Some friendly fashionista advice

As a woman, there are few times in my life I will admit to being wrong. Also, if you ask me about it, I’ll deny it faster than Miley Cyrus’s body suit rejected her booty. However, I feel more than obligated to share my recent experience with my readers, because I know I’m not the only one that has went through this, and even worse I know I won’t be the last.

My parents taught me a lot of life lessons. Some things stuck, some didn’t. The whole “inside voice” thing obviously, well… you know. However, teaching me to love myself for who I am has always stayed with me. That is, until recently.

I once read that when a woman says she has nothing to wear it’s because she doesn’t know who she wants to be that day. First of all can I just say “hashtag: so true” to that? Secondly, I have been morally torn between loving that quote and being disgusted by it. I love clothes, I love shopping, and there’s no sound in the world I love more than that little click a price tag makes when you pull it off your new clothes.  On the other hand, I absolutely despise how one piece of clothing can turn your love for yourself and the way you look into total disgust. Whether it’s a little tilt of the head in the dressing room where you question how in the world one shirt can bring out so many imperfections in three seconds or if it’s as dramatic as the “Tina the talking tummy” incident in “White Chicks.” Regardless, we’ve all done it.  Clothes don’t define the kind of person you are. The way clothes look on you does not define your worth. The most insecure, selfish, awful person can look good in clothes.

I ask: why? Why do we expect something to look the same on every body type? Why do we expect one specific body type? And more importantly why is there such a desire to make others feel inadequate for looking the way they do? The answer is because we let it happen.

The answer seems so simple, yet it continues to be a problem. I personally continue to let it be a problem, recently more than ever. However, I’m making a promise to myself to end it now, and I think you should too.  I have curves. I always have, I always will. You know why? Because I love cheesecake.

To my beautiful readers, I ask you to cut out, screenshot, or retype this next paragraph and put it somewhere you can see it everyday.

You are uniquely you.

You do not have to look like the girl on the magazine. That girl doesn’t even look like the girl in the magazine.

You are strong – strong enough to love yourself.

And lastly, happiness comes from within, as does beauty. Let what is within radiate out of every part of you.

Readers, be great today. Tell someone they look nice. Tell yourself you look nice today, and mean it. Be in love with your life – every second of it. And for goodness sake, be happy! It’s almost Friday!

Sometimes it’s hard for even me to remember that, and to those that helped me through the past week I send my sincerest thank you.