I’ll feel good and work hard in these!

We all know that rewards can work for kids, and we often use them for ourselves. I have a friend who has been known to pop a handful of M&M’s in her mouth as a reward for getting off the couch and heading to the gym. Whatever works, right?

I’ve tried a lot of reward systems for myself. Usually it is food or TV related. Something I see as a little indulgence. I even tried to pay myself a dollar for every workout. In the end I was too cheap to pay up, even to myself.

Yes, I can be a little thrifty. Especially when it comes to workout clothes. I have been wearing the same things for years. And some of those are even hand-me-downs themselves.

I’ve never seen the point in spending money on things I only wear to the gym.

Sure, I admire the people who shop at Lulu Lemon and Lucy. I just figured that we had different priorities when it came to shopping. I spend on the things I wear the most: work clothes.

They would tell me that it is nice, and even motivating, to workout in clothes you like. I’d just roll my eyes and save my money for a great pair of slacks.

But I’ve been going to the gym consistently now for four months. And I’m starting to see some results from all of my hard work. Now I finally understand what they were talking about.

I want to reward myself for working hard. I want to wear a cute sports bra at the gym, even though it’ll be hidden under my tank top and no one will know but me.

So this weekend I took myself to one of those fancy workout stores.

It was a whole different experience from shopping at Target. The store was filled with beautiful workout gear, organized by sport. Sales people were helpful and friendly, and they had experience wearing the clothes.

The dressing room was big, and so nice that there were throw pillows on the bench. I felt special just by being there.

And as I stood in front of the giant, gold framed mirror and tried on clothes, something happened.

I began to see myself differently.

Instead of staring at my reflection and noticing the flaws, I liked what I saw. New, toned muscles and a more fit body than I’ve had in a while.

I looked good in those workout clothes and that made me feel good. Or maybe the fact that I felt good made me look good. It’s hard to say. Our feelings and physical appearance are a lot like the chicken and the egg.

What I do know is that when I slip on that hot pink sports bra I feel like I deserve it, and that makes me want to workout even more.

Do you reward yourself for your hard work? What kinds of rewards do you like? Do you invest in workout gear or cheap out, like me? Are rewards motivating? Or just an unnecessary indulgence? I’d love to hear what you think.

These purple tights made my blah outfit feel more fun.

Every Fall feels like a new beginning to me. A new school year, new goals, new friends, and new clothes.

It’s the time of year when we have to stop wearing those summer dresses and skirts that make us feel so good. Feminine and fun is hard to do in wool pants.

The best way to deal with that is to get a few new pieces for winter that make me feel fabulous. It’s what I usually do.

But I don’t usually have to furnish an entire apartment. So this year I don’t exactly have the budget for any new clothes. I’ve been trying to mix it up as much as possible. Thankfully, I now live in a place where it’s still warm in October.

Then I was walking through Target, looking for a floor lamp, when I had an idea. I walked by a row of colored tights. Then I turned around and walked by it again. Color. That is exactly what I need to add some fun to my wardrobe.

I can take all those black and grey skirts and dresses for Winter and make them fun with color. So, I bought a pair of red and a pair of purple.

With a black skirt and grey top, red legs will give me the pop of color I need to feel fun. To feel like I’m wearing something different.

A bright color doesn’t have to take over our outfits. We can add them in small doses, safely. Purple tights and purple feather earrings will make that old outfit seem new. And it’s a good way to experiment with the new trends.

Sometimes when shopping I feel like the Goldilocks of fashion. The fun new trends can be way too much for me. But, I still want to try it out. A bright, color blocked dress or a hounds-tooth coat look great on celebrities or hanging on the rack, but not on me.

I prefer something smaller.  Tights or a scarf? A belt or shoes? That’s just the right amount.

It worked this summer when I put a bright yellow belt and shoes with my blue dress. That little bit of bright color was all I needed.

I’m so excited by my find, that the next time I go to Target I’m going to get a pair of blue, and maybe even green. I can change the way I feel about my entire closet with just five dollars.

Small things can make the biggest difference sometimes.

Have you ever made small changes to an outfit and changed the way you feel about it? Do you have any inexpensive tricks for adding to your wardrobe? Can one small thing change the way you feel about your clothes, and yourself?

If you are interested in checking out some colored tights, Target has some online, as well as a great selection in stores.

Express has some colors, and even a hounds-tooth pattern in black, for about twice the price of Target.

I shant worry about what other people think!

