Advice from Your 7-Year-Old Self: What She's Been Trying to Tell You About Style
I was at HEB the other day when this little girl walked in like she owned the place. She wore a simple t-shirt and shorts, but what caught my eye were her bright, colorful leg warmers paired with rainbow socks peeking out of her clogs.
She was magnetic. Unapologetic. Completely herself.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched her confidence radiate from every step. Here was someone free from self-consciousness, unafraid to stand out, wearing her own unique uniform with pure joy. In that moment, she reminded me of my own 7-year-old self and what she's been trying to tell me all these years.
At seven, I remember the pure happiness of getting dressed. I loved choosing something that would make me feel good, not forced or worried about hiding any so-called "flaws." That was freedom. At that tender age, I already knew something profound: getting dressed was supposed to be fun.
"The real you is not the reactive, insecure you. The real you is full of peace, compassion, understanding, and curiosity." - Yung Pueblo
When Did We Forget That Dressing Could Be Joyful?
When did "What will people think?" become louder than "How do I want to feel?"
Here's the style truth that could revolutionize your closet: That fearless seven-year-old wasn't just playing dress-up. She knew something we forgot, and it's been locked away in fashion exile, watching you hide in beige and black, wondering when you're going to remember that clothes are meant to express your magnificence, not camouflage it.
When We Stopped Dressing for Ourselves
Let's address the elephant in the room or should I say, the oversized sweater drowning your closet.
You weren't born to hide in shapeless clothes. You weren't born to dress like you're apologizing for existing. You weren't born to make your body disappear. Can I get an amen?
But somewhere along the way, you traded your style superpowers for the safety of invisibility. Maybe it happened when:
You assumed style stops mattering after kids, career milestones, or marriage
Weight changes had you reaching for "forgiving" clothes
You lost touch with your feminine energy and creative self-expression
Society convinced you that aging means becoming invisible
Here's the truth that will change everything: That fashion-fearless seven-year-old didn't lose her style sense. She just learned to whisper it instead of wear it.
When Getting Dressed Became About Hiding
We've become masters of fashion self-sabotage through:
The Black Uniform "It's slimming, it's safe, it goes with everything" The Oversized Everything "Loose clothes hide my flaws" The Beige Surrender "I don't want to stand out" The Comfort Trap "I just want to be comfortable"
Plot twist: The problem isn't your body. The problem is that you've been dressing to disappear instead of dressing to express who you really are.
The 3 Style Secrets Your 7-Year-Old Self Knew
Secret #1: Getting Dressed Is Your First Win of the Day
Then: Getting dressed was like choosing your superpower for the day. Princess dress = feeling magical. Superhero cape = feeling invincible. Sparkly shoes = feeling celebration-ready. Every outfit told a story about who you wanted to be.
Now: Getting dressed feels like damage control. "Does this hide my stomach?" "Will this draw attention to my arms?" "Is this too young/too tight/too much?" Every outfit becomes about minimizing rather than maximizing your presence.
The style truth your 7-year-old knew: Clothes aren't just fabric to cover your body. They're your daily opportunity to tell the world (and yourself) exactly who you are and how you want to feel. This is why some women light up a room before they even speak.
Secret #2: Color Is Life (Even When You're Not Feeling It)
Then: You mixed and matched with fearless creativity. You chose clothes because they made you HAPPY, not because they were "appropriate" or "age-appropriate."
Now: Your closet looks like a funeral parlor. Black, navy, gray, beige, now rinse and repeat. You've convinced yourself that neutrals are "sophisticated" when really, you're just scared of being seen.
The style truth your 7-year-old knew: Color is energy. Color is life. When you drain the color from your wardrobe, you drain the joy from getting dressed. Women who embrace color and pattern are memorable because they're brave enough to express their inner world through their outer style.
Secret #3: Fit Is About Feeling Good, Not Hiding
Then: You wore clothes that fit your actual body. If something was tight, you asked for a bigger size. If something was loose, you rolled up the sleeves or belted it. You weren't trying to hide because you were trying to move, play, and live fully.
Now: You wear clothes in sizes too big because you think "loose" equals "flattering." You've forgotten that the most flattering thing you can wear is confidence in clothes that actually fit your beautiful, real body.
The style truth your 7-year-old knew: The goal isn't to hide your body. It's to dress the body you have with love, respect, and joy. She understood that style is personal expression, not personal apology.
This Is About More Than What You Wear
Getting dressed shouldn't feel like a chore or a source of stress, but for so many of us, it has become exactly that. We've turned something that used to bring us joy into another daily problem to solve.
The solution isn't buying more clothes, going up another size, or following someone else's rules about what's "appropriate" for our age.
It's remembering what your seven-year-old self already knew: getting dressed is your daily chance to show up as yourself and feel good doing it.
The Psychology Behind Style Confidence
Research confirms what your inner child already knew: what we wear directly impacts our confidence, mood, and how others perceive us. Your seven-year-old self dressed for joy first, opinions second.
Studies show that women who dress authentically (not just fashionably) report higher self-esteem, better body image, and more professional success. What if you stopped dressing to hide and started dressing to express the magnificent woman you actually are?
How to Get Your Style Joy Back
Ready to reconnect with your style joy? Here's how to start:
1. The Photo Journey
Find a photo of yourself at age 7 (or whenever you made bold style choices). Study her outfit choices. What colors did she gravitate toward? What styles made her feel powerful?
2. The Closet Reality Check
Count how many pieces in your closet are black, navy, gray, or beige versus everything else. If neutrals make up more than 60%, your inner seven-year-old is staging a rebellion.
3. The Color Challenge
Wear one piece of color every day this week. Start small with a colorful scarf, bright lipstick, or fun shoes. Notice how it changes your energy and the energy around you.
4. The Fit Reality Check
Try on everything in your closet. If it doesn't fit your actual body then donate it with love. Your seven-year-old self would never tolerate clothes that didn't fit properly.
Getting Back to You
That fearless seven-year-old isn't gone. She's been hiding behind your oversized cardigans and playing it safe, waiting for you to remember that style is supposed to be an expression of joy, not an exercise in hiding.
She's ready to come out and play dress-up again.
She knows that the goal isn't to look younger. It's about being your most authentic, confident self. She knows that colors won't make you look bigger; they'll make you look alive. She knows that the right fit isn't about hiding your body; it's about loving the body you have.
It's time to show up as yourself.
Ready to fall in love with your closet again?
If you're a woman over 40 who's tired of hiding in "safe" clothes and ready to rediscover what makes you feel confident and authentically you, then you're exactly who I work with.
I specialize in helping women transform their relationship with style. Through my signature Style Method, we'll uncover your authentic style personality, build a wardrobe that makes getting dressed a daily celebration, and help you show up as the confident, stylish, unforgettable woman you've always been.
You don't need a complete makeover. You need to remember who you are.
Ready for your style awakening? Book your complimentary 30-minute "Style Discovery Session" where we'll explore what your seven-year-old self has been trying to tell you and create your personalized roadmap to a wardrobe that makes you feel absolutely magnetic.
Because you deserve to start each day feeling beautiful, seen, and fully yourself.
💜 With love and style,
Laura