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 think its important to buy what fits and not focus on the size. I feel like a lot of women buy what size they want to be, but it ends up making them look worse. I really liked the part about taking pride in our bodies…they really are amazing machines, even if there is some cellulite or extra lbs!
Leslie’s tips are so very timely for me. I am feeling a bit self-conscious this summer as I’ve gained a few pounds over the year. But I’m learning that that has nothing to do with who I am as a person inside (duh!) Thinking about the “Operation Beautiful” message has really helped me out lately. Congrats on your bakery progress!
oh i have been lusting after your delicious bars for so long. my summer confidence comes from a great sweaty yoga workout. i love food/health blogs and for so long i felt as though i had to be an amazing runner like many food bloggers. i learned that running doesnt work for me, but yoga makes me feel wonderful about myself no matter what i am wearing.
OMG I can’t believe I almost missed this giveaway. All your goodies look unbelievable and I am dying to try them.
I think my summer confidence comes from enjoying the great things that are considered “summer” great fresh fruit and veggies and nice run in great weather and also a sun kissed glow that healthy screams SUMMER :)
What an exciting contest! I would love to try some glo bars!!
I definitely agree with the tip to wear what works for you. I know that I cannot wear most of the clothes that models do, so I have to wear what looks good on my body.
Thanks for the amazing post – and I can’t wait to try to Glo bars!
I love the encouragement in your article. It’s time for me, and all of us, to stop criticizing ourselves and LOVE and EMBRACE our bodies as women! BE PROUD!
I just shared your website with a friend, my comment being- I really want to try some of those bars, but i bet shipping’s expensive! It was like fate when I discovered the giveaway!
Leslie’s post made me consider how far I’ve come in accepting my body in summer clothes. I always hated to wear shorts because I felt my legs were too thick/chunky/muscular/etc. This is the first year i’ve started to appreciate their strength and think about all they allow me to do. It feels great to think about that when I look in the mirror.
OH I would love to win this!!
I think the biggest thing is confidence!! If you are confident and love what you are wearing everyone else will notice too!
Yay for a U.S. giveaway! :)
I love this post. I try to dress in things that play up the parts of my body that it’s easy for me to love. I might not always love my stomach, but I think that my arms are beautiful and strong and toned. So lots of sleeveless dresses and tank tops for me. :)
What a giveaway…fingers crossed!!!
I like what leslie has to say. Confidence must come from within. It shows in your posture if you feel good about yourself, so I try to stand up straight! I am tall, so it is natural to slump a bit when talking to others. Good posture makes your lungs expand, too, so you can take deep, happy breaths!!
My best advice is to wear what you feel beautiful in, and whenever i feel not so hot i think of all the blessings i have in my life, namely my family, friends and health. So what if i have a little muffin top, it’s not the end of the world!
I loved Leslie’s post! I live about 20 minutes from the ocean and I only got into a bathing suit ONCE last summer because I was so unhappy with my body. I have since started running and have so much more appreciation for how strong and capable my body is. This year I spent a week in the Bahamas with a group, different bikini every day, and have gone to the beach many times! I also have a Hawaii trip coming up over Labor Day and I haven’t worried about being seen in a bathing suit once! I’ve still got a ways to go, but putting your body to the test and seeing how amazing it can be will definitely help anyone appreciate it more.
Ooooo!! I would love to win the test package!
I really liked Leslie’s post. I’ve always had a hard time being nice to myself and to my body. But I’ve been working on it for a long time and it’s so much easier now. I eat healthy, I get some exercise, and now if I could just finally get rid of my head’s insistence that my body isn’t good enough…it’s much easier said than done though. But Leslie has some good points. I’m going to try to keep them in mind the next time I’m talking badly about myself.
I love the advice- I hate how people feel like they’re not “good enough” to wear certain clothes- we can all pull off whatever we want to wear!! and I love the globars, too :)
As someone who is always self conscious about what they wear no matter the time of year, summer is especially hard. However I have learned to wear what is comfortable to me, and if someone doesn’t think I should be wearing it, or doesn’t think I look good in it, then guess what?! They don’t have to look at me! I wear what I feel confident in, and have stopped caring about what other people think so much!
Dana
www.eatsleepgetfit.com
It’s funny but at 46 years of age and the heaviest weight I’ve ever been I probably feel more comfortable in a swimsuit than ever before. Much more so than when I was a teenager. For me, that calm confidence and lack of body obsession doesn’t come from having the perfect body, it’s more about just being comfortable and accepting of who I am–right now! I have recently re-ignited my healthy lifestyle pursuit and I trust that as I continue on this path my unhealthy eating habits, excess fat and flabby muscles will be transformed into a lean, strong, glowing with health, more vibrant me. I would sure love to win your test package of Glo Bars. Blessings to you and yours.
I love “embrace your rights as a woman”. As far as tips go, I always wear something to accent my best body part(s) so I will be confident and new clothes usually work. And for additional summer “glow” a little (or a lot) of bronzer and lip gloss.
How fun. The best advice I was given about coming across as confident is “shoulders back, chest out”–chest being the more PC way to say it… Anyway, when I do this as I enter a room I feel more confident, and that goes a long way.
Embracing a woman’s waistline is the greatest way of making her look and feel better in an outfit. Waistlines are gorgeous!
AHHH GREAT CONTEST! I want to try your bars so badly!
you know i’d drive to canada for these (seriously) so even if i don’t win hook me up girl… i’ll bring you buffalo shopping stuffs ;)