When it happened to Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl I was sure it was staged. I mean, who wears something they haven’t tried out at a dress rehearsal? It just didn’t seem likely to happen on its own.

But after this weekend, I believe that accidents really can happen anywhere.

My friend’s husband, Ryan Fox, is a talented watercolor artist who had paintings accepted into the art exhibition at the State Fair. He was out of town for the weekend and they had to be dropped off, so she enlisted my help.

I thought, knowing the two of us, that finding the right building would be the toughest part of the trip.

We did spend quite a bit of time driving around the fair grounds looking for the building. And we drove around the actual building three times before we realized it was the right one.

Eventually, we figured out where we needed to be and we parked close to the open doors. My friend grabbed her baby and asked if I’d rather carry the baby or the paintings, which she had unloaded and set on the ground.

There was no chance that the paintings would spit up on me, so it seemed like the obvious choice.

I bent down to pick them up and heard a giant ripping sound.

I felt around and found a tear that started at the inside of my thigh  and went to just below the center of my butt cheek.

I stood up without the paintings and started freaking out. I’d never ripped a pair of pants before, let alone in public. Sure, they were about 5 years old and not of the highest quality to begin with, but dang. It was not something I was prepared for.

The whole world looking at my dangling butt cheek was not on a list of things I wanted to experience. Not to mention the worry I had of what people would think.

When my friend finally stopped laughing, she told me to tie my sweatshirt around my waist and handed me the baby. She took the paintings and I tried to look as normal as possible, considering the circumstances.

Back in the car, she gave me a choice. We could go back home so I could get out of my ripped pants and deal with my shame in private. Or we could continue with the day we had planned: a trip to one of the local college campuses to get Brave On The Page, and then to the state farmers market.

I had to think about that one. I’m not really big on public humiliation and I’ve spent most of my life feeling fat. And far too much time worried about what other people think.

But I wanted that book, and I wanted to have fun.

And I didn’t want to be so vain that I had to run home and hide my head just because I had a wardrobe malfunction. Janet Jackson kept singing, and a little nipple flash didn’t stop her from getting on stage again. So, I wasn’t going to let my ripped pants stop me from having fun.

I tied the sweatshirt a little lower and to the side, to cover the tear as much as possible. My friend assured me that she couldn’t see it, not even from the front when I walked. I’m not sure if she was telling the truth, but we went ahead with our plans anyway.

We ran around and played on the NC State campus. Then we went through every aisle at the state farmers market. I taste-tested tomatoes, salsas, and apples. And I even bought some ice cream. Two scoops.

Yes, I thought I noticed people looking at me funny. Maybe they noticed the tear, or maybe they just thought the ice cream looked good.

Yes, the thought even flashed through my mind that they were looking at me and thinking: Oh, wow, that girl should’ve stopped eating the ice cream when her pants ripped!

But I decided not to care.

I was having fun and enjoying my weekend. And now I know I’m confident enough to do that in ripped pants.

When we got back to my friends house, I ripped off the rest of my pant leg. It made short-shorts on one side. My friend called them Shants: half shorts, half pants. I did the running man in the living room and called them my Dance Shants.

We laughed about it and had fun.

Because I couldn’t change what happened. I’m down a pair of pants and I now know what it feels like to tear your pants in public. But what I could do was decide how I would react to the situation. And I’m glad I took the risky road.

I learned that a little public humiliation is not so bad if you’re having a good time. Besides, a little exposed butt cheek never hurt anyone.

Have you ever had a public wardrobe malfunction? How did you deal with it? Do you ever let your appearance or worry about what other people might say stop you from having a good time?

Do I dare to wear shorts?

Before I moved to the south I had a picture in my head about what people dressed like here. It involved dresses, big hats, and clothing appropriate for church or the Kentucky Derby.

Not exactly what it’s like. At all.

People here dress in a lot of different styles. Yes, there are a few hipsters like I left in Portland, but they aren’t everywhere. Men in plaid shirts and skinny jeans is not the norm.

When you go out you see women in cute (but not churchy) dresses, jeans, skirts and tops, and even shorts. People wear shorts out to dinner and even to dance clubs.

I’m not talking about cargo shorts, running shorts, or hiking shorts. They are dressy shorts, usually in a silky fabric. And always worn with heels.

Something I’ve seen before in fashion magazines and never had the nerve to try.

I’ve always considered myself a person who doesn’t look good in shorts. I have thick legs and my skin is rather pasty. It looks good on my face, but legs is a whole different thing. Thick, white legs in shorts may be too scary to be cute.

