You’ve made the decision, dropped the excuses, and faced your shame. You have lost weight and are well on your way to your goal weight.
Suddenly you are afraid. Who is this new woman emerging from under the protective layers of weight? There is less of you in terms of weight but more of you in terms of how emotionally it is being exposed. With less weight, people notice you and compliment you more. How will the new you dress?
Losing weight means changing your mentality and the way you dress. Here are three smart dressing tips to help you dress for your newfound self-confidence.
His cover does not change the basic shape of his body.
Many women believe that when they lose weight, they change from a large, rounded apple shape to an hourglass shape. That is not true.
The basic shape of your body is determined by your bones and the width of your shoulders. These do not change. Only your coverage of them is changing. As you lose weight, your true body shape will become apparent and more defined. Now is the time to get excited about who you really are.
Look at the width of your shoulders, waist, and hips in the mirror. If all three have the same width, you are rectangular. If your shoulders are the widest, you are an inverted triangle. If your hips are the widest, you have a pear shape. If your shoulders and hips are about the same and your waist is smaller, you are an hourglass. If your waist is the widest, you have an apple shape.
Read articles and books on body shape and how to dress for yours, or book a consultation with an image consultant.
Styles that work for all body shapes
Double-breasted blouses and jackets are excellent for changing body shapes. Choose the ones with bows so you can wrap them tighter as you go down the dress sizes. Retailers, pattern books, and some party clothing companies have double-breasted jackets that can be worn in many different ways. This is a money saving option to expand your wardrobe and look fashionable while continuing to lose weight.
Modern wrap dresses and classic shift dresses suit every woman. Wear one with a bow or a belt and you can bring it in a few sizes as you get slimmer. Tops, shirts and dresses with a princess line from the shoulder flatter all body shapes. Pick up the side seams as you get smaller. Do not place safety pins in the side seams. That is sending a negative message to your mind and body.
Clothes that skim your body make you feel good about yourself.
Quality or Cheap and Cheerful
It’s your call. They both do the job. You can go to stores that sell classic styles in good quality fabrics at a reasonable price. If necessary, have them altered to fit. Alternatively, go to a discount store, discount center, or boutiques that have cheaper, more fashionable clothes. Try thrift or charity stores. It’s not about the price. It’s how you wear it.
Buy new clothes and new underwear. To wait until you reach your magical ideal weight is to deny yourself the joy of the journey. Tell yourself that looking good no matter your weight and size is worth the effort and cost.
Magic Tip:
Lift up your skirts and show some legs. The best skirt length is just below the knee. Second best is just below the widest part of the calf. Add good shoes. People will love the new you because you’re doing what many women over 40 fear doing. You are showing your legacy.
Discover the new you while making losing weight an exciting journey, not a backbreaking chore.