Stuff: The Cruel Mirror

By J.J. Atwell 

Finding the Right Outfit

Looking at yourself in the mirror can be a cruel experience. While I was idly browsing the Internet, I came across an article that I thought was a very good take on the issue of finding the right outfit. 

The story is aimed at generic girls, but as CDs, we face the same challenges that they face when picking out an outfit. The big question: is it right for your body? As I think about it, our challenges as CDs might be more difficult. But then again, we can make some changes to our apparent body whereas GGs mostly have to deal with what they have. 

I’ve Got Nothing to Wear!

I’m sure we have heard these words from our significant others. I’m also sure that we have repeated those words to ourselves when contemplating our next outing. I have a closet and a half full of clothes for my femme side. Sometimes I’m embarrassed by how much I have. My GG friend, Alicia, commented after one of my recent thrifting excursions that I have more outfits than she normally wears in weeks of day-to-day real life. And JJ only gets out once or twice a month! 

But I still have nothing to wear. Our group sometimes has themed evenings which might call for a special type of outfit. Perhaps a beach theme? How about a holiday theme? I just don’t have things that work for those occasions. Yes, JJ needs to shop for more outfits! 

I have a lot of everyday outfits like skinny jeans, skirts and tops. Just normal stuff that you see women wearing out all the time. But for meetings, JJ prefers to only wear them once. Once an outfit has been seen by the group it gets consigned to the back of the closet, perhaps to only be worn again at home. Some things can get re-used though. I’ve got a couple of skirts that go well with many different tops. The mix and match strategy can expand your wardrobe.

Does this Match?

I haven’t quite mastered the art of knowing what matches. My sense of color and style seems to abandon me when faced with a flowery top. I might be tempted to pair it with a striped skirt if left to my own devices. Fortunately, I have an SO and some GG friends that I can bounce ideas off of. It is so helpful to get expert advice from a gal pal. 

The Happy Mirror

Now that we have taken all that into account, is that mirror still cruel? In my case, I think I’ve moved on to a happy mirror. When I see myself dressed in the right outfit, I also see a smile on my face. Yes, when you look good you feel good.

I love the suggestion in the article referenced above that we should take inventory of our clothes and pick out the ones that most make us feel good. At that point, it’s time to thin out the closet by getting rid of the other stuff. Yes, it is hard to toss things that we spent time and effort and money acquiring in the first place. But sometimes you have to be cruel so that the mirror is happy. 

I’ll Be Back

I hope you find the referenced article to be interesting. I’ll be back with more Stuff in the next installment. Comments are welcome either here on the blog or by email to Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for more stuff, so let me know what you would like to read about.

Wearing Elàgia

A womanless beauty!