It took me a while to come up with the title of this blog post - it's one of those I found difficult to sum up in just one snappy sentence (which most likely means this will be one of those posts that you get to the end of and just go 'huh?') but bear with me because I do have a point even if I may struggle to get it across succinctly.
So - 'Accepting That Clothes Won't Change My Body' - what does that mean? For a long time the way I've dressed hasn't been for the body I actually have, it's been for the body I wish I had. We're fed by the media from a young age that we should accentuate our best features and hide the ones we don't like so much, but we're also told what our best features should be so we often try and accentuate what we don't have. If you haven't guessed, I'm talking about boobs. Big boobs are portrayed as desirable, but don't worry if you don't have them because that's what a super padded push up bra is for so you can always pretend you have them right? That's generally what I've always done because I wanted them to be bigger. But you know what? They're not big and that's OK. It doesn't automatically make me undesirable. (Side note - if you do wear a super padded push up bra because it gives you confidence then go you, I'm merely saying that we shouldn't feel like we have to.)
Moving on to hiding the features we don't like so much, which brings me onto my legs. I am blessed with legs that are disproportionately short so therefore a little stumpy. Not quite the long, toned, and tanned ones of my dreams. So I've always tried to make them look thinner by cramping them into skinny jeans or hiding them under skirts.
The thing is, dressing my body a certain way doesn't make it look any different underneath and I've finally accepted that.We all have off days when it comes to body image, but I think in general I've come to accept mine. So it's time to stop dressing it as if it's something different. I'm waving goodbye to my push up bras and I'm wearing amazing wide legged trousers that actually, god forbid, make my legs look bigger than they are and that I wouldn't have dreamed of wearing before. I'm going to digress a little bit here just because I feel the need to tell you that I really really really love these trousers. They're like 'oh hey I look like a skirt, but I'm not I'm trousers and I'm polka dot and I'm super duper comfortable.' Excitable rant about my trousers over and let's get back to the point.
We should never be made to feel like our bodies aren't good enough just because they're not the desired 'norm' - what even is normal anyway? And we shouldn't feel pressured into making them look different to everyone on the outside because we think we should look a certain way. Because your body shouldn't look any certain way, it should look like you and you are beautiful.
This outfit looks so 'YOU' and I love it! :) I think when you love what you wear that shines through xxx
ReplyDeletewww.natalieleanne.com
Aw thank you so much Natalie I'm glad you think so! xx
DeleteI really agree with all of what you said. I used to buy lots of things because they were in fashion and everyone else was wearing them but now I just don't care and buy what I like!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day :)
Rosanna x
Rose's Rooftop
That's a great way to be Rosanna, I definitely have that attitude now :) xx
DeleteLovely post Amy and those trousers are so cute! I'm all for dressing exactly the way you want to and however makes you happy. I think we all put way too much pressure on ourselves to look a certain way x
ReplyDeleteJenny | Luxestyle
They're beaut aren't they! I definitely agree with that, thanks for reading lovely xx
DeleteGreat post. I LOVE the polka dot trousers.
ReplyDeleteGemma x
www.jacquardflower.uk
They're gorgeous aren't they, they'll be a summer staple! xx
DeleteVery well-written post as always! I have a small chest and used to wear padded bras, however as my obsessed with fitness grew and every night was 'have a washboard chest in lycra' night, I've 100% stopped caring haha. Really happy to hear you're embracing your body, Amy!
ReplyDeleteaglassofice.com x
So glad to hear you don't care anymore either Gabrielle, it's so liberating isn't it :) xx
DeleteI love those trousers and think they look great on you! I can definitely relate to this post. When I was younger I really wanted my body to be anything than what it was. I think what has helped me is to focus on what I like about my body and just wear whatever the heck I want to wear. Such a great post!
ReplyDeleteShann Eileen | www.shanneileen.com
Thank you so much! It's so liberating not caring isn't it! x
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