In My Body, Emily Ratajkowski peels back the glossy layers of image, fame and desire to reveal the raw complexities of what it means to live in a female body that the world constantly tries to define for you. A collection of essays that blend personal experience with cultural critique, the book is both intimate and political — a conversation with herself and with every woman who has ever been looked at before being listened to.
At its core, My Body is about ownership — of your image, your sensuality, your choices. It's about the push-pull between power and objectification and the ways women navigate a world that profits off their beauty while often silencing their voices.
For woolson, this message hits home.
Woolson isn’t just a clothing brand — it’s a love letter to the female form. Every one-of-a-kind crochet piece is handcrafted to celebrate the female body, skin and sensuality without apology. We want women to feel sexy because they are, not because someone else said so. And that’s where our values and Emily’s words intertwine.
Key Themes from My Body That Inspire Woolson:
1. The Politics of Beauty
Emily discusses how beauty can be both a tool and a trap. As a model, she benefited from the power of her looks, yet she also felt the pain of being reduced to them. This duality is something many women know all too well — being praised for beauty while simultaneously punished for embracing it.
“I have learned that my image, my reflection, is not my own.” (p. 9)
This quote captures the dissonance many women experience — the feeling of being seen but not truly known. Woolson encourages women to reclaim that power. To wear a barely-there crochet top because they want to, not because they’re trying to please anyone. We believe beauty isn’t something to be tamed or hidden. It’s something to explore and express on your own terms.
2. Sexuality is Not a Sin
Throughout the book, Emily explores how her sexuality has been both weaponized and misunderstood. She writes with vulnerability about the fine line between empowerment and exploitation — a line many women walk daily.
“The truth is that even if being sexualized by others is demeaning, it can also be lucrative. And then, of course, it can be empowering.” (p. 26)
“I want to have control, I want to be the one who decides how I’m looked at and treated, to be in charge of my body and my life.” (p. 27)
At woolson, we design with freedom in mind. We believe a woman’s body is not a problem to be solved or a thing to be hidden — it’s art. Our pieces are for the girls who know that owning your sensuality doesn’t mean you owe anyone access to it. That showing skin doesn’t mean you’re asking for judgment. That softness is strength.
3. Embodiment as Rebellion
Emily’s journey is ultimately about coming home to herself — feeling present in her body despite the noise. That’s what woolson wants for every woman who slips on our garments.
“To live in a female body is to be looked at. And to be looked at is to be objectified. That’s just the truth.” (p. 89)
“I was embarrassed by the things I’d done to feel powerful — ashamed of the ways I’d used my body...but I was also furious with a world that made me feel that way.” (p. 98)
Wearing something made with care, by hand, to fit your unique shape, is an act of rebellion in a fast-fashion world that sees you as just another number. It’s not just about clothing. It’s about self-expression, presence and taking ownership of your identity — curves or lack of them, complexities and all.
Why Woolson Loves My Body
My Body is not a manifesto, but it is a meditation. It doesn’t claim to have all the answers, and neither do we. But what it does offer — like woolson — is an invitation. To feel. To question. To express. To embrace the full spectrum of womanhood: the messy, sexy, strong, vulnerable and real.
So here’s to taking up space.
To bare shoulders and bold choices.
To the quiet power of a handmade piece hugging your body.
To confidence that doesn’t ask for permission.
“What if we just allowed ourselves to be? To be looked at, or not. To be sexual, or not. To be ourselves, for ourselves.” (p. 191)