You don’t have to wear the shorts
I’ve been thinking about this a lot this week, as I’ve started seeing so many posts saying things like:
“Wear the damn shorts.”
“Free your arms.”
“Just put the bikini on.”
And I know all of these messages usually come from a good place.
For some people, they are exactly the confidence boost they need. A reminder that your body doesn’t need to look a certain way before you’re allowed to dress for the weather. That you are allowed to be comfortable. That no one else is paying as much attention to your body as you think they are.
And honestly, if that message helps you wear the shorts, then brilliant.
But I also think there’s another side to this.
Because sometimes, it can start to feel like the “confident” thing to do is always to wear the thing you feel most uncomfortable in. As if pushing through discomfort is the goal. As if, if you don’t wear the shorts, you’ve somehow failed at body confidence.
And I just don’t think that’s true, and is really unhelpful.
For me, body positivity has always felt a little bit complicated.
I’m a confident person. But I’m also not going to wake up one morning and suddenly love every part of my body. There are bits of me that have always irked me. There are things I don’t particularly love when I look in the mirror. And sometimes I really don’t feel like wearing the damn shorts!
And that’s fine.
I don’t think we have to love every single thing about ourselves to get dressed, go outside, enjoy the sunshine, or have a lovely summer. I’ve talked about it before, but what I find much more helpful is body neutrality.
The idea that your body doesn’t have to be something you either love or hate. It can just be your body. The thing that carries you through your life. The thing that lets you swim, walk, dance, cuddle your children, sit in the garden, go on holiday, eat ice cream, and feel the sun on your skin.
You don’t have to love your thighs to dress for a hot day, you don’t have to adore your arms to wear something sleeveless, you don’t have to feel amazing in shorts to prove that you’re confident.
Because yes, you absolutely can wear the shorts. But you also 100% don’t have to.
You don’t have to force yourself into something that makes you feel exposed, distracted, or uncomfortable just because the internet told you it was empowering.
Sometimes the most confident choice isn’t wearing the thing you’re scared of. Sometimes the most confident choice is choosing something that lets you stop thinking about your body altogether.
And there are so many summer options that can keep you cool, comfortable and practical without needing to wear shorts if they’re just not your thing, Wafty skirts, Loose linen trousers, Wide-leg crops, Soft culottes, Lightweight midi dresses, Floaty co-ords, A-line skirts, Jumpsuits (you get the picture)
You’re not failing at summer dressing if shorts don’t make you feel good, and you’r not less confident if you prefer a bit of coverage.
You’re not doing body confidence wrong because you choose the outfit that helps you feel comfortable rather than the one that pushes you furthest out of your comfort zone.
So yep, wear the damn shorts if you want to. But if you don’t? Wear the damn wafty trousers instead ;)
Related JoyDrops:
If you are loving all the comfort talk, then
Pretty is you!-The reminder we all need