Mission Statement: Part Two

So, if I want to do this image consulting thing, I will need (among other, lesser, things):

a) practice; and,
b) to look the part.

With this in mind, I have decided to ruthlessly make myself over. I will be documenting the stages of this process here. Keep your eyes peeled. There may even be photos involved.

Truth be told, I think I am more than a little in need of a taste of my own medicine anyway. It's not that I don't know what looks good, or that I never make any effort--I polish up quite well, in fact; the problem is that it's so easy to get stuck in a rut, to make do with things that don't really fit right or suit me or that need fixing up. I have a really hard time justifying clothes purchases to myself, and so my wardrobe is mainly made up of very functional, very boring, very cheap garments, often picked up in multiples to take advantage of a sale: you know, x for $25. I am very petite, so it can be difficult to find clothes that fit well; many times I have been too lazy or too busy to get around to hemming a new pair of jeans, so they just get cuffed and scuffed and never look the way they're intended to.

The main thing I am starting to realize is that, right now, I do not look my age. OK, granted, since we've moved to Nova Scotia from Ontario, I've been essentially joined at the hip with my mother, because it's just the two of us for now. And, yes, I am short and I have a bit of a baby face. But, seriously, I keep getting asked what grade I'll be going into, and a number of people have recently told me they thought I was 12 or 13. I am 24 years old, with my fair share of accomplishments under my belt, and I should be kicking ass. If I want people to treat me like an intelligent, creative, serious woman, I need to (first of all) believe that that's what I really am, and start actually looking like one. A disheveled ponytail, an Old Navy basic tank with a fallen hem, a denim mini and worn-out flip-flops do not a successful artiste make. Plus, I just don't feel like me, I don't feel good about myself--is that cause or effect of my lack of effort, do you think? Could be a little of both.

I don't pretend that this will be easy. For one thing, my current small town life doesn't exactly scream for a sophisticated wardrobe, and it's hard not to feel a bit silly and self-conscious when deciding what to wear. Not to mention that I have virtually no money to spend on updating my closet, so I'll be DIYing and doing a lot of things on the cheap. But, hey--anyone can spend a load of cash to look like they spent a load of cash... it takes someone with real pizazz to do it on a budget.

Wish me luck!