How to look good...dressed

I have the opposite problem to the women on How To Look Good Naked.  I'd probably be Gok's worst nightmare.

I don't hate my body.  I'm not mortified at my own reflection or terrified by the sight of my own naked flesh.  The chances of me insisting that a partner turn the lights out before I strip off is practically zero.

Naked I'm fine with.  Lingerie?  Love it. Clothed though?  I'm not so good.

I went out this afternoon to have a look for some new work clothes.  I'm starting to feel that everything I have in my work wardrobe makes me look frumpy and much older than I really am.  What I'd like is to look stylish and pulled together when I'm at the office, not like I got dressed in the dark from a wardrobe belonging to a 50 year old RE Teacher.

I wandered around a few shops and found some lovely things.  None of them fit.  I found this little lovely, but they didn't have my size.  The size below was too tight and I'm sure the next size up would have just hung off me.  I may order my size off the website and see if its any better. 

I loathe shopping for clothes for this reason.  Either they don't have my size, or the sizing systems are so inconsistent that I end up hacked off by the faff of guessing if things will come up too big/too small and just give up.  I'm pleased to say that I don't usually come away from these ordeals feeling fat.  Generally I blame the shops for being incapable of picking a sizing system and everyone using the same one.  Today though, I do feel a bit rubbish.  Frumpy really.

People often ask me why my obsession lies with makeup and beauty.  Simple answer:  it ALWAYS fits.  Once you know your foundation shade, everything else is a breeze.    I don't ever try 5 different shades of lipstick to find that none of them are right and then leave 20 minutes later hot and flustered from being trapped in a cramped changing room.  Its not that kind of party. 

After putting myself through the ringer I gave up with the clothes shopping and made my way empty handed to Superdrug where I bought new shampoo, conditioner, a couple of styling products and a new mascara as a reward for not having a massive hissy fit about it all.

I was actually starting to feel a bit brighter until I went into McDonalds.  I ordered (large quarter pounder with cheese meal, with a chocolate milkshake) and the cashier went to put everything together.  While he's doing that, another guy comes over, looks at the till from which I've just been served and says, with eyebrows raised "large meal...". 

I understand its best not to be rude to people in the food service industry (for reasons best explained by the movie Waiting), so I just replied, "Yep".  In reality, I could have quite happily thrown my chocolate milkshake in his face, the twat.  I took my food and scurried home, seething more about that than about the lack of clothes-purchasing that I managed to do.

So, other than getting an extra hour in bed this morning today has not been one of my funnest days ever.  Not to worry though, I'm about to go and finish my milkshake and do my hair.  Naked probably. I think I look better that way.

Comments

[Deb]

The key to looking good in clothes is a seamstress or tailor. Sadly, mine retired and I haven't found a good one.

[ellie]

You are the best - naked or clothed!!!!!

Once overheard a horrible sales person helping a woman try on boots. The woman felt that the boots were a little tight on her calves. The sales person contradicted her by saying, "No, no, I think your calves are a little fat."

I couldn't believe it.

[Dena]

I know exactly what you mean. Especially being on the uber-skinny side of things, I have discovered that women in my weight range are obviously 8 feet tall and have a size D bust. This makes me freakish for being somewhat normal in proportions with my 5'2-ishness and size Bs. As a result, I wear clothes until they bust and then I stitch them up again. I hate shopping.

[Daniel Hoffmann-Gill]

"Naked I'm fine with. Lingerie? Love it."

Two thumbs up!

Look forward to seeing you and Ellie on the 28th November.

[Hockeybay.com]

Naked is good .... Sure you are stunning both ways, clothes are overrated ( delete )

[HereInFranklin]

Sometimes you just have to have a quarter pounder with cheese, though I'm usually more of a Wendy's girl myself.

[Beth]

Deb - I've been meaning tohave a few pieces made, it just seems like such an extravagance. One I never quite have the cash for! I hope you find a new tailor soon!

Ellie - Thank you! That is a pretty horrible thing to say, although my friends work on a similar principle if anyone asks "does this make me look fat?". The standard answer is "No darling, its your fat that makes you look fat."

Dena - Its getting that way for me too, especially with jeans. I wore my last favourites until the thighs wore through and I couldn't repair them. It was a sad day when I lost them...

DHG - Thank you! I'm looking forward to seeing you guys too!

Hockeybay - Thank you!

HIF - We don't have Wendy's in many places over here. I think our local bowling alley had a counter inside but I don't remember ordering anything. To be honest, its probably better that I limit my fast food options. I don't need any more temptation!

[Clare]

Hey Beth, how are you doing? Hope you enjoyed your McDonalds and didn't let that guy ruin it for you. You can't beat a Chocolate Milkshake.

[Beth]

Clare - Hi there, I'm very well thank you, I hope you are too! It'd take some pretty impressive work to ruin a McDonalds for me and you're absolutely right, you can't beat a chocolate milkshake. Yum!

[Amber]

This is why I love shoes - they're reliable in much the same way makeup is and you never have to wonder whether they'll suit you. I can't believe the rudeness of the McDonald's person, though - I mean, way to make your customer feel uncomfortable!

[Beth]

Amber - Oh yeah, I'm the same with shoes. And bags come to think of it. As for McDonalds, I can't say as I'm surprised. Its hardly a fine dining experience at the best of times, that was just par for the course that day.