Body Image...

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 14, 2005

Hello, thrashej,

I have the saleslady assist me at times. Look in fashion mags and such to get ideas.

BTW, you must be Premium member to utilize the Break Room.......

prmenrs, RN · Sep 14, 2005

I wear "mom clothes" (tee/henley/polo shirt and cotton pants) or scrubs 99.5% of the time.

I have one, maybe two "good outfits". Fortunately, I rarely go anywhere that someone would criticise [i cannot spell today, sorry] me for my wardrobe. I bought the last "good" outfit in June, and it's too big. (I know, isn't that sad) I need a new "good" outfit for next Sunday night. I guess I have to go shopping again.

Take your measurements. Look in a catalog, and find your size. And try and find something you like. If you're short, get petite pants. Penney's is a good place to start. If you get an idea of what you want, and time is short, go there w/picture and ask if they have it. If there's adequate time, order it.

If you're in the larger size range, some good places to look (start online, save gas) besides Penney's: Catherines, Silhouette, Lane Bryant, Regalia/Old Pueblo Trading Co.

Of course, you could always email Stacy and Clinton. You never know!

Achoo!, LPN · Sep 14, 2005

I watch What not to Wear! LOL

seriously. I am short and have hips (I have had 2 kids) so the clothes that fit my waist don't fit my thighs( I am not a teenager, I have curves!!). I have learned by watching that show that mid or low rise, straight leg pants work good for me. Also the whole layering thing. I wear boots instead of tennies because it makes me look taller and leaner. I accentuate what I do have (I show my neckline not my chest LOL) and feel comfortable with. My BMI is 20 and I still am conscious about how I look in clothes. Pick up some magaizines, there are great tips on how to dress you shape. Good luck!

MIA-RN1, RN · Sep 14, 2005

I am sorry you are having such a rough time.

I know it sounds trite but remember that you are not what you look like, you are who you are inside. Lots of us have body image issues, myself included! You're not alone! The way I deal with it is to tell myself that people will like me for who I am, not what I look like.

I have ZERO fashion sense. (I have been known to show up at my neighbor's house at 7:30 am to ask if my clothes match). I rely very heavily on salespeople. You don't have to buy off the mannequin. You pick a couple things you like and then ask the salesperson to help you put it together.

Have you shopped in a petite-size specialty shop? Maybe you want to invest in one nice expensive suit at one of those pricey, high-end places. Costs a lot but you KNOW you will be well put-together.

As for the old clothes, I reach for 'em too. I don't know what to say about that. I have a couple old tie-dyes that would make great rags but I just keep throwing them on to run to the store. I made myself get rid of several old, ratty clothes. Then I just had no choice but to get new stuff.

Maybe you can take up walking? It sounds corny but when I get with the program and start walking daily, I feel really good about myself. Endorphins, I think.

I am sorry that I can't offer much more to you.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 14, 2005

Well, I can recommend NOT shopping at Target-their clothes are designed for size zero people. I freak out every time I go there. I am so vocal about why those darn sippers are 1inch long! I hate going there!!! I feel so fat and ugly when I go there. But darn it, they do have a lot of other things I need. My DH will not let me go near it anymore. For goodness sakes I am not a large girl but that's what they make me feel like.

Try Old navy out. They have a lot of mannaquins that are fully dressed (I do the same thing-look at them and think, OK, that works). Kohls is another good place.

Did you say you lived in a tent? Aren't you in AZ?

elizabells, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2005

Try a pinstripe skirt suit - skirt just above the knees, jacket WELL tailored - maybe w/ princess seams.

kellyo, LPN · Sep 14, 2005

I know that the label "Kaspar" or "Kaspar ASL" makes very nice suits for interviews. Stylish and not too expensive. We have an outlet near where I live. I believe they are sold in dept. stores. I always did well in Casual Corner...

