marshalls tjmaxx

Ah, the elusive white jeans…when the perfect cut, thickness of fabric, and size has been located, it’s a killer look. However white jeans can be so…unforgiving, hugging every curve, and concealing..nothing. To me, they are the great sartorial paradox of looking amazing, but hold the potential to make one extremely self-conscious while wearing them. Just the very nature of them being so stark white makes one’s every move a strategy- where to sit, what to eat, even what handbag or shoes to wear is crucial, as these accessories can potentially leave rub-off marks on the jeans.

At the end of the day, when the perfect pair is find, they are worth the preventive measures, and making peace with what may happen to them, letting go and enjoying the look, is all part of the process. In working with Marshalls recently, I spoke with stylist Estee Stanley about identifying personal goals and tips to find, and relish in confidence. Clothing truly has so much to do with it, and finding your own personal style, pieces you love, that work best with your individual body is essential to the process. For me, wearing these white jeans in a cut that works with my petite frame, being neither too tight nor too lose and taking a cavalier attitude to them achieves that, and I’m going to incorporate into my wardrobe weekly, so stay tuned for more personal looks featuring them!

Back to my conversation with Estee, she reiterated that “what you wear is a powerful tool to convey who you are and how the world perceives you; what you are wearing makes a huge statement of who you are. Look AND feel confident, dress and feel comfortable, and ALWAYS wear something that you LOVE!” In an independent survey down by Marshalls, 42% of women identified looking and feeling their best as something that would help propel them towards their goal, and I couldn’t agree more. Remember to “dress for your body type, and ignore trends, ” Stanley emphasizes. “Make a statement with the story you are telling with your outfit and don’t feel what you don’t feel happy in. There is so much fashion out there that there are amazing clothes for all body types. Have the guts to go into the dressing room and try stuff on; items look completely different on the hanger than they do on your body.”

I think that it’s important to be accepting and accommodating to our bodies, and reward ourselves with clothing that fits our shapes and lifestyles to a T. If you’ve lost weight, gained weight, have “baby weight,” and don’t feel like yourself, find clothes that work with that new body of yours, instead of resist it. Choose items that make you feel confident and powerful for every stage of life that you’re in. Considering being your best version of yourself by dressing the part; white jeans, here I come!