Style.

STYLE

Trend VS. Style

Style is such a funny thing, isn’t it? Style is meant to be an outward expression of who we are on the inside. Some of us have a certain style that we always gravitate to and others like to switch it up. Which are you? Is it comfort or style that makes you, you? Is it hair or makeup that reflects your personal style? Is it clothes, jewelry, nail polish – the list is endless.

When I was younger, I had such a hard time figuring out my style. It was difficult for me to decide what I felt the most comfortable wearing. Let me tell you, I experimented with EVERY, single trend but never felt 100% ME. At first, I wanted to look like the girls on the magazine covers: the rail-thin, super skinny model-type. I soon realized that this was not only unrealistic, but it was causing more harm to my self-esteem than good it was doing. I was a curvy girl but I wanted to follow the “norm”; so, I attempted to wear the low-rise, Abercrombie jeans. Sure, I was trendy, but I didn’t look like everyone else. I loved the look but, at that moment, I realized it wasn’t for me.  I quickly realized that there is a difference between following a trend and having a personal sense of style. 

There were many years of trial and error before I realized that my style is whatever I feel fabulous in! My personal style is all about Gianna and no one else. There is no magazine, blog, or celebrity endorsement that will make or break my personal style, because it is uniquely, ME. My personal style is pretty eclectic; ranging anywhere from high-heels to chuck taylors, jeans, dresses, backwards hats, cowboy boots, leather jackets and everything in between.

By trying to follow the normal trends (whatever THAT is), I was making myself uncomfortable and wasn’t being authentic – I wasn’t able to be Gianna. Once I learned to embrace my curves, I never looked back. I started dressing for MY body and complimenting MY FIGURE and I felt more than good -- I felt GREAT.

Did you know that high waisted jeans are the only kind of jeans I own? Why? Because they fit my body right and I’m not afraid to admit it. Before I embraced my curves, I was jamming my ass into those low rise, size 2 A&F jeans and let me tell you, it was muffin top city. Lord knows, you cannot fit all this Italian booty in a 2” zipper, and I’ve finally accepted it. Women were MEANT to have curves. Think about this for a second: women's bodies are shaped like they are (with curves) because their bodies contain cavities for the growth of babies. Their skeletal bones conform to the rounded shape of these internal cavities, giving them a rounded appearance (curves). So, if our bodies were created to grow a human being and to give birth, why would we, as a society, criticize women with curves? Why would we starve ourselves to be the skinniest, least-curvaceous woman out there? We need to love on our curves.  Did you ever think that women have boobs for nurturing the baby and those boobs add to her “curvy” appearance?

While we’re talking curves, is it me or does every female have bra issues? Sure, I've been sized a bunch of times, but they are never accurate. First, they say I’m a 36-D, then, I’m a 34-D but the problem I’m encountering is that the sizes aren’t consistent throughout the stores! Is it a Victoria's Secret 36-D? Is it a Target 36-D? Apparently, everyone is a D cup, but MINE are the boobs that don’t fit (and end up falling out). Sometimes I think that I am a 34-DDD, but isn’t that too big? I’ll never figure out the mystery of the bra. If I had it my way, I would be able to walk out of a store knowing that my bra is going to fit, perfectly, without having to buy 12 of the same one. Seriously. If you were to look in my underwear drawer, you would see bras sized from 34-D to 36-G. I’ve got pretty bras, ugly bras, underwire, padded, sexy, grandma bras, sports bras and so forth. I’ve got bras that fit and bras that don’t. It’s my very own version of a lingerie store, without as much sex appeal. This all goes back to PERSONAL STYLE instead of following a trend. Wear what feels good. If it feels comfortable on your tatas and makes you feel and look good, WEAR IT. I don’t care what the fuck the size is on the tag, I care that my boobs are in place and they look damn sexy! 

Okay, enough about my curves. Let’s talk about the real weakness of all women: SHOES. I love getting new shoes as much as the next woman. But, you guessed it – I’m not perfect with those either.  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I’m in between shoe sizes AND I’ve been given the gift of super wide feet. Seriously, you could tread water with these puppies. Basically, I’ve had to give up buying shoes online unless I’m buying sneakers.

Have you ever really tried to find the perfect shoe? You have to do all of this crazy shit and ask yourself a million questions:

“Is my pinkie toe safe? Am I going to get blisters? Can I walk? Can I back flip?”

Doing the type of work that I do, I have to factor in standing for long periods of time. Everyone makes suggestions as to what they think would work but at the end of the day, you'll catch me in my Chuck's, Nikes or my Dingos. There may be a very occasional high heel, but those days are almost all gone.

What’s the moral of the story? TRY THEM ON.

Finally, I can talk about the one thing I don’t have to try on to make sure it’s perfect: MY HAIR. Thank God for my hair. Do you know that changing up my hair is my FAVORITE THING to do? It has only taken me a few bad styles to figure out what does work and what DOES NOT work for me.  For me, my hair has always been the best part of my outfit (okay, maybe not always but most times). I would style my outfit to "go" with my hairstyle, and trust me, I've had many.

If you ask me, I can’t say I have a favorite hairstyle, but I definitely went through phases of styles.  Looking back through photos I’ll see a hairstyle and remember exactly where I was in life at that moment in time, and what I was going through. I catch myself saying: "Oh my God, I remember my hair like that, I look like a different person, I was ___ years old!" I’ve worn every color of the hair rainbow: pink, black, green, blue, purple, brown, red and blonde, I’ve had bangs, no bangs, worn my hair straight and curly, cut it short and wore it long. There isn’t a hair style I haven’t worn.

You can’t change the size of your feet, but you can change the style of your hair to match who YOU ARE ♡ Try it on. Be comfortable being you even if it takes a FEW more steps to get there. Nothing feels as good as being authentically, YOU. Trust me, It's so worth it to feel good in your own skin.

Become the best YOU. Fall. Get back up. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from your success. Be strong and willing. Grateful for this life.

♡G