Do you have loads of clothes in your closet that don’t fit you comfortably that you’re keeping “just in case”? Does the idea of going clothes shopping make you feel anxious? What can you do to finally learn how to dress for your best, most comfortable and confident self? In this podcast episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini speaks about finding clothes that fit your body and soul with personal stylist Susan Padron.

MEET SUSAN PADRON

Susan Padron is an intuitive personal stylist, an award-winning author, podcast host, and has been featured in InStyle and many publications accessible all over the world. She works with her clients to find a personal style that is a true reflection of who they are as a unique individual, while simultaneously helping them to navigate through their limiting beliefs. Rather than focusing on fashion trends and body types, Susan curates a style for her clients that is accessible, and versatile, all while dressing their soul. She is a tattooed, queer mom, who is always ready to give you the gentle nudge or emotional hug, whichever you need, so that you can give yourself the permission to be you.

Visit Susan's website and connect on Instagram.

FREEBIE: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself to Discover Your Personal Style

IN THIS PODCAST

  • Why you shouldn’t hold onto clothes that don’t fit
  • Prioritize feeling good in your clothes 
  • “A pair of jeans can be life-changing” 

Why you shouldn’t hold onto clothes that don’t fit 

For Susan, she had always been petite and in a smaller body. However, after she had her first child and became older, her body naturally evolved.  She was no longer the usual size and shape that she had been, and it became an identity shift for her since she had always associated herself with a certain body type.  Although, what she came to realize is that she was trying to go backwards, and make her body like it was when she was younger, before being a mother, and those things simply weren’t true to reality. 
If I’m constantly trying to focus on getting back to something that I was, I’ll never be present in my own body and be able to celebrate the moments that I’m in right now, because life is happening right now! (Susan Padron) 
Susan had to learn to embrace where she was, and who she was, which allowed her to love and appreciate her body for who it enabled her to become, and be.  So, trying to hold onto clothes that no longer fit you as “motivation” to achieve a certain size robs you of being present with the body that you currently have. 
As soon as I started to just give myself that permission to dress my body in a way that felt good [and] in clothes that fit my body now, I realized just how freeing it was.  (Susan Padron)

Prioritize feeling good in your clothes 

Even though certain styles may be popular in and out of fashion, it changes often, and it’s tough to keep up with.  Instead, focus on feeling good in your clothes. When you prioritize feeling comfortable and happy in your outfit, that will radiate confidence in and of itself. You cannot dress for confidence because it comes from you.  So don’t try to wear clothes that are uncomfortable for you just because they’re currently fashionable. Dress yourself in the things that you enjoy and that allow you to move freely, and feel comfortable, and therefore encourage you to feel at ease and to live confidently. 
It’s freeing … It’s okay if we don’t look like the model on the website in that dress, we look like ourselves in that dress, and as long as we like that [and] being able to separate our expectations based on what we’re seeing on the models … And what we’re seeing in the mirror, it always has to come back to; ‘Do I like this? Do I like this for me? Does this feel like me? Do I feel good in it?’ And if those answers are ‘yes’, then nothing else matters. (Susan Padron) 

“A pair of jeans can be life-changing”

Buy clothes that have some give in them. Squeezing, pinching or constricting yourself in clothes isn’t going to let you feel comfortable or happy.  Wear clothes that allow you to move and feel supported. Susan recommends wearing jeans that have stretch, instead of something that is completely rigid and unbending.  Opting for stretchier jeans instead of stiff pants that constrict you can go a huge way in allowing yourself to feel more comfortable and confident, which can help your body image, your mental health, and your general state of being.  In this way, buying the right pair of jeans really can be life-changing.

USEFUL LINKS

MEET DR. CRISTINA CASTAGNINI

I am a licensed Psychologist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. While I may have over 20 years of clinical experience, what I also have is the experience of having been a patient who had an eating disorder as well. One thing that I never had during all of my treatment was someone who could look me in the eye and honestly say to me "Hey, I've been there. I understand". Going through treatment for an eating disorder is one of the hardest and scariest things to do. I remember being asked to do things that scared me. Things I now know ultimately helped me to get better. But, at the time, I had serious doubts and fears about it. If even one of my providers had been able to tell me "I know it's scary, but I had to go through that part too. Here's what will probably happen...." then perhaps I would not have gone in and out of treatment so many times. My own experience ultimately led me to specialize in treating eating disorders. I wanted to be the therapist I never had; the one who "got it". I will be giving you my perspective and information as an expert and clinician who has been treating patients for over 2 decades. But don't just take my word for it...keep listening to hear the truly informative insights and knowledge guest experts have to share. I am so happy you are here!

THANKS FOR LISTENING

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