Self-love is important – we all know this and hear it often, but it can be a bit abstract and hard to put into practice, especially since it looks different for everyone. One of the ways you can show love to yourself is through fashion. If getting dressed feels like a chore, and you don’t like what you wear anymore or how you look in it, it might be time to do a wardrobe detox. Now that you’re ready to figure out your new wardrobe, we have some tips to help you cultivate self-love through fashion, including:
- Wear what you like
- Wearing clothes that fit
- Wear your fave fit everywhere!
- Tattoos & piercings
Wear What You Like
Dress For You, Not For Everyone Else
Trends change faster than you can blink. High-waisted jeans are in – oops, now they’re out again. If you limit yourself to the kinds of fashion that are currently popular, not only is it… well, limiting, but you’ll also end up with clothes that are no longer “in” in a short amount of time, just costing you money. And if you wear clothes you don’t really like for the sake of following what’s trending, you’ll just feel miserable.
You’ll feel much happier with what you wear if you go with what you like. If you like Hawaiian shirts, buy them. Skinny jeans? There are plenty out there! And of course, this extends to clothes and accessories that you like, but you worry might be childish or tacky. Often, these are the things people will compliment you on the most when you wear them out and about. Ever seen someone wearing a cool, creative, flashy or outfit and thought, “Man, I wish I had the confidence to wear that?” You never know – people might just think that about you! I felt a little silly buying a fuzzy pink frog bag as a 22-year-old man, but every time I take it out, people love it. And more important than that, I love it. If you see something that makes you happy but feels a little silly, don’t deprive yourself of it. At heart, everyone wants to get a little bit silly.
If dressing flashy isn’t what you want, or you still don’t feel confident about it, an easy way to still incorporate things you like into your outfit is to decorate your things – sew some patches on your jacket, or get pins for your bag or backpack. Having a close-by reminder of the things you like can be a great mood boost, and it’s always exciting to meet people who understand the niche fandom reference that’s on one of your pins.
Wear Clothes That Fit
Hiding in Ill-Fitting Clothes? It’s Time To Make A Change
A lot of people tend to dress in oversized clothes – it can be comfortable at home, but do you like how you look in them? For a long time, I dressed in oversized shirts to hide the fact that I was fat, but I found that I didn’t like the way those long shirts made my torso look, either. Once I started tucking in my shirt, I found that even though it highlighted my belly more, it didn’t look bad. In fact, there are a lot of ways to style your stomach that don’t revolve around deemphasizing it.
On the flip side, a lot of people will often dress in clothes that are too small for them – while this can be tempting, the feeling of pinching and squeezing, of buttons digging into you, can put anyone in a bad mood, especially after a long day. It sounds cheesy, but one of the best ways to cultivate self-love is to be kind to your body, and it’s hard to do that when you’re putting yourself through unnecessary discomfort. There’s no shame in going up a size where you need. Focus on what feels good to wear, not on the number on the tag. Often, clothes that actually fit will look better on you, because they’re fitting you in the way they’re designed to.
If you have trouble finding things that fit properly, try looking at speciality stores – for example, U510 is great for short men. These stores can be a little bit more expensive, but they’re often higher quality than most retailers, and the self-esteem boost that comes with having clothes that fit you properly is worth it.
Wear Your Fave Fit Everywhere
Grocery Store? Check. Club? Check. Class? Check.
It can be tempting to save outfits for just the right occasion, but If you limit yourself to only wearing outfits or clothing items you like for these special occasions, chances are, you’ll never get to wear them. If you’re happy wearing it, that’s all the reason you need to wear it out somewhere. It can feel intimidating to wear something that’s a little fancier or out-there to mundane places, but most of the time, people will actually just admire your confidence. And honestly, being excited about wearing an outfit somewhere can often be enough to get you out of the house, when you otherwise might procrastinate or stay inside. Sometimes you know you look good, and you want to share it with the world.
Tattoos, Piercings, And More
It’s Your Body – Modify It To Your Heart’s Content
Whether it’s a small, cartoony tattoo of a cat, or a large back piece of a beautiful nature scene, tattoos are a great way to express yourself and show some self-love – you can tattoo things on you that make you happy, and even reminders of how far you’ve come (such as a semicolon tattoo, if you’re someone who has survived suicidal ideation).
Piercings are another great way to feel more at home in your body – and they can make you feel better about parts of your body that you dislike. Dying your hair is the same way. Whether you just don’t feel like your natural color suits you, or you want to be able to see your favorite color whenever you look in the mirror, it’s a great way to take control of your fashion.
Of course, because these modifications aren’t just something you can take off, you might face a bit more backlash from family members or from your workplace (though you can always get tattoos or piercings in subtler places if visibility is a concern). On the plus side, though, many workplaces are becoming more and more open to visible body modifications, especially if you live in a more urban environment.
It can be daunting to make decisions you may be judged for, but the important thing to remember is that it’s your body. Sure, you might regret getting that tattoo in twenty years – but you might also regret not getting that tattoo. In the end, you’re the one who has to live with the decisions you make, so your focus should be on what makes you happy. The most worthwhile people in your life will accept this about you.
Tips on Finding Clothes You Love
Sometimes It Just Takes A Little Branching Out
So now you’re ready to start cultivating self-love through fashion, but you’re not sure what you like. We’ve all been there! There are lots of things you can do to remedy this, though, such as:
Trying things on. Take a day to go shopping – try on styles you wouldn’t normally wear! It can feel daunting, but you might find that you love the look or feel of a piece much more than you thought you would.
Making inspo boards. Whether you use Pinterest or some other form of making collages, making inspiration boards can be a great way to get a bird’s-eye view of anything that catches your eye, and start figuring out what of those pieces might make a coherent outfit. This also works great for tattoos, piercings, and hairstyles!
Thrifting. Especially if you’re on a budget, thrifting can be a great way to find new clothes, and you’ll often stumble on things you’d never find in a more conventional store.
Asking friends and family. Know someone whose sense of fashion you admire? Ask them for help! Asking what they think might look good on you is a great way to get some ideas, especially if their taste is different than what you might normally buy.
With that, our guide on cultivating self-love through fashion comes to a close. Now get out there, and put together outfits that make you feel great about yourself!
