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The content creator gets candid about living with her limb difference, dressing for fashion over function and what she’s loving this spring.
How do you describe April Lockhart’s style? It’s a question the content creator (@april_lockhart) doesn’t quite know how to answer herself. “Truly, every day is different,” she laughs over the phone. Teenage dirtbag biker chic one day, Beach Blanket Bingo the next. And since the New Jersey native moved to Nashville in 2021, cowboy boots have entered the equation. What can she say? “I’m really inspired by a theme,” Lockhart shares. “I’ll always choose fashion over function, even if it’s sometimes to my detriment.”
Lockhart was born with amniotic band syndrome — a condition she refers to simply as “a limb difference” — which led to her left arm not forming properly while she was in her mother’s womb. “It’s single-handedly been the biggest insecurity of my life,” Lockhart begins. “For years, I would hide my hand on social media and crop photos in such a way that people couldn’t notice my disability. That was a lot of emotional weight to carry around.”
So as her 2022 New Year’s resolution, Lockhart vowed to confront her fears and started the TikTok series “Normalizing Disabled Fashun Girlies.” The videos spotlight her whimsical sense of style and left an instant impression on the platform. Two years later, Lockhart has 40K followers, walked the runway for Victoria’s Secret’s adaptive line and become the poster child for disabled fashionistas everywhere.
“It’s always been about creating a positive community,” she shares. “I hope viewers smile and get inspired when they watch my content, but it’s more about viewing disabled people as normal. It’s as simple as scrolling through your feed and not thinking twice when you see someone who looks ‘different.’”
As such, Lockhart doesn’t feel the need to always advertise her limb difference. Sometimes she might speak directly about her condition, like when she jokes about getting discounts on manicures. And other times she’ll film a simple hair tutorial. As long as she’s promoting positivity, she considers it a win. “I can’t change the fact that I am disabled and will be for the rest of my life,” says Lockhart. “But I believe that everything happens for a reason — I was born this way for a reason: to help others.”
Below, April Lockhart shares her current favourite things.
Bottega Veneta Mini Hop
“This Bottega Veneta metallic bag has a tight grip on me. I love the use of mixed metals.”
D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What Eau de Parfum
“This perfume is my go-to. It’s actually a fragrance enhancer so it really smells different on everyone, but it has elements of bergamot and vetiver, and I constantly get compliments about it.”
Jenny Bird U-Link Earrings
“These U-Links are my holy grail. They’re perfect everyday earrings and so easy to pop on; they’re an alternative to the classic hoop.”
Tapestry by Carole King
“One of my all-time favourite albums is Carole King’s Tapestry. It instantly transports me to a quaint little East Coast town in my mind.”
Carel Kina pumps
“A pair of Mary Janes are high on my list this spring. I think the Kina Mary Janes in pastel pink would fit the balletcore aesthetic of my dreams.”
DIBS Desert Island Duo
“I love to be bronzy, and this one melts into my skin and makes me look like I just came back from vacation.”
Tanya Taylor Randi Coat
“Tanya Taylor makes some of my favourite jackets. I reach for the Randi Coat most in my closet because the tan and navy go with everything.”
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
“Everyone has read this book by now, but I loved it! I can’t stop thinking about how they need to turn it into a movie.”
This article first appeared in FASHION’s March 2024 issue. Find out more here.
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