By Jen Tidwell, AWC Volunteer
For as long as I can remember, what I wore was very important to me. I remember in first grade, smearing toothpaste all over the front of my red sweater with the plaid apple, because I wanted to wear something else to school.
Unfortunately, my mom grabbed a dish towel and dish soap and scrubbed it clean. I was forced to wear the dreaded apple sweater and matching plaid skirt.
Wearing clothes that you don’t love may not seem like a big deal to most people, but to me it was always crucial to wear clothes that made me feel great!
My personal style continued to be important to me, especially when I worked as a corporate recruiter. I was often the first person a potential employee would see and interact with at the organization. My regular attire was dresses, blazers, pant suits, dress shirts, and heels. I felt confident, self-assured, and prepared wearing that corporate attire…until I had a baby, and those suits and heels were useless!
At that point, I had nothing to wear except a couple of hideous pairs of polyester maternity pants and some ill-fitting tops. I was sleep deprived, overwhelmed, and felt terrible!
I began to notice that people treated me differently as I presented myself differently. Gone was my confident strut in heels and feeling polished and professional. Instead, I was a frazzled mom who was the opposite of put together!
Jen, age 7, disappointed with her outfit for school… and Jen today, ready to share her knack for fashion with neighbors visiting AWC
Eventually, I found my new post-baby style. It still includes blazers and heels, but they are lower heels and always comfort brands now. But I regained my strut, and that’s never going away again!
After my battle with post-baby confidence and identity, I wanted to help other new moms who were feeling how I felt. I went for training and received my stylist certification, but wasn’t sure how to help other moms in a meaningful way. I continued to help my family and friends select the correct shoes or accessories for an outfit, but it wasn’t fulfilling my need to help.
I began volunteering at a nonprofit geared towards suiting women for interviews and new jobs. With my recruiting background and stylist training, I thought it would be a perfect fit. Sadly, the clients, volunteers, and staff were treated extremely poorly, and it was the exact opposite of empowering women! I wondered if I was completely wrong about my passion for helping women gain confidence and look their best.
Fortunately, I searched online, found A Wider Circle, and learned they had opportunities for volunteer personal shoppers.
I began volunteering in November 2021, and then I was invited to a Mobile PDC event at A Wider Circle’s Ward 8 Hub in February 2022. The energy at the Hub was tremendous, and I appreciated the sense of community and openness immediately! I asked YaVonne, the Director of the Hub, if I could come back and volunteer again, and she graciously agreed. These past four years at the Hub have been such a gratifying and enriching experience for me. So now, I’m utilizing my personal shopping skills in a more focused, personal way with a new monthly series, Styled By Jen.
Each month, I’ll feature 1 or 2 deserving women and men to highlight their journey with a new favorite outfit and increased confidence. My hope is that nobody will want to smear toothpaste all over their clothing because of a sad, ugly outfit!
So, keep an eye out next month for some smart and snazzy fashion in my first Styled by Jen blog!
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