I was always able to talk myself out of it in Portland. It was usually cold and almost always raining, so shorts weren’t a good investment. I’d just buy another pair of boots.

There is one other fashion trend I’ve been thinking about, for like thirteen years. Ever since J.Lo came out with “If you had my love” in 1999: white pants.

I figured if J. Lo could look so good in white pants, I couldn’t use my butt as an excuse not to wear them. And I’ve seen quite a few people rocking them since I’ve been here.

It’s warmer for more of the year so shorts and white pants have a longer life in the south. That means I don’t have the it’s-not-worth-the-money-because-I’m-only-going-to-wear-them-twice excuse.

It’s time to try them on.

I’ve gotten close a few times. A pair of white jeans on sale at the already discount store have made it to the dressing room. But white is not the fabric to cheap out on. J.Lo’s pants were’t see-through. That’s why they looked so good.

A nice, thick white fabric, that’s what I need. I may have to spend a little more than twenty bucks to get a pair that looks good on my body, but I’m worth it.

And I already know that pants are harder to fit. I take the time to find a style that looks good and I’m willing to pay more for a pair that flatters my body.

But there is still some fear inside of me. Left over from my “fat girl” days, even though I was never really fat. It’s that tape that plays inside my head with old messages that were never true. So I think my fat legs don’t look good in shorts, and look even worse in white.

Maybe I just need to practice. Go to the store and stand in front of the dressing room mirror and tell my reflection I look good in those shorts. Turn around and give my butt a compliment in the white jeans.

When I was in high school I took all kinds of risks with fashion. The plaid skirt with the bowling shoes? Some people thought I was crazy, but I didn’t care because I thought I looked great.

Even recently I took a risk with a sparkly top and red jeans at a fashion show in Portland. I definitely didn’t fit in, but I felt good about what I was wearing, so I didn’t care.

Maybe the key to taking risks is the confidence we feel in ourselves.

I just need to work on building the confidence up in myself and I’ll be wearing shorts and white pants in no time.

I’ll just take it one dressing room mirror at a time.

What risks are you afraid to take with clothes? Are there any trends or styles you’ve been afraid to try? What makes you feel confident in clothes?

He’s calling the other Hipsters to make sure they’re wearing plaid.

I would apologize ahead of time to all the hipsters out there, but they’re probably not reading this anyway.

There was an article in the local paper a few weeks ago about how the city ranked in some sort of attractiveness poll. The people, not the actual city.

It wasn’t that big of a shock to see that Portland was high on the list of Least Attractive. Number 13, to be exact.

At first I thought it was probably because of the weather. It’s cold and rainy pretty much all the time, so people are pasty and they wear a lot of ugly rain coats and funny looking waterproof shoes. There is a habit among the people here of looking like they are about to hike the Himalayas when they are really stopping by Whole Foods to pick up some organic milk.

But the unnecessary “outdoorsy” look is not the only reason Portland ranks high on the unattractive meter. No, I don’t like the REI look and I think it’s ridiculous that people spend so much money on ugly things they don’t actually need. Really, though, the problem is the Hipsters.

This is a city filled with Hipsters. Everyone is wearing skinny jeans, plaid shirts, and the same black framed glasses. Except for the women who like dresses and skirts. They’re in bigger versions of little-girl dresses, usually paired with clogs. I always wonder whose closet they were in playing dress-up, and why they’d want to look seven years old. The guys have the same “messy” hair that probably took at least two different products to achieve and they make the lines at the local coffee shops too long to stand.

The big problem with Hipsters is that everyone looks the same.

If you go to a party and meet more than two, you won’t remember who is who. ”The guy in the plaid shirt” doesn’t really narrow it down. “The girl with the pig tails and apron” doesn’t help either. They’d need name tags to keep them straight.

My own personal issue with Hipsters is more about their bodies. I have never seen a curvy Hipster, and I think I found out why.

I wanted to prove that Hikers and Hipsters were not the only people in this town. So I went on a local fashion search. I figured, there have been Project Runway winners from Portland, so there must be some small time designers with style.

What I found was pretty disappointing.

If you’re not thin, there’s no point in shopping local in this town. I’m not over weight or fat. But I have hips and a butt and boobs. My body has been described as womanly and curvy. And I’ve come to appreciate it.

But my curvy body did not fit into any of the local designs. The cuts were all straight and narrow. No hips or butts allowed. And not much a waist, either.

I understand that local designers are limited in scope. They can only make one pattern and so many different sizes. But I know who they are designing for here, and it is not me.

