Love Stripes

I’m constantly trying to improve and grow. This year, I’m trying to make a conscious effort to improve my self-confidence in all aspects of my life. In the past six months or so, I’ve improved my culinary skills and I’m currently working on trying to improve my style. I love fashion, but I often feel that because I’m short in height and short on cash, I can’t wear cute clothes. But I’m out to prove myself wrong. I also want to prove that librarians can and do have good style.

I wore this outfit to brunch in Asheville. I love Asheville so much. You could literally wear a paper bag and no one would judge you.

Pants: Vintage Pendleton 
Sweater: Can’t remember! eep! Edit: I remembered! United Colors of Benetton.
Shoes: Target
Bag: Gift from my sister

How do you improve your self-confidence?

love,
melanie

72 thoughts on “Love Stripes”

  1. Kenny

    I like these photos and your outfit. I counted 24 rows of bricks (approx) to the top of your head, so…your not so ickle 🙂 As for the rest…case proven!

  2. Cathy

    Wearing nice clothes also automatically makes me feel confident and beautiful about myself. I love your sweater by the way 🙂

  5. tbenf

    Fashion does not have to be expensive! If there is one thing I have come to learn thrift shopping can look just as trendy as throwing down $500 for a jacket, AND your money can go to help a better cause.

  8. enisea

    Well, it’s not so hard, really. Once you know you’re loved, and you know it surely, you realise that you need not prove anything.

    To be honest with you, it’s rather wonderful not needing to be completely confident in myself… because I am loved by others who find me worth putting confidence in – that’s a beautiful thing.

    Once you realise you don’t need to prove anything: sense of style, skill, worth… you spend more life being you and less of life trying to make yourself more of what you think others find self-confident. Because YOU don’t need to prove anything to anyone – strangers especially.

    Anyway, you’re beautiful!

  17. Samantha Looks So Fine

    Ah! Very cute outfit! You look great–don’t let your height or your budget stop you from dressing the way you want to dress. This is a great example of how you don’t have to spend a lot to wear cute clothes. For me, I feel confident as long as I like the way I look. Critics, be damned!

  19. Valerie (all mussed up)

    Just stumbled here via Freshly Pressed, and what a sassy librarian you are! I love your swagger. Being short on cash doesn’t have to limit your style — if anything, it makes you more creative. I love pulling together outfits I’ve “curated” from thrift shops across Europe.

    Keep rockin’ it!

  20. Scott

    Nice outfit, for a very nice-looking lady.

    I like the colors–though I think a skirt would look better on you (because a skirt looks better than pants on any woman, to an old-fashioned gentleman like me).

  22. rumpie

    For my confidence I just have to by myself. For long periods I act how people think I should, I am in a relatively conservative career, but I enjoy loud things, loud music, loud colors, love painting and street art. After 40 years I think I am finally getting better and most people like the real me, and the others must have their own problems. And crazy pills help!!!

  23. Dinuk

    Dear Melanie,
    Don,t ever think that you are short in height.I’m from Sri Lanka and in our country you are of normal height.My advise to you is this-
    Stop comparing yourself with others you are beautiful as you are.Don’t listen to people who say that you have bad fashion taste.If you think you look nice/pretty/hot/sexy/slim then you will be that.but if you accept what the “people” say,even if there are a lot of them, you will only become sad,lose originality,lose money and time trying to become what others want not what you like to be.Sure people might say librarians have bad taste SO WHAT let them play their trumpets.You just do what you want to do .people might want to hurt you more but you have the right to fight.Be what you want to be ,do what you want to do.Oh and don’t go and buy new cloths thinking that what you have is ugly.Search the internet on how to make old cloths new.Learn to sow.Hope this will help you.

    with lots of love,
    A Reader.

  27. Tee

    I’m short too. Short in stature, short on cash. This year I’ve just been in survival mode. But I’ve decided that it’s okay just to be me. I love music. I love art. So for me, concerning fashion, my dress code usually falls somewhere in between the two. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!

  30. John J. Rigo, Texas' Poet

    A well written, highly personal sharing of yourself. In this day and age it is truly great to observe a young woman who has the self-disipline to set goals each day for self-improvement. Guys take note, marrying such an individual would mean you would be marrying “above yourself.” Always a wise thing to do in life, as I have in my own life. Believe me when I tell you, I went thru enough duds in my life before being blessed with my current wife of twenty plus years! Thank you for sharing this kinda of goal bio of yourself with your WordPress family.

