DON'T WAIT TILL YOU LOSE WEIGHT, START DRESSING FOR THE WOMAN YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT NOW
Are you waiting to lose weight before investing in your signature style? I am here to tell you it is the worst idea ever.
I know, I know. Until you're ten, fifteen, or twenty pounds lighter than you are now, you refuse to buy the dress, shop for new jeans, or even consider walking by your favorite store.
Instead, you prefer to wear dull leggings and an oversized sweater, feeling miserable about yourself, while imagining how amazing you'll look when you're closer to your goal weight and rocking your leaner, sexier, more confident body.
Trust me, I get it because I have been there. I have gone through heavier phases, where I didn't even want to get dressed, let alone venture out and buy new clothes.
I’m here to tell you, that what you intend to do is not a good idea. Here is the thing: your style is one of the most overlooked, easy-to-implement self-development tools out there — because assuming you don’t live on a lonely island, you already have to get dressed every single day.
What you wear directly impacts how you feel, think, and act (or don't act). Your mindset and style are intertwined. Scientists refer to this as Enclothed Cognition. What you feel informs how you show up, your actions, and ultimately the results you get. In other words, when opportunity knocks, don't be in your sweatpants!
Your mindset and style are intertwined. What you wear directly impacts how you feel, think, and act (or don't act).
Here are my top three reasons why you should never put off investing in your style and new clothes because of weight-related issues.
1. Learning to dress the body you have now will teach you the skills you need to dress your body at any size
It's important to have clothes that fit and make you feel good, even - or maybe especially - when your body is not where you want it to be. Learn to dress your body NOW, and you will have the skills to dress your body at any size or shape.
Practically speaking, there are many ways to avoid quickly sizing out of something. Make sure you buy pieces made of spandex that can shrink and grow as you do. Try the oversized trend that can accommodate your body (and look great) even as it changes. Get familiar with the idea of making alterations to clothing that no longer fits.
2. Dressing in nice clothes is proof of your own worth
We tend to justify wearing faded, tattered clothing when our body does not look the way we want. The logic? "I am bad for being this weight, so I don’t deserve to wear nice things or take any pride in my clothing choices." Truth is, you deserve to feel good about yourself at any size or shape.
Tying your self-worth to superficial measures is a vicious cycle because your body shape and size are inevitably going to fluctuate over time. One relatively simple first step to breaking this cycle is wearing something beautiful. Make yourself feel fabulous, stylish, and fierce, however, that may look for you. Changing how you feel about yourself will ultimately change how you think, act and show up in life.
3. Finding your signature style and owning it will increase your confidence and stop you from feeling like shit about yourself.
Having clothes that don't fit you makes you feel awful about yourself. Every time you put on clothing that's too tight, constricting, or doesn't fit now, you'll feel horrible about yourself and your body. Plain and simple.
Wearing clothes that look good on you NOW - not ten pounds from now - will send a statement to yourself and to the world. Fashion bloggers and Instagram stars are proof that there are no size limits to looking fabulous, just look at @sarinanovak, @nadiaaboulhosn or @tessholliday.
Confidence is the only factor that determines whether you can "pull off" a particular style, so dress for the woman you want to be. Make a list of the styles you would wear if you had your "ideal body," and then pick a few to incorporate into your current wardrobe.
