Confidence and Materialism

Is confidence a pair of Prada boots? Can you find it in a brand new convertible Porsche? How about in the pocket of a crisp new pair of designer jeans?

Self-confidence and materialism tend to go hand-in-hand in today’s society. I mean, I know whenever something bad happens or I’m in a negative mood about myself the first thing my friends do is grab my hand – and then reach for the credit card.

One trip to the Grove (my favorite mall), two scoops of ice cream, and three chick flicks later – I’m feeling much better about my situation in life.

Or it could be the other way around! I can’t even count how many times I’ve used this method to help further along a crush I’ve had on some random guy. According to my friends, you’ll get a lot more attention in a new pair of pumps than if you even wear a sign on your neck in big red letters that says, “NOTICE ME!”

I don’t know if I’d go that far, but let’s be honest; you do walk a little taller in some new high heels. It’s that whole “new dress” theory: you look a lot better in a new dress simply by virtue of the fact that it is new.

My mom was actually the first person to teach me this “fact of life” – and, let me tell you- it has worked like a charm.

My eighth grade boyfriend, a very serious boyfriend at the time, might I add, because we “went out” for over eight months, broke up with me after school one afternoon in front of all my friends. Needless to say, as a dramatic 13-year-old, I was devastated.

So devastated, in fact, that I consumed one large Oreo McFlurry and two Super-Size orders of french fries from McDonalds that night – which is never okay. This is when my mother gave me some tough love and a much needed intervention; in order to save my love handles from my love life, she took me to the mall.

“I don’t understand how this is going to help,” I remember asking her. And she reassured me that a new outfit for the Friday football game would make all the difference in the world.

And, as usual, she was right.

I strutted my pre-teen self all around the stadium that night in my new shirt and brown boots, and I felt like a new woman. Not to mention the fact that by midnight I had several new beaus and a very repentant ex, but that’s beside the point.

Lesson learned: new clothes equals new attitude.

Okay, let me just insert my opinion here. While I have to admit that I love clothes, shoes, purses, and just about everything to do with the fashion industry. I cannot support the idea that material possessions get you anywhere in life.
I’ve learned the hard way that all those boys did not notice my fabulous brown cowboy boots; they noticed the confidence I had when I wore them.

Trust me, you will never hear a man say, “I knew I loved her when I saw her wearing those Chanel pearls.” What you will hear them saying is something to the effect of, “When she walked in, she just lit up the room. That’s when I told my friends I had to meet her.” Sound familiar?

Put the Nordstrom card down and back away from the register! Now it’s my turn for an intervention.

Give your credit card a break and strut your stuff because you have a reason to – a reason that has nothing to do with your new Tory Burch clutch and everything to do with who you are as a person. Show ‘em what you got!