Again, thank you for all the kind comments and affirmation. You gals rock!

Jjsloane, I almost choked on my morning coffee with your comment about a runway model. Here’s why (true story):

When I was in high school (late 70s), my best friend (who participated in beauty pageants) asked me to attend an 8-week Charm and Beauty class with her (no subterfuge on her part – she just thought it would be fun). The teacher was the owner of a local modeling agency. We were taught how to apply makeup (lots of it), hair (big hair – this was Texas), how to walk properly, how to approach a chair and sit ladylike, some etiquette, etc. At the end of the course, the teacher kindly suggested that perhaps this wasn’t my calling (um, I didn’t want to be a model, just wanted a few tips!) I failed Charm and Beauty class! I still get a chuckle out of that. And I totally relate to Sandra Bullock in “Miss Congeniality”!

I think you are rocking what you have going on. I would love to have your body to dress. I don't think long hair would be nearlyl as flattering as your current style. You are not broken. You have a style.

Do you ever think how much the body you end up with influences your style? I would be so much more comfortable with your shape. I struggle to dress a body that is shorter and rounder and curvier than my mind wants it to be. The outfits I usually like best are the curve suppressing ones. I deliberately push myself out of my comfort zone, which is actually very tiny. I can actually leave home in a pencil skirt, now, and feel good about it. This is such progress for me. But I got here by lots of tiny changes over time, not overnight.

If you did want to ramp up the "oomph," you could push yourself to be slightly uncomfortable with edgier shoes and purses. Like, a purse with studs. I also think you could totally rock some interesting, "arty" dangle earrings, with your lovely long neck and all. But anything extra blingy or super girly (like, bows) probably just wouldn't be you.