No matter what shop I go to, whether online or offline, I will always be a different size- which to be honest for a 19 year old women isn't the best confidence booster.
As a 19 year old women who is between 5 foot 9 and 10, it can be difficult to find clothes. Jeans are always too shorts and as puberty hits your body completely changes more or less over night. I found that I went from no chest at all to having to all of a sudden buy a load of new underwear...
But what has never changed, even since I began to venture into 'town' or the local shopping centres with my friends at 12 or 13 years old, is that clothing sizes will never ever stay identical. Just by entering two shops I can try on almost identical clothes in exactly the same sizes and the fit can be completely wrong.
This is a side by side of me from 2008 and today, although its not overly clear about my body change I'm sure you can make your own assumptions.
I honestly could not tell you what size I am, as what truly is the right size small/medium/large or size 8 or 10 or 14?
Not only is this a pain, as you are constantly in need of a universal size guide (for even your part of the country alone!!), but it does not help with any body issues, size issues and general growing up 'I hate my body' issues.
I can always remember even from starting secondary school, there were always girls the same age,smaller than me and I was envious. What doesn't help is, when you're out shopping with them and they're all a certain size and you are 2 or 3 (or more) sizes larger. Is this the fault of the shops? the manufacturers maybe? or even just society as a whole having an idealistic view as to what size you really should be or should strive to be.
Even though I wasn't overly big, I remember having long nights crying and crying about my body and having no idea how to change it or what to do, and to be honest these nights still happen. But there are ways to change, other than just starving yourself.
Some tips I have picked up along the way:
- Fitness can help the body but especially the mind, a good workout will make you feel 1000000% better- check out Lucy Wyndham Read on Youtube for free workout and personal trainer tips.
- Although a little more expensive, Look at Topshop if you struggle for trousers and especially jeans as they personalise their trousers with a width and length rather than your universal SML or number value
- Sometimes having a cry / meltdown can be really therapeutic and help you really perceive where you want to go and what you want to achieve. Just be realistic.
Accepting your body is part of a long long process, which I hope many of you have ventured and completed- even if I am no where near done with my journey.
As a whole, women (and men- I'm just speaking from my POV as a women) need to begin to learn to love themselves and once they can do that, anything is possible.
Go do you and conquer the world! 💪🏼