As some of you may know, my personal fashion style has been, er, eclectic over the years. My style could be called gaudy, modest, weird, over-the-top, or just plain frumpy. A former boyfriend's best friend used to describe my clothes as "dick repellant" (my apologies). First, I didn't wear jeans, shorts, or sexy shirts. Instead, I wore long skirts or dresses or jumpers, sometimes with tights or leggings underneath, and blouses with sleeves. This was even in the summer. It's not a religious thing, but rather, a personal thing: I would prefer not to show my own skin, and I definitely don't like to tan.
In addition, I've tended to go overboard with colors and patterns. It's not that I didn't want to attract attention to myself, but that I wanted to do it on my own terms, with the clothes that I liked best. I mean, who doesn't like bright fabulousness? (I won't even go into my hairstyles over the years: bleached, buzzcut, mohawked, you name it. That would be another blog altogether.)
 |
| "Hey, guys! The pregnant, hippie creampuff modeled after June Cleaver's curtains is right over here!" |
 |
| Is it the pattern that's causing my manic smile? This was part of a polyester three-piece suit. |
 |
| When you've completely given up, you can wear Christmas pajamas outside. By the Dumpster. |
However, while I thought that I was looking original and unique all of these years, I think I was just looking tacky. I was doing my own thing, but I wasn't flattering myself. I had even been anti-jeans because I'd been anti-conformist. I wanted to be different at any cost.
Then there's the modest aspect. There's a difference between not trying to look sexy and deliberately trying not to look sexy, even for my husband. I began looking like a cult member (trust me). It didn't help that I'd gained and lost about 450 pounds total within 5 years with 4 pregnancies. I needed all the help I could get.
Flash forward to the present day. I am helping to look for jeans for my niece and nephew, and it occurs to me that I haven't owned a single pair of jeans in years. In fact, I last wore jeans back in college, I think, with the exception of a pair of maternity jeans I wore during one pregnancy. Yet jeans are flattering, versatile, and very practical. They are perfect for busy moms like me.
So I decided to change my style altogether. I will now be a Jeans Wearer. It's okay to be somewhat normal, I guess, for the sake of practicality and looking decent. I've also gone back to wearing makeup and styling my hair, two things that had gone by the wayside over the past year.
I still refuse, however, to go to the trouble of shaving my hairy legs. (Thank God I married a European who doesn't give a darn about these things.) So, obviously, the jeans will really come in handy for that.
 |
| Total cost of new outfit: about two dollars, thanks to the clothing-by-the-pound deal at Good Cents! |
 |
| P.S. I showed this photo to my oldest daughter, and her response was, "Who's that?" |
Wow, you're beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember liking your style in high school. I've never shunned any clothes in particular, but I certainly have an eclectic style too. I think it's fun to dress differently than everyone else. Also, I've managed to never shave my legs. Now I just need to find me a nice European guy ;)
ReplyDeleteBut thats the power of a mom, we can be both...and more!
ReplyDeleteIt's what moms are. We are all, in a nutshell. Sometimes we crack, but mostly were each just unique.
We're moms, we don't have to follow the flow!