I believe that every woman can attest to the fact that, at some point in her life she has felt 'un-pretty,' not ugly, but just not as pretty, sexy, confident or comfortable when dressed as she may have felt in the past. At the risk of sounding phonetically incorrect, let me further explain what I mean by the expression 'un-pretty'

Perhaps it's prior to, during or after you've gotten dressed, you entertain these thoughts and feelings:

'BLAH!....., My outfit is not overly impressive, there are some pieces which may elicit a compliment, but it's generally bland and boring.'

'HMMM!......I'm not quite sure what look i'm going for, or whether I've appropriately blended my own classic brand with the latest modern chic style.'

'BAM!......I and everyone else who sees me know that I just threw SUMPTIN on; I used no rhyme, reason or rationale, I just slapped something on BAM!......As if it really doesn't matter that much.

'OUCH!.... I knew I should not have worn that outfit that was too tight in the sleeves and around the butt, too short in length or that under garment that was just so wrong for my outfit
Ok, so not everyday, every occasion do we feel like dressing or even 'feel pretty.' Those are not the occasionally 'un-pretty' feelings or days I am referring to. I'm talking about feeling darned 'un-pretty' on the inside as a result of external factors such as clothing that do not fit just right, due to one's unique body type or structure. When we know we look good, we feel good. This may sound superficial to some, but if you've ever had a challenge finding clothing to fit you properly and styles which accentuate your features, then you know like I do that there is nothing at all superficial about my previous statement. We cannot under estimate the significance of the right attire, the right fit, cut and style clothing. I'm talking about feeling 'un-pretty' on the inside, low self esteem and lacking confidence almost or at the point of becoming a social recluse; looking for frivolous excuses to turn down invitations to social gatherings. Worse yet, going to an event and then becoming a couch potato instead of the social butterfly you once were.......why? Because you feel 'un-pretty.'

So how do I know so much about this? It's because I am what I've called myself so many times in the past, 'a functional un-pretty'. What do I mean by this,? well, I'll tell you. I'm quite savvy in the knowledge and Do's and Dont's of attire, grooming and the like, and can put pieces together after a while......but am I 100% satisfied when I'm done? That's the real question and the real answer is NO.....something was missing. My wardrobe has become a hodgepodge of styles with no definition. It literally takes me hours, nay days to select an outfit. I was not at all satisfied with my look and image presentation., I was not yet where I wanted to be. This is not to say that I did not look good or receive compliments, far from it, I do. But still.....I chased the ever elusive perfect fitting attire.

Recently I decided to mix things up a bit, do things a little differently. I began cruising the web, searching for some fashion idea that could help me prepare for an upcoming event. That's when I stumbled upon articles of body types and eventually Angie's articles on how to dress for one's body type. Wow , this was the missing link I needed, the answer to my wardrobe woes. The article enlightened me on how to accentuate my positives and downplay my 'perceived negatives.' I had a EURIKA moment.

Feeling empowered by Angie's articles I began to compose my outfit.......Yes, Compose. You would not have wanted to be near me when I endured the arduous task of putting outfits together, prior to me reading Angie's articles. It was a painful and pitiful experience; just imagine having clothes in a closet, but still not having anything to wear........sounds familiar? Some things did not fit right, some too short, necklines too high, skirts and pants legs too narrow of too wide......a closet full of BLAH, HMMMM, BAM and OUCH clothing.

Now with the knowledge of my body type, picking my outfit was a work of
Art....sheer joy de vie......WHO KNEW???? I didn't!

After babies, weight gain and a moderate exercise regiment, at age 53, my 5'9'' hourglass frame had become a blend of hourglass and apple. I was not feeling pretty. HOT was not a word I would have hitherto fore used to describe myself. Well, last night I wore the sexiest, most body type enhancing outfit I have ever worn since I was in my early twenties......don't just take my word for it....everyone at the party said so......but most of all I KNEW that I had nailed my look.....so I felt pretty, inside and outside. I accentuated my body by wearing a stretch knit tubular shaped sleeveless mini dress, overlaid with a polyester/silk V necked blouse with wide sleeves, that rested just around my hip bone, topping this off, I wore leggings and sexy dress sandals!!! It was amazing, I WAS AMAZING! Lol
I felt so young, super feminine and sexy....then I realized that I had not felt this pretty in a long long time. Of course, my husband was thrilled with how I looked, how confident I was, but most of all, in his words....."how sweet I looked and all eyes were on his wife."
There, that does it.....full speed ahead, no turning back; I got my pretty back and I'm keeping it!
Thanks Angie!