Beauty Secret

This. Right here. This is what it is all about. With Pinterest and YouTube and everything else swirling around us, there is a lot of debate as to what is beautiful. But Coco Chanel said it best, "Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself." Because above everything else you are you and I am me, and that is beautiful.

There have been so many moments in my life that I have felt like if I just had hair like someone else or I just had the body of so and so, that I would be more beautiful. We all get caught in those traps. As women and as girls. But the times I have felt most beautiful and the times I shine the brightest are the times I am being me. The times I am cracking a joke in the back of a room, the times I am volunteering for something I care about, and the times I am supporting my husband. Those are the times when I feel most beautiful.

So if I can give you any advice... it is to be you. And be just that. Don't worry about what every other girl has. Sure there will always be things we want to change and want to improve upon, but that is because we are works in progress. There is always room for growth. There is always room for improvement. But that does not mean you should sit around and think bad things about yourself just because you can. Be confident with where you are and be confident with where you are going. And while you are working on becoming the best you, still be you! Be yourself and be beautiful.

This quote by Coco Chanel is everything to me right now. It is a daily reminder that my beauty begins the moments I decided to be myself. Whether I put my best foot or my worst foot forward, as long as me it is beautiful. Through success, through failures, through trials, through errors, and through the happiest moments of my life. Beauty comes from Deidre being Deidre. And beauty can come from you being you. Don't you forget it, darn it!

Fashion Fits Everyone || Volume 18

I have adored Jessi from Haircut and a General Attitude since the very first time I read her blog. She reminded me of a Carly Rae, but this past year I had the change to meet her and build a friendship. I absolutely think she is wonderful. I admire her fashion and her attitude. And I can't wait for you to meet her.

I don’t usually talk openly about my body and my relationship with it but I really love this series that Deidre is putting together and I wanted to show my support so here it goes!

I’m a pear shape. I have a tiny waist, not much in the chest area and wide hips. I won’t lie and say I’m completely comfortable in my own skin, we all get down on ourselves sometimes. I've always had issues with my lower body seeming so big in comparison and I've never been the biggest fan of my legs. I feel like lately that’s beginning to change slowly but surely! I've noticed in the past year or so that taking care of your body goes a long way to making peace with it. I usually eat fairly healthy and I definitely notice the negative way I feel, physically and emotionally towards myself when I don’t. I also started running regularly a few months ago to train for my first half marathon and not only has it helped slim my legs a little but more importantly it gives me a huge confidence boost and makes me a happier person. 

Happiness and beauty go hand in hand. Audrey herself said “happiest girls are the prettiest girls” and Marilyn Monroe said “imperfection is beauty”. I've always found the things that make a person different and unique the most beautiful and intriguing (whether physical or as part of their character). Beauty doesn't come in a mold, it comes in the little details that set you apart and show your personality. A face full of freckles, a beauty mark, a head of wild curls, curves that are just your own, a smile that brightens the room, a contagious laugh. Beauty comes in so many different forms. 

Fashion should make you feel more beautiful and add to your confidence, not make you feel like you have to be a certain size, shape or way. To me, fashion is an expression of yourself, your personality and what makes you you, so how could fashion not fit everyone? I believe that you can wear whatever you want and make it look good with a little confidence and your own take on it. That’s my style advice. Don’t be afraid to wear anything you love. Wear it with confidence. Own it & make it your own!

Fashion Fits Everyone || Volume 17

Katie from Chalk It Up To Better Luck has been a reader and a friend over the last few months. I have enjoyed getting to know her through comments and emails. And I am thrilled to have her on Fashion Fits Everyone today. Take it away girlfriend!

Once upon a time, I was engaged. A handsome man I thought was way out of my league fell in love with me and I felt like I held the world on a string. He gave me that sense of self worth and made me feel like I was beautiful. One day, he fell out of love with me and I no longer had the confidence that I had when I was with him. In fact, I felt worthless. In all that drowning in self pitty, I found some solace in retail therapy. I bought a pair of red high heels, I put on some lipstick, and I actually felt confident when I saw the girl in the mirror staring back at me. I realized that I could give another person the power to decide how I would feel that day. I started to experiment and dress bold. I wore colored tights, dresses, and high heels to work every day. I painted my lips red and smiled in the mirror and eventually that suddenly beautiful girl I saw on the outside was what I felt like on the inside.

I learned that I had to create my own happiness, I couldn't let someone else control it. Amazingly enough seeing myself as beautiful all on my own completely changed my life. It completely changed me. I hope that all women know how important it is to love yourself even when it isn't so easy.

