Few things make me sadder than seeing the look of despair on the face of a middle aged woman who has completely let herself go.
You know who I’m talking about, the woman who has given up caring about her appearance because of weight gain, hormone issues, a divorce, poor health, lack of finances or the stress caused by one or a combination of all these issues. She has lost her sense of style because most likely, she has lost her sense of self.
Often times, this happens, because we’ve allowed ourselves to get so far down in a rut that we simply don’t have the desire to spend the time and energy needed to properly dress or groom ourselves. It becomes easier to just dress for comfort because we’ve convinced ourselves that we’re too fat, too old, too broke or just too tired to try and be stylish. “I mean, I’m still a great person. It’s just clothing. Right?”
WRONG!
Yes, you may still be a great person under the sweat pants and t-shirts, but giving up on your appearance is not just a clothing issue. It’s a self-esteem issue that has the potential to lead to depression, marriage problems, and work performance. Study after study has shown that people who dress better, feel better about themselves and they perform better in all areas of their life.
I’m going to discuss some of the reasons why many women have the “why bother” attitude and then offer some inspiration on how to look at it differently.
*I’m too fat to look good in the latest fashions so why bother.
Well for starters, who says you have to wear the latest fashions to be stylish?
Sometimes the latest fashions aren’t that flattering on any body type, much less every body type.
As we age and our bodies change, it’s more important than ever to dress for the shape of our body, NOT the latest trend. Sure, when you’re a size four and have no boobs or butt, you can wear almost anything. However, if you’re in the two digits and are blessed with curves, that’s not the case.
You have to learn to accentuate your positive assets and draw attention away from your less than perfect ones. An example of this for me is the dreaded skinny jeans…it ain’t happen’n!
I’m too old to try and look stylish.
You are never too old to be stylish!
I love when I see an older woman, 50+, who knows how to combine the latest trend with classic style.
I don’t even know what my style is.
If this is your reason, it’s only because you have neglected yourself for too long and have put no effort into looking for clothes that fit your personality. We all have a style and when effort is given, any style can look great.
My suggestion is to start looking at different fashion websites, Nordstroms, Dillards, Old Navy, JCPenny, Pinterest, etc. and figure out which outfits appeal to you and then save the images in a file.
(Pinterest.com is s great site for collecting and saving everything from fashion, hairstyles to recipes and DIY projects.)
In time you will start to see a pattern. You’ll see that most of your images will have many of the same elements, such as jeans and a blousy top, or fitted, button up shirts with cropped pants, maxi skirts with t-shirts, etc.
THIS is YOUR style!!!
Save the images in your phone and when you’re out shopping, look for pieces that are similar to what you love.
I’m too broke to be fashionable.
You don’t need a lot of money to look great!
If you do as I suggested, in finding your style, you can find pieces that fit into your budget.
Many times, I have found an outfit on a high-end clothing website that cost $200 or more.
(I love fashion, but I’m not spending $200 on one single outfit!)
So what I do is find similar pieces from more affordable stores and create the same look for under $100 and sometimes for under $50!
Another affordable tip is to purchase a few key pieces and mix and match. It’s called “capsule wardrobe”. Google it!
The bottom line is this…
When you look great, you feel great! No matter your age, size, or economic status.
When you take the time to invest in your appearance, it tells the people around you that you care about yourself. And when you care about yourself and exude confidence, you will be more respected.
That may sound superficial and unfair, but it doesn’t make it less true. We live in a society that values appearance.
Besides that, finding your personal style, learning what looks good on you and playing dress up is FUN! It makes leaving the house for work or play, more enjoyable because you’re going out with the confidence of knowing you have put forth the effort in looking good.
This confidence will show all over your face and will spill over into every part of your life!
Please, TRUST ME on this one!!!