Hipsters are now the mainstream. They are everywhere. And, frankly, I’m bored. I’ve had enough of the same skinny style. Hipsters make me appreciate Kim Kardashian. That should signal a problem right there.

I’m looking forward to a time in fashion where the mainstream is a variety of body types and focused on personal style. Clothes are supposed to be about self-expression, and there’s no way that everyone can be feeling the same thing. We don’t all look the same, feel the same, or think the same. So we shouldn’t have to dress the same.

In the meantime, I’m doing the only thing I can. I’m moving! Goodbye Portland, Hello Miami!

How do you feel about Hipsters? What would you consider your personal style?

We’re dressed to have a blast at the party!

We all have certain styles we like and ways of dressing for the things we do everyday.

I like to dress professionally for work. I work with people who prefer a casual look, so I am used to being the most dressed up person in the building. But I am ok with that because I would feel uncomfortable being casual at work.

Yes, it is possible to be uncomfortable in comfy clothes.

Where we are going makes a big difference in how we dress.

This past weekend I had two events to attend. One was an afternoon get-together at a friend’s house and the other was my Going Away party.

The get-together was something my friend does every year, around her birthday, that is just to celebrate her. It’s about bringing together all the people in her community and spending time together.

I knew that it was going to be at her house, and that it was going to be casual. I knew the food would be vegan, gluten-free health food and that the other guests would be super laid back. They’d fit my definition of under-dressed.

So I didn’t shower.

Yes, that’s right. I went to a party dirty.

I brushed my teeth and put on deodorant. My hair went up into a pony tail and I put on a pair of comfy pants and one of my brother’s old school shirts. It took me less than 10 minutes to get ready. I was a total scrub, but I knew it didn’t matter. In my rule book, if I’m not going to get all the way dressed up, then I don’t need to shower.

On of my besties calls it my “Dirt-A**” look. I’m ok with that.

I felt totally comfortable at the get together. I was not the most casual person there, and I didn’t stick out at all. Nobody knew that I hadn’t showered. And even if they had, they wouldn’t have cared.

When I left my friend’s house I went home to get ready for my party. That meant showering, doing my hair and make-up, and spending time picking out the perfect outfit. I wanted something that said Summer Fun, but with a touch of Miami style. I wanted to find the perfect balance between backyard bar-b-que and cocktail party. Because that’s exactly what it was.

I figured that anyone who knows me knows what kind of party I would have. Fancy drinks in martini glasses and bite sized, bacon-wrapped h’orderves.

Most of my friends came dressed for the occasion, in dresses, skirts, and cute summer capris.

Then my friend who had the afternoon get-together showed up, wearing the same jeans and t-shirt she had on earlier. I hadn’t thought to warn her because I figured people should wear what they want to wear. And I assumed they knew what I’d be wearing.

But I was wrong.

When I talked to my friend about it later, she told me that she hadn’t thought much about where she was going and what kind of party it was. She said she was usually so comfortable in her skin, that she thought she’d feel comfortable no matter where she was.

But she was wrong, too.

She felt uncomfortable, out of place, and under-dressed.

And that totally changed the way she behaved. She went from being the confident, out-going, fun girl I know, to being the wall flower in the corner.

It was so strange to see what someone was wearing completely change their personality. It made me realize that we don’t dress to impress other people, we dress for ourselves. When we know where we are going we can dress in a way that will make us feel not just comfortable, but confident. Then we can let our true selves shine through.

Not everyone owns a cocktail dress, or wants to. I know that. But if we plan to dress for an occasion in a way that will make us feel good about ourselves, we can go in confident from the start.

Does the way you dress for different occasions change the way you feel? How do dress to feel most confident? Do you change your look depending on where you are going?

Look out, the flowered dress is back! Hopefully the big mustache isn’t next on the list…

Following fashion is fun. I love reading magazines and getting ideas for ways to try out new trends. I can admit that I watch Fashion Police every week. I like seeing what people are wearing.

I have never been the kind of person who goes all the way in. I’m more of a toe dipper. I like to take one small trend and mix it in with my regular style. You won’t see me in head to toe neon, ever. But, I might try it out with nail polish or a purse.

There is something to be said for trying new things. I never would have known how delicious calamari is if I hadn’t been willing to take the first bite.

But then I saw the new big flower trend. Celebrities are wearing dresses covered in giant, bright colored flowers. Joan Rivers wore a jacket with poppies and polka dots.

It was like one of those flash-back sequences from TV.

