Reader Request: Before
LPC popped this question into the suggestion box: I'd love to know how you dressed beFORE you started looking at style the way you do now. Or as a teen. You have a very distinct style now. Was it always that way? I know you've talked about it here and there, but I...
Age-appropriateness and Trusting Your Gut
I don't believe in hard and fast rules when it comes to age-appropriateness. I've written about how I believe it's up to each individual woman to assess her situation, preferences, and comfort levels and make her own determinations. But I'll tell you something...
What IS Flattering?
As I've said before, there is no one right way to look great. You do NOT have to buy into the tall, thin, hourglass thing if you don't want to. It's your body, and it's your decision what to put on it. Wear what makes you feel like a luminous creature of incomparable...
Clothing Versus Body
In college, I wore what my peers wore. I had a limited budget, limited resources, and limited interest in style so I just imitated what I saw. And what I saw was jeans, jeans, flannel, Doc Martens, jeans, oversized sweaters, jeans, long-sleeve tees and, jeans. Also...
Start Today
There have been times in my life when I've postponed change or celebration or reward because of my body. I've said to myself, "I'll do that once I'm happier with myself. Once I've lost weight/toned up/changed my shape, I'll allow myself this activity or thing. I'll...
Bra Politics
A while back, I worked with a client who didn't own a bra. OK, to be fair, she owned several soft, relatively shapeless sports bras, none of which gave her breasts any support or shape. Her goal for the consult was to look more polished and professional for upcoming...
Wear Everything All the Time
When I wear white, I eat spaghetti. Or drink coffee. Or munch on Cheetos. Or write with Sharpies or open cans of motor oil or serve grape juice to passing children or basically do any and everything possible to STAIN THE LIVING BEJEEZUS OUT OF MY CLOTHING. But I wear...
On Mixed Messages About Style and Body Image
Although this post focuses on correspondence between myself and reader Nichole, she raises questions that I've gotten many, many times over the years both in comments on this blog and in a handful of e-mails. I do my best to tackle them in real time, but...
What Your Body Is, What Your Body Isn’t
Perspective is a powerful tool. Because "how things are" is incredibly relative, and how we think about them is key. When it comes to our bodies, we are coached to consider their deficits. They aren't thin enough, strong enough, sexy enough, young enough, smooth...
Body Stewardship
The first time I heard anyone talk about stewardship it was in a discussion about the environment, and in this context it meant making careful decisions that would cause no further harm to our planet. The next time was at the university...