Not quite at goal yet, but... I`ve booked a session with a style consultant for next week!

I really feel I have a problem dressing myself. I love fashion, always have done. But I have grown too used to thinking: “That`s lovely, but not on me!” While adoring fitted, feminine things, I always bought the same “forgiving” garments for myself: stretch jeans, bootcut, smock-tops and other roomy tops. Dresses and skirts were for special occasions only, apart from a few thick, shapeless ones I wore in winter, with boots.

I have now started to, piece by piece, replace my wardrobe with smaller things. However, I keep buying the same style - clothes which hide my shape, in colours which are not meant to draw attention to them. All that`s different is the size, really.

When I was still larger, I always longed to wear what i wanted when I was slim. I had exact ideas about what that would be.

Now, I`ve lost the weight but I don`t buy them.

I think it`s lack of confidence. I do look at those “slim clothes” and at times even try them on, but I never buy them. Even if it looks good and makes me want it part of me thinks: “Maybe, it`s just euphoria about the weight loss, don`t make yourself look ridiculous, you are still not a model and you are no longer 20, either!”

So that`s what I came up with. The session will be expensive but I hope I will gain some good understanding of what I actually can get away with and what not. We will look at my “style personality” (which I`d like to change!), and I have been asked to bring a few items from my wardrobe, examples of what I usually go like.

I`m so much looking forwar do it, I want to go tomorrow!

What a wonderful idea!

Wow, that sounds wonderful!

Good for you - what a great idea! Congratulations on your weight loss and your new attitude to embrace the "new" you and make it the best it can be!

I find that so many of us never really accepted what we looked like when we were heavier - otherwise we may have decided to take action quicker. But it seems that we also truly don't see ourselves as we are once we lose weight either - we're still fat or dowdy in our minds. Your idea of a style consultant is brilliant - allowing you to see yourself as others do - a confident, beautiful woman. How exciting!

Yes, something like that... I clearly see that there is less of me, but I`m incredibly insecure about what to wear. I long to wear slim things, but I don`t feel confident enouch to pick them so I go for safe instead - same style as usual, just in a smaller size.

The other day, I tried a shift dress in a shop - as a dare. It fitted beautifully and seemed to take at least another 15lb (no, seriously!) off - but I didn`t feel sure enough about it to buy it! Or had I bought it I would not feel sure enough to actually wear it. :-( I still want this dress and think I will treat myself to it after pay day!

Stella

I say go for the shift dress too. I used to have one a long time ago, before I gained much weight, and I loved it. Like you said, it was just so flattering.

Mine was sleeveless, just above the knee, had seams to shape the waist and chest, a cotton fabric just heavy enough to be flattering and just a touch of Lycra for comfort and shape, and a tiny print (also flattering, this one was a tiny houndstooth). I had another one in a black fabric, slight A-line and deeper neckline, that was also fabulous for dressing up or down.

I must get those again! I'm glad you reminded me <smacks head>. Fabulous alone in the summer with sandals, fabulous in colder weather with a sweater or jacket and boots. And so comfy without a waist band.

Wow, I think this is a great idea. You'll get an objective opinion on what styles look good on you. It sounds like you already know what you like and have a pretty good idea when something looks good, so maybe all you really need is "permission" from a neutral observer that your instincts are right on.

Here is my secret wish: I want to wear skirts again. Dresses never really fit me right because I'm tall and busty, but skirts--I want a straight, dark skirt with dark tights and a jewel-toned sweater. Nobody at work has ever seen me in a skirt/dress and it's mostly men, so I think I would have to take a ton of ribbing about it and I don't know if it's worth it. But I want to.

Tell you what: If you buy the shift dress, I'll start shopping for a skirt and some tights.

That's a great idea, good for you! I plan to hire a style consultant myself when I'm closer to my goal. I've already contacted a stylist about it to see what the session will be like. She will come to my house, rummage through my closet and teach me how to put together outfits from my own wardrobe (while also showing me how NOT to put outfits together haha). She'll help me throw out things that don't work for me and scale down my closet. Then she will take me shopping to fill in the gaps in my wardrobe. After that she will hellp me assemble outfits using the new and already existing clothes I have and take snapshots of me in the different outfits. Lastly she will provide an organized album of these photos for my own personal use. That way I can just look at the album, choose and outfit and then recreate it myself. The whole process will take a few days but I'm looking forward to it.

