Fashion isn’t for the weak at heart. Shopping can be time-consuming and overwhelming; there are simply just too many choices! Because many of us are busy with kids and husbands and jobs, we often tend to shop at the same stores, buy the same kinds of clothes, and then BAM! we find ourselves smack in the middle of a clothing rut.
As I inch closer and closer to 30, I find myself still dressing like a 20-something college kid. My closet is full of comfortable jeans and t-shirts. I want to dress like an adult and break out of the rut that I’m in, but if I’m being honest, fashion scares the hell out of me. My brain understands things like math where there is one definite answer. Fashion just doesn’t work this way.
For example, the math in my head leads me to believe that skinny legs = skinny jeans, as in, you must have skinny legs to wear skinny jeans. This, friends, is FALSE. Even though I have always been afraid of skinny jeans since I walk on two non-skinny legs. But guess what? It turns out that skinny legs ARE NOT really a requirement for skinny jeans.
Who knew?
Jen
Check out some of the other Curvy Girls stepping outside their comfort zones and totally rocking it.
Tena
“A dress- eek! Where are my yoga pants? WHERE ARE MY YOGA PANTS!” – Tena
Yvonne
“A dress. With stripes. That hugs all of my problem spots (tummy roll. hips. ShelfAss.)” – Yvonne
Angie
“For reasons that include wide swimmer’s shoulders, flabby arm flags, and acne, I hadn’t worn sleeveless shirts or tanks since I was a little kid. That was until my sister told me to get over myself and ‘OWN IT.’” – Angie
Greis
“For the first time in 10 years I decided to wear shorts. I can’t promise that I’ll make a habit out of it but I didn’t feel terrible in them and that’s a big step.” – Greis
Holly
“I bought this dress and necklace to wear in NYC last summer. I loved them in the store but when I put them on to go out in public I felt like a cross between a ’50s housewife having a luncheon and a 16-year-old girl going to homecoming. I ended up never wearing them. Fortunately they still fit—even at 15 weeks pregnant—with plenty of stretchy room for my ever expanding pregnant belly. And the hoots and whistles from my husband and his band mate when I walked out in the outfit to take the picture made me feel pretty sexy.” – Holly
Daisy
“I have been wearing the same variation of a black dress with sleeves for any formal even for the past few years…but this dress reminded me that a pop of color (ok fine, a lot of color) can give me the courage to go without sleeves.” – Daisy
Brittany
“I’m a mom. I live in flip flops and Uggs and even..house slippers. These shoes make me feel sexy, confident and gorgeous. It’s funny how the right pair of heels helped me feel like a woman again.” – Brittany
Nanette
“This is my first time sporting a trend I’ve been eyeing for a long time — a belt over a dress. I was afraid I wasn’t petite enough to pull it off, but I stepped out of my comfort zone recently and was happily surprised! I found the right belt/dress combo for my figure.” – Nanette
Emily
“Red Lipstick. At 32 years old, I bought my first tube of red lipstick. I feel super silly wearing it, and totally self conscious that every one is staring at me.” – Emily
Come share your pictures of you rocking something outside of your comfort zone!
Project Real: Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone
Jen Bradshaw is a work at home, never gets a chance to sit down, organizational freak, mom to two under two. Her life is chaotic, but she’s a glutton for punishment. You can read more from Jen on her blog, JenBShaw.
You ALL inspire me to try new things EVERY DAY!! Thank yoU!! XOXOX
Maybe you will inspire me to try shorts this summer, although I wouldn’t want to blind anyone with my pasty white legs.
I need a tan, but maybe we can venture out together in shorts while in California in TWO WEEKS!!!
I wore that dress to a wedding this past weekend and got more compliments on it that all my black dresses combined. Lesson learned!
Duh, that’s because you look awesome.
Love this post!
Just tried to take a picture of myself in the bathroom at work with my phone… Not great results but will get someone to take one tonight.
I am stepping out of my comfort zone for sure today… Lycra mini skirt! Eeep!
Wow! A skirt of any sort would be a big step for me. Can’t wait to see the picture!
Last night I watched What Not Wear and Carmindy used black eyeliner. I’ve always wanted to be the kind of woman who could wear black eyeliner, but I’ve just never been able to pull it off. I just felt like it looked all wrong, so I’d wash it off. But this morning, I decided I was going to try it again. So here I sit in my black eyeliner. And I’m not really sure how it looks because I didn’t take a good look after I put my glasses on!
I feel the same way! I feel like I’m drawing attention to my eyes…I forget why that’s a bad thing at the moment, pretty sure that’s the whole purpose!
I’m ok with eyeliner but I’m sh*t with eyeshadow. I can’t break out of my safe neutral colors.
You have gorgeous eyes. You need a plum eyeshadow to highlight them. I have a ton of eye makeup, but when I really want my eyes to pop, I use my sweet plum eyeshadow from Mary Kay with a light lavendar under the brow. The effect is quite startling.
I made the same Skinny Jean discovery as Jen did…I’ve been rocking them for the later half of the winter. Although, I still get nervous wearing them with anything other than boots…but still! I tackled the fear and won!
Me, too!
Holly… you are a sassy minx. LOVE it.
Haha. Thanks. I kind of feel like a jackass with that balloon in my hand. At the time it screamed “flirty and fun” to me.
