Weight gain sucks. Feeling uncomfortable with your body sucks. But do you want to know what sucks even more? Hiding behind baggy clothes!

There are so many women in the world who are hiding behind their clothing. It’s like throwing a big sheet over a pile of furniture (I’m going somewhere with this analogy I swear). Sure we can’t see the furniture, but we still know its there. In fact, the pile looks even bigger thanks to the sheet – you can’t make out the exact shape of the furniture so it looks like a giant blob instead.

You are doing the same thing with your body when you dress it up in oversized attire.

Does this mean you should be wearing things that are skin tight instead? No. But I do want you to embrace the natural curves of your body.

Meet XXXL Tammy. Don’t let the name fool ya, XXXL Tammy has nothing to do with the size of her body and everything to do with the size of her clothes – big difference.

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XXXL Tammy swears that bigger the better. “The bigger the clothes, the smaller I look,” she says. The problem is Tammy couldn’t be more wrong because she looks 2x bigger. Tammy doesn’t know that fit is everything when it comes to style.

What’s really going on?

Tammy is hiding. Tammy is that kid who is playing “hide and seek” except they suck at hiding. We can all see her, and we wish she’d just stop playing this game. XXXL Tammy doesn’t feel 100% comfortable with her body. Her middle might have a little pooch, her thighs a little thunder and instead of figuring out how to dress her flaws, she covers them in heaps of fabric. Tammy has gotten so used to hiding and covering up that she forgot what her real body looks like.

What’s a girl to do?

Go try on clothing that fits and look in the mirror. Then say this: I am a size ___ enter your ideal size (not the size you are or think you are). Let that settle in. Get in that “I am” space and you will be. I also want you to see your body as a whole instead of picking apart your little flaws. No one sees those flaws but you. Admire your overall shape. Then watch my body type videos and learn how to dress without hiding. You’ve got this!!

There is a fine line between “buying the best quality you can afford” and straight up style snobbery – the latter isn’t cute. At all.

Purchasing quality clothing that works in tandem with your budget is a good thing, scratch that, a great thing. The higher the quality, the better the fit and feel. Notice I said “quality” and not “price.”

High price tags and designer labels don’t always equate to quality, and it certainly doesn’t guarantee style.

It’s a shame that everyone didn’t get that memo. When high-end clothing is overdone and isn’t styled correctly, the result can be catastrophic.

It’s time to meet our next Anti-Style Type, Label Loving Leslie.

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Label Loving Leslie loves her some labels and wants everyone to know about it. Leslie will slap any old things on as long as it’s got a label. Double points if it’s covered in logos or the brands signature print.
Leslie loves to wear whatever is high end to her. For some Label Loving Leslie’s, it could be Louboutins, Chanel, Gucci, or Prada. For others, it could be Michael Kors, Calvin Klein (the non-runway versions), Kate Spade. Whatever makes her feel like “she’s made it” will do.

What’s really going on?

Label Loving Leslie wants validation, pure and simple. She has tricked herself into thinking she likes the finer things in life, but she’s looking for that quick dopamine hit. In the age of easy validation (hello, social media) we get a quick and easy high from a strangers approval. This type of outside validation allows people to approve of us without learning a thing about our insides.

When we are overly focused on labels, we quickly turn up our at things that are “beneath” us. It’s not a good look visually or energetically. Plus getting too caught up in labels often results in some ugly ass purchases.

What’s a girl to do?

Try some that aren’t your version of high end. It could be fast fashion (in moderation), an indie label, something you found on Etsy or vintage. Bring yourself down to earth in some “normal people” clothes. Mix high and low; this will put your true sense of style to the test. If I only wore labels, I would never learn the magic of Target jeans or sweaters from H&M (my go-to for sweaters).

Learn more about Leslie in today’s video.

Give someone an inch, and they’ll take a mile … That is exactly how I feel about athleisure!

If you aren’t familiar with the term “athleisure,” let me enlighten you.

Athleisure first sprung onto the fashion scene in 2014 (according to Vogue), but it really started to pick up speed in 2016. The original aesthetic was blending streetwear with athletic wear. For example, a sporty (yet stylish) pair of sneakers, leggings *shudders*, a hoodie, and a leather jacket layered on top – add some chic sunglasses + a designer bag, and you’re really cooking with grease.

But then people decided to take this trend a little too far.

How so?

By straight up wearing their raggedy exercise clothes ALL THE TIME.

Are you ready to meet Athleisure Ashley?

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Athleisure Ashley loves to be comfortable, and she loves to be sporty, but we’re all a little unclear if she actually works out. Ashley has heard so much about this “athleisure” business, but she never actually took the time to find out what it is. She figured it must mean wearing exercise clothes all day every day. Right? Wrong.

What’s really going on?

There are a few different options here on what’s going on. It depends on Athleisure Ashley’s demographic. If she’s in a more affluent area, there is a good chance she is rocking this type of attire as a status symbol. I read a fascinating article about wealthy moms at the bus stop. Rocking your workout clothes all day tells the world, I don’t need to work. I can do Pilates, eat brunch, and shop all day without worry. She looks down on the working mother who needs to work to put her kid through private school.

Alternatively, if Ashley isn’t rolling down the street in her Range Rover, she is either a.) lazy or b.) is uncomfortable with her body. Leggings pretty much fit no matter what. Leggings don’t care that you’ve gained 10lbs. Leggings are there for you through thick and thin. Plus workout clothes do a hell of a job of sucking things in and lifting things up.

What’s a girl to do?

Put on some real clothes and face facts! Stop hiding. Whether it was hiding behind this image, you’ve created for yourself to make others feel small, or it’s hiding from the truth about your body. I’ve hidden behind stretchy clothes because I wasn’t ready to accept the fact that I had gained weight. Once you face the beast head on you can do whats necessary to change because that’s what we all want – change.

Are we having fun with this Anti-Style Type series or what?! I certainly am.

I am pleasantly surprised to see so many “style awakenings” occurring as the result of this series – and we’re only two videos deep!

Uncovering the root of our fashion missteps is the first step towards making a positive change that touches every area of our life. Finding the humor in it all softens the blow. Trust me; I’ve made some MAJOR fashion blunders in my life. If I couldn’t laugh about it, I would have thrown in the towel long ago. Heck, I may have ended up just like our next Anti-Style Type, Boring Betty.

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Boring Betty is the human equivalent of watching paint dry. On the outside, the girl is a walking snoozefest, but on the inside she’s great! The only issue is you’ll probably never find out because who wants to approach the human version of paint drying?

You’ll find Boring Betty wearing the most basics of the basics; plain tees, jeans, the more boring shoes on earth (think Keds). Her clothing lacks interesting cuts and silhouettes. Jewelry? She’s never heard of it – unless of course, it’s her wedding band or that simple necklace she never takes off.

So what’s really going on?

Our dear friend Betty is afraid to take a risk because god forbid she might fail. Boring Betty is shy and doesn’t want to be judged. It’s safer in Boring Betty land. No one will approach or make any sudden moves.

The problem is, Betty has a dynamic personality that is dying to come out. She wonders why her life feels a little bit lonely. Her boring exterior is a wall keeping people out, and it’s also keeping Betty trapped inside a persona that isn’t hers.

What’s a girl to do?

Betty needs to take a fashion risk, a big one – a risk so big that it might blow up in her face. Why? Once you get a taste of what “failure” feels like you, you’ll soon realize it’s not bad. So you wore a necklace, and it looked stupid. So what? Tomorrow is another day. Leap out of that comfort zone and let your personality shine through your wardrobe.