Eating my own dog food.

I work in computer security, and at least in my little corner of this field there’s a saying/principle that we should ‘eat our own dog food’. It basically means that before we roll some new security enhancement out on the general populace, we should be willing to try it out on ourselves first.

Now, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but one of my biggest motivators for capturing my thoughts on knitting to flatter is that my own shape has changed quite a lot since having my children. Pre-kid, I didn’t carry my weight in my lower half. My hips were still pretty narrow and my bust was 2 sizes larger. I was a top-heavy shape and my closet was full of bias-cut skirts, straight-leg pants, and deep-vee sweaters. Post-kid, 2 cup sizes are gone, my hips have sure widened, and all of a sudden every brownie I eat seems to go straight to my legs.

For the first couple of years after Jacob was born, I stayed home with him and mostly wore jeans. After Daniel was born I went back to work part-time. I quickly lost the weight I’d gained with the pregnancies but still, none of my old business clothes fit or looked right. Pants that had been perfect before were now gappy in the waist and my thighs looked like sausages in them. I gave a lot away and have been making do with what was left (ouch, preschool/nanny costs) since then. So when I had the chance on Mother’s Day to go shopping for some new business clothes, I decided to ‘eat my own dog food’: Try out my own rules for bottom-heavy shapes.

I was chagrined at how difficult it was to follow my own advice. My hands and eyes automatically strayed to things that would have flattered my pre-kid figure. I persevered and got a nice selection of stuff that makes me feel great. I wanted to share one thing in particular with you, though: After getting a bunch of great stuff at the Banana Republic 60% off suiting sale, I decided to treat myself to something bright. (I was a goth for many, many years and have only slowly been moving away from my gray, black, and dark brown staples.) I purposely chose something that met all of my rules but that I never would have chosen in a million years otherwise.

I shouldn’t have been surprised that it looks great, but I have to admit I was.

17 thoughts on “Eating my own dog food.

  1. That shirt is super cute on you!!

  2. Wow! That’s looks so awesome on you. The color is fabulous.

  3. Everyone needs something to wear that brightens the day. You look great!!

  4. I love that expression! And that top looks fantastic! I working to implement the principles too. I’m still shying away from bright tops, but will give it a try 🙂

  5. It looked great in person too – cut, color, it was all flattering and stylish 🙂

  6. You look fantastic! And just one more praise-heavy post for the fit-to-flatter series. I’m a top heavy hour glass and thanks to your series am only now figuring out how to work with my figure.

  7. You look great and I love the color. I have to say that I don’t quite understand when you describe yourself as “bottom-heavy.” Your hips certainly appear to be smaller than or equal in size to your bust–and not just in this photo.

    I’ve been enjoying your series quite a bit but I still have a hard time seeing myself in the shapes you present. I guess that’s just the nature of being human–lots of variety.

  8. You look great–a whole lot better than the title of your post suggested!

  9. Dang, that green is great on you! I’m so jealous. I love that color! And the fit is rockin’, too. Nice work!

  10. love that green. Not dog food at all.

  11. 8 weeks post-pregnancy and things are totally different. I’m still hoping that they go back to normal, but have given into the fact that I need clothes that fit. But not too many!

    1. On another note . . . is there a way to figure out your shape from measurements? I read you post on shapes, but I just can’t tell visually. I think it’s so hard to look at myself and determine what I am. But, if I could do it with measurements, that might be doable.

  12. Oh, please please please can we see a picture of you as a goth? I’ve been reading your blog for quite a while and you are one of the last people I would’ve guessed used to be goth. Anyway, you look adorable in your new brightly colored outfit!

  13. I love the bold color! I’m glad you got to do some shopping and that you had fun. 🙂

  14. The color looks so lovely with your hair!

    Speaking as a bottom-heavy person, I can tell you that many, many of the pants in stores are built for top-heavy girls who don’t have to worry about the waist-to-hip ratio. Other than a few pairs of jeans and *one* pair of dress pants, I live in skirts. Even the so-called curvy cut pants make your legs look like sausages, and I don’t know why. So I’m glad you found some things that work for you and make you feel good!!

  15. Love your shirt! I’m all about the green these days. In fact I’ll be making my Adelina using Rowan Calmer in Coffee Bean and Kiwi for the contrasting stripe.

  16. Sigh. As a life-long member of the bottom-heavy group, I sadly welcome you to my world. Custom built pants or skirts are the only option. Love your gren shirt.

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