Everywhere in the world, literally, we see people talking about body positivity for women. From famous designers to actors to big brand campaigns…But with that we also hear that plus sizes need to shrink , you need to loose weight, fair is beautiful and runways showcasing stereotypical thin models. Even some brands has created separate clothing and demarcated plus size women. Our parents, friends everyone motivates us to loose weight not for the greater cause of having a healthy body or to increase our stamina but for unfair reasons like getting a suitable match, to get a job, to avoid relatives talking and so on and so forth. So yes, there is hypocrisy everywhere …the least favour we can do to ourselves is not to fall in those trap and get demotivated.
Each person’s individuality, including their hair type, body type, and skin tone, is a natural and beautiful part of who they are. Embracing diversity and celebrating these unique features is essential for fostering a more inclusive and accepting society.
To be the best version of ourselves should be our only goal. But we are never satisfied with ourselves. Those who are dark they want to be fair , fairer people use artificial tanning lotion, Those who have freckles start applying make up to cover them and there is trend all around to add freckles through make up to look more natural. Straight hair likes curls and wavy haired like straight…there was a time when curvy was beautiful and lean was ugly…So you see these trends will keep coming and we will keep scrutinising ourselves. Only self-acceptance and appreciation of our body, regardless of size, shape, or appearance and challenging these harmful beauty standards we see all around can only that confidence that we lack at times.
We get suggestions from fashion assistants and family members some piece of clothing might not suit our body type or a particular colour is meant for fairer skin it won’t suit you. It’s so discouraging and sad!
I agree, ultimately, It’s important for us to feel comfortable in the clothes we buy. We aim to highlight our natural beauty and we want to stay authentic. But our desire to look good is sometimes hindered by concerns about what people will think or say. Even though our main goal is to dress up for our own satisfaction we sometimes shy away from wearing form-fitting clothes due to inhibitions.
If we have teenagers then people might compare us with our daughters or say how can you wear something when you have a teenage son or daughter at home. We need to remind ourselves that body shaming by others or even by us particularly when we look in the mirror, is harmful. As parents we must support our girls to be independent in their thinking and be expressive about who they are. We need to tell them ‘You are beautiful just the way you are’.
I understand we don’t blindly follow trends, however, we tend to restrict ourselves and play it safe with colours, silhouettes, fearing that certain choices are too youthful for our age. All these famous actresses like Kate Winslet , Priyanka Chopra, Salma Hayek , Meryl Streep or Melissa McCarthy … there is one common thing among them …some where in their life they all have faced body shaming in some form or other. But over the years they have evolved with their dressing sense and they know what looks best on them. Their personality are so robust that people see them and not their size. And that has only happened by constant trial and error and be confident in your own skin . But for us we get trapped in the comfort zone of risk less styles that we never explore other territories. So let’s free ourselves , be unique and listen to our heart a bit more and follow the mantra of ‘I Don’t Care!’
