So Many Outfit Photos and the Reasons Why

When I was a child, I was kind of an ugly duckling. Actually, the word ugly is probably a bit too harsh. However, I was definitely awkward looking, I had no idea how to style my hair, my face hadn’t grown into my nose yet, I dressed funny, and I absolutely hated having my picture taken. I would duck, dodge, dip, dive, and duck again away from any camera pointed in my direction….always wishing that I were more photogenic.

Photogenic. Ha. What does that even mean? AI gives this synopsis of Merriam-Webster’s definition of the word…

“Photogenic describes someone or something that looks attractive, appealing, or striking in photographs and on video. It often refers to a natural ability to appear well in pictures, regardless of conventional beauty, often due to features that capture light well, such as strong bone structure, symmetry, or confidence in posing.”

I have no idea if adult me is photogenic or not, but I do know that I don’t hate the way I appear in photographs today. Obviously, I no longer hide from cameras, stepping confidently in front of them at will. But I doubt that my beauty is conventional. Again, what does that even mean? Strong bone structure, symmetry, and the ability to capture light well? And who decides?

I’m going out on limb here and saying that I get to decide. At least when it comes to my own appearance and so-called beauty. I may even go so far as to say that I actually like the way I look in pictures these days regardless of convention, symmetry, and the ability to capture light well.

Does that make me vain? Perhaps.

But probably not.

The very definition of vanity requires a certain amount of excessive pride and an unnatural need for admiration and validation from others.

Yes, I am a proud individual. Proud of the woman I have become in midlife. Proud of the family I have created. Proud of the children I have raised. Proud of the peaceful loving energy that I have filled my home with. Proud of the welcoming space I have created on the internet.

But I definitely do not need admiration or validation from anyone. I am perfectly capable of admiring and validating myself! As long as my husband thinks I’m the most beautiful woman in the world, and he does, then I’m all good. Actually, I’d be good even if he didn’t think that. Because I like who I am and how I look. I have no regrets because every action I have taken over the last half century, even the somewhat unsavory ones, have led me to this beautiful place that is my life.

But why so many outfit pictures? The number of photos may scream vanity, but I can assure you that is not the reason.

I have loved fashion for as long as I can remember. My personal style has always been my way for creative self-expression. For a very bashful and timid girl, expressing my personality through my style choices felt very safe. I could reveal my artistic side without ever creating art. I could make a impactful statement without ever using any words. I could be loud without ever opening my mouth. And that worked for me. It still works for me.

But in my creative self-expression through style, I still didn’t see any beauty when I glanced in a mirror at the young girl staring back at me. I saw beauty in others, especially in the women on the glossy pages of fashion magazines. And I wanted very much to look that pretty in photos. I never aspired to look like the fashion models themselves but I did aspire to becoming photogenic.

On occasion, when my mother would have professional photos taken of us, I didn’t hate the results. My biggest issue with professional photos was always that you could only choose a limited number of prints once all the photos had been processed. I suppose you could have chosen all the prints but that would end up being way too expensive so you had to pick just a few favorites. I hated that. If I loved myself in all the photos, then I wanted to own all the photos.

Then I started this little fashion blog 11 years ago. My husband takes my photos and I sift through them choosing the best ones. I only slightly edit my photos, cropping, tilting, and adjusting the light exposure or color saturation when necessary. I don’t make any other changes to my photos because I don’t have to. And I don’t want to. I want to share exactly what I look like…photogenic or not.

If there are 50 good pictures of myself from a photoshoot, then I want to share them all. Since it is my blog and I pay for the space then I can do whatever I want to fill that space. There are no rules as to how to properly format a fashion blog. There are no limits on how many words or pictures you can share in each post. However, like any physical real estate, if you want more space to store more stuff, you do have to pay a little extra for that space. And I am okay with that. In fact, I just made a payment this morning to keep my domain up and running, if not for anything else other than my own desire for a creative outlet to share the things that please me…including a million photos of myself if that is what I choose.

Plus more photos allow you to see what my outfits look like in motion. I like to move around in front of the camera to capture the moments when the wind is blowing just right or a twirl showcases the femininity of a full skirt.

Let’s face it, none of us put on an outfit and then sit still in the perfect pose for the rest of the day. We move around in our clothing doing all the things that the day requires of us. Sometimes, the day itself dictates a certain outfit depending on the weather, your planned activities, and your mood. Some days, you might even need some wardrobe changes. For example, if you go from work to the gym to dinner out, you might need three different outfits. And that’s okay. Because you are allowed to change your clothes a dozen times a day if that’s what you feel like doing. There are no rules!

So, in this ruleless place on the internet, I will continue sharing what I want in whatever quantity I choose!

Now let’s talk about this vibrantly colorful outfit for a moment. I love to talk about clothes and fashion. I also love to show what I create to the people who share my interest in sartorial things. Maybe my quirky sense of style will make you cringe and think, “Oh my gosh, I would never wear such a thing.” But maybe my unique outfit combinations will inspire you to get more creative with your own personal style choices.

I wore this outfit on a mild day in early March when the ground was snowless for a few days. But this is an outfit that is perfectly weather appropriate right now in my region of the world.

I paired this gorgeous maxi dress in purple, pink, and teal paisley/floral print with this stunning teal burnout velvet kimono robe. I purchased the dress new last summer and wore it a few times without taking any photographs. The kimono was also purchased new in December and I quickly noticed how well it coordinated with the dress and my turquoise cowgirl boots.

So I got to layering, adding a lightweight black cardigan beneath the robe, an old purple scarf, my black cowgirl hat, a chunky floral pearl necklace, and pearly earrings to create a dynamic outfit that truly reflects the spirit of my soul.

At this stage of life…a half century in…I am choosing to be bold, bright, and visible for myself and myself only!

They say that you should surround yourself with the things that bring you joy. My clothing brings me so much joy. And the wisdom that has come with my age has brought me to this beautiful place of empowerment. I can wear whatever I want, whenever I want, however want. Because we all deserve to be seen!

How do you approach fashion? Are you as passionate about it as I am? Most importantly, however, are you comfortable and content presenting your truly authentic self to the world?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee