This is the first installment of Out of the Nest, in which we ask a guest blogger to post about the outfits, inspirations and self-reflections that have made their style what it is today.  Our first guest blogger is Kristy from Eats & Interests, a casual Seattlite’s guideblog.  A firecracker in all of her endeavors, Kristy is the perfect start to Out of The Nest.  You can contact her directly at her website (or comment here, of course).  If you’d like to be featured as a guest blogger, please send your information to guestblogger@thedemoiselles.com!

Love myself? I feel like it’s taken me FOREVER to do so. And yet, I realize that I’m still a baby at just 20 years old and I can already say I’ve accomplished this massive goal.

Where did my early self-hate start? I can pinpoint it exactly – my move to Dallas, TX at 11 years old. Middle School is the worst years of a girl’s life no matter where she lives, but being a chubby, awkward girl just starting to experiment with style (not to mention uhm, liberal), I didn’t stand a chance at fitting in. I lived in a world where all men aspired to be buff, big, and bigoted and all women aspired to be blond, thin and a trophy wife. Not fitting in, I suffered through years of what was truly emotional hazing. The girls around me convinced me to hate myself, inside and out. I came out of Texas having learned to cry myself to sleep and think I would never be good enough.

It took me years after that — all through high school — to regain my true self. Eventually, having had gone through such an extreme road to hate early on I learned to say “fuck you” to standards and, unlike many around me, slowly increased my confidence, esteem and motivation. It was a process – one that I hardly had good role models for (high school girls were still on that road of self-loathing), but although it was hard it was the most important change I’ve ever made.

Fast forward to now, at the end of my college days, and I can honestly say that I love myself, am happy with my body, and don’t give a crap about what other people think. I didn’t think I’d ever get here. Naked, I look at my “soft” or “rounded” body the mirror and think, “I could totally wear a bikini this summer!,” and instead of avoiding shorts because of my jiggly thighs I walk down the streets with my head up, oozing confidence. I realized no one’s going to notice my thighs if I’m not preoccupied with pulling down my shorts and looking worried. And if they do still notice them, they aren’t going to care because they’ll only see my confidence in the way I carry myself. Honestly – there aren’t as many strangers as you think who give a shit about your thighs.

The Demoiselles are fabulous – they hit on everything I had to learn the hard way to come to love my body. Real Women Come in All Shapes. Accentuate the Positive. WE can be the next Top Model. Media Standards are Bogus. I could go on. But instead, I’ll present you with one of my favorite outfits from this week.

Shirt: Nordstrom Pants: Rock & Republic, thrifted Belt: www.modcloth.com Sweater: unsure Bangles: H&M Shoes: Sofft Hair Accessory: I Heart Rummage vendor

These are the ONLY skinny jeans, in my year-long search, that have ever looked okay on me, and I love them! They make my butt look fab & even though their long I’m tall enough that cuffing them doesn’t make me look like a stump.

I’m in love with belting myself below the bust for an Empire waist. I know it’s what looks best on me. Miss Elle knows all sorts of ways to wear belts though!  My bust isn’t that large, so belting where I did accentuates it & gives me a high, cinched waist in contrast, lengthening my torso. I add some flair with the texture & material of the belt (metal) as well as a metal bangle bracelet & a slightly shimmery flower hair accessory & I’m set, ready to walk out of the house with confidence!

Girls, get out there and act like every day is a chance to strut your stuff! Confidence is sexier than any outfit you could ever wear and by changing your own mind, you can change the minds of those around you! Spread positivity!

Thanks, Birds!