“The dress must follow the body of a woman, not the body following the shape of the dress.”
– Hubert de Givenchy
What does size really mean?
Do you know how inconsistent sizes are across different brands of clothing. We’ve all experienced it at some point. We’re in the dressing room trying on outfits we think are our size and then they don’t fit. Yikes! We fear we may have gained weight!
Other times they do fit and even a little loose and we think we may have lost weight, feel happy and buy more! 🙂
Have you ever heard of vanity sizing. Yes. It’s defined as altering measurement specifications for garments to enable customers to fit into smaller sizes. For instance, a size 10 in one brand my be a size 8 in another, or a size 8 in one may be more of a 6 in another, and so on. Some brands will do this so customers like their products more.
Studies have shown how shoppers like to buy a smaller size so they can feel more confident and increase their self-esteem.
They may also do the reverse, for instance some bra and lingerie companies will make bras smaller so women feel they have larger breasts.
Even with machine learning as a sizing solution, used in the industry today, to help decipher what may or may not fit in different brand sizing. The unfortunate thing is how much importance we give to a number.
We’re not all a size 6 – so what! Size does not define who you are.
We all have insecurities about our bodies because we compare with each other, we compare with what society thinks is the perfect body. We judge ourselves and think everyone is judging us and our insecurities. But, the reality is, we are our own worst critics as other people don’t see our insecurities as we do.
We need to speak positively about our bodies. We need to stop comparing and become more compassionate towards ourselves.
I love the quote from Louise Hay – “You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”
Our bodies will change over the course of our lifetime. Change is constant and inevitable.
Why not accept and love yourself now. You are worthy and lovable just as you are!
Instead of worrying about size, why not dress to suit your body type at any size. Size is meaningless when you try on and wear clothes that boost your confidence and make you feel and look great. Who you are and your body image are not measurements that define your worth!
Your worth is an inside job. Your happiness is an inside job. Who you truly are is an inside job.
It takes practice everyday to love ourselves and to remember that we have the freedom to choose how we feel and think.
We are all beautiful, different and unique. If you are working to improve or make changes because that is your desire then awesome and good for you.
Dress and look fab, feel empowered and confident, wear what you like, what suits you best for your body at any size, express yourself and who you are every day! 🙂
For more information on how to dress & look fab get the eBook. How To Dress & Look Fab!