“The other day my daughter excitedly asked me if her chest would be as big as mine when she grows up in a very innocent matter of fact way. This is one of my insecurities, I wish my chest was smaller and matched my frame. But I don’t want her to know that.

Because what if hers *is* as big as mine when she grows up? What if the things I don’t like about myself can change into the things she loves about hers—because she looks like me?

What if we wore clothes that are kind, loving, and forgiving like our daughters are?

I've been on a long journey of body acceptance, and I know there is a body positivity movement, but I lean more into body neutrality. You don't have to love your squishy belly or saggy boobs, but you can dress your body for the size you're in now and treat it kindly. It's okay to want to be a different size, but it's important to not hate your body where it's at.” - Bethany Sorenson

Body positivity is beautiful because it teaches us to love our bodies and find beauty in them, but it's not always representative of how we truly feel about our bodies. Body neutrality makes room for the days we don't feel positive about our bodies. It reminds us that how we look is only a small part of who we are, and shifts the focus to everything our bodies can do.

Cleveland Clinic shared a few tips for helping kids build a healthy body image, and we believe they apply to all of us. Whether you are a parent or not, these tips can be applied to all of us! 

1. Be careful with dieting conversations. Comments about losing weight or dieting can have good intentions, but they can also signal that there is something wrong with your body, and that it needs to be fixed. Be mindful that kids and people around you will internalize these messages and apply them to their own bodies.
2. Speak about your body the way you'd want your daughter or friend to speak about hers. We can be pretty harsh with ourselves. Think about the how you'd speak to someone else and start practicing that same kindness and patience with yourself! 
   
3. Celebrate what our bodies can do! Appearance is just one small part of who we are. Our bodies carry us through every single day, and while they don't always work the way we want them too, they are still gifts! 
   
4. Wear clothing that makes you feel good about your body! Clothes don't have to hide or perfect anything. They can simply help you move, breathe, and feel like yourself.
   

This one is close to our hearts at Dahl. Our pieces were designed for you on the days you are feeling the most confident, and the days you are feeling less so. As women, we can be multiple sizes at different times of the month, so most of our items are pretty flexible in sizing because we want items that grow and shrink with you as your body changes. We keep our clothes loose fitting, incorporate smocking/shirring to add beautiful shape to our silhouettes, and use elastic waistbands for adjustable fits. These are just some of the ways we design for women. 

As we share openly and honestly about our experiences, we invite you to do the same. When we do this, we provide a powerful example to the next generation of women. Remember, the thing you dislike about your body the most could be the same thing that your daughter deeply admires, and that's pretty cool:)

With love, 

Kelsey & Bethany