May 7, 2014

The Women’s Dressing Room is a Battlefield

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!

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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.

         Dressing room 2            Dressing room 3 

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.

     photo 1            photo 2

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.

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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?

10 comments:

  1. I hate trying on clothes - for this very reason. I have such a bad self image :/ I know you will find something you love!

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    1. Thank you, Kristen. I am sure I will eventually.

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  2. I have had too many horrible dressing room experiences to count. I struggled with my body image for LONG time (and even though I've gotten much better, it stills shows up every once in a while). I hated trying on clothes because it usually ended in tears back when I was in middle school and high school. I hate that, as women, we put so much pressure on ourselves and at such a young age!

    On a good note though, I love love love those shoes!

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    1. I have been very back and forth with it too. As a teen I always thought I was fat, but wore a size 5 and had little problems shopping. After having kids that all has changed. Even clothes that technically fit don't seem to fit right.

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  3. I hear you girl. I've cried in more dressing rooms then I care to admit. I find that after having kids my proportions just aren't what clothing manufactures make. If something fits in one area then its too small in another or the other way around and nothing fits right. So frustrating.

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    1. This is me exactly! I've always had bigger hips and after having 4 kids they are even wider now so my hip to waist ratio is such a pain to work with when it comes to buying pants.

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  4. Love the shoes! The thing I hate most about shopping for clothes is all the time I just wasted trying to find something and then walking away with nothing!

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    1. That is part of the reason why I got the shoes. I had coupons and Kohl's cash I did want to go to waste! and I was determined to come home with something!

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  5. I've always dreaded trying on clothes until recently. I have made peace with the dressing room. I realized to find clothes fit well I have to alter them. Shoes always fit me, I love shoes. :)

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    1. That is the great thing about shoes!
      I can sew, but I can't really alter. I'm more of a have to start from scratch girl. I'll probably have to go back to just making my own clothes, once I'm completely settled in the house.

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