As we ponder
Loving Your Stylish Self
photos by uneduex
Today we have a special treat! The lovely Sally from Already Pretty has a guest post for us about how there’s more to your style than meets the eye…
• • •
So, you’re a stylish woman. You’re curious about trends and dedicated to figure flattery. You seek out eye-catching garments and jaw-droppingly beautiful shoes. You make sure your hairstyle compliments your bone structure, you tailor your gorgeous duds to your own unique dimensions, you work hard to look good. And, in all likelihood, you take some flak for it on occasion.
A Fashion-Forward Femme
Because being a stylish, fashion-forward femme carries a bit of a stigma, doesn’t it? Some folks assume that anyone mesmerized by matters of style must be shallow, materialistic, vacuous, even ditzy and dumb. After all, a woman who carefully contemplates clothing choices can’t have anything else swimming around in her noggin …
Signs of Self-Love
Well, I realize I’m preaching to the choir, here, but I’m gonna preach it anyway: Taking an active interest in your personal style is NOT a sign of self-absorbed idiocy, it is a sign of vital self-love. It is beneficial to your mental and physical health to dress to your figure, to remain engaged with current trends, and to foster your natural desire to look good. I don’t have any statistics to back me up, or MD’s carrying Balenciaga-designed doctors’ bags who’ll testify on my behalf … but do hear me out.
In other words, grooming, hair care, and matters of personal style rank right up there with eating your veggies and hitting the gym.
Most of us would cite activities such as maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and sleeping well as part of a solid self-care routine. But there’s more to it than that: Self-care encompasses all activities that express care for ourselves. In other words, grooming, hair care, and matters of personal style rank right up there with eating your veggies and hitting the gym.
When our self-care lapses, the world knows it because our bodies show it: We gain or lose weight, appear empty and exhausted … but we also abandon our hair styling routines, give up on makeup, wear sloppy clothes and shoddy shoes. When our self-care is flourishing, our bodies maintain equilibrium and we express our inner balance by dressing mindfully and well. How we clothe our bodies and how we style our appearances reflects the state of our inner selves to the outside world. Self-care mirrors self-love.
Respect Yourself
Learning to dress in duds that flatter your figure illustrates your respect and love for your own beautiful body. An interest in trendy clothing shows active engagement with popular culture and a desire to participate in a global community. Fostering a desire to look good promotes a cycle of self-awareness and self-care that can be extremely beneficial. Being a stylish woman is good for you, both inside and out.
In Moderation, Of Course
This is not to say that maxing out your credit card at Barney’s is healthy, or that reading back issues of Vogue will substitute for cardio. Additionally, focus on appearances can be taken to unhealthy extremes involving purging, pills, and obsessive plastic surgery. Everything in moderation, of course.
Awake, Aware, and Alive
But I strongly believe that anyone who classifies all fashion- and image-conscious women as superficial biddies has dismissed an important aspect of personal style: Active interest in physical appearance is a sign of vitality, engagement, and well-being. A woman who wants to look good is awake, aware, and alive. Style is tied to self-care, and self-care is tied to self-love.
So show yourself some love: Get dressed.
This delightful post was brought to you by the letter S… S for Sally of Already Pretty. Thank you, Sally!
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18 comments for “Loving Your Stylish Self”
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This was a beautiful post! I really enjoyed reading it.
Sweety P´s last blog ..Sweety P’s Summer Entry Four: Fame Sneaks Up Behind Me and A Musical Friday Adventure
Lovely post, Miss S! It’s important to be reminded we’re not vapid, shallow, or dumb because we’re taking care of ourselves in all ways, shapes, and forms….
Ashe Mischief´s last blog ..Etsy/Indie Designers: Alice & Isa Boutique
Thanks so much, ladies! And big thanks to Sonja and Jennine for letting me guest post. Be sure to check out Sonja’s post over at Already Pretty today, too.
Sal´s last blog ..What We Do for Beauty
Dressed and ready to go! Yeah Sal!
real style real people´s last blog ..Summer 2009: Swim Suits for Trouble Areas
Sally, Thanks so much for posting this!! You’re so very right!! It’s such a shame the resentment that’s lashed out on stylish women.
maria´s last blog ..What I Drove Today: 07.01.09- Sporty Coupe…Who Me?
Fashion is the black sheep/very poor cousin from the wrong side of the tracks in the art world, hence the desire to dumb it down all the time. Sal is spot on!
As usual - you’ve come up with something so obvious, yet unrecognized. Of course taking care of your appearance expresses self love! When you pamper your partner, it’s considered to be an expression of love - so why not for yourself. Old world glamour is the best example of this. Those ladies oozed self confidence and sex appeal. Can we say anything like this about the grunge or heroin chic style enthusiasts? I think not!
Sal always as a point of view filled on how to raise our self esteem, which is great.
I think that if someone is concerned with ones body image, dress to emphasis what one has and look good, people tend to say that it’s something too shallow and opposite to spirituality.
But body image affects how you feel about yourself. It’s an important factor in self esteem or your opinion of yourself.
Self esteem is crucial. It is very important because it affects how you think, act and even how you relate to other people. It affects your potential to be successful.
Dressing to look good raises your self esteem.
Your visual appearance—the way you present yourself—is important.
Fashion is more than material clothing. I believe clothes are ideas. Hence, fashion is also intellectual and creative.
And creativity expresses soul. Creativity is the essence of life, so if you are alive (and you appear to be!), then you are creative. There is no escaping this part of your heritage as a human being. You were created to create. Doing so sets your soul free.
This is what I think, not what I always feel
xoxo
The Seeker´s last blog ..TO - 06/30 - there’s something significant and something bizarre about us all… why are “harem” pants so intriguing?
Sal’s posts are such a joy to read and this guest post is no exception! I definitely get a bit of condescension occasionally for my interest in fashion and style. Never mind that I graduated high school in the top 3% of my class and attended university on a full scholarship…sometimes I come across people who are anxious to dismiss me as “just a fashionista.”
lisa´s last blog ..Happy Canada Day!
What a lovely and beautiful post.
meg´s last blog ..Maybelline Pulse Perfection
Yes! I dress up practically every day and on the days that I don’t I feel so odd and sad. It is a vital component to my happiness.
I’m adding Sal to my google reader right now.
eyeliah´s last blog ..Mix and Match Polka Dots for a Fun Retro Vibe
❤ Thanks so much to everyone for checking out Sal’s fabulous post! So glad you’ve enjoyed it!
[...] - THE COVETED offers a guest post from Sally about Loving Your Stylish Self [...]
Truly, thanks for reading, everyone, and for such thoughtful, lovely comments!
Sal´s last blog ..Clothes as Decor
What a wonderful post!
Thank you so much
Ahh what a great post! Thank you so much for using (and linking back) to my images
I am ALL about being stylish and finding fashion that flatters my figure. Thank you again!!
❤ Ula, LOVE your pics! So glad we found them for this post.
Thank you! Thank you for giving me words to something that I already knew. Thank you for reminding me that just because others think this may be silly, it isn’t silly if it makes me feel better and more confident. I also like how you stated that things are in moderation and style isn’t just about the price, it is about the fit and look of clothing. I am drawn to things because of their look and cut, not their price.
Rose´s last blog ..Crabs Anyone??