Motivating yourself to dress well on days you feel gross - YouLookFab Forum

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Motivating yourself to dress well on days you feel gross

Aziraphale

Veteran

What's your strategy? I have a lot of days lately where I feel bloated and gross, and my first inclination is to pull on something baggy and unflattering because I can't help thinking, what's the point? I already feel like crap, might as well be comfortable. But I know that if I put in the effort to dress properly, I feel better in the long run. But it's so haaaaard at six thirty in the morning!

Anyone else have days like this? How do you motivate yourself? Or do you just give in to it and opt for ease and comfort?

Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

ironkurtin

Veteran

My father always told me that when I feel bad - sick, fat, blah, whatever - that is when you dress to the nines. (Also when you take tests, but thank goodness I haven't needed one of those in a while.) When you feel your crappiest, haul out the good stuff!

Aziraphale

Veteran

hehe, pregnancy tests, you mean?

nancylee

Veteran

I had one of those days this past Monday. I wore my most slimming jeans, a black button shirt, and a handful of necklaces. I agree with IK that it's better to try to dress up a little better on those "meh" days since dressing sloppy will only make you feel worse.

For me, either a simple white woven shirt or black woven shirt over slimming pants makes me feel best on those days. It's my bad day formula!

Aziraphale

Veteran

It doesn't help that on bloated days, I can't button up my pants and my bras don't fit!!! (I'm not even kidding -- I have different size bras for different times of the month)

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I wear items that are a bit looser in the waistband. Being more comfortable makes me feel better than trying to squeeze myself into snug clothes that likely will highlight my bloated bits even more. Don't we all have those few items that are a tad larger for times like these?

bj1111

Veteran

"fat pants" ... ie pants i normally wear, one size up. dresses are also a super alternative, especially knits.

i hear you abt different bra sizes.

Aziraphale

Veteran

bj1111, glad to hear I'm not alone with the bra thing! I've talked to lots of friends about this, and no one else has different size bras -- I guess most women don't have tissue swelling to the same degree I do. My doctor calls them 'hormone-sensitive breasts'. You should have seen 'em when I was pregnant!

nancylee

Veteran

Could you get a dress that has no waistline but that still looks good? You could wear a tank underneath to avoid having to wear a bra. Sorry you are having such a bad time.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks, nancylee.

I've yet to find a dress with no waistline that still looks good. The problem is, I get a 'boob shelf' and it's not a good look.

catgirl

Veteran

Depends on what I'm doing. If I have to be at work and presentable, I pull myself together and wear a tried-and-true look. Otherwise, I will sometimes give in to self-pity and indulge in some sort of shapeless camping gear that you all will never see.

Elizabeth, have you tried the Eliza J. dress? It is very flattering and has some waist surrender but such a great shape!

Diana

Veteran

So my "fat day" outfits are generally things like jersey dress + leggings + slouchy flat boots. (I also wear this on long plane rides a lot). But since it's a dress, people sometimes assume that I'm dressed up... which amuses me because it feels like pajamas. Also, if said jersey dress is black, it looks even more dressed up. Add a nice big pashmina and you could even go out somewhere fancy!

Irene

Veteran

I usually like to mentally plan what I'll wear tomorrow the night before. If I have a 'fat day', as I call them, I force myself to wear what I had already planned. It doesn't always work positively though, I must say.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

For me, it helps to have certain outfits that are comfy, will accommodate bloating, and still look good. Tunics and ponte knit pants are a good combo for the colder seasons, lightweight dresses for the warmer ones.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I'm with AG... depends on the agenda for the day. If I'm going somewhere, I put together a presentable outfit that is also comfy. This would be a day that would call for a cardigan as opposed to a jacket. If I really do feel like crap and have nowhere to be, I might indulge myself with "non going out" clothes.
Last week was one of those weeks... I was nursing a badly sprained ankle (still am) and did not leave the house MWorFri... when hubby came home on Friday, he looked at my outfit of baggy knit cargo leggings, running shirt and not-styled hair and said "Is this your 'I don't feel good so don't even think about it' outfit?" You got it baby!

HeleenH

Veteran

I used to wear an old (really old, I bought it when I was living with my parents - amazing quality ) set of clothes we call 'jogging pak' on those days. Clothes that people wore jogging in the 80's. But recently I have a set of very comfortable knit dresses that I wear with tights on those days. I do notice I feel better when I dress comfortable but nice, rather than comfortable and sloppy.
I also have a set of yoga clothes that is comfortable and looks nicer than the old jogging pak, but I keep that for at home.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I know this isn't fashion, but getting out and having a nice brisk walk does wonders for those yuck days. Come back inside, big glass of water, shower, cuppa coffee, and wham! Mood instantly better.

rachylou

Veteran

This is not exactly dressing well... but I wear my yoga pants and a sweater coat. They're the kind that are long, fitted through the knee and then flaring out a bit. A little better than my terry cloth chica suit.

