Outfit: Sunshine & Stripes

Well looky here. Just the other week I was writing a post about breaking fashion rules, and now here I am breaking not one, not two, but three of them all at once! Well done me! I didn’t actually do it on purpose, I must admit. I actually took these pics before I wrote it, but I’ve only just noticed now that I managed to wear horizontal stripes with shoes that don’t match my tights both at the same time, and to top it off, those shoes are – GASP – red! I’m actually quite proud of myself for my general non-compliance.

So, the fashion ‘rules’ are probably right with this one. I’m not feeling in the best shape at the moment and horizontal stripes on a clingy, jersey dress was probably not the most flattering choice (particularly when you manage to bunch your dress up so attractively like I have here, making myself look a rather peculiar shape). But do you know what? I actually didn’t care. I look a little lumpy and bumpy, it’s true, but I actually felt really good that day, and that’s all that matters really, isn’t it? I’ve actually had this dress for a while now but this was the first time I wore it. It’s formed part of an outfit plan for some time, even before I’d acquired it, but that fear of looking like a stripy sausage kept putting me off. Even when I was considering buying it I had the notion that it wasn’t really going to suit me, and yet it found it’s way into my shopping basket. The day it arrived I tried it on and was instantly both disappointed and smug that I knew I was right – it didn’t look particularly great. Yep, my tummy was rather prominent, just like I thought it would. Yep, it was rather adept at highlighting how my thighs are the widest part of me these days. Yep, it wasn’t a classic example of ‘dressing for your shape’ and it was quickly pulled off and chucked on the ‘to eBay’ pile, I thought destined never to be worn. Yet when the rain finally stopped for a brief moment the other week, and the sun was peeking out from behind the clouds, I found myself reaching for it anyway. You see, breton stripes and sunshine go hand in hand for me, especially when paired with red, and I just couldn’t get that image of a cute, Parisian style outfit out of my head. I was having a pretty good week at the time, I was having a good hair day and I knew there was little chance I’d ever have the courage to wear it sans tights once the weather warmed up, so it was now or never. I threw caution to the wind and wore it anyway. And I’m really glad I did.

And I guess that brings me to the point. When writing that post about fashion ‘rules’ I forgot the most important one of all – dress for yourself. So what if you haven’t got Cara Delevingne’s lythe figure or Christina Hendrick’s perfect hourglass shape. If you really like it, you should wear it anyway. It’s easier said than done of course – when you feel uncomfortable in your own skin it can really affect your confidence, but try to remember it’s largely in your own head. Tell yourself you look great and you’ll soon feel it. You’re unlikely to ever look just like that gorgeous shot you saw on Instagram, because you’re you and no-one else, but if you put a happy smile on your face and carry your head high and everyone will think you look fabulous. It honestly works – I’ve looked 10 times better than this and yet I had more compliments this day than I’ve had in quite some time. I might have looked like a stripy sausage in real life, but in my head I looked like Audrey Hepburn visiting the Eiffel Tower, and I guess on my face it must have shown!

Try it, you’ll see!

Love,

In this post: Breton Stripe Dress, Oasis (Similar) – Red flats, Matalan (Similar)