The tactics behind Zara McDermott's ‘pea-podding' style & how she uses it to snare A-list men with ‘established brands'

The Irish Sun

22-04-2025

BREAKING cover for the first time since the rumours of her and Louis began, Zara ditched her glam frocks and bouncy blow-dry for, erm, joggers.
The 28-year-old was spotted outside the exclusive,
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Zara, 28, is regularly seen in a glam frock and bouncy blow dry
Credit: Instagram
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She ditched this look for joggers when breaking cover for the first time since the rumours of her and Louis began
Credit: BackGrid
So, why for their first sighting at such a popular venue where eyes are always watching, did Zara opt for her scuffs?
Don't get me wrong, some days we just want to be comfy and can't be bothered to put on a posh outfit.
However, Zara usually does - and, even more oddly, she's dressing just like One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, 32.
Just a few weeks ago when she was 'single', Zara was posting looks from various events, like for the Brits in March
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And in February, while in Thailand
She looked incredible and really nailed that sexy, single style - and good for her.
However, if we go right back to the start and her time with then Love Island love rat, Adam Collard in 2018, we'll notice her style was in tune with him then.
It seems the
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'Zara's dating style is what's called 'Pea-podding', which is where one partner switches up their own body language, clothing choices and even verbal techniques to create a 'peas in a pod' complimentary mirror-image of the other,' explains body language expert Judi James.
'Chameleon dressing and behaviours can be a powerful technique when it comes to flirting and attracting a mate.
Zara McDermott and Louis Tomlinson: Public Kiss Sparks Romance Rumors
'Postural and gestural echoing can give the impression a guy has met his soul mate, someone who moves and dresses alike and must therefore share similar tastes, thoughts, opinions and experiences and equal the perfect match.
'Being 'like-bodied' suggests someone is 'like-minded' and so instant rapport can occur.
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'Then there's the PR advantage for celebrity matches as this 'Pea-podding' will make a couple look good together, especially in selfies and social media videos.'
Judi adds: "But when it's only one partner doing the switch-up, as Zara seems to do , it can imply other factors.
"It suggests
Geordie Phwoar
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Zara and Adam Collard met and began dating during the fourth series of Love Island in 2018
Credit: Getty
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During this era, she wore a lot of crop-top and micro short co-ords, mini dresses and eye-catching prints
Credit: Getty
Zara and
They coupled up on the show and their relationship continued outside the villa for eight months.
Fresh out of the reality show sunshine, the pair would be seen at festivals, on TV appearances and dinner dates, with Zara wearing crop top and micro short co-ords, lace mini dresses and a lot of eye-catching prints.
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The pair were the visual merging of Essex and Newcastle, but at 22 years old then, who can blame her for making a few style mistakes? We've all been there but these looks were very much of that era.
This was an era for capturing and retaining camera attention, and not 'rejecting' it like her sombre grey trackie cos-play with Louis. Her beaming, gleaming smiles show an air of shared excitement with the peacocking Adam
Judi James
'This was an era for capturing and retaining camera attention, and not 'rejecting' it like her sombre grey trackie cos-play with Louis,' comments Judi.
'Her beaming, gleaming smiles show an air of shared excitement with the peacocking Adam.
"Meanwhile, her choices of bright colours and as many frills as you can stitch onto one dress mirrored attention-seeking, extrovert tendencies like Adam's.
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'Her posture still retained the doll-like glamour look of Love Island, with the beauty queen trick of the angled pelvis and one bent knee that created a 'Barbie and Ken' synchronicity for their poses together.'
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Zara embraced the 'clean-girl' aesthetic and toned down her look when dating Sam Thompson
Credit: Instagram/zara_mcdermott
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'This look is all about sensible clothing, bare-faces, and the kind of glowing skin that only comes from expensive facials," says Judi James
Credit: Instagram/@zara_mcdermott
Zara began dating Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson in May 2019, with the pair calling time on their relationship in December last year.
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At the beginning of their relationship, amid their dramatic storylines on Made in Chelsea, Sam even asked Zara to wear less make-up, saying he preferred a natural look.
