Body image& fashion.

I’m not skinny, but I’m not fat either—I’m just about average (5’7, 135). I literally gained the freshman 15 when I went to college, but I didn’t fully appreciate my body back then, either—not that I ever thought I was fat, but that I could stand to get more toned. Being very thin was never an ideal for me (not that those women aren’t beautiful), and I’m actually happier with some curves.

I’m definitely body-conscious when it comes to choosing appropriate clothes, so in that sense I wear clothes to ‘hide insecurities’—but who doesn’t do that? unless they don’t know what they’re doing or it’s some trend, people don’t dress in purposely unflattering clothing. I know what clothes I look good in, and I stick to that.

Not everyone is happy with their body due to how the media presents how a woman “should” look.
And of course I’m one of the insecure girls out there. I’m 19 years old, 5’4" and weigh about 105lbs. I really really hate my weight because I feel like I’m too skinny, especially my legs. I eat a lot but never seem to gain weight, I just jump around from 100-105lbs. And I’m also those type of girls that don’t really have curves. I’m like a size one in jeans and sometimes its difficult to find jeans that actually fit my skinny legs(they literally look like toothpicks) so sometimes my grandma has to sew my jeans from the knee down.
So what I do to “hide” these insecurities (not being happy with my weight, my skinny legs, and having no curves), is i just wear light colored jeans. I try to stay away from black ones because they make me look skinnier and when I wear tights, I sometimes wear two pairs of them. I know it sounds ridiculous but this is how the media has most girls: insecure.

Being a woman who has had a child and has watched my body completely change, I have become more and more aware of how the media and society favor thinner girls. I don’t find myself fat by any means, (although I could stand to lose a few pounds), but through blogging, I have found that people tend to phrase their comments differently to those who are not a small size. For instance, “you dress so well for your figure” or a recent tweet I read that said, “how to dress for your plus sized figure.”

Why is it that skinny girls automatically know how to dress, but bigger girls don’t? Why do they need a lesson in how to know if something looks good on them? It’s because the media has told us that clothes don’t look right on girls with a butt, hips, or boobs.

I actually feel more confident in my body now more than ever, and I honestly don’t mind how people describe me. I think it’s sad, that I have to be placed in the “bigger” category, but obviously people’s minds won’t be changed over night.

Sorry, I know that probably didn’t answer your question. I dress for the way I feel. I like to feel pretty in what I wear so my style is very girly and feminine. It makes me feel confident and ladylike. If I do try to “minimize” anything, it would be my chest area because that grew two cup sizes from having a baby! I think after many years, I’ve honed in on what looks good on me whether I’m a size 6 or size 10.

thankyou for all your responses :)

This is a great question!

I am on the thicker side, I’m 5’7 (almost 5’8") and about 160 lbs. Admittedly, my figure is pretty curvacious, I do have a pretty flat tummy but my thighs and butt are huge. I get complimented on them all the time. In this day and age I think its something that most women are supposed to be proud of, but It does still make me feel a little self concious. Its also annoying. When I go out guys will immediately comment on my body type. I guess the video viixen look is in, but I’d be much more appeased by “Oh my gosh, you have a beautiful smile” as aposed to “girl you got the wagon” aka huge booty.

As for my body affecting the way I dress, I think that I am proud of my curves. I do kind of follow a rule I got from the kardashian konfidentials, I usually give a little boob, or a little leg if I want to show skin, but not both at the same time. I always did that anyways. I also like to keep a loose/flowing system of checks and balances. Too loose all around and you’ll be sporting the mary kate and ashley vagabond look. Too tight all around and we’re back to the video vixen look.

I dont compare my body to others, I was taught to never be keeping up with the jones’ and I really do wear what ever I want. I do wear certain things to feel good. I have a pair of True’s that hug me in all the right spots. You just have to do whats best for you