We all have those days. You know what I’m talkin’ about. Those days when you put on an outfit, then another outfit, then another. Nothing looks right. Nothing feels right…and before you know it your mood & your self-esteem are somewhere buried deep in a pile of clothing on the floor. On days like that wouldn’t it be awesome if you could just boost your mood with the right outfit…
IT’S OKAY TO FEEL ICKY
I’m not doing an entire post on body image, at least not today. My focus here is on those random days that creep up on the majority of us from time to time, regardless of how solid (or not) our body image is. Even the most confident among us can come down with an occasional bout of the “I feel fat” or “Ewww…this looks soooo icky on me’s”.
Whether you’re coming off a night of too much celebrating, or maybe an entire year of too much inhalation of comfort food on the regular, sometimes your clothes just don’t feel right. They pull. They pinch. They don’t button or zip. Whatever the issue…you simply do not feel remotely good. Your logical brain knows the feeling will pass, however the emotional part is right there in the moment. And let me stop right here and say:
“It’s perfectly ok to not be positive vibin’ every second of every day. As a matter of fact, all positivity all the time is unhealthy.”
Just because you have one bad day moment & you think unkind thoughts about yourself which in turn puts you into a mood, that doesn’t mean you lack self-confidence or that you have body images issues. It simply means you’re having a moment. Acknowledge the feelings, feel the feelings, then get on with your day. 
BOOST YOUR MOOD WITH THE RIGHT OUTFIT
Okay, so what put you in the mood to begin with was your perception of how the sad pile of wrong outfits on the floor looked and/or felt when you put them on, right? Well my friends, the flip side of that is give yourself a quick injection of happy & boost your mood with the right outfit. Outfits really do make a difference in every aspect of how we move through our day & the right outfit is downright magical. It’s powerful. It’s transformative.
Need some proof? Fashion psychologist and founder of Fashion Is Psychology, Shakaila Forbes-Bell says, “People experience changes in their emotional state with a change in their style of dress.” And yes, there is actual research backing this statement.
With that being said, we all have pieces in our closets that are our favorites; the pieces that make us feel gorgeous, powerful & ready to kick ass & take names. So when nothing that you’ve tried on seems to be working, reach for that one tried & true piece (or outfit) that you absolutely know will make you feel incredible. It will transform your mood.
This little slice of gorgeous that I’m wearing today, the Love Kyla Handkerchief Dress gifted to me from Caite & Kyla is one of those pieces for me. The colors of the watercolor print are beyond beautiful & include every one of my favorite colors, which in my book is an instant mood booster. The silky flowiness of it is perfect for those days when I’m feeling like maybe it wasn’t a great life choice to eat all of the General Tso’s Chicken the night before, but it also looks equally as fab belted if I’m feeling like nipping it in a bit. This turquoise dress from last summer’s Caite & Kyla collection is another winner (as is pretty much every piece of theirs that I own) in the “things I feel good wearing no matter what” category.
This dress, like many of their beautiful pieces, does run on the bigger side so if you’re considering picking one up for yourself (which I highly recommend), I would suggest sizing down. It’s perfect for every day wear, but it’s also versatile enough that you could wear it to a summer wedding paired with strappy heels & a cute sparkly clutch.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more good reads & style ideas…
Dress: c/o Caite & Kyla; Shoes: Similar; Denim Jacket: Similar
*Dress was received c/o Caite & Kyla. All opinions, as always, are my own.
