Why yes, the title of this post is from the song “Birthday Suit.” Thanks for noticing. Isn’t that a fun song? Anyway, moving on now…

What’s your best feature? Maybe I’ve been watching too many makeover shows lately (What Not to Wear is my biggest guilty pleasure on TV), but I’m thinking a lot about what makes a person attractive. I admitted before that I’m getting really into fashion blogs and whatnot, and I’m sticking to my Fashion Manifesto — specifically the part about being myself and not trying to mimic other people too much. It’s been interesting because there are some people who I think look just fabulous in ripped tights and fluffy dresses or ultra-tailored clothes (fit for working on Wall Street when working on Wall Street was enviable), but I’m not those people. So I’ve been thinking about what makes me unique. What defines my style?

If I could (and there’s no reason I can’t), I would build my style around my smile because that’s my best feature. When I was a kid, I could be very shy; I felt a need to hide what I was feeling and to be under control at all times in public, though I could be a real goofball at home. I tried especially hard not to smile in school pictures because I was afraid of looking dorky, so as the camera guy would try to coax a smile out of me, I’d always end up with an awkward smirk that made my face look lopsided.

One day, my Dad told me something very simple that has gradually become my motto … or one of my mottos. Anyway, he said, “When you feel like smiling, smile!”

It’s simple advice, but it’s a little bit difficult to follow if you’re a shy kid who tries hard not to show her teeth (I thought they were too crooked and too yellow). But over time, following that advice has really changed the way I feel. When you feel free to smile, you also feel free to indulge in those things that make you smile. Now, I occasionally find myself grinning from ear to ear during my yoga class, and if some little thought is making me laugh inside, I say it so I can bring the laugh outside. Sometimes I just sit by myself and smile about whatever I’m thinking, and sometimes I smile just because it feels good.

Granted, defining your style by a smile doesn’t go particularly far in determining what clothes you wear, but it’s a start. I can pick clothes based on what makes me smile. The pink sweater I am wearing today makes me smile because it’s such a warm color and the story of how I got it makes me laugh. When I was Christmas shopping with my mother-in-law, the sales girl showed us this sweater, and my MIL asked if I wanted it. I made a guilty face because I really didn’t plan on buying things for myself that day, so she said, “Well, do you want it for Christmas? … you have to act surprised!”

Maybe this isn’t the advice Stacy and Clinton would give for dressing yourself, but it’s a starting point for me: Wear things that make you happy, things that feel good, and things that reflect something positive about yourself. The outfit I’m wearing today basically describes a person who is fun and creative and excited about life, which I am.

So, what’s your best feature, and how can you use it to shape your style?

Tags: style

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