I am sure you have all heard of the saying “what’s right for her might not be right for me.” The majority of women are ready to apply this philosophy to everything from relationships to career choices, but opt out of applying it to their own body image. Throughout the years and many studies later, we have learned that women are generally their worst critics when it comes to body image and self esteem. According to a study in Glamour done by women for women, it was recorded that 97% of us have an average of 13 negative body image thoughts daily− nearly one for every hour. It is easy to blame the media that bombards us with size zero models on billboards, but at the end of the day, we are the ones pinching our ourselves in front of the mirror wishing we didn’t have the extra weight on our face, butts, thighs, mid-section and anywhere else we think it is unacceptable to have extra girth.
Another factor that doesn’t help our situation is that we are in the age of “fix this, tuck that.” All we have to do is raise the money to “buy” our way skinny. Didn’t anyone ever think of the alternatives such as investing the money that would have gone towards that liposuction surgery into paying for a gym membership or better yet, learn to love, live, and work with what you have. Bottom line, it’s not that we have been dealt with an unworkable circumstance; we just need to learn to accept our body types for what they are and if warranted, take reasonable strides towards making modest changes, such as losing weight to keep away from health risks such as high cholesterol and diabetes. An additional change that no one thinks about, but contributes to “looking fat” is wearing clothes that don’t compliment your body type such as jean, bra and even shoe sizes that are either two sizes too small or big. It’s these fashion mistakes that give off the appearance of having extra weight than what you are really working with or in contrast, a “deflated look.” Below are prime examples of these well-known faux pas that most if not all of us have fallen victim to.\
In the end, the best fashion tip anyone can offer is to love yourself for who you are and what you were born with. Confidence is key and if you have it or lack it, everyone will take notice. Keep your heads up ladies and stride forward!
3 Common Mistakes and Solutions
Mistake: Picking jeans a few sizes too small gives you a “muffin top” appearance.
Solution: Who cares if you’re a size 8? Wearing the right size pants is more important than pretending to be a size 2. Buy a pair that has stretch that will compliment your curves.
Mistake: Spillage does not equal clevage!
Solution: For extra push-up, invest in Victoria Secret’s Miraculous Bra. For around $50, you will instantly obtain up to two cup sizes. Also, make sure you take advantage of getting measured at the store.
Mistake: Squeezing into high heals can cause ugly side effects such as blisters, hammer-toes, and bunions.
Solution: Wear shoes that are your size a width not only for comfort, but for the overall health of your feet.