When I saw the theme for this Wednesday a couple of weeks back, I knew immediately what I wanted to do. Not because its prom-y (not really my deal) but because this dress was such a huge turning point in my life and my self esteem.
This is my senior prom dress. Or rather, what was going to be my senior prom dress. I bought it in October/Novemberish of that year and absolutely fell in love. From the tight corseted waist to the intricate beading on the top and the hemline, it was everything I wanted. It was even already tailored for a smaller person, which was heaven for me standing at only five feet tall. It was absolutely amazing, and I was so excited to look like a princess, if even only for one night. Fast forward to about two weeks before prom, and I’d found shoes and was psyched to try them on with the dress. But once I got home and in the dress I was horrified- it wouldn’t zip. Not even an inch. I didn’t realize that I’d gained weight, let alone enough weight that I couldn’t fit in my dream dress. Cue to scrambling to find a dress that fit, and I wound up wearing a cheap off-the-rack dress from some teen store in the mall that was going out of business. I was devastated and spent those two weeks doing everything I could to loose enough weight to fit into my original dress. Now I don’t see why I was so worried about it, but at the time it seemed like the end of the world. I wound up slipping back into some dangerous old habits to try and loose the weight. I wound up wearing the second dress, and the first has hung on the back of my closet door for the two years since. I was determined, even though I had nowhere to wear it, that I would one day fit into that damn dress. So there it stayed.
But now, two years later, I realize that I don’t mind not fitting into it. I haven’t since I bought it, and still don’t. Its something that I still have lying around for pictures with my friends, and that’s it. I’ve come to the point that I’m okay with my body, and okay with the fact that I can’t wear it. And while it sounds silly, that’s a huge step for me.
I don’t think that sounds silly at all! Your story is one that so many people can relate to. There are those big moments in life where we are supposed to look our best and be skinny and made up. But life is unpredictable. The fact that you were able to overcome those unhealthy weight loss habits and accept your body for the way it is when you are healthy is so inspiring. I know that this submission will touch so many people out there fighting with a zipper or trying to make that scale number as small as possible to know that they aren’t alone and that they are beautiful just the way they are. Thank you so much for sharing with us. xo Memphis