I am small. I've always been small. I'm 5' 3" and 105 lbs. Because I'm short I like to wear heels a lot. Lately, I've invested in more expensive ones so that they don't all have to be considered "sit down" shoes. I like to wear clothes the exentuate my curves because, well, I dont' have any. I've learned that wearing clothes that make my small frame look strong and confident instead of tiny and frail are the best things to wear. 

I love to go for a bold look. I'm not afraid of a few sideways glances. I don't care what the occasion is or how everyone else will be dressed, I live by the motto that you can you never be overdressed. I would say that everyone should take risks. Go bold or go home.

Everyone deserves to feel beautiful. Everyone deserves to put on the perfect pair of jeans and think to themselves, "I really look great in these" It doesn't matter what size you wear or what anyone thinks of you. Fashion really is for everyone.

Fashion Fits Everyone || Volume 16

Today's Fashion Fits Everyone is featuring Miss Ashley.

She is my go to photographer and a gem of a friend.

I have always loved chatting with her, and even more her style.

As Marilyn Monroe said, "I'm very definitely a woman and I enjoy it." I couldn't agree with her more! Having three older sisters at a young age I was always into fashion, wearing makeup & planning out my outfits. I loved putting new outfits together & would plan out my outfits weeks at at time. I even had a journal of my outfit schedule. Fashion is something that is and should be fun for every girl.

I am a curvy girl! My body has changed a lot since I stopped dancing in college a few years back. I have to come to learn one thing with that change which is despite my shape or size that you (and I) still have to LOVE who you are despite your body. True beauty comes from within. If you are confident, you are beautiful. If you are a genuine sweet person, you are beautiful. I have always had a booty and thighs and so to dress I try to layer, drape, and wear darker colors on bottom. Even though I am 5' 8" I still rock the high heels and tall wedges. Shoes have always been my favorite and add so much to your outfit!

I would say my style is very eclectic. A little bit of the classy girl in me mixed up with my sassy edgy side, add in a little bling and some bright lips and you have my style down! My biggest advice to everyone out there is TRY IT! Try new things, bring back old trends, and make new ones. I have so many friends who say to me "only you can pull that off! I wish I could." This is where confidence comes in. If you want to rock it, do it! Sure, at times I may feel silly wearing a new trend or that bright red lipstick. It does take some adjustment but I say go for it! Be confident. Bust out the bright colors, or the pattern mixing. Confidence is the prettiest thing a girl can wear. Try it!

I do believe that fashion does fit everyone! Wear what makes you feel pretty, sexy & that reflects your personality. Be yourself. There is nothing better. Be true to your own fashion. A little secret for you: there are no rules. Be your own kind of beautiful!

Fashion Fits Everyone || Volume 15

Today is Brooklyn from A Little Too Jolley!

She is the happiest girl you will ever meet.

And I am happy to have her here today.

I remember my sophomore year of high school I decided that I honestly didn't care what anyone thought anymore, it was time to be me. And as good-intentioned as that decision was, I decided that it meant I could wear sweat pants and messy pony tails everyday. After a few months of dressing like that, I realized I hated how it made me feel. I was REALLY girly, so I might as well dress like it. I started incorporating chunky necklaces, and skirts in my wardrobe, and when people asked what I was dressed up for I'd tell them, "LIFE!"

One of the hardest things about fashion for me is my body type. I'm 5 foot zero inches and have a wild hour glass figure. As grateful as I am for my curves, it's hard to find shirts that flatter my figure but will button all the way to the top. And my big booty makes it hard to find jeans that fit appropriately. In my fashion trials, I've learned to NEVER settle. If I don't absolutely love the way something fits at the store, I don't get it. And I try to find tops that tuck in at my waist, the tiniest part on my body. Once I decided it was okay to not be a stick thin size zero, I started finding clothes that flattered me!

Fashion is for everyone! Fashion is about dressing the way you want and in a way that makes you feel good about yourself. I am a full time cosmetology student which means I have to wear all black every day, which is boring. So I dress up my all black with a leopard scarf or a colorful necklace and some heels, it makes the dress code my own.

I get inspiration everywhere, other fashion bloggers, magazine, Pinterest and sometimes my husband! I am all for finding great deals through thrifiting, and I also don't hesitate to pay full price for an item if I know it will get tons of use. You don't have to have a specific body type to dress cute, everyone can. Have confidence in yourself! Generally speaking, people are too worried about themself to ever worry about what you're wearing and doing.