The Power of Clothing

It’s truly amazing the power that clothes can have on your self-esteem, confidence, mood, and attitude.

I know, I know, appearances shouldn’t matter.  But unfortunately we all live in a world based on appearances.  Which, to a certain extent, I understand, because when you first meet someone that really is all that you have to go on to make an opinion.  And you know, the human race is all about judgment.

I’ve really noticed lately how my mood/attitude can change based on what I’m wearing, and I find it really interesting.

I can put my clothes into categories:

• When I was at my highest weight, I had clothes that (somewhat) fit.  That’s it.  It rarely was a factor of buying and wearing clothes that I loved.  Hopefully my friends didn’t think that I actually loved some of the hideous things I used to wear.  Occasionally, I would find something that both fit and that I did like/love, but it was rare.  If I tried it on, it mostly fit, didn’t show every roll, and was a reasonable price, then I would get it.  Really, that was all the choice that I had. 
• I still have clothes now that I only kind of like.  They’re all right.  They’re ones that I mostly got for the previous reasons – still stuck in that same mindset, I guess.  Some days I feel good in them; some days I don’t.
• Lately, a new category has opened up.  Clothes that I simply adore.

I’ve mentioned recently about how much I enjoy clothes shopping now (for the most part).  Last week, I wrote about my shopping expedition.  I went to several stores, but the two places where I bought things were the Burlington Coat Factory (great deals!) and JC Penney.  I did, honestly, begin to feel like a little kid in a toy store, rushing from rack to rack.  There were so many possibilities!  And, for the first time in my life, I wasn’t confined to one tiny little area.  The clothes just seemed to go on and on, as far as the eye could see.

Unfortunately, I still can’t wear everything I see.  Due to my extra skin issues, I have to be really careful about the things I can wear.  It’s really frustrating when you try things on, and there are certain things I know not to even pick up.  You might try on a shirt, ever hopeful, and while it fits perfectly through the chest/middle, your arms look hideous.  Welcome to my world.  You’d think I’d be used to it by now.  When I weighed a lot more, I would actually have to buy shirts several sizes too big to fit my arms.  Luckily, the more I lose, the less that is a problem.  I’ve actually been able to buy shirts that are pretty close to the size I should be wearing.  But while I still have some shopping struggles, the possibilities that have opened up are astonishing.

And so, I’ve instated a new rule of my own.  No more buying a clothing garment unless I’m in love with it.  This has been my policy for quite a while now, and I’ve stuck to it fairly well.  It’s also cut down on the money I’d spend on wasted clothes.  I would buy something, feeling merely okay about it, wear it once, and then decide I look terrible in it.  And onto a hanger it would go, never to be seen from again.

Last week, I bought three new suits for work.  I’ve only worn two so far, but I’ve gotten compliments on both.  I’m hoping they weren’t just being nice, but these people don’t compliment me on everything I wear, so I’m going to assume they were sincere.  To bring this all back around to the point of why I’m writing this, these new suits make me feel amazing.  Regardless of how others might see me, I feel like I look good.  And isn’t that really all that matters?  When I wear these, I feel my self-confidence soar like I’m on top of the world.  I must be odd, because I’m one of those rare people that actually likes to get dressed up.  Of course, I’m glad that my work is mostly business casual and that I don’t have to every day, but it’s fun sometimes.

So, my advice for the day:  If you don’t have an outfit that you feel stunning in, an outfit that makes you feel invincible, then go out and buy one!  I guarantee that it will do wonders for you.

PS - if I can find someone to take pics this weekend, I’ll post pictures of the new suits.