How To Feel Like a Million Bucks in an Eleven Dollar Dress

September 4, 2017 / 52 Comments

I have been planning this post for quite some time (these photos are from my professional shoot done back in July with Sarissa Marissa Photography), all the while planning to title it “How To Look Like a Million Bucks in an $11 Dress”. But something in that title was not sitting well with me. Who am I to say that I look like a million bucks? It felt sort of pretentious and arrogant. And that is so not me. Plus, how I look is completely subjective to the viewer’s eyes. And I am never one to dictate to anybody what they should think, perceive, feel, like, or dislike. But I was really liking the play on words. And I wasn’t sure where to go with it. And so I kept putting off the post.

When I finally decided to sit down and write the post, I was looking through the photos and I thought, “No, in fact, I don’t look like a million bucks at all. But you know what? I sure as hell feel like a million bucks.” And isn’t that really much more important than how I look? I think it is. So here you go…my take on how to feel like a million bucks in an $11 dress.

Yes, this dress was $11! I found it taunting me from the clearance rack at Kohl’s for 90% off its original $110 price tag. And, as you may already know, I had been on the hunt for the perfect red dress. (I had shared posts featuring other red dresses here and here, but they were too casual for what I really had in mind.) So for that price, I brought it home with every intention of styling it for my photoshoot.

So how to feel like a million bucks? Add some killer accessories. Who wouldn’t feel crazy magnificent with a giant black feather in their hair? This headband with the bow and feather always make me imagine that I am some old time Hollywood glamour queen. I don’t even care if it looks ridiculous and a bit over the top. It makes me feel freaking fabulous! And these shoes…(another clearance item for under $10 from DSW). I love the delicate ankle strap and scalloped edges for creating a super feminine vibe. And the heel is high enough to elongate the legs but low enough to allow you to strut your stuff without looking like a giraffe on stilts.

I contemplated adding some shapewear under the dress because the sheath style is a bit more fitted than I normally wear, but then Melissa said, “To hell with shapewear, just rock your curves.” So I did. All of my curves. Even the ones that may prevent someone else from saying that I look like a million bucks. Well, to hell with those people, too. I feel like a million bucks in my red sheath dress with every curve and bulge and roll on display. And once you can grasp that concept…loving your body with all of its marvelous imperfections…you can feel like a million bucks in just about anything!

How to do you make yourself feel like a million bucks?  Are you wearing the appropriate amount of confidence and smiles? Because sometimes that’s all it takes!

I owe a huge thank you to Sarissa Melissa Photography for helping me feel so fabulous! And also to Hair by Chantel and Anna’s Chop Shop Hair Studio for the beautiful hair and make up! You can see more photos from this session with Melissa here and here.

Please stay tuned this month as my article “The Midlife Sex Conundrum” will be featured with some more amazing photographs by Sarissa Marissa Photography in the Fall issue of Resilientista Magazine! Coming on September 22!

Be sure not to miss it by subscribing right here! It will be sent directly to your e-mail inbox.

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

*I have no specific product links as everything I am wearing was purchased on super duper clearance! This is not a sponsored post.

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I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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