When I was younger, I worried about my weight constantly.
Even though my BMI was fine.
Even though people told me I looked nice.
When you have been a little on the chubby side at school, and if by any chance you have had that pointed out to you on more than one occassion, ideas about yourself can get a little confused, views can be distorted, images in the mirror magnified and judgement corrupted.
(See, even if you’re a cat you check for double chins.)
So, I didn’t wear jeans.
Everybody else wore jeans, but I thought they made me look fat.
My legs have always been quite long and slim, so in my head, my only ‘okay’ bits needed to be seen, then people might think the rest of me was okay too. Weird logic right? But kids think weird things sometimes.
This suited me fine when I became the doc Martin and tiny skirt wearing seventeen year old, but before then, as a kid who’d not really grown into her skin yet, it meant I stood out. I was kind of style-less. My clothes were neither trendy, or terrible, they were just the things I wore to keep warm and cover up.
So I missed out on the jeans.
The denim loveliness.
The ideal protection for young knees that climbed trees, burrowed under fences, built dens.
The perfect panoply for that day when you had to be out as soon as the sun came up as you didn’t want to miss anything, but you had to decide what to wear, as the uniform of youth seemed inaccessible to you.
I mean, jeans go with anything right?
You can dress ‘em up or down. Buy bling ones for nights out, funky ones, many pocketed, studded, ripped, frayed, dyed. They really are for everybody.
But they weren’t for me.
I’d love to be able to say I avoided the denim because I didn’t want to be like everyone else, but I really, truly did. Until I hit 17, I wanted to be just like everybody else.
It seems so funny now, when I am older and wider wiser, that jeans are comfortable and attractive and safe. I was so scared to join the masses in their worship of denim back then, yet now it is a relief to pull on a pair and get on with being who I am.
David over at authorblog asked, ‘Do you wear denim?’. If you fancy answering this one yourself just pop over and visit, then link back to his site so he can visit you and read.
![[MFM's mummy bloggers you really should read]](http://www.madeformums.com/news/images/mummybloggerlogo.jpg)
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 am
Ooo, I’m first! I can’t think of a thing to say except I still haven’t quite got over the poo joke of the last post. Poo on the table – brilliant!
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:53 am
i LOVE a good comfortable pair of jeans that doesn’t reveal the top of your butt when you bend over (hey, i’m no plumber!), and YET doesn’t require a second mortgage. can you tell me, fellow uk resident, where one might get such a pair? god i miss comfy jeans.
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:22 am
I just wish it wasn’t so hard to find a pair that fits in all the right places. At least they’re starting to make them long enough for us tall folks. When I was a kid, I used to have to buy boy’s jeans, because girl’s were too short. I hated that.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:50 am
Awww…this makes me sad for little Jo Beaufoix! So glad you’ve grown up and away from those childish notions. I’ve thought on more than one occasion, it’s HARD being a kid at times, especially when we get these kinds of ideas in our heads (and we all have ‘em, they just take different shapes…).
As for me? Jeans and a white tee shirt is my favorite uniform; finding the right pair of jeans takes forever (I despise jean shopping), but once I find ‘em, I wear them until they wear out.
I’m not kidding.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
ahhhh jeans.
good post jo.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Brilliant post, Jo!
My parents couldn’t afford jeans when I was younger so I wore sweat pants. I didn’t get my first pair of jeans till I was thirteen.
I? Was not one of the cool kids. =P
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Dear Jo,
As always, you bring an extra element to any subject. You write with ease, with candour, and with such magnetic qualities.
God bless you and your wonderful Muse
David
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Loved your post about jeans, I’ll post mine tomorrow.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
wow….you were jean self deprived….CRAZY! you totally need to make up for lost time. Wear two or three pairs at the same time. that will help. Won’t do a dang thing for your figure though….
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I was never concerned about being fat as a youngster, my issue was my height. I was always about 12 inches short for my weight!
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I was like that in school! I never wore jeans because I thought they made me look huge. Now that I’m huge, I live in them! LOL!
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I wasn’t allowed to wear jeans until I was old enough and stubborn enough to make up my own mind. My mother had some very old fashioned attitudes. I wear jeans constantly now and have no problem finding them in the right size and fit. I can even order them on line and know they will be okay, but I live in the Netherlands and that won’t be helpful to any of you.
You are right about dressing them up or dressing them down and also cat and dog hair doesn’t stick to them, so they are very practical when you have animals.
I read you every day, but usually I am just a lurker. I do find you quite funny however.
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:24 am
Dumdad, poo is always funny to me. I think that might be a bit sad, but it just is. Who wants to grow up anyway right?
Holl, I always think Next do nice jeans, but Mr B and I do love us some 501s. Some of the best jeans we’ve had are picked up cheap from retro shops and flea markets. Secondhand doesn’t have to be smelly,but I know people feel differently about charity shop stuff so I’ll leave that one with you.
Momo, that must have been so annoying. I’m 5′6and a half, so often normal length are a little too short, but long leg ones are waaaaay too long. It’s so annoying isn’t it?
Robin, it’s funny how it seems so important to get the right fit. I think it’s because once you find the perfect pair, nothing else will measure up.
Cami, what would we do without them now?
Kim, I was not one of the trendy kids either. Then I hit 16, got me some Doc Martens, found me a ‘cool’ boyfriend and life began.
David, you leave such lovely comments, my head may grow so big that it might fall off. Thank you.
Akela, can’t wait to read it.
Corey, hee hee. That would be sooo uncomfortable, yet my little niece can do that. She likes to put on allll her clothes.
Willowtree. I’m sure you are just perfect as you are.
Avery, isn’t it weird the notions we et n our heads? Funny.
Irene, good on you for putting your foot down. It’s funny, my parents never wore jeans while I was growing up, but they both do now. And you are a lovely lurker. It’s great to hear from you too.