4 Ways Fashion Can Boost Your Confidence
Fashion can be a vital part of life for some women, but feel like a necessary nuisance for others. Like it or not, the way you cover your body sends a message to the world. The good news is your clothes don’t just speak to those around you. Your clothing choices can also communicate something powerful to you. Building confidence through fashion is actually fairly easy. So if you’re struggling with your self-esteem or self-image, here are four ways to update your wardrobe and increase your confidence.
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Mirror, Mirror
Before you put on any article of clothing you need to stand in front of the mirror (preferably full length) and look at your body. This may understandably be difficult for you, especially if you have a less than stellar relationship with your figure. But you need to get acquainted with your shape so you know how to cover it in a way that will make you feel great. You can choose to be nude, in comfy undies, or in a form-fitting shirt and leggings.
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Body Type
Once you get a good grasp of your body shape you will need to research the best ways to dress it. You can do this easily online with a quick search. First, find pictures or drawings of body types that best represent you. There will usually be a lineup highlighting certain areas of the body. You just have to pick the one that looks most like yours. Then, look at the clothing suggestions for your shape, as well as the reasons other clothing options are less than ideal. Of course, you can wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and beautiful. But if you are just starting out and need a bit more guidance, following these suggestions will help make sure the clothes you buy and wear are appropriate and flattering for your size and shape.
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Body Hype
If you are curvy your clothing choices can help you look slimmer or make you look larger. If you have a small, straighter frame fashion can give you those curves you’ve always wanted, or make you look like a child trying to grow up too fast. Many women make the mistake of trying too hide or highlight the wrong parts of their body and end up bringing attention to their unwanted areas.
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Body Right
For example, large chested women should avoid extra baggy tops that create a square tent on their torso. Instead, try an empire (raised) waist accentuated with ruching (gathering or sewn ruffled wrinkles) or a thick belt. Thin, petite woman should also avoid baggy, shapeless tops to look curvier. Use large ruffles, flowers, puffed shoulders or sleeves, large cuffs, thick collars, wide jacket lapels, darts, pleats, and other embellishments and structure creating construction techniques to build curves and volume into the outfit.
Bigger women should keep skirts and dresses at or just below the knee to avoid showing too much skin in a mini and creating even more volume in a maxi. Smaller ladies can use pleated and ballroom style bottoms to create a larger silhouette. A-line and mermaid style skirts and dresses look great on any figure, so long as it fits in the right places and the fabric makes you feel fabulous.
Getting the basics down about understanding your body type and how best to dress it will get you well on your way to feeling good about your figure. Confidence comes from within, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get some assistance from the outside. The way you look influences the way you feel. So making these small yet important changes to your fashion sense and style will certainly help give you that confidence boost you’ve been looking for.
