We all want to feel good about ourselves and our bodies. However, body confidence is something that is learned, and very few of us are born with a natural sense of pride or, indeed, indifference regarding our physical appearance. Due to a complex mix of societal pressure, unrealistic beauty standards, and the lack of representation of diverse bodies in the media, it’s easy to see why so many of us struggle to accept what we see in the mirror.

While your choice of clothes is not a universal remedy to poor body confidence, it can help considerably. Finding outfits that make you feel good about yourself can do wonders for your self-esteem. Read on to find out more.

Avoid Fast Fashion

Not only is the fast fashion industry remarkably damaging to the planet due to excessive textile waste and environmentally damaging manufacturing processes, but it can also have a severely negative impact on your body confidence. Fast fashion items are produced rapidly and in large quantities to accommodate the ever-changing microtrends. While you may enjoy keeping up to date with the latest fashion trends, it is important to remember that not every popular style is going to make you feel good. For example, the resurgence of low-rise jeans has proved a source of anxiety for many women. Once you reject fast fashion and start buying clothes you genuinely like, you’ll be amazed at how much your self-esteem improves.

Know Your Body Type

While categorising bodies into boxes labelled “apple”, “pear”, “hourglass”, and “rectangle” is a somewhat problematic way to view the diverse range of perfectly normal and beautiful bodies, familiarising yourself with your unique shape could help you choose clothes that make you feel better about yourself. For example, if you’re insecure about your broad shoulders or wide hips, learn to build outfits that create balance. Dressing for your body type is by no means a set of hard and fast rules, but learning more about how to dress in a way that complements your body can do wonders.

Flaunt Your Preferred Assets

A great deal of fashion advice involves hiding elements of yourself that you don’t like. While covering up your insecurities may make you feel momentarily more comfortable and confident, try and focus on the parts of your body that do make you feel good about yourself. It can be as simple as wearing makeup that accentuates the colour of your eyes or showing off your legs in a floaty summer dress. You may even find that the less you cover up your so-called “problem areas”, the less you take issue with them.

Invest In Quality Pieces

It is incredible how much a good-quality garment can affect your confidence. Whether it's an elegant longline cashmere cardigan or a beautiful pair of knee-high leather boots, treating yourself to a truly spectacular garment or accessory could breathe new life into your wardrobe, giving you a newfound sense of spirit and self-assurance. While we all love a bargain, investing in high-quality, durable pieces is a wise financial decision that will save you more money in the long run. So, why not take the plunge and buy that designer handbag you’ve had your eye on?

Identify Your Colours

Identifying the colours that work in harmony with your skin tone, hair colour, and eye colour is an excellent tool that can help you create stunning outfits that make you look and feel wonderful. This concept is known as Seasonal Colour Analysis, and it involves four main seasonal categories: winter, spring, summer, and Autumn. The goal of pinpointing your season is finding a colour palette that flatters you. For example, if you have warm-toned skin, dark hair and dark eyes, you likely fall into the “Autumn” category, and your ideal colours will be rich, earthy tones typically associated with Autumn, like mustard yellow, aubergine purple and pumpkin orange.

Be Wary Of Social Media

Social media is an incredible tool, allowing us to maintain connections with those dear to us, even when we’re halfway around the world from each other. For all its merits, social media can be damaging. Numerous studies have uncovered a strong link between heavy social media use and an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and poor self-esteem. Not everything you see online is accurate and photo-editing software has become remarkably sophisticated, so avoid holding yourself to unrealistic standards.

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