When I was growing up, there was a women’s clothing store named Dress Barn. Do you remember them? Yep, they are of course now defunct. But why on earth would any self-respecting woman have shopped at a place that likened their image to a barn?? Anyway, when I was in college (read: thinner) I was friends with an amazing clothing guru named Omar. He used to make his own clothes in his dorm room! He was incredibly creative and cool so I used to joke with him that for each fancy affair I needed to attend, I was going to have my own personal tentmaker stitch me up a winning creation. At the time I was a single digit size and could easily buy off the rack. But I always felt larger than my then svelte frame and in good spirit, Omar played along with the joke.
Fast forward a few cruel decades later and now the joke is most certainly on me! My current clothing selections are “generous” and allow me to hide under a blanket of fabric to cover a multitude of sins. No, I will most certainly not elaborate! And although I’m feeling more secure under these big tops, I’m sort of swimming in fabric these days and I find myself longing for a slimmer silhouette.
The thing is that I made it through the most revealing time of year already– summer! And now careening into the colder temps, I’m craving mac and cheese, soups, stews, and general comfort food. And if you haven’t already heard, the blanket casual chic thing is a thing again. Lots of stores are showing oversized blazers and big leather jackets! (Omar? Did you phone this one in for me, love??) So it would be oh so easy to continue on the big top journey. But alas, the three rings in this show are closing up shop.
So I’m sorry in advance to the forgiving sweats, the superband waist bands and the stretchy pull-on leggings that have represented my closet so mightily and gotten me through this caloric journey. I’ve spent enough time in this category to finally make some changes. I’m not trading in my (tent) stripes quite yet. This will be a commitment that takes time. So if you see me at an upcoming event, at a holiday party or I’m grazing the buffet table at one of your get togethers, have a little faith that underneath that getup is a thinner me screaming to ditch the layers and emerge the willowy gal once again.
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