Inspired by Gwen Stefani: The Power of Clothing

June 6, 2019 / 35 Comments
This is not a sponsored post.

Just last week, the Fab 40’s and I brought you some outfit stylings inspired by our favorite fashion icons. If you read that post, then you know that my outfit was inspired by the spectacular Gwen Stefani and that I photographed two separate outfits. I ended up not featuring this particular one for two reasons. The first reason is that I photographed the other outfit in front of murals of rock icons and that seemed to be the perfect setting for the Fab 40’s theme. The second reason being that once I created this look, I realized that it is absolutely something I would have fashioned on my own without inspiration from someone else.

When I spotted this outfit of Ms. Stefani’s though, I let out a little gasp of delight and was like, “Ooh, that is so my jam!” I love the tights and shorts trend, but I have never quite had the nerve to pair stilettos with this combination. I wasn’t all that certain that I could pull off that level of outstanding badass sassiness.

The Spectacular Ms. Gwen Stefani

But I figured what the hell, why not give it a shot? With a tiny little sliver of extra confidence, I can strut my stuff with the best of them, can’t I? Maybe. That’s what I told myself anyway. Unfortunately, I had literally no where to go the day we shot these photos, so I changed my clothing right after the shoot. But I must admit, I was feeling all sorts of body confidence and a big ole spike in self esteem…due to the clothes. Whether you believe it or not, clothing has power. And lots of it.

There is a power in how our clothing makes us feel about ourselves. There is a power in the reactions we receive from others in response to the way in which we present ourselves to the world. There is a power that comes from how we adorn ourselves that reflects inwardly and boosts us up on so many different levels. When we dress in the manner in which we want to be perceived, we create that exact persona and it is who we become. Right in that very moment when we get dressed.

But I think there are too many people who are afraid to make those style choices that feel great to them for fear that they will be judged. I hear it all the time in my line of work. I am too fat for that. I am too old for that. I am too young for that. I am too short, too tall, too curvy, not the right shape for that. The people I work with are way too conservative for me wear that. That’s just not me. I would be out of my comfort zone. That is not socially acceptable. People would look at me funny. I just want to blend in.

I used to get teased all the time for my style choices. From elementary school through my college years. People would ask why I was trying to draw attention to myself. They would ask that question as if it were a bad thing. Naughty and forbidden. How dare I make a spectacle of myself. And I would slump down and hide my face and try to be inconspicuous and unnoticeable. When I should have been responding with, “Why are you trying to blend in and be invisible in the crowd, just like everyone else?” Then one day, I grew up and I became proud of who I am and I learned to simply not give a shit anymore. I wear what makes me feel amazing. Every single day.

So to all of those excuses any of you may make about not wearing what makes you feel fabulous…to all of it, I say, hogwash! A big, giant, resounding, bullshit! Wear whatever the hell you want to wear. Be loud. Be bold. Be obnoxious. Be confident. Be different. Be unique. Stand out in the crowd. It is what you were meant to do!

So now I leave you with some powerful words from Gwen Stefani, who is not only my fashion icon, by she is also a very wise woman, indeed.

“Act as young as you feel. You’re not getting older; you’re getting more entitled to be your fabulous self.”

Gwen Stefani

“I have to be creative to be happy.”

Gwen Stefani

“After you make a fool of yourself a few hundred times, you learn what works.”

Gwen Stefani

“If I wasn’t even famous or had any success, I would still wake up and put tons of make-up on, and put on a cool outfit. That’s always been who I’ve been my whole life, so that’s never gonna change. I love fashion. I love getting dressed up. I love Halloween, too.”

Gwen Stefani

“People might think you can turn creativity on and off, but it’s not like that. It just kind of comes out. A mash up of all these things you collect in your mind. You never know when it’s gonna happen, but when it does…it’s like magic.
It’s just that simple and it’s just that hard.”

Gwen Stefani

“Sometimes you have to sacrifice your performance for high heels.”

Gwen Stefani

“Fashion is an extension of your personality, and I’ve always been obsessed. I always want to have something different than everybody else.”

Gwen Stefani

“I think I’ve been able to fool a lot of people because I know I’m a dork. I’m a geek.”

Gwen Stefani

“I have people that are affected by what I do, what I say, and that would be the one place where it gets complicated. But being honest and truthful – I just believe that’s the best way to be.”

Gwen Stefani

“I’ve always been a girl who loves to dress up.”

Gwen Stefani

Have you found clothing that makes you feel powerful and unstoppable? Do you wear it often?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Have you entered the Country Outfitter $500 sweepstakes giveaway yet? Entries will be accepted until July 7, 2019.

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.

You May Also Like

Brushstrokes by Melina at the Torrid Halloweenie Costume Party & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #41

October 10, 2017
boot cut jeans, plaid duster, fall outfit inspiration, Shelbee on the Edge

A Wabi-Sabi Worldview & Link Up On the Edge #320

November 4, 2022
Green bird kimono, little white dress, obi belt, Style Imitating Art, Shelbee on the Edge

Style Imitating Art: Sunspots by Cuno Amiet

September 19, 2022

35 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Shelbee on the Edge