I have been struggling with my body image more lately than ever before and I thought maybe if I made more of an effort to work on my appearance it might help me feel better about the way I look. That is why this weekend I went to one of my favorite department stores with the quest to buy a new dress for a future date night with officer P.
As soon as I walked in the door I saw this adorable dress and grabbed it up right away!
After walking around for a bit I decided to head to the dressing room to try it on and with visions of how it “should look” in my head I felt my heart sink a little. It didn’t fit right. The waist was not falling at my waist and was too tight. The fabric got staticky as I put it on so it clung weird as well. My legs and knees looked thick, I just looked horrible in it. This bad fitting quickly turned my excited mood into one of dread.
As I came out of the dressing room with my emotions written all over my face I waited for my sister to try on a shirt she had picked up. As I waited I saw a teenage girl come out of a dressing room with a stack of shorts and only handed her mom 1 pair. She had, what appeared to be, her whole family with her and as her mom questioned her as to why she was only getting the 1 pair she replied “because they are the only ones that look okay on me.” As her dad and sister chime in with suggestions and insisting that she try on more she started pleading with tears in her eyes that they just leave her alone and take her home, which they finally agreed to.
This left me sad and I had to fight back some tears myself. I felt bad for the girl who was probably close to 20 years younger then me, and certainly had a thinner body than mine, but appeared to be feeling the exact same way I was. I was sad that this is something that almost every women goes through over and over again throughout their lives and that we have learned to hate our bodies for what they are not, instead of loving them for all that they are.
Since I was determined to buy a dress I went on a hunt for some more dresses to try on. After more wandering around I headed to another dressing room, since that first one was now tainted with bad juju, to try on some more dresses.
Sadly it was two more misses and I decided I needed a break so I headed over to housewares to look around for something for the new house.
After going up and down every aisle in housewares I found myself back in the clothing department. I decided to give it one more shot, and once again I headed into the dressing room with a couple of dresses in hand.
Sadly, once again I struck out. I decided 3 strikes (and 2+ hours) and I was out so I went home with these beauties instead.
Since I was unsuccessful in my mission I know I will have to head back to battle soon, but for now I am enjoying my shoes and trying to better prepare myself for round 2.
Have you ever had an unpleasant dressing room experience? How did you get over it and get back in there?
