Size and Shape

Size and shape are relevant in so many areas of life. In the natural world, size and shape are important for survival. Animals need to be the right size to catch prey or avoid being preyed upon. They also need to be the right shape to move through their environment efficiently.  In engineering, size and shape are important for the function of objects. In art, size and shape are used to create visual impact. The size of a painting, for example, can create a sense of awe or intimacy. The shape of a sculpture can be used to create a sense of movement or balance.

So, there are many places where size matters but not in relation to Style or Beauty. Any woman of any size can have style! Any woman of any size can be beautiful. Style is not reserved for only the tall and thin as some parts of society would have us believe. Have you noticed that it is what we see the most that becomes our reality?  Since most of what we see related to fashion and beauty is marketed to us via images of younger, thinner people, we have gotten use to that as the most acceptable image of how people should look. There is no real basis of truth in that only repetitive visual images.                                    

 Beauty can be acquired and enhanced with diet, exercise and cosmetics. Inner Beauty can be cultivated through a positive self-image, kindness and compassion and purpose. Beauty is not just physical appearance it is how you present yourself to others, how you treat others and how you live your life. Beauty is not static. It changes over time in terms of both physical appearance and inner beauty. Beauty cannot be bought it must be cultivated from within.

So many people mistakenly believe that it takes money to have style or you have to be thin and beautiful to have style. What does it mean when someone says “She’s got style”?  Style is so much more than how you look and how much you spend. Style is a reflection of your inner character, your strength, your gentleness, your attitude and how other people feel in your presence. In other words, it is your “Vibe”. It has nothing to do with what size clothing you wear or if you are wearing Chanel or Target.

Just like attitudes toward aging, encouraging new attitudes toward style and beauty have to come from us.  What we accept and support as our reality is what will prevail.  Thankfully this belief that beauty and style are for the thin and rich is slowly changing.  As we open ourselves up to looking at everything around us with a wider perspective, we will find so much more beauty in this world. There are many plus size women who are making waves in the fashion industry and beyond. There are now many inspiring role models who are helping to change the way the world views beauty. Saying someone is beautiful because of their size or shape does a disservice to all women. It is a much bigger complement to say someone is beautiful because they make the world a more beautiful place just by being who they are.