I usually play it pretty safe with my style. Neutral colors, classic pieces. But sometimes I step outside my comfort zone a bit because something glittery caught my eye…or, more than likely these days, I saw a blogger wear it and I thought I MUST HAVE THAT (hence, the term “influencer,” ha ha).

That doesn’t mean it’s EASY. Wanting something is easy. Buying it is easy. Trying it on in the privacy of your own home is easy. Sharing pictures All Over The Internet of yourself in something so unlike what you normally wear – is hard. Actually wearing it outside the house in public is very hard. Even harder to wear it around people you know.

I’m experiencing all this right now with these Spanx faux leather leggings. I’m sure anyone who knows me in real life is going, WAIT, WHAT?!! Ha. I am SO not a faux leather legging person. But I saw these literally all over the internet – on straight and plus size bloggers. Maddy Gutierrez is who really shoved me off the ledge and I Had To Have Them. They were even sold out for awhile and I waited patiently then jumped on them when they became available again.

I thought, I wear leggings. I have no problem wearing leggings in public. I wear leggings a LOT. I thought these would just look slightly more elevated, not so “I just came from the gym.” And I thought they’d be warmer than regular leggings and perfect for winter.

So I got them, put them on…and went. Oh. Whoa. Uhm, okay. I committed myself to keeping them by shooting them for the National post. And in pictures…OH. WHOA. They’re so SHINY! They never looked THIS shiny when I saw them on other people! Did I get the EXTRA shiny ones? Was anything EVER this shiny?

BUT. I own them. They fit me. They FEEL good. I LOVE the way they look with this navy poncho turtleneck. So. I need to wear them.

And here’s how you step outside your comfort zone (if you’re a self-conscious chicken like me)…BABY STEPS. You wear them at home (check). You take pictures of yourself in them (check). You go out in public where you probably won’t know anyone…and you can leave as quickly as you want. Like the grocery store. The post office. In and out. Anonymous.

If you don’t DIE (and guess what, you WON’T), then…wear them with friends. GOOD friends. Friends to whom you have told the whole long saga of ending up with something you like but you’re scared to wear outside the house. Friends who won’t judge you. Friends who’ll be supportive and lie say things like “you look great!” or “shiny leggings? WHAT shiny leggings? Oh gosh, I hadn’t even noticed them!”

After that, wear them out in the final frontier: mixed company. Cuz seriously, who cares what those people think? THEY’RE probably not brave, confident, or fashion-forward enough to wear tight, shiny pants out in public, so…who’s the winner here? YOU ARE!!!

 

Congratulations. You have stepped outside your comfort zone. Next time will be even easier!

What I’m Wearing

My apologies for fiendish focus point. It was not being my friend that day.

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