As my body has changed over the years, feeling comfortable in my clothes is something that I’ve struggled with for a while. The sad thing is, I’m certainly not alone. The statistics indicate that a meagre percentage of women feel satisfied with their body image. Whether it’s down to changes in our bodies, comparisons between ourselves and others or social pressures, many of us could have a much more positive self-image. It’s something I’ve been actively working on, so I have a few pointers to help you start.

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BEGIN WITH THE BASICS

The basics are the right underwear. You might not think that others will see it, but ill-fitting underwear is noticeable in its own way. The self-confidence that nice, matching underwear can provide isn’t to be overlooked either.

Bras should offer the right support and enhancement, and knickers should fit perfectly to be seamlessly invisible. Bralettes can offer appropriate support more comfortably. Slimming underwear like Skims can do wonders for your confidence and dramatically improve the appearance of tighter-fitting clothing.

CLEAR OUT YOUR CLOSET

The physical act of clearing out your closet and finally admitting that those jeans don’t actually fit anymore might not be pleasant. I promise that you will thank yourself in the long run though. Your wardrobe needs to serve your current body, not the body you had when you were 21 and not the body you wish you had. Take my word for it, it’s better to have one big clear out than to spiral each time you try to fit into clothes that are too small, only to put them straight back into your closet for next time. If you really can’t bear to part with clothes that are too small right now, at least vacuum pack them into storage.

Once your wardrobe is free of ill-fitting clothes, it’s important to ensure that your clothes serve you in other ways. In an ideal world, all of your clothes should help you to feel as confident as possible. Whether due to a little stain or missing button, purge any that have seen better days. It’s advisable to view your clothes from a fresh perspective every so often to get rid of anything outdated or that no longer suits your style. Make sure your wardrobe boasts some true style staples, pieces that look effortlessly good and are easy to wear.

FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR CLOTHES BY SHOPPING FOR YOUR BODY

I challenge you to find anyone who hasn’t, at least once in their life, bought an item of clothing for the body they wish they had. After far too many ‘motivation purchases’ I’ve finally learned my lesson. Shopping for your shape is one of the most important steps in looking and feeling more comfortable in your clothes. Although we all look to others for style inspiration, it’s important to consider the impact of body type and to acknowledge that clothes can look very different on some bodies than others.

The number on the label will change from store to store and across different types of clothing. What matters is how it fits. Squeezing yourself into something so that you can tell yourself (and others) that you’re a size 10 and not 14 is a fool’s game. Firstly, no-one else really cares what size you are. Secondly, you’ll look and feel far better in an outfit that you’re not spilling out of. If it helps, a label is very easily cut out.

FOLLOW MORE POSITIVE INFLUENCES (& INFLUENCERS)

The most followed people on social media largely fit a certain stereotype. They may also be smart, kind and entertaining but generally, they’re slim and conventionally beautiful. I’m not telling you to cancel anyone for their size or attractiveness. However, you may find a feed or for you page that doesn’t offer some diversity problematic. For a while now I’ve actively followed and engaged with more ‘mid-sized’ creatives with bodies less like Kendall Jenner and more like mine. The more familiar bodies I see on social media, the more confident I am in myself.

If body-image is something you’ve been struggling with, I hope these pointers help you. It’s important to remember that all bodies are different and that there isn’t one clear definition of beauty.