I thought the balloon was super cute!
yes, i echo angie on that one entirely!
Aww, shucks. *smooch*
Jen, those ARE skinny legs in skinny jeans!
Also love love Daisy’s dress and Brittany’s shoes. Even using a judgmental eye– you all look good! Honestly, there was no gasping and thinking, “ooh, she shouldn’t have taken that risk”
Sounds dumb, but I love TLC’s What Not to Wear and it has made me see that anyone can look good in any style– as long as the clothes FIT them properly.
Good job girls!
Thanks so much Kelly. That photo doesn’t really do the color of it justice (or the texture) – but I’m proud of myself for wearing it!!
Thanks Kelly! I promise you there are larger than life thighs and even some cankles under those jeans but you’re right as long as the FIT is right they look pretty good.
Everyone look so great stepping out of their comfort zone. Frankly, I wouldn’t even know it’s not their normal look, it looks so natural. I’m joining!
Nannette- I used to think the belted dress was not for me and now it’s pretty much my wardrobe staple. I went from owning no belts to 25! (ok, I maybe got a little addicted but thrift stores are a great place to find belts cheap.)
25! Love it! I’ll definitely check out thrift stores for some belt deals!
Now I can’t put on a dress without thinking, “This needs a belt!” Some day I want to try it over a cardi a la Michelle Obama.
I have almost that exact dress and I bought a belt to go with it, now to just get brave enough to wear it!
LOVE LOVE LOVE Yvonne in that striped dress!!
See, all of you guys looks AMAZING in whatever you’re stepping out of the box and into.
I guess that’s the point of this article though, isn’t it?
Why yes Meghan it is. Now add your picture to the group!
I think all of you look gorgeous, but I’m super jealous of Yvonne’s dress!
I am totally afraid of straying from my clothing comfort zone. I am not sure why. Lately that has been cordoroys and khakis at work and jeans on the weekend.
I am 37 and need clothing help.
In the summer, I live in a zone of comfort: black shorts and colored top. I need to break out!
Try switching it up! A neutral top with COLORED shorts (I’m a fan of blues and corals) and a coordinating (but not too-matchy, if that’s not your thing) scarf distributes attention without visually blocking out your lower half. AND OMG DO I LOVE COLOR COLOR COLOR!
I’m in awe of all of you!
I LOVE skinny jeans. And you look awesome, bitch. You’re all beautiful ladies!
Omg. Y’all. I JUST bought a maxi dress, but I got it from Old Navy online. I tried it on and I HATE it. HATE. IT. Y’all just inspired me to try it on again. I think this time I’ll fix my hair and makeup first. The main thing I hate about it is it ties around the neck so I either have to wear no bra (D cup, breastfed 3 kids. That’s a bad idea) or a strapless and I can’t find one that fits without muffin top boobs.
Do it and take a picture for our Flickr group!
Um. Um…
Okay… But not today. I’m working on Algebra homework. So, when I take a picture, how do I get it to you?
Wendy—Invest in a really well fitting bra. Seriously. A good bra makes a HUGE difference. I was wearing the wrong sized strapless for years and hated it. When I finally got one in the right size with the right fit my boobs sang out in praise. Okay, maybe not, but we were all much happier for it.
I personally have no love for maxi dresses (especially from Old Navy). They rarely do anything for your figure and often overwhelm you (regardless of size). Old Navy also has significant quality issues, so you can expect it to start stretching and sagging the first time it goes through the wash. My advice, get a GOOD bra (a la Holly) and hem that sucker to right above your knee caps. Old Navy has some brilliant patterns and colors, and the shorter look will look breezy instead of heavy. If you’re still an Old Navy fan, their cardigans are a cheap, bright cover-up option as long as you’re not looking for a long-term piece.
For me, it’s pencil skirts. I am thin, but my thighs are bigger, proportion-wise, and I have always been afraid of straight skirts. Until I bought one recently…and pretty much never want to put on anything else again.
I can imagine that pencil skirts pair wonderfully with your awesome cardi collection!
But I don’t know HOW!!!! I’ve been a t-shirt and jeans girl for SO long, that when I put another material on I feel like I’m dressed up…which means uncomfortable.
But for you beauties? I’ll give it a try. I’d love to wear comfy, casual skirts this summer. I’ve always wanted to be able to dress like Meg Ryan’s character in You’ve Got Mail, too.
Just do it! You will be gorgeous and flowing skirts are perfect for the summer. You would be surprised how much movement are in those. Playing at the park with the kids will still be easy-peasy.
Y’all look gorgeous.
I’m 50 and I dress in jeans and black shirts almost every day. But this post? Kick in the pants…
My 100% I-feel-ugly day brightener? A new A-line dress with narrow straps and a v-neck. Flattering on EVERYONE, especially if you’ve got junk in the trunk – or really anywhere else. My roommate is one of those petite little blonde things who will wear a bandage sheath dress every day of the week, but when I whip out my (brightly-colored, of course!) A-line I get admiring looks (and they’re the classy kind, not the wowwww-that’s-a-bandage-sheath-dress kind).
That red lipstick looks great! I constantly want to be able to pull it off, but always feel like I have Mr. Potato Head lips stuck on my face when I try to wear it. Looks great on Emily, though!
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