I remember growing up in the 90′s when big flowers, big hair, and other bad styles were all the rage. I understand that fashion is a cycle. Everything comes back around again, just in a slightly different way.

Back then I had a dress with big flowers. It was purple petals on a white back ground. Orchids, I think.

Even at the time I didn’t feel good in that dress. There was too much fabric and the size of the flowers made me look bigger. I thought maybe it was just my age. Nobody really feels good about themselves when they are 13, right?

Looking back, I think the reason I hated that dress was because it just wasn’t me. I was trying to pull off a look because it was popular. Everyone else was doing it and I was supposed to do it too. I wanted to be cool and fit in.

I realize now that if it doesn’t fit who I am, it doesn’t matter if I fit in.

I know whether or not I like something as soon as I try it on. I can test it out and put back what isn’t me. Really, the dressing room is the equivalent of taking one bite.

So the celebrities can go on wearing their big flowery dresses and their miss-matched prints. If there is a trend I don’t like, I’m going to skip it. I’m going to stick with being me.

I’m so glad I figured this out before Hammer Pants come back into style.

Are there any big trends you’d prefer to skip? Do you like try out new trends, or stick to the classics? How risky are you with fashion?

These platforms make me feel a little taller.

Besides warm weather, vacation, and an excuse to wear dresses, my favorite part of summer is the shoes.

Sandals.

I love them! They are fun yet kind of sexy. And they are the perfect way to highlight a pedicure.

The thing is, I’m a high heel girl. I never really accepted the fact that I’m not tall. And it seems to work because people don’t believe me when I tell them I’m 5′ 4”. “You seem taller than that” is the usual reaction.

And that is why I love heels.

But in the summer shoes need to be extra comfortable. There is more walking in the warm months. Hopefully to the beach, the river, and cute sidewalk cafes. Stilettos don’t work for that. At least not everyday.

Luckily for us, this is the season of the wedge.

There are so many tall, cute wedge sandals out this summer that everyone can find the perfect pair.

A lot of sandals are made from cork, so they are lightweight and comfortable despite their size. Even Aerosoles makes a few wedges, so you could literally run in four inch heels.

The other style I love is the platform. Although what makes a shoe a platform is the height under the ball of the feet, there are plenty of platform sandals that are an even surface. Because it is all the same height stacked under our feet, they are super simple to walk in. But, they get plenty of looks. I have one pair of platform sandals that are so tall people always ask how I walk in them. Honestly, it’s no different from walking in flip flops. Except that I feel taller.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Havaianas. But there is something extra special about wearing a strappy sandal and being a few inches off the ground. It’s kind of like walking on air.

Are you a sandal lover? What are your favorite shoes for summer? Or are you one of those people who loves to go everywhere barefoot?

In case you’re interested:

The two most fun places to shop for sandals are:

DSW because they have rows and rows of styles and a back room of clearance items. You will find something you like.

Nordstrom Rack because they also have a large selection, and they are separated by style, and sometimes color. My favorite Rack store in Downtown Portland has all the shoes laid out like a giant rainbow. It’s a thing of beauty.

I love dresses!

Summer is my favorite time of year. It has all of my favorite things: sun, warm weather, vacation from work, and a reason to wear dresses.

Truth be told, if I could wear a dress everyday I would be very happy.

I love dresses because they flow over and fit our bodies. We don’t have to stuff ourselves in and zip them up, like with jeans and other pants. Dresses are cool and breezy and I love the way they make me feel feminine.

And it’s so much easier to use a public bathroom in a dress.

The summer weather makes us all want to wear less, which means showing more skin. My legs are not meant for shorts, so I get the cooling effect from a dress.

I am someone who knows my body. I know what does and doesn’t look good on me. That’s the other thing about dresses. There are more style to choose from.

I know that A-lines and dresses with a waist look best on me. Something that goes in at the waist and out over the hips and butt. But no empire waists or jersey dresses for this girl. Oh, those just look so wrong on the booty!

Once you know what cuts and fabrics are the most flattering on you, you can find so many different dresses to rock.

There are the long, maxi dresses that are perfect for casual summer plans. It’s as comfortable as wearing a night gown, but so much more stylish. And, yes, maxi dresses can look good on those of us with curves. I have a couple that I love to live in with flip-flops and a big hat. And the best part is, no one will know if you didn’t have time to shave your legs.

Shorter dresses are easier to take from casual to more formal. Throw a necklace and a cute jacket over a beachy sundress and you can go to a wedding, a pic-nic, or even the office.

