I hate the summer.
Yeah, you read that right. I hate it. The inevitable sunburn, the heat, and the fashion that comes with it. I’ve never enjoyed wearing summer clothes. I’d much rather wear pants and sweaters than shorts and dresses. Part of that is personal preference, but if I’m REALLY honest it goes deeper than that.
Maybe you can relate: I like pants that hide the shape of my legs. I’m always nervous to wear bathing suits in public. And don’t even get me started on skirts.
In the fall and winter, I am in my element, but in the summer, I always struggle with what to wear. I want to dress comfortably for the weather, but body image holds me back. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve put on shorts, looked in the mirror, and then immediately decided to wear pants, instead. And THAT is why I hate the summer.
But GIRL, guess what? This summer, we are NOT holding ourselves back. If you’re feeling less than confident in your body and are struggling to dress for the warm weather, here are some truths to remember:
Everybody deserves to dress for summer
You’ve heard it before: EVERY BODY is a beach body. You don’t have to look a certain way or be a certain size to wear shorts or a bikini. You deserve to dress comfortably, no matter how you look. And let’s be honest — you look amazing, even if you can’t see it right now!
How you look isn’t everything
It’s easy to get caught up in our appearance. Trust me, I LOVE putting on a cute outfit, doing my makeup, going out, and absolutely killing it. But even when you don’t look your best and aren’t feeling confident, you are still JUST as worthy and JUST as successful. Sometimes, it’s best to walk away from the mirror because it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Confidence won’t come overnight
Dressing out of your comfort zone is intimidating, and that’s okay. Don’t rush it. Take small steps — like wearing the shorts, or the dress, or the bathing suit around your home until you feel ready to wear it out in public. As you build your confidence, remember to accept your body and give it all the love it deserves. Once you do that, you’ll realize that you can accept your body now and STILL take steps to be a better version of yourself. Love your body and know it’s deserving of EVEN MORE.
Dressing for summer doesn’t have to be scary — it can be freeing, too!
If you’re looking for outfit inspiration, check out this blog post on Rachel’s favorite summer staples and follow our Instagram (@ditchtheclique and @rachelkgrim).
who is the author, April?
April Hooper is a public relations student at Messiah University, minoring in marketing and gender studies. She always has a coffee in hand and is rocking a thrifted outfit with handmade accessories. When she graduates, she dreams of living abroad, owning as many cats as possible, and writing for a living.
Wardrobe courtesy of Rue Saint Paul.
rachelkgrimstyle.com 