Breaking the Rules

Yesterday I bought two pieces of clothing that, before I lost weight, I never would've worn before.

I have some pretty strict ideas about fashion. I don't always adhere to them, but some of them I'm extremely adamant about.

For example, never, ever, ever wear socks with sandals.

If at all possible, stick to 2-3 solid colors at a time. For example, let's say you have on a pink cardigan over a purple tank top with blue jeans. It's my opinion that your shoes should then either be pink, purple, or a neutral color. If you throw on, say, lime green shoes with this outfit, it may be a bit much.

Prints are different; you can wear any color that appears in the print, but don't go too crazy. If your cardigan is multi-colored, your tank top should be one of the colors in the cardi, your shoes could be another, but then your pants need to be a neutral, like blue jeans. Does that make sense? I love to see a blending of colors together, but I hate when someone just throws on every color they can possibly find in their closet!

My two new purchases (thanks to a Lane Bryant gift check: what, what?!!) broke two of my rules, which mostly pertain to plus-size girls like myself.

Rule #1: Don't wear tube tops. That bubble that appears at the top of your boob near your armpits? Not attractive.

Why I'm breaking this rule:
1) Every girl gets this "bubble," no matter what her weight.
2) Every bridesmaid dress I've worn, with the exception of one, has been strapless. So I've had to get over the "bubble."
3) I need to get rid of some nasty-looking tan lines before my friend's wedding on June 11.

Here's the top I bought, though I bought it in cobalt blue. I plan to wear it with shorts, minus the straps (they're removable!), while I hang out in the park Saturday afternoon. Tan lines, begone!Rule #2: Don't wear tops that have stretchy bands on the bottom. They accentuate the "tire" that goes around your middle section too much.

Why I'm breaking this rule:
1) I wouldn't say the tire is gone, but it's a lot less prominent than it used to be. I happen to be one of those girls who gains weight low, and all around the middle. So this "tire" effect is something I've dealt with for a long time. I'm happy to see it slowly disintegrate!
2) When searching for work-appropriate tops, that don't have to be ironed, sometimes these blousy shirts are the best option. (I hate ironing.)

I bought a top similar to this one, only mine has splashes of purple, black, and pink, instead of being floral. The band at the bottom of my top is solid black, and, surprisingly, looked pretty flattering. I think it accentuated my new shape, rather than drawing attention to a part of my shape that I don't care for.The moral of the story is: You think you have these rules for yourself for what to wear, and what not to wear. But try breaking one of them, and see how it goes! I bought both of these tops in a 14/16 ... a size I haven't purchased in a long, long time, and it was fun to try the smaller size and see that it actually fit!

For all you skinny chicks out there, the moral of the story is the same for you. Try something new! You might be pleasantly surprised.