I just read an old post on Inside Out Style about not being mutton dressed as lamb, the key point being that for her clients, "if that thought ever crosses their mind, it’s NOT GOING TO HAPPEN and they can put the thought out of their mind." This reminded me of some musings I had the other day as I was observing some of the older women I saw around town, but in reverse. That is, I saw some extremely frumpy outfits, worn by women who clearly had given up, but who could probably have looked better without too many changes.

In particular, one woman who was not far off my current size clearly had some medical issues, as her ankles were hugely swollen. I felt very sympathetic, imagining that her legs must be terribly uncomfortable. But I also noticed that her skin was very chapped and calloused, and her double-knit trousers ended somewhere between mid-calf and ankle, and she wore no socks in the frigid and windy weather. Her coat was one of those long pastel cheap knit jobs that are quintessential old lady.

I was having a bit of a depressing body-hating day, so I thought to myself "that is what you will look like in a few years". But immediately after that I reminded myself that it was complete baloney. First of all, I would never wear double-knit trousers, certainly not at that length, and definitely not a coat like that. And I am far too wussy to go sock-less in chilly weather.

Right at this moment I have a pair of flat leather zip-up boots in my closet that would have fit over her ankles and kept them protected from the elements, and a pair of soft, stretchy knit boot-cut trousers that would have fit her nicely. And pea coats or similar structured coats are pretty much always available, because they are classic and popular. Granted, these items might be a bit more expensive than what she was wearing, but not necessarily -- I have seen lots of similar items in the right size in the discount and thrift stores in the last few weeks.

At any rate, it's sort of a reverse inspiration, but at least my brain wasn't willing to accept that I would dress that badly, no matter how large or medically complicated I may become.

The post that got me thinking:
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-lamb.html