Other People’s Expectations Are No Longer On Trend
Our society tells women to present themselves a certain way from a very young age. And you’ll get different answers from different groups at different ages at the same time. From the time I was in sixth grade all the way through college, media and fashion magazines told me how to be trendy. How to live on the smallest amount of food possible to achieve “heroin chic” like Kate Moss (celery has negative calories!). But also how to be curvy like Pamela Anderson. Meanwhile 90s purity culture was telling me I needed to be covered from head to toe because my body was a dangerous weapon that would destroy men’s ability to control themselves (I guess the fruit of the Spirit didn’t apply to them?)
Now that I’m a 40-something mom, I hear messages that I need to age like Benjamin Button. But don’t dress too young. But don’t be frumpy. But don’t attract attention to yourself. But also don’t look like you ever had a human living in your body for 43 weeks.
My point is: You will never make everyone happy and you shouldn’t try to. So please shut out other people’s expectations and wear what makes you feel good. Life is too short.
In these pictures, I’m wearing hot pink cargo pants. I’m sure people can think of a million reasons why someone like me shouldn’t wear them. I’m too old (they’re from Alicia Keys’ collab with Athleta and she’s basically my age. Try again). I’m too short (the length is adjustable so I can make them pants or crops). They’re too bright (in the immortal words of Shelby from Steel Magnolias: “Pink is my signature color.”) But the fact remains that I wear them because they’re comfy, easy to mom in, and they’re awesome. What people think of them is their business.
What would you wear if you didn’t care about people’s expectations?