Dressing to Flatter Yourself

"This makes me look fat."

"I'm too tall to find anything long enough."

"I'm so petite; everything swallows me whole."

We're girls. We have insecurities. That's just the way things are. And more often than not, clothing seems to play on those insecurities and make us feel worse. Most girls are unsatisfied with their bodies for one reason or another. 

But you don't have to give in to pressure to conform to every trend. Just because something is trending and everyone else is wearing it doesn't mean you have to. 

I'm going to repeat that because it's very important:

JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS TRENDING AND EVERYONE ELSE IS WEARING IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO. 

A lot of girls feel that they are overweight. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of if you are plus sized. There is a way to dress that will flatter your body, though. Skintight clothes are not the answer, however.

If you are plus sized, here is a good example of how to dress:

Always look for something that accentuates the smallest part of your waist, rather than your midsection. Rouching, flare, and ruffles are often good ways to flatter your body. 

Or maybe you're short. I am rather vertically challenged myself, so I can speak to this on a personal level. Here's what not to wear if you are short:

Maybe at first glance, there's nothing wrong with this outfit. But let me pick it apart for you. First of all, I would not leave the sweater untucked. It hides most of the skirt, giving somewhat of a stumpy look. Next, if you're going with a flowy top, try a more form fitting bottom, and vice versa. Too much flowy just makes a short girl look wide. Lastly,

if you want your leg line to appear longer, don't wear black flats and black tights. A great trick is to wear tights and heels of the same color, and it gives the illusion of a longer leg line. This doesn't mean you have to wear high heels all of the time. A wedged bootie like this one is a versatile and adorable option:

Just for reference, here's a great alternative to the outfit above:

Notice the tucked top, heels, and contrast of the loose skirt to the slightly more form fitting blouse. 

See? You can dress to flatter your body. Look for part two of this post soon!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Okay, so one of the hardest things to do is dress for the weather in the winter. Sometimes you feel like you have to pile on the layers just to keep warm, and then you end up feeling like this kid:

But there is a way to layer without resembling s'more filler. Try a cardigan, leggings, maybe even a scarf:

But we might want to have a chat about leggings. A pretty hot topic these days is "LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS!" I've even seen a flow chart to help you determine if you're wearing pants or leggings. 

This doesn't mean, however, that leggings are forbidden. I love leggings! But I would recommend following two very basic rules when wearing leggings:

Rule #1: Make sure they cover your rear end. Do not be this girl:

Rule #2: If they look painted on, no. Just no. Don't be this girl, either:

Also be wary of Leggings' tricky cousin, Tights. Tights are kind of deceiving, because you think "Hey, I'm wearing tights, so it doesn't matter how short my dress/skirt is since my legs are covered!" Not true. A VERY simple rule for tights is, if what you're wearing over it is too short to wear without tights, it's too short to wear with tights. 

Also, don't wear tights with booty shorts:

But back to leggings. What CAN you wear with them? Two of my favorites are the tunic and the oversized sweater:

And don't forget the importance of a good coat. Don't mismatch styles and coats- don't wear a raincoat with a dress or a dressy coat with sweatpants. Be careful matching colors, also. That's why a good, neutral colored coat is important. It will rarely clash with the rest of your outfit. Here's a lovely, neutral pea coat that you could rock with jeans or a dressier ensemble:

So in conclusion, winter doesn't have to be an obstacle for fashion! You just have to be smart about it. Thanks for reading!

Getting started!

Hi, internet!

Okay, I must admit, I've never blogged before (so bear with me.) 

I'm going to be writing about fashion, but not the "This Is How to Be Sexy and Attract Guys" kind of fashion. It's more of "How to be a Lady and Attract Respect. But Still Look Fabulous." Sometimes it seems like fashion is at two extremes: skanky hooker clothes, and shapeless garments that look like they came from the nineteenth century. Or the eighties.

But there is hope! You can be feminine without baring skin. And you can be modest without borrowing from your grandma's closet. 

For a Christian girl, fashion doesn't have to be off limits. But there are some guidelines to follow, and that's why I'm here! Hopefully, I can share what I know with you, and it will help you in some way.

I'm so excited to be starting this journey with you. Look for my next post soon!