Needless to say, I love summer dress season. I think it is easier to get ready, and so much more fun, when I get to throw a dress on.

If you love dresses, I’m sure you know what I mean. If you are more of a pants person, you might want to think about giving a dress a try. I think you’ll be amazed at how well they fit our bodies, no matter what fruit-themed shape you are.

How do you feel about dresses? What are your favorite things to wear in the summer?

In case you’re interested:

My favorite places to shop for dresses are the discount stores that don’t have online versions. You really have to go in and see what they have.

My number one go-to for dresses is Nordstrom Rack. I also like Marshall’s and Ross, but I think Nordstrom Rack has the best selection and makes for a better shopping experience.

The regular retail store I like are a little spendier, but it is always worth checking them out.

The Loft is the cheaper version of Ann Taylor and they have some cute dresses. Plus, they give a teacher discount, and who doesn’t love that?

I’m not going to lie. I do shop at Forever 21. I just don’t pay attention to the size. I know it’s designed for skinny teens, so I’m ok being an extra-mucho-grande. I bought one of my favorite dresses there for a friend’s wedding. It was twenty-two dollars!

The Gap has some cute, casual dresses. And a nice array of maxi dresses.

Nordstrom has a great Summer Dress Guide, and a lot of these styles are already in the Rack stores, at a much better price.

They don't even look good on the floor...

I remember the first time I saw the skinny jean trend. Not just teenagers trying out what they saw in the magazines, but actual adults wearing them. It was eight years ago in Argentina. I thought I had flashed back to the 80′s.

They had the tight, ripped t-shirts and rocker accessories to go along with the jeans. And everyone had a mullet, even the women.

It was like the time my elementary school best friend moved to the suburbs and started listening to Butt-Rock. Most people in Argentina looked like the guys in the music videos who threw guitars and set birds free from cages.

I figured Argentina was just a few decades behind.

And then I moved back to the United States.

It turns out, it wasn’t just in South America.

Skinny jeans have been everywhere, on everybody in the years since. Even men now wear them.

I know my body, and I know what does and doesn’t look good on me. I have hips, a booty, and thick thighs. And my ankles are abnormally small.

Not a good match for skinny jeans. But, even I couldn’t hold the trend off forever.

I felt the need to fit in, and be like everyone else. I grew tired of trying to bring back the boot-cut all by myself.

One of my besties and I went on a search. I wasn’t willing to pay a lot of money for jeans I didn’t actually like, so we went to all the cheap stores. Forever 21, Papaya, and a place at the mall so cheap I don’t think it had a name.

I tried on dozens of pairs in the small dressing rooms with the giant mirrors. Most of them looked horrible. One light denim pair was so bad my bestie burst out laughing. We decided I should stick with a dark wash.

Eventually I found a pair that didn’t make anyone giggle. My friend even said they looked good. We learned we had different definitions of that word. But, I was desperate to fit in, so I bought them.

I wore them out once, with a long top that covered my butt.

The entire night I was self conscious and avoided any possible run-ins with mirrors. I didn’t feel confident, or stylish, or like myself.

I was used to the way I looked and felt in boot-cut jeans. I liked the way they balanced out my hips and came over the tops of my shoes. The skinny jeans bunched around my ankles and made me look like a lollipop on the bottom. I couldn’t take myself seriously.

When I went home and peeled off the jeans, I threw them into the back of my closet. I hated the way they made me feel.

The truth is, I like curves. I’d rather have a booty than a body like Angelina Jolie. But squeezing myself into those jeans made for skinny girls was making me hate myself.

Some styles are just made for some people. And that’s ok with me, now. I can appreciate a how a thin woman looks in skinny jeans. But I prefer myself in boot-cut. I just wish the trend of everybody wearing the same damn jeans would go away.

Skinny jeans aren’t for every body, so they aren’t for everyone.

How do you feel about skinny jeans? How do they make you feel about your body? Are you tired of the trend, or loving it? What kind of jeans do you wear? Any recommendations?

If you interested in finding some fabulous boot-cut jeans, here are my favorites:

CJ by Cookie Johnson makes jeans for women with curves. These are my current go-to jeans and I get compliments every time I wear them.

The Honey by Joe’s Jeans is a “traditional” jean with not too much stretch, but enough room in the butt and thigh. These are my fancy jeans.

I haven’t tried PZI jeans yet, but one of my favorite curvy girls recommended them to me. And, I trust her advice, so they’ll be my next jeans purchase.

And, yes, all these brands have skinny jeans, too, if that’s your thing.