When I talk to clients, I tell them that our work together is about the clothes, but it’s not about the clothes (how’s that for an oxymoron?). Because clothes are just a tool. Some clients want to focus on clothes to advance in their career. Other clients want to update what they wear for social occasions (meeting friends, date nights, etc.). I have clients who just want to evolve how they dress for their everyday casual lifestyle. But there’s a commonality among all my clients - they want to feel better in clothes.
How you feel in clothes shows up in different ways - it can show up in how you feel physically, how you feel mentally & how you feel emotionally.
So instead of asking, “how do I look?” - ask yourself, “how do I feel?”
HOW YOU FEEL PHYSICALLY
The physical aspect of clothes is pretty obvious. Do your clothes fit? Do they feel comfortable? Is there anything that bothers you? But I can’t tell you how often I’m in a client’s closet & we find clothes that don’t fit, that aren’t comfortable & that have something that annoys them. So, here are a few things to remember:
You deserve clothes that fit you right now. No matter your current size & no matter what size you used to be. If you’ve experienced a shift in size (or shape) & you’re not sure what to do, read this.
Accept that tailoring your clothes will happen. Because (to repeat myself) you deserve clothes that fit. So, if the waist gaps on your pants, get them taken in. If your pants are too long (or too short), fix the length. If something is a little tight or a little loose, see what your tailor can do. And before anyone says, “tailoring is expensive” - it can be. So, if you need a $15 hem on your dress & your budget is $100, buy the $85 dress to stay within budget. And then read this for a few things to know before you go to the tailor.
Be realistic & don’t buy things hoping they’ll get more comfortable. Yes, you can break in a pair of shoes & certain fabrics will soften with time. But shoes won’t magically get bigger (or smaller). Itchy fabrics may always itch. And you shouldn’t have clothes that annoy the heck out of you & you suffer through wearing because of how they look…
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