WEAR it or ROCK it?

Too many times we’re concerned about what we’re wearing; maybe it’s not the most expensive designer or recognizable name. But, on second thought, is it really what we’re wearing that matters most, or how we’re wearing it? When we think about fashion, usually stick-figure, couture models (with no sort of curves or noticeable flaws) come to mind. However, this year, fashion organizations like the University of Michigan’s NOiR are changing that image. They’ve partnered with the DOVE Real Beauty Campaign to illustrate that ‘rocking it,’ or knowing that ‘you rock’ and are more worthy than any type of material brand, is more important than ‘wearing it.’ Recently the campaign reported that “75% of girls with low self-esteem engage in negative activities, such as disordered eating, cutting, smoking or drinking when feeling badly about themselves.” But, it’s time that we reclaim our self-esteem.

Don’t let those cheap t-shirts and bummy-jeans make you feel like a bum too. Real women (and men) come from all backgrounds, shapes, and sizes. Moreover, a study done by the Chicago Tribune found that the majority of those surveyed thought the most attractive trait in the opposite sex is confidence.

So today, stand up straight, put those shoulders back, and whether you’re wearing a Target t-shirt or a Versace Vest, size 0 Marc Jacobs or size 12 Forever 21 Jeans, rock it through the Diag like it’s the best clothing combination anyone has seen. Don’t let the clothes wear you, but let your inside shine out and rock the clothes.

For more information visit http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/ and stay tuned for NOiR’s, Ann Arbor-wide, Real Beauty Workshops starting January 2009.