Why do many "high fashion" pieces hurt our bodies? Skinny jeans that stifle circulation and negatively affect nerves and posture, blister-giving shoes, heels, and thongs are just a few. People joke about how beauty comes at a price, but knowing these items can actually injure you takes the comedy out of it. It begs the serious question, "Why do we do that to ourselves?"
I can't speak from anyone's perspective but my own, so I'll give you the reasons I used to have for wearing things that were unhealthy for me.
1. Lack of Options: I didn't really consider how much was available for me to wear. When you're caught up in a culture that dictates "acceptable" beauty, it's hard to consider that its offerings are not your only options. Heels were formal wear, so if I was dressing up, I usually wore heels! But as I got older and more serious about loving myself, I realized how bizarre it is to walk around on mini stilts all day. This became highlighted when I lived in big cities where I had to walk a lot. My knees and back hurt from time to time (not to mention my feet), and I knew it was time for a change. My health and safety matter, and now I wear shoes that support me rather than work against me. I don't have to sacrifice beauty, because I believe true beauty incorporates safety and balance. I don't wear high heels anymore, and I don't miss it.
2. Lies About Practicality: I remember growing up reading fashion magazines that told you certain undies were necessary for the season's fashion offerings. They motivated people using fear of being a misfit. You don't want to show pantylines, do you?! Then I considered that if one's clothes are so tight that underwear seams are showing, perhaps a dignified and powerful woman could make a more suitable clothing choice.
3. Desired Characteristic: I remember once believing that a certain feminine ideal came from wearing tight jeans. I bought a pair from NY & Co. back when I was in high school. I liked the shape I saw in the mirror, and I felt sophisticated. But the trouble with personal characteristics coming from your clothes is that you can take them off. If you don't feel valuable without your couture garments, you'll never know the sensation of true value that's undaunted. For me, a big help in this department was learning from other amazing women. A couple of years ago, I had a housemate who, before going on dates with her then-boyfriend-now-husband, used to ask me if her jeans were too tight. Just the question made me think. I'd never considered that question for myself, but because she did, I began to. I realized that having jeans I could move in, and that didn't expose me, was so much more empowering than letting strangers basically see everything.
If insecurity has a say in your fashion decisions, I encourage you to deal with the issue itself. Is it that you want to stand out because you feel unseen, or that you choose trends because you don't want to stand out? Perhaps you want to look "cooler" and more sophisticated than you believe the Real You is. But self-medicating through appearance will only make the wounds grow deeper. There's nothing wrong with you just because you have insecurities; we all do! You're human. You're normal. But trust that there's hope to get beyond this. God loves you and wants to heal your heart with His gentle kindness. If you ask Him, He will!
Then, before considering the trends, you can be free to consider your body's needs! I mean, is it any wonder that people who create our clothes at the expense of human lives and dignity would give us clothing that compromises our own health? Many such companies exist to make money for themselves, not to serve. Why not explore healthier clothing companies, consignment shops, cool Etsy stores, or make some of your own garments that suit you best? Even if high fashion doesn't, you can consider your best interests. Know your worth, and wear the things that go in line with that.
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