How to dress when your body has changed

I get it; I really do. Spring is here, Summer is around the corner. You pulled out your warm weather clothes and tried them on and ugh, they don’t fit the way they did last year. Lifestyle changes, getting older, Covid…

To be completely honest, my body has changed more in this past year than ever. And I know I’m not alone. I hear the same thing from so many of my friends, family and clients. It can be frustrating, and at times disheartening. Not just the change in your body, but the pure stress of getting dressed.  

Here are a some things I believe in and practice and I promise they help.

Be kind to yourself

As soon as you start thinking negative things about your body or gaining weight, stop and push those thoughts aside and out of your head. Think about how you would talk to your best friend, your mother, or your daughter who wasn’t feeling great about their body. I bet you would see the beauty in them even though it may be hard for them to see it themselves. 

Ask yourself how do you want to feel 

Yes, feel - not look. Tap into how you want to feel in your clothes, because you are getting dressed for you, not anyone else.  Remember… your beauty comes from within and how you feel will show on the outside. 

So, how do YOU want to feel?  Feminine? Modern? Sexy? Effortless? Some combination? Get really specific and let that guide you.

Invest in a few pieces that fit now

Please don’t say “I’m not buying anything until I lose weight.” You are beautiful the way you are right now…. and you deserve to feel your best.  You don’t need to buy a ton of new things.  Just in case you forgot, we wear 20% of our closets 80% of the time. In other words, we wear our favorite things all of the time. So, get a couple new favorite things.

Ignore the size on the tag

Don’t get caught up on sizing. So what if you’ve been a certain size for most of your life and now it’s different. All manufactures and designers are different. Cuts of women’s clothes are all over the place.  Even the same style of jeans with different washes can fit differently.  What matters is how your clothes fit, not the the size on the tag. Instead, pay attention to the silhouette and make sure your clothes are comfortable and make YOU feel good. 

Highlight what you love

It sounds pretty obvious, I know.. but think about it. Why not focus on the good stuff instead of what you don’t like?  What do you love most about your body?  Your legs? Then show your legs! Your shoulders? Your waist? Your overall shape?  Celebrate what you have!   

Appreciate and love the body you have today. Love it because it’s the only one you’ve got. And I promise you, you’ll feel better, smile more and it will show.    

xo, Laura 

dress by Hannah Artwear