Today while assisting customers in the wondrous fitting rooms of Anthropologie, a woman exited her room sporting a pair of Anthro jeans that fit her legs exquisitely. I kick myself every time I bring up my body in conversations with customers, but I must do it on the reg. I said “Wow! Those are the perfect length on you! None of our pants fit my colossal legs like that…” or something along those lines. I swear I am not begging for compliments, but I do make record numbers of self-deprecating comments as soon as I behold women making clothes look fantastic.
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| anthropologie.com |
Later on, another woman in her 60s came in to try on a dress that she looked too old and plump for, but she wore that thang so well. Her body is voluptuous and beautiful. The dress looked far better on my seasoned friend than on the lovely model to the right. No offense, gorgeous Miss Anthro.
Back to my lady looking ravishing in her new jeans…she made a comment as she walked out of her dressing room that struck a chord. “We all have our things.” I just happen to be very up front about all of my “things.” Unfortunately, us ladies seem to have more physical insecurities than men, because our physiques and features are of more importance in this world. There have been countless articles written on the wonders of photoshop and the cruel effect they have on the women who pluck through magazine pages while standing in line at the grocery store. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show’s becoming such a spectacle is another example of your not-so-average gal strutting her stuff in full makeup, stilettos and not much else after a week of liquid dieting. I bet some of them don’t liquid diet as I judgmentally stated and just have killer metabolisms. Bless their hearts. I watched the VS Show for ten minutes, then shut it off after realizing how superficial and hollow it was. They try to make you think it’s about fashion, but even I was too distracted by their figures to pay any attention to the scraps of fabric cinched around their bodies. Shoot, those girls were making me feel guilty for chomping down celery sticks.
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| fashionisers.com |
I remember envying the girls in middle school who sprouted hips…and waiting for mine to come in. Still waiting. Hips are hot! When all you see is hip bone, we are just viewing the physiological
hanger for the flesh, fat and muscle. I forget that sometimes. The point of bringing up my reluctantly-hippy friends: I loved their girly figures. They loved what I thought were my manly arms. I guess it’s not a horrible thing to bring up my “things” to other women if it reminds them that we all have “our things.” And often times, “our things” are the very things the lady next to us would love to have for a day.
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| Treasured bud Ana and me. She captured the smile lines ;D |
The retail world may sound mundane and dull, and it certainly is some days, but I sure love seeing women light up when they feel awesome about themselves in an outfit. I’ve yet to help dress someone who is shaped like a Victoria’s Secret angel. God gave us unique figures, and they’ve all got their strengths. We’re not designed to be firm for life. Gravity pulls us and the sun fades us, and that’s probably one reason (of many) older women are wiser and smarter than me. They don’t waste their time striving for whatever the latest physical ideal is.
I will continue to work out to feel good and retain some muscularity, but I already see the fine lines deepening on my face and cannot do a dang thing about it (no, I’m not spending money on botox for the next 50 years). When Matt hears my complaints he lovingly counters them- “Those aren’t signs of aging. You just smile too much.” 🙂 And right he is. I’m a happy lady that sometimes dwells too long on the girth of my thighs and the definition of my arms. But “we all have our things.” And I probably want your things!
