Comfort Is the Real Beauty: Defining What Truly Matters

“Oh, I am definitely not a 2,” Leslie said as I held up a pair of fitted foil pants for her to try on. We were standing in my Northvale studio trying on samples in front of the large gold arched mirror. “Well, do you know your waist measurement?” I asked. “No,” she replied. “Then saying you are not a 2 is completely arbitrary,” I said. “Every company has its own sizing, so it really means nothing.” I grabbed a measuring tape and measured Leslie around the middle, right across her belly button. “Well, here at Gita Omri,” I said, “you are a true size 2.” “Try these on,” I said as I handed her the pants. They were pull on leggings with squared pockets, black with metallic foiled roses in shades of pink and purple. They fit perfectly.

I have a unique perspective when it comes to sizing. First, I am a fashion designer, and I know firsthand how complicated sizing can be. Unfortunately, there is no standardized sizing in the United States, and brands can size their products however they want. Often called vanity sizing, it appeals to the deep rooted desire many women have to be seen as skinny. At one store you might fit into a size 4 and at another a size 6. Let us not even get into how complex the S M L size system can be. The second reason I am qualified to discuss sizing is that I have spent many years of my life sliding up and down the size ladder.

For as long as I have been alive, media and marketing have conditioned us to believe that the size tag in our clothing is a direct reflection of our worth and beauty. Luckily for our daughters, that has been slowly changing over the last decade. But for those of us who grew up with our self-esteem entangled in the size of our dresses or jeans, it is a hard ball of yarn to unravel. The truth is that the tiny tag in your garment with a tiny printed number printed on it, is just a tool to help you buy clothing. Too many of us believe the number is what matters, but the truth is that the fit is what makes or breaks an outfit.

Knowing our measurements is incredibly helpful. Sometimes you might be able to squeeze yourself into a size 10, but if you allowed yourself the comfort and ease of a size 12, the garment might look more flattering. You might have it set in your mind that you are a size 16 and will not budge from that, but in some brands a 14 might suit you better.

Regardless of the size you end up buying, it means nothing when it comes to your beauty, your worth, or your value as a person. It is just a tool. Being comfortable is the most important beauty tip of all. Being stuffed into a tiny dress with painful shape wear and shoes so tall you waddle like a penguin might look great in a photo, but the discomfort is painted all over your face. There is nothing more beautiful than a woman whose outfit works for her and allows her to feel comfortable enough that she does not even think about what she is wearing. Comfort brings out confidence and a natural softness that is more beautiful than any tiny size tag.