Style applies to a lifestyle. It's not about being told this is trendy, you must do it. Now people have more access than ever before.

Your self-esteem won't come from body parts. You need to step away from the mirror every once in a while, and look for another reflection, like the one in the eyes of the people who love you and admire you.

Style is the instrument you can pick back up when you want to regain some of the confidence you've lost.

Rules like 'don't wear white after Labor Day' or 'shoes matching the handbag' are antiquated. Modern women should feel free to experiment.

Seeing, feeling, thinking, believing - these are the stages of how we change our style on the outside and our self-image on the inside.

We all put obstacles in our own path toward personal style, myself included. If we understood why we constructed these practical and emotional obstacles, we might move beyond it to healthier, happier perceptions of ourselves and, ideally, a better sense of self-esteem.

I really do believe that my style is informed by the fact that I had such issues with my appearance at various times of my life.