Barbara

Veteran

I make sure to wear a bright colored top on my (very) rare BLAH days.

@ironkurtin: A brisk walk ALWAYS perks me up.

Deborah

Veteran

Elisabeth, I am having one of those days today brought about by some late nights and feeling quite exhausted. So as I have no meeting/appointments at work today I am wearing black skinny jeans (very comfy) tucked into a lowish heel boot with a patterned (base color red) tunic with a longish waterfall/draped woolen vest. I often reach for colors when I feel this way as I feel it 'lifts me' and hopefully I don't look as tired as a I feel. This combo is a bit of a "go to" outfit when I not feeling great (or inspired). Its good because i know it works and it looks good. I think its good to have a couple of outfits in your closet that are comfortable (for those 'fat' days) and you know look good, that way it eliminates the stress of dressing when you don't feel so good. You can just reach into your closet and know you look great (even if you don't feel it) with minimum fuss or effort.

The other things is if you are feeling like this frequently, do see your GP. We women are renowned for not looking after ourselves and things like low iron and low vitamin D can really slow us down. Also diet can effect us. Or if it's hormonal again there are certain vitamin supplements that can help. I don't advocate taking heaps and heaps of vitamins but if its recommended by your doctor its usually a good idea. Hope you get on top of things.

Mellllls

Veteran

it depends on whether i need to leave the house or not....

on days that i do, it is helpful to just have go to outfits that you can pop on with no worries or thoughts.

missvee

Veteran

I try to put on a great top that day, since if I feel blah I probably look pale and washed out too, and good colour near the face does wonders!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Good suggestions, ladies. Bright colours are probably not a bad idea, although they don't make me happy like they make many of you! But I'd probably look better in them.

I should clarify: these are not just 'fat' days, where it's mostly in my head. I'm actually in mild to moderate pain with all the ridiculous swelling and the accompanying nausea. My breasts and belly swell up like I'm pregnant, and I'm not kidding when I say my pants don't fit. (Hopefully the surgery will take care of some of that). My brain probably swells up too, which accounts for the grumpiness.

I do get plenty of exercise. It certainly helps my mood, but doesn't make the physical symptoms go away.

kh

I have two pair of jeans that are larger than my normal size because I bloat up each month. I call them my period pants. When I wear them my husband always shows up with wine and Ben and Jerry's without saying a word.

Queen Mum

Veteran

kh- your hubby gets the award. I need to have mine trained that well.

stringy

Veteran

Make sure your comfy larger underwear is nice and new: just because you feel like warmed-over blergh, doesn't mean you have to wear saggy old things. A loose woven top in a dark-ish colour you like or a pattern to hide any lumps and bumps, and some black or dark jeans or pants in the most comfortable style for you. Shoes you can slip in and out of would be nice. Maybe a necklace to brighten things up a little without having something you'll need to fiddle with all day.

If you do all the hard work of planning while you're feeling ok, you won't have to give it a second thought on a day when you're feeling yuck, just head straight for your planned outfit. And I'm guessing that one less worry on a day like that will be a relief!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh...poor you! It sounds as if you really suffer.

I am of the view that tunics or A line jersey dresses are ideal for situations like this. They accommodate new bulges and skim the figure and as Diana says, people will say you are "dressed up" even though you will feel as if you are wearing PJs. If you find one in a neutral colour you can perk it up with scarves in brighter hues (or simply those that flatter your face) and it will be very versatile. Also great travel wear.

Hang in there and I hope you feel better soon.

Lisa

Veteran

I've been stuck wearing all the shoes I don't want to wear since foot surgery. I can sympathize with not wearing what you want right now. But when I take the effort to look put together, even if a piece of the outfit is "off" I still feel better about myself. For bloated days, I prefer soft forgiving fabrics and cardigans, a-line or sack dresses, items that do not cling.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Thanks for all your input, everyone!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

This is a really good post and topic and you're not alone, because we all feel like that from time to time. I like ironkurtin's father's advice and the others about the use of color. A cute woven sweater or top works. I'm thinking of an Eileen Fisher one I put on that pulls me together in a polished way with comfy pants (elastic waist) and it's not just sweats and a tee.

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