Good morning!
Today we have a very special treat for the Summer Glow Boot Camp! Leslie will be talking about a VERY important topic that I think many of us struggle with- feeling confident in summer clothes! I know I always feel a bit self-conscious when I whip out the summer wardrobe. Society places so many expectations on women to not only be thin, but perfectly tanned, smooth, and cellulite free. It can make the most sane of us feel a bit crazy at times. Leslie is here to offer her awesome tips on how to get past those summer wardrobe fears and to embrace your awesome GLOWING self!
Hello Oh She Glows readers! My name is Leslie, and I blog over at the whole plate.
When Angela put out her “casting call” for the SGBC, I jumped at the chance. I’ve been an OSG fan for quite some time now, and I adore the positive message that Angela spreads.
On my blog, I often write about balance and self-acceptance. Last year, I found myself working in the high fashion industry, and as you might imagine, the atmosphere made both of those things difficult to attain. Nonetheless, I still harness a deep love for fashion, and like many, I used to dread the skimpy clothing that peppered garment racks as summer approached. The sudden exposure our bodies receive in summer attire can be intimidating, but over the years, I’ve employed a few strategies to relish in showing some skin.
1) Throw out the rule book. Fashion magazines often entice readers with promises of “seventy tops for your figure,” but I’m not here to tell you how to flatter your frame. Only you can do that. In my opinion, there is nothing more fashionable than a woman who pulls off her outfit with pride. Maybe your favorite dress isn’t the one fashion editors recommend for you. It doesn’t matter. If you feel beautiful in it, then you are.
2) Embrace your rights as a woman. I know, it’s easier to say the words, “I am beautiful” than to actually believe them. Summer arrives, and retailers suddenly ask us to reveal more than we do the other nine months of the year. Instead of complaining, I’ve finally begun to respond with enthusiasm. As women, our ancestors fought long and hard for the equality we have today. It is our right and privilege to bare our arms and legs. Put on that halter top, zip up those shorts, and feel your place in the feminine community. Your exposed skin reflects the history of our gender and the freedom we should be proud to enjoy.
3) Treasure the atmosphere. Summer is my favorite time of year. The long days, the heat, the opportunities to be outside – these are available to us for just a short period each year, and personally, I savor them. If I remain indoors with the air-conditioning, warmed by a baggy sweatshirt, I am allowing the season to slip away. Chances are, long sleeves won’t feel comfortable in the sun and hot air, and wearing them will cause you to fixate on your body, rather than the ambiance surrounding you. So shed those layers, and cherish the beautiful sensation of the summer heat embracing your bare arm.
4) Be a bit narcissistic. Your legs carry you up flights of stairs, on countless errands, perhaps on miles of runs. Your arms support every item held in your hands, help you reach high and low, propel you off the floor in a morning push-up. Your stomach digests the food that keeps you strong, and its core strength keeps you balanced. With all that your body can do, why wouldn’t you want to show it off? Take pride in the support it provides you, and wear clothes that let the world see its strength.
5) Dress yourself with your heart, not your head. You’ve been working hard, strengthening your body through the SGBC. Maybe your head is still arguing that you aren’t ready for a swimsuit or a skirt. Don’t listen. We women tend to spend hours overthinking our clothing choices – is this flattering, what is the size, can I pull this off. Fashion is a means of literally wearing our hearts on our sleeves. Quiet the negative thoughts and allow your clothes to reflect the person you are.
The next time you peek into your closet, I hope I’ve inspired you to toss away the layers and take a fashion risk. And if you have a free moment, I’d love to see you at the whole plate!
Thanks Leslie! I absolutely loved this post so much. I think this is such a great topic and I will admit one that I have not really addressed on OSG yet! When Leslie approached me with the idea I was just thrilled. I especially loved this part, “So shed those layers, and cherish the beautiful sensation of the summer heat embracing your bare arm.” Wow, what an amazing visual that gave me..a warm summer day…nice breeze..and feeling the warm sun on my skin. Who wants to constantly be all covered up and self-conscious all the time. Embrace it! :) I couldn’t agree more with ‘If you feel beautiful in it, then you are’…nothing is more attractive on a woman than confidence!!
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I have been a busy bee in the kitchen this morning as you could probably guess from my late post!
Today I was baking up some donated orders. The first one was for the Glo Bars I donated to Natalie’s bake sale for cancer. The second was for the SGBC Sidebar challenge, and the 3rd one I will be announcing below!
Classic and Revive…two lovely choices.
My new packing table! lol
A taste of heaven…
ATTENTION US READERS!
I know you have had it a bit difficult lately seeing all of these Glo Bars and not being able to order any yet! You’ve also had to deal with two Neal Brothers contests that were only open to Canadians. Well, today I want to say a little ‘thanks’ to you all for your dedicated support with Oh She Glows and your enthusiasm with Glo Bakery.
So today I am holding a US-ONLY contest on OSG! I will be sending another test package to the states and YOU could be the lucky recipient! You have a chance of winning one of these variety packs above (Heaven, Class, and Revive bars)!
How to enter:
- Leave a comment below about Leslie’s post on being confident in summer clothes. If you have any tips on being confident tell us what they are!
- Contest is open until TOMORROW, Friday at NOON EST.
- Open to US residents only please.
- GOODLUCK!
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I am off to pack and ship some stuff! Then it is back to calculating Nutrition Facts.
See you later for the winner of The Amazing Grass Contest! You have 1 more hour to get your entries in!!!
