Why do I only feel pretty when I'm naked?

Um is it possible that the type of clothes/dresses you choose to wear maybe don't suit your body shape? I have actually been there when i feel like my body looks fairly good but whenever i tried on clothes i ended up crying. I started experimenting with different styles and found clothes that actually suited my body shape. You should start by determining your body shape like pear, hour glass etc then try on clothes and colors that suit you. If you still feel that way then maybe the issue is more psychological and how you perceive yourself. Im sure you look amazing in whatever you wear but maybe you're just having a hard time seeing that for yourself. Im sorry if this isn't accurate or helpful advice. I really hope you find a solution to your problem soon.

Totally get it. I weed stuff out of my closet every 3-6 months. Try everything on. If anything makes you feel less than or like a busted can of biscuits, throw it out. Don’t focus on what size the tag says you are. Also, you gotta find what works for your body type. I’m short waisted so I find I have to go loose top, tight bottoms or vice versa. Crops that hit bottom of the ribs, or t shirt style are best. Also, a square cut on the chest, absolute no for me. Pencil skirts, hell yes.

Girl, you just gotta find what makes you feel like you’re rockin it. That can even been a certain cut of sweats and a crop. Doesn’t have to be special. Just gotta feel like you in it and feel good.

And too, realize all the cool shit your body does for you every single day. It’s like a badass car you’re always driving. So treat it good and tell it nice things. You only got one and it’s awesome.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was your clothes tbh. Clothes that are too tight, too baggy, or just the wrong shape for your body will be unflattering and actively make your body look worse.

First thing I'd do is figure out your body shape/type generally and look up what kinds of clothes are recommended for that body type. Take the styles you like and leave the ones you don't. You want clothes that highlight your best features. For example, really skinny women in crop tops and sweatpants - they accentuate the flatness of their stomach and hide the lack of side curve and hips w baggy pants.

It could be a bit of mindset too. When you're naked, only you and your partner see you. The only eyes on you or opinions that matter are the two of yours. Once you're dressed I think it's easier to feel more performative and try to see what others do - often highlighting your own flaws in your own mind.

It definitely sounds like it’s about the fit of your clothes. I’m kind of the opposite - I’m actually quite chubby, but depending on what I wear, I can look really thin because I happen to have a tiny waist.

My recommendation:

1. Pay attention to what people who are a similar build to you wear

2. Try on lots of things you would never usually try on. Like try very different cuts than usual, rather than just the stuff that first stands out to you.

When you're naked you don't have to worry about anything making you look a certain way. I'm a nudist and I'm happier he less clothes I wear which causes me to dress like an exhibitionist. Clothes may not sit right half the time which makes you feel ugly or fat.

This is why I like dresses. Pants make me look and feel SO fat! Especially jeans. It also has the added bonus that I can throw one on over my pajamas and be instantly cute and ready for the public. The right style makes you feel like you're not even wearing clothes.

Maybe you’re a nudist? 🤷🏻‍♀️

If there’s something about yourself you can’t figure out, therapy is usually the way to go. Sounds sort of in the realm of body dysmorphia…but like your distorted view of yourself is only triggered by clothes. I’m sure many professionals would be excited to dig into that with you because I’ve never heard of that before. What about swimwear? Same effect as clothes or is that just normal?

Are you wearing the right colors? It's a scientific fact that different shades of different colors will change the way you look. Color analysis video. The colors you wear kinda mix with the shading of your face, as the color is read by the observers eye, and it really makes the difference.

(Edit: you can skip her weird propaganda shtick at the beginning, but the focus of the video itself has utility)

Dressing according to your shape:

https://dressblank.com/blogs/news/the-five-body-types-apple-pear-hourglass-rectangle-and-inverted-triangle-and-how-to-best-dress-for-your-body-type

I honestly have the same issue. The clothes probably just dont fit right like everyone else has said from what ive seen. When i get home i tend to go to my downstairs bathroom and look in the mirror to see if i look okay and then im like "i look disgusting" and then i take off my shirt and pull down my pants a bit and im like "ohh~ is she single?". But i find that some clothes just dont fit my body right. For me, i like tight shirts(tight on my chest and waist) because my figure is highlighted, but i like baggy pants with a to-skin waist band because it also highlights my butt. I feel good in those outfits, and i tend to stick with them now. Before, i didn't know this. I was too scared to ask for clothes like that tbh. I always felt ugly and gross, and i would wear everything baggy to hide my body. I literally wore the same hoodie every day that i would pull over my butt. I honestly haven't figured it all out myself and came here to see if there was something I hadn't known. I'd reccomend going to get clothes in person where you can try them on and mix and match. I really hope this helps. Wishing you luck

People have different things that are attractive some people like heavy people some people like tall people some people like aggressive people you can't fit all the molds so be content what you've got Iand trust there's plenty of people will find you attractive and definitely not all of them.

