Did you ever get a nickname as a little kid? Did you have issues with your body growing up? I got called all sorts of nicknames but one I remember well was "Flamingo," my cousin used to call me that because I had very long, thin legs. When I was 11 I asked my mom if she could buy me a short skirt (like every cool girl was wearing at school) she said: "No, your legs are too thin." When I was 14 my cousin (who had great legs) asked me why I wore shorts since my legs were too thin?. When I was 20 my boyfriend saw me in shorts and he told me: "Oh I thought you were walking on your arms" (jerk!). Many years I lived with body issues hearing over and over again how thin my legs were, I hated my legs. After I had my son my body changed and my legs filled up a little and I figured out the most flattering hemline for my legs, ever since then I've learned to love my legs and I've left those leg issues behind. I think most (if not all) women grow up having body issues and I was just wondering, if you had one, what was or is your body issue? Did you get nicknames for it? and if you overcame it how did you do it?
Outfit Details: 100% thrifted
Shirt: Emmanuel Ungaro
Skirt: Vintage/ altered by me
Belt: Vintage/ estate sale
Shoes: Q'pid
Cardigan: Gap
22 Responses to “Flamingo legs”
Funny. I was called beanpole.
Tall and very skinny. I was all arms and legs. I was also called bird legs. I too was "blessed" with thin legs.
As I've gotten older I filled out more but my calves in particular are what I consider "not in proportion" with the rest of my body. Wider hips and thighs don't help either.
I dont' know that I've ever gotten over it as opposed to just accepting that this is the body the Lord gave me.
-ella
p.s. your thrifted fashion has really been an inspiration to me. Makes me look more closely on the clothing racks as my favorite thrifts.
I was very tall when I was younger, still am, but I was extra tall then because nobody else had grown yet. I would hunch over a lot, and everyone always commented on how tall I was. Now that I look back, I realize I could never hide because I was tall. I was always noticed and learned to be confident. It has actually given me a lot of confidence that I'm grateful for now. I appreciate my height now.
Heather I can relate to that, in Mexico I am pretty tall, most women are 5'4'' or under, so being 5'6'' always got me nicknames, one was "white dinosaur" and the other, which turned into bullying by tons of high school guys was "she-monster" those were cruel nicknames and especially the second one, I hunched and wished I could just "ungrow" a few inches so that I would not be noticed.
Ella thank you for your kind comment, I do agree with you that the Lord made us beautiful and unique, each in our own way. He makes no mistakes. =)
It's hard not to have issues though when what you see portrayed as "beautiful" is 5'10+ and 100 lbs.
I think you have the most beautiful legs! I struggle with big calves myself and can never seem to find boots that fit. Actually, I'm still trying to accept my entire lower half...
When I was younger I had a large gap between my front teeth and didn't smile for years until I got braces.
I think everyone has something they're super sensitive about, don't they?
that skirt is so beautiful, I love the print on it :)
xx
MILK TEETHS
This is BEAUTIFUL! I love the way you brought in red in the belt and shoes for that pop of unexpected color. Thanks for the inspiration! ~Serene
I have a whole lot of body issues.... and a whole lot of body
: (
I am glad you like your legs now.
You looked great today! I think of your son in the mornings. Hope he is doing well at school. Sending love, Becky
I don't believe I have ever left a comment, but have been following your blog for many months. You have a wonderful sense of fashion and of what looks good on you, but what I admire EVERY single time are your shoes/boots and how exceptionally great they all look on your gorgeous legs! Every single pair of shoes just looks perfect on you. It was thus amazing to hear what your story was growing up.
When I was younger I was very, very thin but with a latina behind so I was called nalgas. I hated it!
Ha. I've always been envious of people with thin legs. How I dream of toothpick thighs...
Those red pumps are gorgeous, and accentuate your wonderfully thin legs.
