Do you dress for your body?

Over the last several months, my eating disorder, digestion, and bloating have improved. With those positive improvements, there are still things that need to be changed or fixed. I am working with my GP to figure out what is going on and get referred to the appropriate specialist if needed.

I have put on some weight and my energy levels have dipped to a new low. The excess weight has put a strain on my mental health and body dysmorphia recovery. I created some Post-it notes to remind me that this is a recovery process and will take time to heal and determine the root cause.

This is nutrients

Food is not the enemy

You are healing

This is a process

Not fitting into most of my clothing brought my confidence down. I felt so frumpy wearing super baggy clothes to hide my body. After some thought and discussions with some of my support system, the solution was to buy a new wardrobe. I had a limited budget on what I could get so I decided to go with staple pieces I could mix and match with what did still fit with my current wardrobe.

Changing my attire felt great. I chose six tops and three bottoms. 1 pair of jeans and 2 pairs of dress pants. I chose 4 solid blouses and 2 printed tops for a splash occasionally. With a good base for my new wardrobe, I went through my closet and donated everything that did not fit anymore. This left about ½ my wardrobe.

The clean-out of my closet felt great. It was very refreshing to have a more minimalistic feel in that space. Inviting and inspiring to mix and match my pieces into several different outfits. I already had plenty of cardigans, blazers, and jackets to layer over tops to go from office to night outfits.

To spruce things up you can always accessorize. Bracelets, belts, necklaces, earrings, or rings are a great way to add some sparkle or splash to any outfit. I personally like pieces that can be mixed with multiple outfits, so I go for the classics like gold, silver, or pearls. I have a minimalistic approach to accessories because that is my aesthetic but if this is your jam have as many as you like.

Do not forget your bag! Now here is one of my addictions. Having the perfect bag to go with your outfit pulls it all together just like those accessories. My biggest addiction is SHOES. OOOO the shoe is what really pulls the outfit together for me. I love them all from pumps to flats. My wonderful husband knows how important my shoes are to my wardrobe, so he built me an entire shoe shelf on one wall of my closet.

Another thing I do when switching up my wardrobe is however many pieces I bring in I must get rid of as a bare minimum. I also look at all pieces and donate if I do not feel comfortable, cute, or worn in over 6 months. This approach keeps your closet from getting overloaded with items you never wear just collecting dust. This goes for your accessories, shoes, and bags as well.

How do you dress for your body?

Find out your body shape and what styles work for your body.

Apple-shaped bodies, flaunt your legs in flared pants and elongate your torso with V-shaped necklines.

Pear-shaped bodies, flatter your gorgeous curves with straight-leg pants and structured, shoulder-enhancing tops.

Straight-shaped bodies, show off your amazing arms and legs with ruffled tops, skinny jeans, and figure-hugging skirts.

Hourglass figures, emphasize your cinched-in waist with figure-hugging silhouettes, A-line dresses, and V-shaped necklines.

Measure your bust, waist, and hips to determine your body type.

You’re likely apple-shaped if your shoulders are wider than your hips.

Wear V-shaped necklines and flared pants if you’re apple-shaped. Choose flared pants over straight-leg or skinny jeans to balance out your wider shoulders and heavier upper body. Wearing bottoms just below your hip bone also helps draw attention away from your midriff. If there are features on your body that you want to diminish, wear dark colors like black and navy blue.

You’re probably pear-shaped if your hips are wider than your bust.

Accentuate your upper body with structured shirts if you’re pear-shaped. Choose shirts and dresses that have ruffles, pleats, and ties at the top to draw focus to your top half. Pants or tights that narrow your legs, like skinny and very flared jeans, can emphasize your bottom half even more. If you want to create more balance in your figure, avoid these styles.

If your hips, waist, and bust are equal, you may have a straight body.

Wear voluminous tops and skinny jeans if you have a straight body type. Go for shirts and dresses with ruffles and frills to add texture, volume, and femininity to your figure. Wearing straight or baggy clothing on both your bottom and top can give you a more shapeless look. If you want to create a definition with this body type, stay away from these styles.

You’re likely an hourglass shape if your hips and bust are the same sizes.

Emphasize your waist with figure-hugging styles if you’re an hourglass. Draw attention to your waist with belts and accessories that pinch at the midsection. This also helps emphasize your curvy top and bottom. Boxy and shapeless clothing tends to hide your hourglass shape. If you want to emphasize your curves, avoid these styles.

Hopefully, this helps you feel better in your body and gives you the necessary tips to dress for your body shape to rock those outfits with confidence and class.

~ Tina