May 11, 2011

In a blur OOTD and my bare leg anxieties

Rainforest Morning shirtdress (anthro)
Anthro belt
Kate Spade Bon Shopper tote
Flats from Brazil

Between my city tax bill, my car repairs, and the desire to replace my living room furniture, cameras are falling low on my list of needs. The above blurriness fuels a pro-camera position, though. I apologize for it! I couldn't get the flash to work and that was as focused as flashless would be. I'm still too timid for solo outdoor ootd shots!

Just in case I hit the lottery (which I would need to start playing in order to win), I'd love some hybrid or starter DSLR recommendations. I would prefer to keep the price in a reasonable range, including my first lens or whatever is needed. 

The dress is one I was glad to buy last year because it matches the lining in the Two Paths trench. I feel like it exposes more cleavage than I want, though. The U shape of the top is difficult to pin. It's been warm so I've gone bare legged which is always a rough transition for me. I really do depend on the coverage of tights. I feel so exposed when I have to stop wearing them. Between feeling pale and self conscious, I tend to wear tights for longer than most.  I try to remind myself that the critiques I wage about my own body I cannot fathom thinking about other people. I need to be less hard on myself and have more faith in the fact that most people don't have the time, energy, or critical personalities to spend evaluating the bodies of others. Unfortunately the ubiquity of harsh tabloid caliber body snarks have influenced my own self-evaluations...

Anyone else find it tough to transition from having covered to bare legs?

17 comments:

tasty moog said...

yes, I wear tights well into spring (with shorts and skirts). just more comfortable for me, especially if in a professional setting and my skirt is too short to wear bare legged.

Marianne Canada said...

From what I can tell, this is a super cute outfit on you. ;-) I have a Nikon D40 with the kit lens and I just love it. It's an older model and you can find them used for a great deal.


As for tights, I am always thrilled to be rid of them!

thatdamngreendress said...

I read this on my phone while baring my blotchy, bruised, ever-so-slightly hairy legs to the glorious sunshine of a warm May day! I have usually stuck with covering up longer, but this year I,m just fedup with tights and the longer skirt lengths are helping. The dress I wore today is a little shorter than I thought though (everything seems to cover so much more when you're wearing tights!) I wish they were golden gams, but I guess it feels like that's just what they are- I will maybe tame those few stray hairs (the benefit of being blonde) for the sake of civilization- they make the skin tone look a bit more even so I won't shave em! Now if I just knew how to prevent all the mystery bruises...

I`ve just been using my point and shoot digital too, but I know I won't be able to get serious about photography for awhile! I will try and get outdoors more somehow this summer!

roxyturtle said...

Meh, body snarkers usually have their own issues to begin with. If you want to go bare-legged, do it!! I think you're gorgeous.

Desert Flower said...

You have great legs, I say let them feel the spring breezes :) I think bare legs are acceptable in most work situatuions so long as the skirt length allows. Sometimes a slightly shorter skirt can go to the office with tights but wouldn't work with bare legs. Otherwise, I go barelegged in all my skirts and dresses.

Sabinajkelly said...

great to see you tight-less!   Do not have concerns - we all think so part of our body is not that great - but it doesn't matter - its what we've got and no one sees the flaws but you.  .   First thing i thought when i saw the pic was " yay - no black tights!"  

Meghan311 said...

I can relate!  I, too, find it to be a hard transition from tights to bare legs for the exact same reasons.  In fact, I just did it for the first time today and felt self-conscious all day.  For what it's worth, I think you look great in that dress.  I've never seen that dress before...I love it and may have to stalk it on ebay now! 

Laura Martin said...

I'm jumping on your Digital SLR bandwagon.

I am about to take delivery of a 4 year old Olympus EVOLT E510 digital SLR I found on Amazon.  I would have never been able to figure out what I wanted without the following very helpful links.

define digital SLR ,

compare digital and SLR

Camera Research ,

Hope this helps.  

The bare leg transition is tough. I don't like the way my legs get sweaty wearing dresses in the Summer. Not too mention glaring White. So I wear long cotton underwear under my dresses.  Now I don't mind the transition so much.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

 Thank you for the recommendations, Laura! I am going to read through those sites.

I have some bare leg tricks too because I suffer from what I affectionately call the old "chub rub." Aka, the perils of thighs that touch. To remedy it I tend to sport cotton bike shorts underneath so that I don't chafe. This also helps when dealing with stiff breezes and wanting to sit in the grass comfortably. I've also tried chafing gel and unscented deodorant which work well but make me feel a little too naked for my own comfort.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

 Thank you! It was from spring of last year I think. I got it on sale.

I replied to Laura above that one of the things I do to deal with how exposed I feel (and to deal with the fact that my thighs touch) is wear cotton bike shorts underneath things, at least at first and especially on super hot days.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

I know what you mean. My self-criticism is way harsher than I'd ever wage on anyone else. I try to remind myself of that. I think most of us are too wrapped up in our own issues to ever think with the same level of scrutiny about others.

Tights are totally a security blanket for me/my body anxiety and every year when I have to eschew them I go through the same process of nervousness.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

 Thank you, Sunny. YOU have really great legs though and you rock the bare leg look beautifully.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

 Thanks Roxy! I know my anxiety is irrational but I just feel super exposed the first few bare legged weeks. Bike shorts help though...

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

 Yeah another great thing about tights is not worrying about body hair so much. But until bathing suit season I'm grateful to only have to focus on the area below the knees. I am clumsy and I feel like my shins are constantly bruised up from bumping into things. Bad depth perception doesn't help!

I too don't have time to learn photography but I hope that the auto setting will be an improvement from my little point and shoot. Though my car is back in the shop so I might be waiting longer than I want to make the leap to a starter dslr.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

Thanks! I was thinking of a D40. I don't know what would be a good price for it on the used market. 

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

 Yeah even outside of professional settings I feel more comfortable being covered up.

Danielle said...

 I adore this dress - it's one of the things I'm annoyed I missed out on at anthropologie! 

And I hear you about cold outdoor photos. I'm getting annoyed with Chicago for making me dash in and out!

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