Ooh, yes. I was called fat by a neighbor girl when I was nine...that hurt so bad then. Who calls a nine year old fat? Sheesh. But you know what? Doesn't bother me now! I love this body of mine...and running only makes me love it more. God never makes mistakes!
Oooh, don't we all have these stories? My family made fun of me for not having a booty and being so pale. Also, there were some guys at school who said I had giant lips and called me Fish. Ah, middle school...
The lips didn't bother me too much, but, man, did I have a complex about my booty and light skin. Getting over it has been a process that's involved a lot of exercise and remembering that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I will admit that I try to get as tan as much as possible in the summer, though.
oh,I always regarded you legs as the most pretty part of your body(besides your face&your wonderful personality,but that's not part of your body,right?hehe).I always wanted to have legs like yours:bronzed,thin and NO hairs on them!I'm sorry to hear that they treated you so unkind because of your legs,that's stupid because of course it's not yor fault and it's just so immature to treat someone like that.
Well,I wanted to let you know that I'm still following your blog but I just don't feel the passion for blogging I used to feel.I will try and write when I can,I don't want us to lose contact because you've always been someone who made me happy and helped to believe in God more and more.
I hope you and your son are very well and that you're enjoying fall! (:
I think my biggest body issue is that I have a boy-like body shape. I'm beginning to think that I can only handle this by avoiding too feminine clothes. I look awful in them!
I've always thought you have a beautiful figure. And I agree you look fantastic with those longer hemlines!
*Ena*
Thank you ladies, you are all very kind and I appreciate your honesty about the issues your went through with your body image. Unfortunately it somehow strated when we were very young, at an age when one is trying to be accepted and when being accepted is very important. When seemingly innocent words hurt you and leave a mark (sometimes) for a long time. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I hate when I see children picking on someone because they are too thin, too fat, too tall, too..anything! EVen too smart! I wish little girls didn't have to put up with mean comments. EVer!
Well rest assured that you are lovely and look beautiful every day!:)
I never experienced trouble with name calling but I certainly have issues...my number one is also my legs! They are always the area I struggle with most, they are just big and I gain weight easily on them...oh well...I would love to have graceful slender legs. :)
just pick one body flaw??? my favorite to dislike is my nose. i once had a boyfriend tell me we could never get married until i got my nose "fixed". and then i met my husband and he said on our first date how cute my nose is. SOLD!
ps- you are a color mixing master.
I'm glad I'm not the only girl out there who has gotten a lot of teasing over having too-thin legs!! Only my nickname has always been chicken legs. ^_^ I'm actually kind of thin all over so people always get on me for it. I get accused of being anorexic a lot. But I'm not! I'm perfectly healthy, just small.
I am still really self conscience of my legs in shorter hemlines or swimwear and the subject of being "skinny" is kind of a sore one. But thankfully most of my friends and family are kind about it and don't mention it much. It isn't that being small bothers me, but it does bother me when other people make a big deal about it or make it out to be something bad. Thanks for sharing your story!! I love your blog and it is always an inspiration and pleasure to read. :) Hope you don't mind the long rambling comment. ^_^
PS I really like those red pumps! They are fabulous!
Sigh. This is something I still struggle with. I can't say that I am over it completely. It's something that my boyfriends hates--he'll compliment me and I ignore the compliment because I think he's joking or I make a joke about it. I'm learning to just accept compliments, but it's hard for me.
Hm! Maybe I can write a blog post about this??
Chandra
Honestly, I think your legs are great and I can't believe that anyone would make fun of them. People can be cruel as we all know. I am generally not a confident person when it comes to my body and I have serious issues accepting compliments. Ironic since I'm a fashion blogger but, true nevertheless.
Hey I'm 12 and I got normal width legs but they are super super long legs just found out that people have been scaling me bichtshit instead of Bridgette and also calling me flamingo legs found this out today and cowencadently found website this today it is great by I'm so annyoed at people I thought were my friends now got no friends I can trust
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