Have you ever thought about how the clothes you wear affect how you feel? I recently took a trip down memory lane, reflecting on my childhood and how the hand-me-down clothes I wore had a profound impact on my style journey.
As a young girl, many of my outfits were passed down from my older brother. You can imagine the sea of 1970s browns and bottle greens that made up my wardrobe – far from my style or taste. I didn’t exactly cherish wearing those clothes, and it became apparent early on that what I wore had a direct link to how I felt. There were garments I owned that I didn’t want to wear as they didn’t make me feel confident, in fact, they made me want to hide.
Even at the age of 10 years old, I realised that what you wear impacts how you feel.
This revelation might resonate with you too. Do you ever think that what you wear doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things? That’s a common misconception. I associated the lack of spending on my clothing with my own value. It felt as though I wasn’t worth investing in, not even for clothes. This belief lingered for years, making it challenging for me to buy anything at full price.
One of my fabulous image consultant friends and colleagues who also grew up in hand-me-downs told me that now she could never even think of buying a second-hand garment as it took her back to that feeling of lack she experienced so much as a child.
I share this personal insight because it’s crucial to understand that early messages and experiences can profoundly affect our perception of self-worth and style.
Overcoming Your Past
If you’re nodding your head right now, you’re not alone. Many people harbour complex relationships with their style, often stemming from early experiences and messages they received. Perhaps, like me, you have memories of wearing clothes that didn’t resonate with you, making you question your worth. Maybe you’ve found yourself constantly seeking bargains or sale items as if splurging on yourself is somehow undeserved. These are common behaviours, and they often have deep-rooted connections to your past.
If you find it hard to spend money on yourself, always opt for sale items, or struggle with aspects of your style, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect. These behaviours, seemingly innocuous, can significantly impact our self-esteem and the way we perceive ourselves. Avoiding spending money on yourself or continuously hunting for discounts might be ways to safeguard against the feeling that you’re not worth it. It’s essential to recognize that these actions often trace back to early experiences, perhaps those childhood moments when hand-me-downs dominated your wardrobe, as they did mine. It’s like peeling back layers of an onion, slowly revealing the core reasons behind your choices. These revelations can be both eye-opening and liberating, paving the way for positive change.
I know that when I came to understand why I behaved as I did, and then challenged those beliefs and assumptions about my worth, it freed me from that baggage.
Your style journey is deeply connected to your self-esteem. Style isn’t just about clothing; it’s a powerful tool for self-expression. Your style choices reflect how you view yourself and how you believe others perceive you. The clothes you wear are an outward manifestation of your inner self-esteem and self-worth. When you feel confident and proud of your style, it radiates in all aspects of your life.
The Power of Style
Here’s the empowering part: you’re not stuck with the style story that you’ve carried since childhood. You can rewrite it. Your style journey is an ongoing narrative, and you’re the author. By examining your style-related behaviours, acknowledging their origins, and consciously making choices that reflect your true worth, you can empower yourself.
Start by understanding that you are worth investing in. Treat yourself to clothing that makes you feel fantastic, regardless of whether it’s on sale or full price. Experiment with styles that truly resonate with your personality and values. Use your clothing as a tool to boost your self-esteem, to showcase your uniqueness, and to communicate your confidence to the world.
Maybe you can relate to my experiences, or perhaps you have your own style-related challenges. If you find it hard to spend money on yourself, always opt for sale items, or struggle with aspects of your style, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect. Are these behaviours tied to something that happened in your past, influencing how you value yourself today?
You see, your style journey is deeply connected to your self-esteem. The good news is that you can rewrite this narrative and empower your style journey through your style choices.
Empower Your Style Journey
Remember, your style journey is unique to you. Finding your personal style can be a remarkable adventure. I’m here to help you every step of the way. I’ve witnessed numerous transformations through my style programs. Members often report how improving their style has boosted their self-assurance and influenced how they approach life as a whole.If you’re ready to take charge of your style and gain the confidence you deserve, consider joining one of my online style programs.
Visualise Your Style – An excellent starting point at just $27 and it’s ideal if you’re trying to really understand what is your style today – what do you love, what’s your aesthetic and how do you want to present yourself to the world.
Evolve Your Style – Witness significant improvements in just 30 days for only $47 – this takes shopping your wardrobe to a whole new level so that you get out of your style rut, see what you already own and create new outfits, experimenting and discovering more about your style.
7 Steps to Style – The complete style education package for $497 – and it includes Evolve Your Style and Visualise Your Style too!
I’ve designed different options to suit various budgets and needs. Whichever program you choose, rest assured that it will guide you intelligently toward enhancing your style, boosting your confidence, and helping you feel fantastic every day.
Your style isn’t merely about clothing; it’s a reflection of your self-worth and can shape your entire life. Embrace your uniqueness, rewrite your style story, and discover the confidence you’ve always deserved.