In a dramatic throwdown on the show, after they went on a break as she filmed X Factor: Celebrity, she told him: 'I felt like the last six months I've done everything I can to be this perfect girl you wanted me to be.
'I loved how I looked, I loved how much make-up I wore, I loved my hair, I loved all of that. And then when I started seeing you…
As a Made In Chelsea wifey to Sam, Zara matched his taste for subtle Chelsea chic, with the inevitable designer jeans topped with regulation tailored, unisex jackets to avoid any suggestion of looking too desperate in terms of sex appeal
Judi James
'If you don't want me to feel like that you shouldn't say things like 'I don't like what you're wearing, don't like your makeup, don't like your hair'.'
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Despite not liking his advice, she did embrace modern beauty trends of the 'clean-girl' aesthetic and tone down her look.
'As a Made In Chelsea wifey to Sam, Zara matched his taste for subtle Chelsea chic,' Judi comments.
'With the inevitable designer jeans topped with regulation tailored, unisex jackets to avoid any suggestion of looking too desperate in terms of sex appeal.
'This look is all about sensible clothing, bare-faces, and the kind of glowing skin that only comes from expensive facials.'
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Zara still wore some statement outfits during their high-profile relationship
Credit: Instagram
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Zara also embraced 'clean girl' beauty trends while dating Sam
Credit: Social Media - Refer to source
That being said, she still wore statement outfits.
Be it on holiday with Sam or on the red carpet at premieres of the Brit Awards, her style standards didn't slip - always immaculate and well put together.
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Zara did have her dress down moments with Sam, of course after a five-year relationship, and she did wear a lot of trainers, but maybe to match Sam's height?
Something she might be doing with Louis too as she chose flatter than flat flip flops.
Is there a pattern? Clearly.
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Zara adapts her style to where and who she is with for that period of time, so perhaps Louis will be her laid-back era? A sign that she's found someone she can be her natural self with.
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But seeing as this is their first picture together, aside from The Sun exclusive pics from their dinner date in Suffolk where Zara appeared to be wearing a strapless, red corset style top, we'll have to watch this space.
'Zara's recent displays with Louis showed a sharp up-switch to meet his 'A-lister' profile,' comments Judi.
'The world of the A-list pop star is all about understatement. Louis would have spent much of his career hiding from mobs of cameras and unwanted press attention and dressing down to signal no need to make any effort, even at the swankiest venues.
Zara's recent displays with Louis showed a sharp up-switch to meet his 'A-lister' profile. She appears wearing the same slightly cynical and even reluctant look for the cameras that she has previously been chasing
Judi James
'So, suddenly Zara appears wearing the same slightly cynical and even reluctant look for the cameras that she has previously been chasing.
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'Her baggy grey trackie bottoms are teamed with flip-flops and her hair is pulled back in a couple of grips.
'At one point, she even folds her arms in a barrier gesture suggesting a desire to hide from the cameras.
'All this was clearly music to Louis's ears and eyes as he has now found an 'A-list' mate that will share his love of the rule than minimum effort suggests maximum star status.'
Who is the real Zara?
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The real Zara can probably be seen in the pics she chooses for Instagram posts where she is posing alone, Judi James suggests
Credit: Instagram
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This is Zara showing the highest levels of confidence signalling, adopting a 'goddess' look
Credit: instagram/zara_mcdermott
The real Zara can probably be seen in the pics she chooses for Instagram posts where she is posing alone with no-one to mimic, Judi suggests.
This is Zara showing the highest levels of confidence signalling, adopting a 'goddess' look with her perfect styling and her elegantly sexual poses.
The body language expert notes: 'Her outfits on Instagram are glamorous but also designer-looking.
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'There are attention-seeking details like feathers or sequins and these poses suggest that when she is away from peacocking males she is more than comfortable doing some female forms of peacocking herself.
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'It's an emphatically assured look with a strong suggestion of independence and power.
'And it could even shock some of the guys she's been mirroring during relationships.'