Please let us know how it goes and what you learn from it!

Wow, Wannabeskinny, that sounds fantastic.

Ooooh! I should do something like that too, when I reach goal

That is SUCH a dreamy idea! I love it! I hope you will come back and tell us how it went and if it was worth the money and all. I'm sure it will be! I doubt people would spend the money on things like this if it wasn't a great service.

I got the dress and wore it yesterday!

@ Julie, it sounds like yours, only that mine is *no A-line* which is quite daring for me, because it`s so body conscious! I loved wearing it and felt sooo confident all day, which is amazing, given that I`m so not used to draw attention to my silhouette!

@ Windchime: Yes, I think all I need is permission, reassurance that I really can wear what I like, and that I`m not still too large or too old. The last time I was slim I was 22ish - of course, you dress totally different at that age, anyway.

Have you bought that skirt yet? The good thing about winter skirts is that they are not as body conscious as in summer. I always felt because you wear more things arund it you feel less naked wearing one in winter, even with your legs out.

@ Wannabeskinny: This sounds like an absolutely amazing package you are getting!! Mine is not half as comprehensive, but I`ll make sure to get the best out of it!

Good for you for buying the dress. Do you still love it as much? We would love it if you would post a picture!

I have not bought a skirt yet. I saw a darling one this weekend; it had a fitted waistband and little pleats near the hem, in the back. They were like little box pleats and were basted shut, but they would be so cute once they were unbasted! Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you want to look at it), I'm not down in the more common sizes of 12-14, so they didn't have anything my size. I'll keep looking because it was so, so cute. I also tried on a sweater dress that was cute but a little short and possibly a little too "va-va-voom" to wear to my office (mostly men).

HOWEVER--I also tried on an awesome pair of jeans that made my butt look awesome. I came home and got my coupon, and went back the next day and bought them. I didn't need them but I sure wanted them. So that's what I got instead of the skirt. Still looking, though!

After having to postpone it the last time I finally had my session this morning! It was great! To anyone who is contemplating to do something like that - go for it!

the session lasted 2 hours.

We started by determining my style personality through a questionnaire. The lady then showed me a few scrapbooks with fashion clippings, each one standing for a particular style personality. My favourites almost matched with the results of my questionnaire:

My personality is feminine-romantic, aspiring to city chick but, particularly in my spare time, is actually more often natural (which I `d like to change as it makes me feel frumpy). Her advice to me was to bear in mind feminine-romantic city-chick when I next go shopping, and I got a few tipps on how to adapt my spare time wardrobe to reflect this.

We then looked at my body shape and spent the rest of the time going through the clothes I brought, discussing what works for me and why and what does not work for me.

That bit was lovely. She asked me what I thoguht I was and showed me a few photos. I thought I knew the right answer: "I was an apple and now, I`m a pear!" - "No, I think you are a neat hourglass, maybe somewhere between a neat hourglass and a round hourglass! You are the shape which most women aspire to and not difficult to dress at all!" That was soo nice to hear!

At the end I got a book with tipps, and there is this section "What to distract from". 6 months ago, this would have been my belly and thunder thighs and muffin top and puffy face. All she wrote was "height". Because I`m short. That`s something I cannot influence, of course, and it`s something which rarely bothers me, either.

That was so sweet! I cannot describe that feeling! I`ve had body issues for so ling and that was a professional image consultant telling me that there is nothing wrong with me, apart from the fact that I`m a little on the short side! That alone was worth the price for the session!

But I got loads of other things out of it, too, which I have started to action: I made a list of clothes I want to buy and have taken to the loft some things which do not work for me currently. These were mainly things I never really felt comfortable in anyway. And the confidence I feel when I`m wearing ne of those things which she said are flattering, is priceless!

Stella