Sometimes all it takes is looking at things from a fresh perspective.
The title of this post is a bit misleading: these are actually outfit photos that I took around a month or two ago. When I originally looked at the camera roll, I wasn’t really feeling the shots Jordan (my now ex-boyfriend) took, so I just decided to give up and try again later. At the time, I was feeling incredibly self-conscious about my weight, and it was painfully obvious (to me) how awkward I felt just by looking at these pictures.
I’ve been doing a lot of computer work recently, and I came across the folder these photos were stored in. I scrolled through (because I was bored, duh) and started wondering to myself why I felt so crummy about these shots in the first place–they look fine! I think because of the factors I had going on in my life back then (quitting my stable full-time job, reflecting on a disappointing doctor’s appointment, being in a relationship that had soured), I overanalyzed these pictures and discarded them from my editorial calendar without really thinking through my actions. Amazing how your emotions can really affect your outlook on life, and in the future, I’ll really consider this point before writing off blog content.
Since this point, I have come to appreciate my curvy new figure, and I’m enjoying finding new styles to wear and cycling out clothes that don’t fit anymore. I’m thinking of it less as a “Holy shit, I’ve gained 40 pounds!” and more of an “Oh, I’m 26, and the body I have at 26 won’t be the same as the body I had at 19. Let’s get some new clothes to show off that bootay.” Body acceptance is rad.
Denim Jacket: Forever 21 (I got this jacket when I worked there, but that’s a story for another time)
Big Hair: genetics
This dress is from BB Dakota, a style blogger favorite. I love BB Dakota because they don’t play into the stupid notions of exclusivity and financial privilege that are generally associated with the fashion industry; they instead believe that glamor is achieved by the person wearing the clothes and living life in a bold way, not by a price tag which dictates what you can and can’t do for fear of messing up your garment. As they say, “It’s only fashion.” #preach You can check out the full brand manifesto here, it’s a really great read.
