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I may have mentioned that before I started dressing "vintage style" I was having some body issues. Nothing too bad. I mean, we're not talking needing therapy, but I was really feeling bad about my body. The main problem was clothing. Not much fit and what fit didn't fit right. It made my body look worse than it actually was. High waisted pants were a revelation to me. I no longer had to yank my pants up every two steps or wear a belt that cut off circulation. I found clothing that actually was physically comfortable to wear and bonus - looked better than modern stuff I'd been trying to pull off for years. A failure which I once blamed on my body.
But that's just basic stuff, right? Dress to suit your figure. What this article got me thinking about was that maybe all the time I spend looking at old media helped too. Yes, I'm looking for fashion inspiration but am I not also reminding myself that the fashionable body has changed and will change again? That whatever body type is "in" will always only be a reflection of a small portion of the female population?
And it makes sense, doesn't it? All we hear about is how our media consumption can have a impact on how we view ourselves and the world. That's why there is a campaign for real beauty, right? Sure I am exposed to plenty of modern media but I would say a good portion of what I consume is historical in nature. Now I am not saying historical media was more inclusive or body positive because it wasn't. But when you have a general idea of how body shapes fall in and out of fashion it's easier to reject the current ideal. Bodies go in and out of style just like clothes. Better to focus on what lasts, right?
Is it possible that seeing all kinds of body types, even idealized versions, may have helped me feel more comfortable about my body? I will never have the "ideal body" of 2015 (or 1915 for that matter) and I know that. Funny thing is, it doesn't really bother me anymore.
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