Ok people lets talk about personal style.
as defined on dictionary.com
style (noun) 4. an elegant, fashionable, or luxurious mode of living: to live in style. 5. a mode of fashion, as in dress, especially good or approved fashion
This is style as a whole. Personal style is a style that describes you as a person. It can be interior, fashion or even in some ways- personality. However (prepare yourself, snarkiness coming) having an interesting personal style is more than just pinning cute stuff on pinterest. I know we all do it. Everyone has that "My Style" board where we pin things we would like to have but never even try on. The question is do you pin things that you would try on if you could find them? Could afford them? Could lose 15lbs? Yeah me too! But my biggest problem, the things I see as "my" personal style don't seem to be available i.e. vintage silhouettes in modern prints and patterns. Insert your grumpy comments about making your own clothes here. The ability to make my own clothes does not make it easier or cheaper than buying them like all of you. But this problem just like all the others are just excuses.
Personal style seems to be a relative term for what we would LIKE to wear, in reality this just isn't real life. As I sit here, I am wearing my pregnant jeans, t-shirt, cardigan, and trusty sneaks. Now while I am not wearing sweats or my hubbs' clothes, I vowed this year to dress only in my personal style. Failed New Year's Resolutions, anyone. The Goal was to make a minimum of one piece clothing a week, only wear jeans on weekend, and do my hair every week day. Then we found out we were pregnant- obviously this didn't happen. Not only did that not happen, but I haven't even taken more than a handful of baby bump pictures- there has been nothing to see! Moms-to-be out there, maybe jeans would be a step up for you- I understand. I might be wearing pj pants all the time, if I could still fit in mine. As a Mom-to-be, one without a full time job, there isn't really money left over to buy clothes to "flesh" out my personal style. As a Plus-Size woman, even if I had the money, shopping sucks! Those of us who have been blessed with curves are constantly punished with a small or just plain ugly selection in stores. Now, online shopping maybe different, but I have never had the guts to try it. Why? I am cheap. I want to see it, feel it, check the quality- and that's before I even try it on. Plus, everything is always black, grey, navy. I want color damn it! Ladies, the myth that black is slimming, while partly true, its all about the cut, fit, and quality. If I could be SLIM just be wearing black, I would never buy underwear in any other color.
So let's recap...
Moms-to-be or Plus Size friends (or both)- We have an idea of how we would like to dress. We have no excess money. And the selection out there is crap. So what do we do...Activity Time!!! Make a list.
What are you wearing today? Jeans, T-shirt, Cardigan, Sneaks.
Why are you wearing these things? Jeans: comfy, fit, semi-clean. T-shirt: Love t-shirts! Cardigan: Hate my arms, Crazy Tennessee weather. Sneaks: cant work in anything else.
Pull up your "my style" pinterest board. What do you pin the most? Circle skirts, lots of layers, scarves, 50's silhouettes, 70's style jeans.
Now in my case, I can look at these things and look at my closet and determine easily what's missing. I need more t-shirts and major amounts of new skirts. finding t-shirts are cake, right? If you find one you love, you go back and buy them all. For me its from Kohls, junior department- scoop short sleeve, every color, every pattern. Now if I want more cardigans, its Target all the way (no link, cause well if you don't know about Target cardis you don't deserve them!) Now its the skirts, that are the hard part... Where in the hell does a girl get inexpensive circle skirts? I am gonna have to F*$#ing make them. I love Modcloth- don't get me wrong- but they are way too expensive. Everyone I know only purchases from them if they have a giftcard, so that tells you something. I guess the only real way to add to my skirt collection- is to make them. Maybe that will be this weeks project.
What's in your closet? And how can you update your style on the cheap?
Now for some pictures.
2 options - same top, scarf, and sneaks
Top: Kohls. Scarf: no idea, gift. Sneaks: Footlocker.
Jeans: Old Navy. Sweater: Target. Skirt: Old Navy
But starting today and continuing till long after the baby comes (or I get bored) I am gonna try to keep my resolution. Even if that means taking daily selfies (gross) and posting them once a week. Guess that means finally painting and hanging my mirror.
the baby bump
