Dress me up, dress me down. But wear me out

Every woman should have the following items in her wardrobe according to Stacy London, co-host of TLC's What Not to Wear:

1. An A-line skirt
2. Mid-rise, mid-width trousers and jeans
3. A good bra to hold up the girls
4. A wrap dress
5. Good shoes

Often, when I look at fashion magazines, when I shop, when I stopped dressing like a boy in clothes two sizes too big, stopped wearing nothing but t-shirts, tennis shoes, and oversized sweatshirts I felt badly. I felt I was succumbing to the fashion industries wish-for me to purchase more clothes, for me to follow trends and buy into an idea that clothes will make me someone else. And in a sense they do. I always hated being judge by what I wore. Part of that was until recently, the fashion industry ignored a large (literally) sector of the population. The overweight young woman. With that said, I had two choices when I was in high school and early college; either dress like a boy or dress like a blind 90 year old grandmother. I chose boy.

So, I saw Stacy London speak this weekend and I realized that I am not buying into someone else's idea of what I should be. From her show and from her speech, I realized I buy clothes that look good on me and make me feel good. I know I've walked out of the house many times thinking I hate what I am wearing and it ruins the day. The confidence that is normally with you, is gone. I realize now how little self-respect I had when I was dressing like a boy. It completely changed how I thought of myself and what I thought I could do with my life.

I am a girl and being able to show that on the outside is nice. Stacy also mentioned how young girls are completely receiving the wrong messages about clothes, style in particular. Having style isn't following all the latest trends. It's knowing how to put together an outfit with classic pieces and something modern/new to make yourself look your best. Because then the best you inside can shine outside. Young girls are faced with skinny models, celebrities who have done nothing to earn such accolades and they are missing out on knowing what it means to be a strong, powerful, professional woman who has responsibility, goals, and some accomplishments behind her besides being skinny or slutty.

I am rambling. My mind is preoccupied. Boys... a boy. The boy. More on that later.