fashion beyond vanity

It was at age three when I opened up that long rectangle box that I became so familiar with later on in years. Mom and dad had bought me my very own Barbie! I didn’t know that something so small, smelling of sweet plastic, would have such a large impact on my life. Barbie and I went on to spend countless hours together. I loved dressing her, trying this skirt with that tank top... ooo how about those purple pumps! Now should her hair be up today? Or a side pony tail? One by one, as my friends became too cool for Barbie, they refused to play. I just couldn’t stop! But as ridicule became too much for me to handle, I put her (and her 98 sisters and brothers) in boxes and carefully, with tear-filled eyes, placed them in my garage. I had to find a new creative outlet. And fast! Thats when i realized I had a Barbie to dress. Myself!!! Years later, penniless and drawers bursting with goodies, I hit a new phase in my life. I had what some call the travel bug. I was done with high school and it was time to get on the road! England to be exact. But with the way I spent my money on clothing I couldn’t save up enough hostessing to pay for my trip. So I instituted a money diet. I found myself going in to stores and just looking at clothing, waiting for someone to ask my opinion so I could help them pick out something they would look beautiful in. It never was about making myself look like a Barbie, but rather about picking stuff out, mulling over clothing, and in the end helping others. I found so much pleasure in helping my friends learn how to dress themselves. I also learned a few simple tricks to cutting hair and was soon giving hair cuts to some of my friends. My pay, my pleasure, my reward even, was to see the confidence one would have after a hair cut and style, a make-up lesson, a day out at the boutique, and a new look. I don’t like clothing for vanity. I like it for confidence. If someone feels as though they look good and are comfortable in their own body, I am convinced they’ll be more successful at their jobs, in their relationships, and in life in general. Confidence is crucial.