  31. swillsond

    Menyakitkan ketika kamu rindu seseorang, tapi dia tak menyadarinya. RIndu yg mengingatkanmu bahwa dia bukan bagian dari hidupmu.

    Jika dia yg kamu cinta tak juga menyadari betapa beratinya dirimu, kamu harus belajar melupakannya. Cintai dirimu juga!

    Boleh saja ber kreasi dgn kerudung,asal penutup kepala/jilbab tetap menutup leher. Mengikuti mode namun tetap mengikuti aturan agama.

    Dalam cinta, jangan mengharapkan seseorang tuk tetap bersamamu, jika yg kamu beri padanya hanya alasan tuk meninggalkanmu.

  34. flashback80style

    I love fashion myself. One thing i learned is that fashion is not truly made up on a budget. You can find your own fashion taste at second hand stores or vintage stores. If you like places like goodwill you can mix and match styles on a budget. I like a fashion sense that looks as if someone has truly put effort into it and its different. Start a trend. People seem to have let that go these days. Thats why i miss the 80s and the 90. But to me it looks good. Your doing you.

  38. Cassie

    I love the red, black and white and then the light brown shoes. <3 You can mix black and brown it seems.

  39. Ron Scubadiver

    Not sure about those slacks, but you are young and good looking. That alone should give you self confidence.

  41. thoughtswithjames

    For me it has always been really easy to forget about all the cool things that I’ve accomplished, made, and experienced, and I think it helps to look back and remind yourself about how far you’ve already come. You could even make a list stating ways that make you unique and interesting, and things you’re proud of and thankful for. But remember, you’re human – just like the rest of us, and that alone makes you valuable and important.

  42. The Daily Fashionista

    I love the bag! Nice pop of color 🙂 My new blog is all about affordable fashion and looking good on a budget (and I’m short too! Lol) I think you’d like it: TheDailyFashionista.Wordpress.Com. Good luck with your improvement journey!

  47. Shay. R.

    Way cute, I’m a fond lover of stripes as well. I’m with you on the whole ‘wanting to look good without having to spend a lot’ train, as I’ve been going through a lot of changes with my diet, fashion, job (I work in a library as well, but only as a clerk haha. I intend on going back to school for a MLIS degree) and just my outlook with life in general. Just remember to keep your head up and be happy with what you want to do!

  48. Nícolas Pinheiro

    Loved your photos. Your outfit is AWESOME! The walls behind you gave value for your pics. You’re totally right about improving you. Your blog is too cute. 😀

  51. clairnh

    Who said people “short in height and short on cash” couldn’t wear cute and trendy clothes? Fashion isn’t about $200 shoes and always following the latest trends. It’s about tweaking those trends to find clothes that bring out the best in you. <3
    Read more about fashion and beauty at lovebeautyxoxo.wordpress.com

  54. craftybynight

    Love your blog and the outfit. So cute! I feel your pain about being short. I’ve felt the same way about fashion a lot, but I have found that it helps now that more stores are offering petite and short sizes – and not just in pants! I’m obsessed with LOFT for their petite section (and cute clothes). I’ve also struggled with self-confidence but honestly the thing that’s helped me the most is finding a few things I enjoy (cooking, sewing and running in my case) and making time for those each week. Not only am I doing something I like but I’m also getting better at it and can see my progress, which is a huge confidence boost. Good luck!

  59. imagemistress2020

    You look fabulous Melanie – such a cool, chic, well styled outfit!! It is gorgeous, proof you can look cute & stylish on a small budget!! And as for looking stunning with a small/short frame – you absolutely can!! There are so many styles available now for those of us who are more petite!! 🙂 xoxo

  61. bargaindiva

    I love your sweater! You’re beautiful-so just love yourself and then go from there. Figure out what kind of style you love wear it boldly!

  68. 4MyLifeFitness

    In case you’re not sure, you are a beautiful girl.

    I improve my self confidence by making sure I take time to take care of myself. But to be honest, most days I’m in workout clothes with my hair pulled back so when I have time out where it’s just me, I throw on something cute along with a strappy heel.

    1. lovelibrarianmelanie

      it was a gift from my sister, but it is stamped with the name “cambridge satchel company.”

  70. hugopoems

    Fantastic pics. I like the ying n yang of the vibrant walls against the serenity of your gaze.

    The straps on your shoes coupled w/the stripes in your sweater & pants creates a sense of restraint. It’s almost as if they’re thin bars holding back an energy within you. An energy similar to the red hashes behind you.

    Great pics!

    ~HQ

    Question: Is that a bullet hanging off your necklace?!?

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