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
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