Style: Confidence vs confidentiality.

One could, if so inclined and willing, draw a rather direct line between personal style and a certain measure of self-confidence. After all, expressing personality to a certain extent smacks of going against the grain, of “showing off”, which is something not lightly undertaken by those lacking in self-esteem. Also, one who is uncertain their stomach should ever see the light of day is not swiftly going to bare midriff, no matter what fashion says about this.

A counterpoint to this of course are those whose stomach really should not see the light of day, and who nonetheless pour themselves into tops so tight that showing copious amounts of flesh is nigh unavoidable. The line “just because you can get into it does not mean it is your size” springs to mind once more. These people cannot be said to be lacking in self-confidence, they can even be said to be slightly over-abundant in that specific regard. Most of them can also be said to be overabundant in the regard of stomach-and-lower-back-flab, but this is an unsavoury subject, and should best not be mentioned.

Now I am in no way harping on those with a little more body to carry around than usual. I myself cart a goodly amount of extra me around right in front of what I maintain are good abs if only you could see them through the flab, and as such would not deny anybody the right to be well-insulated. In fact, I find a little curvy or a little huggable a very attractive thing in any human being, and would as such only applaud anyone who wants to show off a little bit of curve or brawn.

But there is a line between showing what you’ve got and no longer showing your belt, and somewhere on that line does looking confident turn into showing what should be hidden, confidential.
The too-tight legging, the jeans that “hug” so low you are showing thigh between underwear and actual jean, the shirt so high or so tight it leaves nothing to the imagination, including the number and placement of chest-hairs, they are all examples of saying a little too much, of showing a little more than people who you don’t really know should know.

Clothing, traditionally, remains a way of showing off, showing what you have, and as such should be used to their best and fullest. It should not be used, however, to give people an intimate glance into your body’s personal life. Clothing, more than anything, allows a wonderful option for hints, for mystery, for hiding those bits that should only be revealed when a winning personality and good humour have made sure the other party won’t run upon reveal of aforementioned bits.