We may not all be super models, but we can all look and feel good about ourselves.
I never had much confidence in my looks as a teenager – I fretted over my ugly glasses, acne, big ears, knobby knees and much more besides. Yet looking back on photos from my youth, I realise that I was in fact much prettier than I thought I was!
Fast forward several decades years and I am actually happy with my looks, even though there is a birthday looming on the horizon that starts with a “5”!
How on earth can that be? Aren’t we at our best and prettiest as sweet young things?!
Not necessarily! I think it has something to do with what I call “The Serenity Prayer of Style”:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can; and
Wisdom to know the difference.
Accepting the things I cannot change: A lot of the things that used to bug me about my appearance still haven’t changed – oh how I wish I could grow my nails! Others, like my nose and ears, I have grown into. I’m not prepared to go under the knife to change the things I don’t like (especially after my last experience of surgery!); so I have learned to accept them.
Courage to change the things I can: I know that I look and feel my best at a particular weight; so when my clothes start to feel a little snug, I know it’s time to get walking! Having long been unhappy with the colour of my teeth, I leapt at the chance to trial a teeth whitening kit earlier this year.
Wisdom to know the Difference: Hopefully now that I am middle aged, I have a lot more experience and knowledge than I did as a young ‘un – and some wisdom too. I now know that trowelling on the makeup is NOT going to hide bad skin. I’ve learned that being happy with yourself (inside and out) shines through; I may not be a traditional beauty, but I like to think I still look good, especially when there is a smile on my face – and a smile in my heart!
One thing that effects the way I feel – inside and out – is to make sure I wear the right clothes for me, rather than the latest fad. Here are my three secrets for loving what you wear:
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- Make sure you choose clothes that flatter your figure;
- Try to stick to colours that always bring you compliments when you wear them;
- And finally, only have clothes that are comfortable – not only to wear, but also that fit into your lifestyle – and your hip pocket 😉 . (Having a massive credit card debt will only give you frown lines!).
It’s what I call fashion from the real world.
Millers* sent me on a mission to prove that if you look good, you feel good – and vice versa. Here’s what I came home with:
I chose this outfit because:
- As an apple shape, I like to wear clothes that show off my legs but hide my pot belly, and this outfit fills the bill nicely. These black ponte leggings are just the thing to show off my pins! Wearing a shirt as a jacket over a cami (buttoned or unbuttoned, take your pick) is another great trick to disguise a not-so-trim tummy.
- The soft plum colours really enhance my colouring, and give my complexion a certain glow – even if I’m feeling under the weather. No makeup required! (I’m wearing lipstick only in these photos).
- The comfort factor: I live in pants during the cooler months; while the cami helps me stay modest and keep warm. No need to fear any wardrobe malfunctions 😉 ! And, the whole outfit came in at fifty bucks (not including shoes and jewellery).
This shot reminds me of Erin Brockovich: “They’re called boobs, Ed”!
Do you feel you look better now – or as a young ‘un?!
*These items have been gifted to me for editorial consideration, in accordance with my disclosure policy. I’m an affiliate of Millers and stand to earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase via a link on my site.
