23. If You Don’t Try New Things, You’re Never Going To Break Out Of That Comfortable You’ve Built Around Yourself
IF YOU DON’T TRY NEW THINGS, YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO brEAK OUT OF THAT COMFORTABLE SHELL YOU’VE BUILT AROUND YOURSELF
TARA
I’ve never been the biggest fan of shopping, and I’ve been trying to think up excuses not to join Sylvia for days now. But I know, deep down, that I need to change things up in my life. Starting with my wardrobe.
So when Thursday night rolls around, I put my big girl pants on and get out of my car to meet Sylvia at the entrance.
“Okay. So what kind of budget are we working with?” Sylvia asks, leading the way into the large department store in the middle of the shopping centre.
“Well, I don’t want to go too crazy, but… Well, I think I need to do a full wardrobe overhaul.” I look down at my work attire before looking back at Sylvia.
She runs her eyes over my outfit, tapping her lip. “So, this is how you always dress for work?”
I shrug, crossing my arms in front of my body in an attempt to hide myself away. “Kinda… Yeah.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your clothes, Tara. But I get the sense you try to hide behind baggy clothes… Am I right?” Her tone is kind, and although we’re talking about my appearance, she makes me feel comfortable.
She has such a warm and caring nature that I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame. And I’m even willing to let her to treat me like a living doll for the next few hours.
“I never set out to do that… I’ve just always avoided fitted clothes because I know that I’m not the ideal body size for most of the clothes other women my age wear.”
“I’m going to stop you right there.” She puts her hands on her hips and gives me a stern look.
“You are gorgeous, Tara. There’s no ideal body size as far as I’m concerned, but even if there was, you are far from the opposite of that.
Somewhere along the way, you’ve obviously decided that you needed to hide those beautiful curves.
But I promise you, we are going to find you some stunning outfits that accentuate those curves and make you feel beautiful again. ”
I blink a couple of times, feeling a little emotional.
Bri has often tried to tell me something similar.
And Kylie has threatened to smack me frequently over the years when I’ve refused to wear the outfits she’s tried to talk me into wearing.
But hearing it from someone who was a stranger until a few weeks ago makes it feel like it’s the first time.
Sylvia reaches over to squeeze my arm. “Come on. Let’s ease you into this. I had a look online at a few pieces I thought might work. We can start in the corporate wear section and then move into the fun stuff.”
I let out a breath. “Okay. Sounds good. Actually… I’m going to Singapore for work on the weekend… Can we… Can we find a few outfits for me to wear there, too?”
Her eyes light up. “Oh yes! This is going to be so much fun.”
While I’m still undecided about the fun part of this excursion, I allow her to drag me towards the escalators and lead me towards the women’s section on the second floor.
She starts loading my arms up with clothes in a blur, each one seemingly more brightly coloured than the last. Once there appears to be no more clothes left for her to grab, she turns and marches me towards the dressing room.
It seems as though her soft, gentle ways are just for the initial pitch, as she has now turned into an army drill sergeant.
“I want you to try this one first,” she says, handing me a gorgeous black dress with a plunging neckline. “We’ll ease you into the colours.”
I’ve seen Kylie wear similar dresses and could never in a million years imagine myself wearing anything like it.
I feel my eyes widen as I look at the short dress, beginning to rethink this whole thing. “I don’t know, Sylvia… This isn’t something I’d normally wear.”
“Exactly. You don’t have to buy it. But if you don’t try new things, you’re never going to break out of that comfortable shell you’ve built around yourself. And that includes trying on outfits you never thought you’d wear before.”
Jesus… Talk about a reality check.
She leaves me with the dress, stepping back out of the dressing room and tugging the curtain closed behind her.
I hang the dress on the hook and stare at it, letting out a long, noisy breath while I work up the courage to strip out of my ‘comfortable shell’ and attempt to squeeze myself into the dress.
Because there is no way this is going to fit me.
And it’s too short. And my boobs are going to fall right out of this thing.
Eventually, I pull on my big girl panties and start undoing the buttons on my shirt.
Once I’m down to my bra and undies, I stare at my reflection for a moment.
At least my underwear has always been on point.
That was one area Kylie has won when it comes to my clothes.
She’s always said that a woman should wear sexy underwear, even if no one else is going to see it.
It gives us feminine power, or some such nonsense.
And while I don’t feel particularly powerful, it feels nice to wear pretty, lacy things.
I reach over and pull the dress off the hanger, giving it a cursory glare before sliding my arms in and wrapping it around my body.
Once I tie the bow inside, I thread the sash through the hole on the other side.
Refusing to look at my reflection until after I have it all in place, it’s not until I’ve tied the two sashes together that I look up, expecting to see an elephant in a tutu in the mirror.
What I see instead is something I never expected.
The dress fits me perfectly, creating an hourglass figure that I’ve never noticed before.
I swallow hard while I run my eyes over my reflection slowly.
My cleavage isn’t entirely on display, but it’s more than I’ve ever shown before.
Instead of feeling self conscious though…
Well, I guess I’m feeling some of that feminine power Kylie has been banging on about.
“Tara? Is everything okay in there?” Sylvia’s voice drifts through the curtain, startling me out of my little reverie.
A smile slowly spreads across my lips and I spin on my heel, flinging the curtain open to grin at her.
She claps her hands together and bounces on the balls of her feet. “Oh, darling! This is perfect! If you don’t buy this dress, it would be a crime. You realise that, right?”
I nod, unable to wipe the stupid grin off my face. “Give me more of those clothes.”
“That’s my girl.” She hands me the next couple of dresses in similar styles. “Try the green one on, next. It will looks so good with that beautiful hair of yours.”
I nod, closing the curtain once again and turning back to the mirror. I never thought I’d find clothes shopping so rewarding. But Sylvia seems to be my very own fairy godmother. And I’ll happily play Cinderella if all the clothes in her hands make me look this good.