately, she had to decide how she would see herself. London chose not to let other people’s assumptions define her, especially if they didn’t understand the condition.
For London, fashion became a way to reclaim control and build confidence on her terms. “Fashion and style are so tied to this for me,” she says, explaining that getting dressed became part of how she learned to feel comfortable in her own skin.“ You don’t want to lose your personality just because you’re having a flare-up,” London says. “The same person who’s having a flare-up should look just as good on that day as she does on a day when she doesn’t…and have just as much confidence walking into the room.”
It’s an approach that’s continued to evolve alongside her needs — from navigating psoriasis flare-ups to rethinking long-held style rules after developing arthritis — and one that can resonate with anyone dressing through change.
How to use “conscious camouflage” when covering up
Rather than hiding under layers, London developed what she calls a philosophy of “conscious camouflage” — a way of dressing that’s as intentional as it is intuitive. It’s an approach that reflects not just her own evolution but also a wider shift in fashion, where looking good is no longer separate from feeling comfortable. “I don’t believe in hiding,” she says. “I believe in conscious camouflage.”
For her, that can mean choosing pieces that work with her body on any given day, without sacrificing the joy of getting dressed. “If I don’t want to show my arms, I’m going to wear something fabulous with great sleeves,” she explains, adding that the goal is still to “enjoy the experience of getting dressed.”
That philosophy points to a broader rejection of rigid fashion rules. “There are no ‘shoulds’ anymore,” London says. “It’s about how you feel.”
What to wear during a skin flare-ups
Living with psoriasis means that even routine choices require consideration. “With a chronic condition, you’re making decisions every single day,” London says. And those choices, she adds, “play into how you feel about yourself and how you get dressed.”
During flare-ups — especially in warmer months, shifting between humid weather and indoor AC — those closet picks become even more specific. She gravitates toward breathable fabrics and looser silhouettes, explaining that she’ll “choose natural fabrics that breathe better” or avoid anything too tight that might irritate her skin.
How to balance style and comfort as your needs change
As London’s career has blossomed, so has her approach to dressing. Comfort is no longer something to be sacrificed for the sake of appearance — it’s part of the equation.
“I used to say, ‘It doesn’t matter, wear the heels,’” London says. “Until I got arthritis.” Now, she approaches style with a different set of priorities. “Our evolution should never stop,” she says, noting that growth also means honoring your body’s changing needs.
Today, her goal is balance. She still wants to look polished, but she also wants to feel good. Style, in her view, should support both.
How to feel confident being seen in your own skin
Working as a stylist eventually brought London in front of the camera, a shift that required its own adjustment. Being visible with a skin condition added another layer to that experience. “I never intended to be in front of the camera,” she says. “I was always behind it.”
Over time, she learned to navigate that visibility, even during flare-ups. While she’s aware that people may react, she sees those moments as opportunities for greater understanding — a perspective that continues to shape how she shows up publicly, including in her upcoming podcast, Why’d They Wear That?
“The more we talk about it, the more we normalize it,” London says, adding that even those who don’t have psoriasis can begin to understand someone else’s lived experience. That awareness, she says, is what ultimately builds empathy.
Why advocating for yourself matters when managing a chronic condition
For London, confidence also means being proactive in medical settings. “You’re not just being evaluated by your doctor,” she says. “You should be interviewing them.”
If a treatment or protocol isn’t working, London encourages people to keep asking questions and seeking better answers. It’s a lesson she says didn’t fully click until later in life. For years, she was what she describes as a “medical people-pleaser,” simply accepting what she was told. Then, menopause forced a shift that she now applies to every area of her life.
“You don’t have to take anyone’s word for anything,” London says. “It has to land with you.”