Bridging the Gap presents...

Women's Issues Resources

Fashion Forward

Amy Lindquist

From time to time, I’ll meet with women who’ll say to me, “Amy, I’m not even sure why I’m seeking help with my image, I don’t really go anywhere”, or “I’m just a mom” or “Let’s reschedule when I’m at my goal weight”. When it comes to getting an objective pulse on your personal style and wardrobe, in my opinion, theses are unacceptable concerns. Especially when viewed through the lens of leaving a legacy.

Let me put it another way; do you think your daughters, step-daughters, goddaughters, nieces or sisters have a healthy sense of self? When considering the legacy we’re leaving, the impression we’re making, are we living our truth? We can offer and preach advice on healthy body image and self-confidence to others, but if we don’t believe it about ourselves, they can see right through us.

Statistics show our obsession with body image is out of control in this country. We’ve fallen victim to marketing and media that send powerfully negative images that “thin is acceptable - anything less is not”. Fact: 1 out of every 4 college-age women has an eating disorder. Fact: fashion models 20 years ago weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today they weight 23% less.

This is crazy! To care about how you look is not trite or vain. How you look on the outside speaks volumes about the person on the inside. When you dress to bring out more of your personal style and what’s inside, you’re communicating confidence. Therein lies the key: live that truth by example and you can bet that it will not go unnoticed.

When I was a child, I have the best memories of watching my mother get ready for her day. She was a “Professional Mom” with four children and every day I would sit near her vanity and stare up at her, entranced by her daily ritual of makeup application and hairstyling. The bonding was incredibly powerful for two main reasons: 1.) we got to spend daily sacred time together and 2.) I understood through her actions that it was okay to honor and care for oneself. What a gift she gave me!

My mother understood that it was God’s Will to cherish what He made so that she could be “filled up” in order to give her best to everyone else for the rest of the day. Genesis 1: “And God saw what He had made and indeed it was very good…”

God didn’t say, “It’s okay” or “Not bad, but thighs are pushing some density…” No. He said “It was very good”. And so we are.


Amy Lindquist is a Certified Image Consultant who specializes in Fashion & Wardrobe. She’s the owner/founder of Lindquist Fashion & Image Consulting. Amy is a writer, speaker and a featured fashion expert on some of the Midwest’s most popular talk radio shows in addition to appearing in print and television media. Passion for fashion coupled with her gift for recognizing others’ gifts allows Amy to bring insight, inspiration and education to her clients and audiences. Visit her website at www.lindquistfashion.com.

> back to Life Resources