Pouting In Heels and To Dream Of Dresses blogger Katie Portman talks fashion for body confidence…

Photo credit: Katie Portman

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they dress.

You can tell if they pay attention to their look or don’t care how they appear. You can tell if they’re confident or would prefer to be invisible. And you can tell if they are proud of their bodies. Or not.

Body confidence is often a hard nut to to crack, especially for women. Our bodies go through so many changes, particularly when we have children, that often, it becomes easier for us to dislike our bodies and view them negatively, instead of finding good things to say about them. But did you know that what you wear can help with this?

Did you know that dressing well and with care, can make a huge difference in how you look – and more importantly – how you feel? Because it really can. Dressing well can make your confidence soar and help you learn to love your body, even when you feel it is unlovable. Want to increase your body confidence with the clothes that you wear?
Wonderful! Then here’s how to do it.

Get the foundations right

Proper fitting underwear makes all the difference to how your clothes will look. So make sure you get professionally fitted for bras on a regular basis, always buy the right size briefs and when necessary, don’t ever be afraid to wear body shaping pieces that will help pull those wobbly bits in and give you a sensational, stream lined look.

Wear heels

Wearing high heels is one of the easiest ways to improve your body shape in an instant, providing you can walk in them! But if you’re not great on your feet, in skyscraper stilettos, don’t worry. Because even a small heel can make a big difference. Heels work well because they elongate your legs and change your posture. They also give you that added boost of height which can work wonders, transforming how you stand and feel in an instant.

Photo credit: Katie Portman

Wear what suits YOUR shape

When it comes to dressing for body confidence, you have to work with what the gods have given you and dress for your body shape. So it’s no good trying to copy your best friend and her long, leggy looks for example, if you are shorter and much curvier. You have to wear what suits you and what looks good on you. Figure out the clothes that will flatter your shape, work with – not against – your curves and learn to love your body as it is, right now.

Wear the right size

Ignore the size label on a garment and just buy what fits and flatters you best. So, if you’re a size 10, but look better in the size 12 top, buy that one! If you’re a size 18, but think the smaller size 16 dress looks better, go for that. Use sizes merely as guides, not rules. (And if the size label bothers you, just cut it out when you get the item home.)

Wear what you love

Truly. Wear clothes that speak to you. Wear clothes that make you feel a million dollars. Wear clothes that represent who you are. Fashion is meant to be fun! So go wild with prints, experiment with colour and adorn yourself with accessories that you just adore. Be bold and unapologetically you and watch your body confidence and beauty soar.

Photo credit: Katie Portman