Sometimes it can be difficult for us to just accept and love the body's we have the way they are: Too small, Too big, Too tall, etc. Of course this is difficult when we are inundated with what beauty is supposed to look like based on what we are reading, seeing or who we are talking to. It seems like sometimes we all want what we don't have, including myself.

Growing up, I felt like a regular kid. I didn't concern myself about what I ate or exercise because I was always outside riding my bike and playing with other kids on the block. It wasn't until the summer before I turned 15 that I started to notice a difference in my appearance. Of course, we would all call that puberty. But, I went from being 5'7 to 5'10 and gained 20 pounds. What a growth spurt!

My sister and I, who is almost three years older than me, used to be able to wear the same clothes, but suddenly I was bigger and she stayed a size 2. I suddenly found myself in the world of comparing myself. The funny thing is that she wanted more curves like me, but no matter what she ate she didn't gain weight. Items that used to be loose on me, like a straight knee length skirt, now was a tighter, former fitting, sexier above the knee skirt. Thus, my journey began on learning how to dress for the new body I had.

Fast forward to today, I go in between a size 6 and 8 (up and down 5 pounds dependent upon which Holiday just ended). Since I have, what I consider, bigger thighs, I understand that certain clothing just will not look nice on me. For example, baggier jeans tend to make me look bigger in the waste, but jeans that are low rise and tight accentuates my thighs, which I'm not trying to accentuate. I find that jeans that are more tailored looking look best on me. I prefer Ralph Lauren Jeans and Levi's because both of them have options that have 34 inch inseams, thicker material and sits at the waist or higher.

Finally, here are my steps, from my own personal journey, on How I Learned To Dress for My Body Type:

What Is Your Style

Are you Classic, like me. A pencil skirt and blouse or a nice pair of gabardine slacks makes you happy. Maybe, you're Boho Chic with a flowing dress and distressed belt to accessorize it. Just because your body may have changed through the years doesn't mean your style does. Just figure out, through trial and error how to wear them on your new body.

Try Different Fabrics

The clothes I LOVED from my favorite stores did not look the same on me. Sometimes, when you gain weight or lose weight some materials do not look the same. So, I realized that certain rayons and even silk accentuated stuff (you know what stuff) that I did not want accentuated. I started looking at heavier fabrics and noticed that they laid better on me. Also, I learned the concept of looking for items that were lined and if they weren't adding a slip.

Wear What You Want

All of this will mean nothing if you will still define what looks good on you based on the standards of other people. I had to learn through my journey that if I like it and no one else did it didn't matter. My opinion should reign supreme over my family, friends, certainly magazines and even strangers in the dressing room.

I hope by sharing my journey with you that you understand your own journey and come to terms with your ever changing body as I have. We all can still look fabulous at whatever body we have from size 0 to 26!

See ya next Time!

Shajuana