Aberdeen Uni's Fashion Society for the style savvy student. Don't let the name fool you, we are not 6 foot and read Vogue like the Bible. We like to stay on top of the latest trends in music, art, design and fashion. It's our mission to make Aberdeen just that little bit more fun!

Thursday 8 November 2012

Confidence Is The New Black



The best fashion tip I have ever stumbled upon and one that I believe is a proverb for every woman, is that confidence is the essential fashion statement . Forget the LBD, forget the comfy yet sexy wedge, and forget the jacket that is perfect for lunch with the girls, yet accessorise it and it magically transforms into evening wear. Confidence has altered my wardrobe more than any fashion icon, seasonal trend or style phase. It can be worn with anything and it affects your outlook on life, your attitude, and the way others respond to you.


As a teenager I was painfully aware of my flaws. I believed my big bum and short stumps for legs were the bane of my existence. My dreams of ever being able to be the next Kate Moss, reach the top shelve in a supermarket, or be referred to as willowy were shattered. The main objective of my wardrobe was to hide the existence of the parts of me I regarded as flawed. This resulted in me running a mile from the words 'skinny fit' or 'body-con', just the thought of getting my bare legs out made me so nervous I had to reapply my deodorant. I tried to keep my colossal backside and amputee legs a secret, and I would stare with envy at girls who had long, lean legs up to their armpits. My mum apologized to me for my genetic misfortune. Then one fateful day when I had just started University, a friend told me I had a good bum. I was immediately confused how a bum big enough to lift weights, could ever be a good thing, yet another friend confirmed comparing it to Beyonce (that was a good day). These compliments made me consider the possibility that the parts of me I loathed, could be traits that others envied. In the same way I would look at my tall friends with rage wishing they could give me some of their height, I discovered that they wished to be petite like me. It also helped that I got into a relationship with a guy who loved my curves and genuinely appreciated my body. This led me to the realization that while I wasn't ever going to be featured on the front cover of Vogue or be mistaken for Emma Watson, my body wasn’t actually that bad. After all it made me unique, flaws and all.


The positive impact from the people around me made a massive effect on my confidence and my wardrobe. My weight hadn’t changed but the way I felt about myself had. I started wearing tighter clothes emphasizing that previously concealed bum. I realized this suited me much more than baggy chinos, which made it look like I was hiding a small child in my trousers. Wearing baggy attire did nothing for my figure except make people question whether I was pregnant or not. Slowly I changed my attitude, you could now tell that I liked my body a lot more as I was no longer petrified of showing off what I had, but I was even celebrating my body. I’m not trying to say to look good you need to wear tight fitted clothes, but I do strongly believe to look good people need to see that you are comfortable within yourself. This might mean accepting your imperfections as opposed to viewing them in the same way one might view an STD, something to be hidden from the world, a dirty secret, and definitely not stylish. Accepting my body and changing my attitude instantly seemed to make myself look and feel better. I realized if I wear my body with confidence and accept it, others will too. You portray yourself as who you want to be and people believe that persona. Your worst feature, guaranteed is another woman’s envy. So accept yourself because you can't trade places. Embrace a confident you and see how it affects your life. People will notice the confidence, no matter how bad your love handles are or how your thighs jiggle. Trust me on this one.





Hayley Anderson