“Omg, what is she wearing?” She is wearing clothes she belongs in. She woke up with morning and decided on that outfit, so who are you to tell her she needs to change. Every day people are judged by how they choose to present themselves through their apparel, and I’ve been one of those girls before. Anytime I saw an outfit or top that I absolutely loved, and would try to convince myself that I could pull it off; sometimes even going as far as purchasing it and giving it a considering stare every morning. I never had the confidence to take that outfit and rock it, why? I feared the menacing glares from the “fashion experts” and the degrading feeling I would get from them.

Throughout our adolescent years, we were told to always be ourselves and to express ourselves whenever possible. One of the easiest, or should be the easiest, ways to express oneself is their wardrobe. Clothes shopping is always a stress. “Does this look good on me?””Is this appropriate for my size?” So many questions that you will only get answers to when you purchase and wear the clothes out. Why is it that these questions mean more than the self-expression that would come out of wearing what you want?

I used to be directed to strictly tee-shirts and jeans, even in the summer. I was so self-conscious of how I appeared in my clothes. If something felt to “stylish” or looked too glamorous, I instantly ruled it out. Dresses and shorts were a no go, because my legs weren’t as skinny as other girls. Socks and sneakers always, because I have a strange second toe that I don’t want to be noticed. Long sleeved shirts and sweat shirts were desired because they hid my dark arm hair. I want to appear normal, and to not be picked out of the crowd, but in doing that, I was a blank page. It looked like I had no confidence, nothing to say, or speak of; I was just there.

I can’t exactly pick out my turning point, where I realized that I can do and wear whatever I like, but I can tell you how much it has effected me. My self-esteem skyrocketed, and I no longer care how other people think I look because I think I look fabulous. Dresses and shorts are now, always an option. I wear crop tops now (although I do have a little belly) but that doesn’t stop me. And now that I’m always looking at my long crooked second toe exposed by my sandals, I have embraced not only my toes, but myself as a whole.

When you feel good about how you look, the whole day looks brighter. Instead of leaving your room dreading the events of the day, you thrive off of them knowing that more people get to see your outfit today. So wear that crop top, or rock that dress because if it fits, it’s you.