Also, just a quick note about emails- I am experiencing a large volume of emails lately for OSG, GMM, and Glo Bakery. Please rest assured that I am receiving all of them and I will get to them as soon as possible! Thanks so much for your patience. :)
Awesome!! I would love to win some bars!
Eating fresh foods everyday makes me feel confident in my summer clothes. There’s something about drinking water with lemon and eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies that just makes you feel good – anytime of year, but especially while I’m lounging by the pool!
I would love to win these bars!
I think putting on a favorite dress and showing off my legs is the best confidence booster.
I love shoes….even during those weeks I’m a little heavier than I want to be. Throw on a cute pair of heels and some bright red toenails. I feel sexy and confident.
Woo hoo.. a chance to win Glo Bars!
I loved Lisa’s post on being confident in summer clothes. I had the same epiahany with bikinis this year. I spent my whole vacation in a bikini. I wore it with confidence and pride then i posted pictures of myself in a bikni to thousands online on my blog. I didn’t care what they thought because I knew I looked great. Other years I would have shy and hidden, but I have thrown that attitude right out the window. :)
I favorite piece of advice is: Be a bit narcissistic. I often forget to appreciate my body (and thank it) for what it can do; how strong it is and how it fights off diseases!
Can’t wait to try those bars :)
I have really embraced the if you feel beautiful you are beautiful. So I always try on clothes before I buy them to make sure I do feel beautiful and comfortable.
I used to hate my legs because they are big and muscular but I’ve decided to embrace them and love wearing shorts and skirts/dresses in the summer because I have to show them off because they carry me around all the time. And I am proud of them! Hope I win the glo bars…
gahhh i would loveeeeeeeee to win this contest! your bars and co. website pictures of all the baked goods looks to die for! and the fact that the ingredients are all natural amazes me :)
my advice is to pair a cute dress with HEELS. i think heels (stillettos or espadrilles etc) make my legs look leaner and a dress can be the most flattering in the summer :D
I am so excited about the prospect of winning Glo Bars. I’ve been drooling over the pictures of them for weeks.
Lisa’s post was quite informative and made several great points. I am learning to wear my summer clothes with pride. When I pull something out of my closet I remind myself “You are dressing for you and you alone – if you like the way you look, you’ll be confident, and that’s what people see.” It doesn’t hurt that hubby gets a little sparkle in his eye when I put on my halter tops, shorts, and summer dresses.
I want those Glo bars in my belly!
My tip for feeling confident in summer clothes is to sometimes get a medium, even when the small fits. Clingy shirts when it’s hot out make you feel sweaty and icky. A larger shirt can be better for work (not as tight). Don’t go up a size if that means it will hang off you though!
My tip for being confident in summer clothes was recently learned. It is specifically about bathing suit confidence. Ever since I started swimming laps at the gym pool and having to wear one of those racing, high-cut bathing suits everyday, I do not think twice about wearing it anymore. There are swimmers of all sizes and shapes and people could care less about anything but getting a workout. Once you get used to wearing a bathing suit so often it does not seem like a big deal! (and surprisingly I have found that those high-thighed suits are a LOT more flattering than ones that cut your leg line off at the thickest part!)
Leslie has a valid point about loving the skin your in. While I’m still 15lbs from my goal weight, I don’t think I’ve ever been more comfortable showing a little skin! I’ve got a man that loves me, a family the supports me, and a body that is slowly but surely coming around. Tonight I’ll leave a sticky note on the mirror to remind me of Leslie’s last quip; dress for myself and no one else! I won’t over think my daily outfit!
I think the tip for finding what you feel your best in, not what the fashion mags tell you to wear is a great tip! I may not wear all the latest fashions but I always look for stuff that accentuates the parts of me that make me feel wonderfully radiant!
i really related to lisa’s mention of working in the fashion industry and how it can be hard to maintain good thoughts about your own body. living in a city where most the people you meet are tall, skinny, and primped 24/7, it can be easy to lose perspective! it’s important to remember that your body IS beautiful, and i’ve been trying to remind myself of that more often!!!
Oh I would LOVE to win some glo bars! I have been drooling over your bars for awhile now!
I think the most important thing is to be comfortable in your own skin and what you are wearing. Being comfortable and confident allows everyone’s beauty to come through!
Hooray! NO more teasing us with your Glo Bars! haha. I really enjoyed this post. I’m usually one of the ones who dreads summer for that very reason – skimpy clothes. Its good to know I’m not the only one. Thanks for this article.
Glo Bars to the US, how super! I am so happy customs worked out.
I agree with Leslie about getting dressed with your heart and not your head. There is nothing better then slipping on a little sun dress to make my heart soar!
“4) Be a bit narcissistic. Your legs carry you up flights of stairs, on countless errands, perhaps on miles of runs. Your arms support every item held in your hands, help you reach high and low, propel you off the floor in a morning push-up. Your stomach digests the food that keeps you strong, and its core strength keeps you balanced. With all that your body can do, why wouldn’t you want to show it off? Take pride in the support it provides you, and wear clothes that let the world see its strength.”
THAT is definitely an amazing tip – I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I think the best tip is to dress for your body! No one is perfect and you have to play up what is great about your body and not the parts that could use a little work ;)
Ignore what is fashionable and wear what makes you look and feel great!
Hilary
i think that often people worry too much about what they are wearing and they forget that their personality is what really makes them shine :)
Leslie’s post was great :) Sometimes if I’m not feeling to hot in the morning or whenever I get a good stretch in but I stretch in front of the mirror. It makes me feel beautiful to see that I’m flexible! And relieves the stresses of feeling gross! Next time give it a try!
great giveaway!!