I hope I can post this here, I can't get into the break room...
I am having the worst time!
My warped body image issues have gotten so bad that I can't even shop for clothes anymore. I think NOTHING looks good on me, like I look like a joke in everything! I take about 50 things into the dressing room and leave 50 things inside the dressing room when I leave. I have no freaking clue how clothes are supposed to fit me because I have lived in rags/tents for the last year and a half. I look like complete hell.....my clothes, my hair, my no-makeup face. The only thing I DON'T think I look absolutely ridiculous in is either workout clothes (which I feel fat in anyway) or my birthday suit! Yes, I actually feel better about myself totally naked!!! Some would think that was great, I suppose, but I need to wear clothes!!
This is becoming a real issue with me, because now I would like to look nicer, take more effort in my appearance, but I feel like I don't know how to do it anymore, like I am hopeless.
I think I need Stacey and Clinton to come barging into my house from "What Not To Wear". How do I get help for this so I can get me some new clothes and ACTUALLY WEAR them?? The few times I have talked myself into buying something I thought I looked ridiculous in in the dressing room, I have brought it home and it never was worn a second time. I keep reaching for the same stained T-shirts and the same five pairs of cotton shorts that I have owned for 10 years.
To make it worse, I just came back from "Interview" clothes shopping and want to curl into the fetal position and cry. I am short, thick, and have big boobs. Seems IMPOSSIBLE to find a nice pantsuit to fit and look right. Fitting issues aside, I don't even KNOW how these things are supposed to look!!! I would take my sister with me but that scares me too cuz she hasn't been employed in a decade!!!
Where do you guys get your fashion advice/know how if you are not innately creative?? I don't know how to put an outfit together to save my soul. That is why I can't shop in places like TJ Maxx cuz you have to "do it all yourself". I like the mall, with the manequin completely dressed. I say, "I'll take THAT". And then it cost a million cazillion dollars.
Someone help!!! How do you buy clothes if you feel stupid in EVERYTHING!! Not just fat, but frumpy or thick or not petite enough or legs too squatty..there is always something!!!
Can anyone relate???
HELP!!!
Janice

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2005

Did you say you lived in a tent? Aren't you in AZ?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

OMG, ROTFL..........I meant "tent" as in an oversized piece of clothing!!!:rotfl: :rotfl:

Nah, really.........I live in a tee-pee...:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 15, 2005

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
OMG, ROTFL..........I meant "tent" as in an oversized piece of clothing!!!:rotfl: :rotfl:
Nah, really.........I live in a tee-pee...:chuckle :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

Whew! :uhoh21: I was getting a little worried there!!

suzanne4, RN · Sep 15, 2005

Target actually has a nice selection of larger size clothing............the most important thing is for you to get clothes that actually fit you and do not hang like a tent. Try going to a Lane Bryant store in your area, they have them in Arizona and have a sales person work with you there to find your proper size..

Let us know how things work out for you. :)

DenaInWyo · Sep 15, 2005

Another fairly trite thing to think about:

When you are out in public, or taking care of patients, do you spend all your time looking at them and analyzing how they look in their clothes? Can you remember what any of your coworkers wore a couple of days ago? We all spend waaaaaaay more time thinking about what WE look like rather than what others look like (and even then it's mostly analyzing how they look good/better than us). So..while you're stewing over how you look dorky and thinking everyone in the world is staring at you..they're not. They're too busy thinking about how THEY look at the moment.

Is there anyone besides your sister you can trust to shop with you and give you honest opinions on how things look? It really helps to have another's opinion, so long as you know they arent going to say it looks good when it doesn't.

Believe me, I know just how you feel when you're trying on clothes and feel like you have to be the ugliest bodied person in the world. You have to step back and quit being so hard on yourself. There are very few of us in this world that are so freakishly different that we attract much attention. And there are still more of those types of people than there are supermodels.

I know I'm rambling on here, but just one more thing. When you find an outfit you'd like to try..get about 4 different sizes of it to try on and see what you feel best in. I am amazed at how clothing sizes vary from brand to brand, so just because you are a size 14 in one shop doesn't mean you won't be a size 12 or 16 in another. What I've noticed is that generally, the more expensive the label, the larger the size actually is. I can wear a size 12 jeans in Tommy Hilfiger, but have to buy a 16 at Walmart.

Deana