Work With What You've Got

If you watch fashion makeover shows on TV or even just go sit and people watch at the mall, you notice an important fact.  People don't have to be skinny to look good in clothes.  And many skinny people actually look rather dumpy.  To look good in clothing, you just have to know what looks good on you.  And you have to make sure you are "put together." In my opinion, the right clothing can hide a multitude of oreos, a plethura of cheesecake, and pounds of ice cream.  This doesn't mean that we should partake regularly of these indulgences.  But this does mean that we should find the right clothing to hide them. I do believe that the right clothes can not only hide our flaws, but accentuate are assets.

Unfortunately, many women (of different sizes) think that they can hide their flaws through various methods.  These women seem to forget the concept of accentuating their assets. Instead, they utilize some worthless methods of hiding their flaws.  These methods don't work, but we've all seen (or have been) these women before:

• First, there are the women who wear the big tent-like dresses because they think they're doing themselves a favor.  Instead, they're making themselves into gigantic walking blobs of material--neither attractive or modest.  Just blobs. 

• Then there are the women who continually dress in black.  Hey, black's a slimming color, right?  I suppose when done correctly, black is very slimming.  But just wearing black makes a person look like a little Johnny Cash wannabe or maybe a Zoro fan.  But seriously, black is not the solution to size issues either.

• Some women dress in big t-shirts and jeans (or capris) because they figure the more androgynous they appear the less we'll notice their lumps.  Sadly, the only thing that we notice about this look is that you're sloppy.  Jeans and t-shirts are great around the house or when you're planning on moving dirt in your backyard.  But they don't say "I'm a woman" or "I think I'm pretty."  In my opinion, if you're not a man, don't dress like one.

• Other women think that wearing all the newest trends and styles will make up for their flaws.  Trust me, we've all done this.  But some fashion trends cannot be pulled off by all people effectively.  For example, I look taller and skinnier when I don't tuck my jeans into my boots.  I have short legs and boots make them look even shorter.  Even though I do occasionally do the "tuck," I have to be VERY careful with jeans and boots.

•  Lastly, there's the woman who thinks she can wear whatever she wants because nothing is going to make her look good.  Some of these women dress like 5 year olds in strange play clothes and bright colors.  Some think that the hoochie mama look is attractive.  And some think that eccentric means wearing whatever floats your boat.  (This is an insult to the eccentric people who actually look good.)  Unfortunately, not trying is worse than intentionally wearing all black or a tent--it just shows that you're not trying and don't care.

 So what are women supposed to do?  Well, for starters, we're supposed to try on clothes and see how they look.  If they flatter us, then we know we're on the right path.  If they make us shapeless or lumpy, we need to keep looking.  But most importantly, we need to embrace our bodies and dress our bodies for what they are.  If you're not a leggy 17 year old, then don't dress like you are.  And if you're not pregnant, then don't wear maternity-like clothes.

Just watch the Style network some Saturday night when they're doing makeovers on people and I think you'll be amazed to see that a good hair cut, color, and well-fitting clothes can make a woman attractive.  You don't have to have Angelina Jolie's body or Jessica Simpson's extensions to look good.  You just have to work with what you've got.  Don't give up on yourself.  And stop saying that you'll dress yourself when you've lost 10 lbs.  Do it now.

Don't believe me?  Check out some great makeovers: How Do I Look's Gallery.