Clothing Optional

[caribou_gen]

It seems odd to be my age and to suddenly learn that I have difficulty clothing myself. It started with my students being very blunt that they thought I was thin and that I wore frumpy, unflattering clothes. They were all set to buy me some new trousers to replace the ones I regularly wear.

Next, I discussed my students' observations with a couple of teachers and they agreed with the students. They told me I wear a lot of clothes that are too large. Speaking with other friends, they all agree.

So why hasn't anyone mentioned this to me before?

I've now got the challenge of changing my perceptions about what size I am. I was a somewhat larger person at the end of high school and used to regularly wear size 16. Who knows if I was even wearing the right size at that point. Today, I was given some trousers that fit remarkably well and are a size 11. I don't think I've really lost a lot of weight, maybe only 10 lbs. I think what I need to to do is change my mindset and stop buying clothes by size but rather by how they fit.

I almost feel embarressed to admit that I'm getting fashion tips from What Not to Wear.

Comments

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

You were bigger than you are now, sure, but you were *never* a size 16. I think you've always worn clothes that were too big for you, actually. I've never mentioned it because I thought you liked the baggy look.

You're welcome to go through my closet and try things on if you like them!

-J

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

I think I probably did fit a size 16 in *something* since sizes range so much depending on what your buying and who made it. From there, I just kept on buying the same size assuming that was my size.

As I said to purplejavatroll:

I think I was a little less comfortable with my body when I was younger. I'm feeling more confident/relaxed about it now and I more willing to show off my form. It helps that I'm becoming more fit.

I guess I'm just a little surprised that everyone except me has realized I wear clothes that are too large and I'm only just discovering it.

Mind you, I haven't had a full length mirror in a long, long time.

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

At the heaviest point in my own adult range, I weigh ~180 and am a size 14 (still *well* below a 16). At my lightest, I weigh ~135 and am a size 8. That's a huge fluctuation in size without too huge a fluctuation in weight, which is why I think it's so important to keep clothes in various sizes.

You said your new pants were a size 11, but I actually think you'd be perfectly comfortable in the 10s I own. I'm a 12 right now, and I'm pretty sure you're quite a bit thinner than I am at the moment. You should seriously try on some of my stuff, if only to get a better sense of what size you should be wearing!

-J