Everyone needs confidence to be able to see their own beauty, show themselves to the world, and rock any outfit, no matter how simple that outfit is. But maintaining confidence is as difficult as gaining confidence at first place.
You may not realize you’ve done something that leads to the decrease in self-esteem. Ready to learn about it? Eternally Chanel will highlight top ten things that drag your confidence to the lowest.
1. Attempting to look like other people
This is easily the easiest fashion mistake anyone could ever do. We all have desire to look like models, celebrities, Instabaddies, someone we idolize or even, someone we’re insecure about. While there’s possibilities that you might succeed and be happy doing this, you could lose yourself because of this – and then you can’t even go out as yourself anymore; you can’t wear your favorite clothes without thinking “Oh no, Gigi Hadid doesn’t wear something like these… if I want to keep looking pretty like her, I have to stop wearing these”, you can’t do something that makes you fully comfortable, you can’t have your own style. It contributes to more insecurities. You’d find it hard to stop attempting because you don’t think you look good as your actual self.
What if you don’t succeed at first try? Well, then, you’d already guess it – you’d hate your appearance so much. You’d feel awfully miserable. You’d feel like you’re so ugly compared to the person you’re copying (or inspired by). Of course, it would make your day rough if you keep thinking about how do you look.
Don’t do it. It’s okay to style your outfits based on any OOTD inspiration, whether it be Pinterest-inspired looks or anything else, but don’t pressure yourself to look like someone you’re not. You’re your own self, and you’re beautiful.
2. Participating in fashion trends you have no interest in
Not everyone likes the same things. Your own sister or best friend, may love the vintage head scarves trend, but you may not. You don’t have to force yourself to like every fashion trend, and importantly, you don’t have to try every fashion trend!
Participating in fashion trends you have no interest in could steal your charm away from you because of how passionless you are, resulting in you appear to be plain, boring, unattractive, and try-hard.
As much as how fun fashion trends are, you’re allowed to stay as far away as possible from the ones you despise. Being trendy is not a requirement for you to stay stunning, at all.
3. Wearing sizes that make you uncomfortable
You’re comfortable in clothes two times your size? Then wear them! You love wearing bodycon or bandage dresses? Why limit yourself, you can wear anything you want as long as it doesn’t reduce your confidence. Some people find beauty in more and some people find beauty in less, but most people find beauty in comfort. (I’m sorry if this rule doesn’t apply to Muslims, strict families, etc.)
4. Wearing too much makeup OR wearing little to no makeup
There’s no explanation. As women, we’re stereotyped as “always wear too much makeup and look ugly without it” – which is a very false stereotype, by the way.
You certainly doesn’t need to wear makeup if you don’t want to, and if you do want it, that’s not a problem too. I struggle with insecurity every time I don’t wear makeup, so I always make sure to do simple makeup before going out – but if I put on too much makeup, I’d still be insecure. There are women who are the exact opposite of me, they feel insecure wearing the littlest of makeup and feel the absolute best in more makeup. There are also women who don’t want to wear makeup at all. All of us are valid and beautiful no matter what. Just do whatever makes you confident and powerful, okay?
5. Wearing wrong outfits at the wrong occasions
You can’t wear colorful gown at a funeral or a plain tee with jeans at a fancy-themed party. Perhaps you can if you really want to, but if you’re not a fearless person, doing this will make you feel stupid.
6. Being scared to express your real self
Let’s say you’re going out to have some fun with your friends and you’ve already planned to wear a black shirt with a red leather jacket, black leather pants, and red knee high boots. You know you’d look so good wearing them. But then you think your friends would judge you so you wear the black shirt with a skinny jeans and white sneakers instead.
Do you think you’d really be satisfied with the new outfits?
Or let’s say you wear what you planned anyway but you keep being scared if people would criticize you. Isn’t that exhausting? Stop doubting yourself and start being confidence with your style.
7. Trying something new blindly
There’s nothing wrong with trying something new, but if you try it without really thinking, it could be something you’d regret. You may think other people look so cute with their puff sleeves or look really great wearing tractor-inspired boots that you forget to consider if those fashion items go well with your personal styles and the vibe you radiate.
If you insist, of course, you can try. I’m not saying you can’t, I’m just saying it is able to lower your confidence.
8. Wearing unironed and low quality clothes
The unironed situation happens to me all the time. My family is always like, “Let’s go out!” when I haven’t prepared a single thing and don’t even want to go out. Most of my best tops are the ones that obviously have to be ironed or else they’d make me look like a lazy person. I’m thankful I was often still able to look good with my unironed clothes, but during the time it happened I felt really unsure. Totally ruined my mood and confidence.
And the low quality clothes? Totally uncomfortable, totally makes you feel irritated and itchy, and after a few cleaning they’d look unpleasant. You don’t ever want to wear those in public.
9. Wearing dark clothes in the dark
Dark clothes in the dark would basically hide you from all the possible attentions and focuses. A good option if you don’t want to socialize, but a bad choice if you want people to look at you. So, what confidence do you expect to have when no one (probably including yourself) can’t take a proper look at you?
10. No jewelry and no handbag
Wearing no jewelry and taking no handbag with you don’t actually drag your confidence to the lowest, but having them on will absolutely improve the way you look at yourself and makes you act more confident.
The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence.
Blake Lively
Eternally Chanel 