Real women, real beauty

Tonight I cut out the fabric for a jacket I'm making. I like to sew my own clothes for a number of reasons:
1) I can get the exact style, color, etc., that I want.
2) I hate to shop.
3) The clothes I make are usually a lot better quality than what I find in stores.
4) I hate to shop.
5) I can get a tailor-made fit, instead of having to alter what I buy.
6) I hate to shop.
7) I can make most things for a fraction of their cost in stores.
And did I mention, I hate to shop? I'd rather visit the dentist than the mall. The dentist has better drugs. At the mall I am inundated by clothing that is far too small, too revealing and too young for me. Let me state for the record, I am not obese or even overweight, technically speaking - my Body Mass Index is 25, which is the upper limit of NORMAL. As such I should be able to find clothing in my size in most stores, right? HA! And while I do like a mid-rise jeans style because I am very short-waisted, I don't want to reveal everything when I bend over! And muffin tops - let's not go there, I'd much rather keep my middrift safely covered. All I want is to find clothing that is stylish but age-appropriate for a person who prefers either jeans or classic styles, readily available in my size. I don't think that's too much to ask but apparently retailers disagree. I can't count how many times I've gone into a store and asked for an item in my size, only to have a snooty clerk sneer at me and say "we don't carry THAT size here."

What is it about our society that idealizes unrealistic body types? Why does this happen? The media portrays ultra-thin models as the standard of beauty, and we lap it up because we're trained to take our cues from what the media tells us is good. We've been conditioned by a media that feeds (and feeds off of) women's collective insecurity about appearance, to compare ourselves critically with whatever image is presented as the "ideal", and then to use our resources (dollars) to try to achieve that impossible image. Makeup, hairstyles, hair colors, skin care, weight loss programs, gyms, toning programs, manicures, pedicures, waxing, laser hair removal, and of course shopping because styles change every season and we're expected to keep up! Maintining an appearance condoned by our society could be a full-time job if we let it, if we buy into the hype. My position on this is: DON'T. Don't do it for the sake of keeping up or impressing anyone. Whatever you choose to do, whatever appearance you choose to present, do it for the right reason - because it makes you happy, not because it's expected of you. Be yourself, be proud of who you are and let your individuality shine through. Self-confidence is the best appearance-enhancer of all.

On another topic completely, if you want some really good laughs, have I got a blog for you! I stumbled on this one today while surfing and knew I had to share this. Go to http://www.marmitetoasty.blogspot.com/ and get ready to laugh your ass off at some well-told stories of real life.

"It is foolish to wish for beauty. Sensible people never either desire it for themselves or care about it in others. If the mind be but well cultivated, and the heart well disposed, no one ever cares for the exterior." - Anne Bronte

Later,
AuntieM