Summer is here! And so are long weekends, rose all day, skimpy sundresses and bikinis. If those last two bring about some anxiety for you, you’re not alone.

As a personal stylist, I work with all sorts of women (and men) with many different body types and let me tell you, we ALL have things we’d like to change about ourselves. I cannot tell you how many times a week I look into the same mirror, at the same body that my client sees as her reflection, and see something totally different. She may say “my thighs look huge” while I’m thinking “this girl is a bombshell! Somebody get her a modeling contract STAT! Or a hamburger!”

If I could take a magic wand and make my clients see themselves the way that the world sees them, I’d be a millionaire. Until then, I use my other superpower–styling–to accentuate the positives and minimize the negatives of each and every perfectly imperfect body that I meet.

If you don't have a stylist in your pocket, here are a few of my trade secrets for feeling great in your summer body.

MANTRA

We all have a tendency to criticize ourselves harshly when we look in the mirror. So trying on clothes and especially bikinis can be extremely demoralizing. To combat any negative thoughts that may plague the experience, I recommend a personal mantra to remind you to see yourself the way that others see you, which is likely a whole lot better than you see yourself.

Here are 3 of my favorites:

“Don’t let your mind bully your body” - June Tomaso Wood

“Just because I think it, doesn’t make it true” - Mallory Moss

“Don’t say anything about yourself that you wouldn’t say about your best friend” - Elisabeth Tavierne

VANITY SIZING

You’ve heard the saying “age ain’t nothing but a number”, well I say the same thing about sizing. Just like your shoe size may fluctuate based on brand or style, so will your clothing sizes. So if you find yourself sizing up in certain styles or brands, don’t worry! The most important thing is how the garment looks and feels when you wear it. Nobody but you sees that little number on the tag. You can even cut it out if it makes you feel better.

UNDERWEAR THAT FITS

Nothing makes you feel worse than underwear that’s squishing you in strange places or giving you lumps and bumps you don’t need. The bras and panties at Knix are made from super soft materials with no harsh edges and plenty of support, so that you can look your best in your clothes and feel comfortable.

So as you gear up for a season in the sun, please don’t be afraid to show some skin. Wear what brings you joy, and assume you look better than you think you do. The world is your skinny mirror, and confidence looks good on ya!