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. :)
I want to win so badly-all your bars look so yummy! Great post about being comfortable in summer clothing. I’ve always hated wearing shorts, they’re just so unflattering, but sometimes necessary with the hot weather and all! This summer I decided to buy some new pairs and have felt confident all summer wearing them (doing my leg presses at the gym has helped too!)
Wow, thanks for the opportunity to finally sample the bakery!
To me, summer clothing is all about material (make sure it’s comfortable and breathes well) and accessories. You can wear the most basic outfit but have it ‘wow’ everyone with some funky pieces that you just can’t get away with in the winter.
Leslie’s post is so timely because I stood in the mirror this morning and wondered if my legs looked good enough in my shorts. I’m glad I took the risk and wore them today (its almost 100 degrees here!)
I want to win!
My trick for feeling good in summer clothes is to wear super-cute shoes … the rest of the outfit doesn’t matter as much when you have cute shoes and painted toenails.
My advice is to pick a “flattering” fabric (i.e. cotton) — so many shirts are made (cheaply) of thin, clingy, see-through material that needlessly makes even the fittest of us self-conscious.
Yay bars for the States! I enjoy feeling the sun on my skin, and I think that is my biggest motivation for feeling happy in summer clothes. Sleeveless = sun on my shoulders. :)
I feel like the best answer to this question would be “love yourself and have inner confident”, etc, but as we know, that doesnt ALWAYS work ;) and sometimes there are days when we just do not feel like wearing a bikin, shorts, etc.
On those days, self tanner works wonders!!! It truly makes a big difference in covering up cellulite and making your legs look more lean :) Hey, if it makes me feel more confident, it’s worth it!
Hi Angela-
What a great post by Leslie. This topic was great for me to see. I remember back in the days when I would dress to impress and be so uncomfortable, in my skin and in the clothes I was wearing. I love how she posted about being comfortable in what your wearing. My biggest tip this summer, is flowy dresses; long and short. Comfort is key, no longer am I the girl that dresses for anyone else, but myself.
I would love to win your Glo Bar package, so I can glow too!
The best advice I can give about being confident in your clothes is to wear what is comfortable to you! You don’t have to conform to what society thinks you should wear. Rock what you’ve got. Create your own style and you’ll be the most confident person you can be! Fabulous!
Such a great giveaway for US readers!!! Woo-hoo! I love summer time too. Since I’ve been a dancer, my body was never really bulky. Now, that I’m not dancing quite as much I’ve been trying to add some more definition and curvy mass, and I’m liking the little ‘extra’ muscle when I wear short sleeves or the little muscle over the knee from lots of bike riding :) And I always like a cute pair of earrings to brighten the day :)
-kristen
I’m so excited over here in Rhode Island!! I’ve been drooling over the bars and jealous of you Canadians who can order them!
I think the best confident tip is the being comfortable and confident in your clothes. YOU may worry about what you’re wearing or what you look like, but others hardly notice! I working what I think are MY body flaws – and I wore a dress that normally I think is too “revealing” of my arms to a friend’s wedding this past weekend. I got so many compliments!! It was awesome! It really reinforced that if you’re comfortable and enjoy what you’re wearing, you look and feel so much better – and people notice that attitude more than anything!
Wooohooo a glo bar giveaway! I like Leslie’s first tip the most, about wearing your outfit with pride. I really think that attitude is about 98% of the answer to being confident and comfortable in summer clothes.
my tip? wear COLORS. i made the mistake of only buying neutrals–i thought they would last longer style wise this way. that may be true but getting dressed in the morning just isn’t fun! clothes should be FUN, don’t end up looking like you’re in a uniform. celebrate yourself by being creative.
I don’t actually have a tip, but I’m so happy you’re addressing this! I’ve been struggling with this myself, so much so that I hardly have ANY summer clothes! I don’t like how I look in them, but I’m trying to find acceptance. Thanks so much for the positive messages!
The best way to feel good in summer clothes and bathing suits is to go to the beach! For a long time I would focus on just the women who looked fabulous in their bathing suits and feel inadequate, but then I started to notice that there are many people of all shapes and sizes on the beach, having a wonderful time swimming and sumbathing and chatting with friends, and other people’s happiness and confidence is contagious! I notice how others seem to be feeling great no matter how little they are wearing, and having a good time, and now I do too!
i think one thing that we all need to keep in mind [myself especially] is that the flaws we see on our own bodies are [almost always] not noticeable to everyone else – and to a certain extent, the shape of your clothes [pressed and polished so to speak] makes more of a difference in how people perceive and make an impression of you than whether you are “overweight” or not.
Such an awesome post. For me the ultimate tip is to wear what you feel good in.Confidence is the difference between feeling self-conscious or feeling great.I often forget this and can be critical of myself.
So excited for globar giveaway!!!!!!!!
A huge outfit booster is CONFIDENCE! I used to think I had to look perfect if I was to wear a bikini but I realize how crazy that is. None of us are perfect and we have to appreciate our bodies and what they do for us. We should be proud and show that off. As a mom I really hope to instill confidence in my daughter and not let negative body image affect how she views herself.
Confidence all the way!!! It’s all in our heads.
I like Leslie’s perspective… I think it is really unique. I think the key is to stop worrying about what others think – that just sets up a trap for yourself!