Body dysmorphia can be difficult to deal with. But thanks for sharing. It is kind of fascinating to hear someone's internal experience with it.

I hear a mistake being made that is likely contributing to the problem. You're swinging back and forth between wearing clothes that are either too small or too big for you. What you need is clothes that actually fit.

Wearing clothes that are too small for you will have you looking bigger than you really are because you're spilling out of them. Wearing clothes that are too big takes up more visual space and makes you look bigger than you actually are.

Clothes that fit properly will accentuate your natural body shape so everything looks proportionate. Not too baggy, not too tight. Just right.

Come join your people: r/naturism r/nudism

It’s probably because society over sexualizes women. half the time women are half naked on social media and so we feel that when we wear less we are worth more. We can feel beautiful without showing skin but with all of the over sexualized content spewed at us everyday it makes it really hard. I’m sure you are not alone in feeling this way.

This sounds like (I am not a prefessional and this is only a surface level opinion based on the limited information provided) a form of dysmorphia. I’m glad you see your naked body as attractive, but maybe the style of clothes you wear aren’t “you”. Like you are dressing for other people and your subconscious thoughts disagree with the way you dress, rather than how the clothes actually fit you. I’m probably way off base, but what style do you typically wear? Do you feel like your style is an accurate way to present who you are?

I went from wearing all black to fit in with my friends to being the goth/emo kid that dressed in bright colors and kinda preppy clothes. But I liked the way I looked more when I stopped dressing for others.

If I am way off, I would like to explore this more. I’m very curious what could be causing this.

As a man, I feel when looking at myself that I’m fat, then I look at the mirror and realize I’m actually pretty lean

I mean, naked is when it matters most, right?

You’re probably not dressing for your body type!! Our body is more than being skinny or fat or short or tall. It’s more about the proportions of your body. Search this on youtube and you’ll find a lot of explanations on how to find your body type and how to find clothes for it!

This sounds like body dysmorphia to me - where how we see ourselves doesn't match what we actually look like. Its like obsessive unwanted thoughts that fixate on our physical appearance.

I have battled body dysmorphia since my teens and I am 53 now. I never got help and it really does steal so much from you.

I cannot look at myself in mirrors or photos. I just see something hideous, unlovable, grotesque, inadequate, inhuman. My adult children told me a few months back that they have no photos of me and if I died, they wouldnt really have those so since then I have been having photos taken. But looking at them is agony. I did, last month, look at one and now I am struggling to leave the house!

But there is treatment. I never got treatment.

I think underneath it lies the belief that there is something wrong with me, that I am inadequate, insufficient, will never be as good as other people.

If this sounds familiar, my advice is to seek some help with it and not let it linger for decades.

Also, I say this to my kids -

"Real confidence is knowing you are ok, just as you are."

I infused them with that but I secretly don't feel it myself.

Our human worth isn't the shape of our bodies. Bodies of all size and shape are beautiful and amazing. It doesn't actually matter what your body shape is - you deserve to feel strong and worthwhile and loved and happy.

Something that's really unfair is the fashion industry not only tells us what is currently acceptable to wear, but forces it down our throats by it being the ONLY thing you can find in stores. And trends are never all inclusive This thing with the high waist pants and cropped tops is AWFUL there are very few body shapes that pull that off. But it's almost impossible to find mid or low rise bottoms. I see girls all the time with pants on up around their belly button or higher and they look 20 lbs heavier than they are. Try shopping thrift , vintage, and second hand, like platos closet, so you can try a wider variety of styles to figure out what flatters you most. Any retail new clothing store you go in will be limited to what's "in" now. Never dress in trends EVER unless it just so happens to coincidentally line up with what looks great on you. Never base your choices on what other people wear. Only buy things you like that maximize on how special and unique you are physically. Theres never a reason to cry and get upset, you are not the problem. The world we live in is. Social media has really amped up the pressure we already naturally put on ourselves to measure up to others. The greatest achievement is to just focus on yourself as an individual, you can't be compared because you are unique. 🥰

I would find some counseling you have somebody image issues . And you live in a society that doesn’t think it’s OK to be naked all the time. I would look for clothes that flatter you. Often women especially buy clothes. Size are too too small and it ends up making them look heavier.

Because you get positive feedback when you’re nude? His dick goes up and there you go.

So you ever walk down a street and catch your reflection in a window? What's your reaction in that moment before you realize it's you?

Look into your kibbe body type! That’s a great body type system that will tell you what types of clothes will look good on you. Also, look into finding your color palette. That will tell you what colors suit you and which ones won’t.

Not a girl, but also someone who's had a hard time finding clothes that accentuate the right parts of their body.

My best advice is to try on different fits of clothes, not just different sizes. I myself am a skinny guy who is about 170cm tall. Because of this, most regular fit shirts tend to look baggy on me, as well as hiding my shoulders, and they make me look even smaller. On the other hand, my legs are a bit long for my size, so form-fitting pants can bring too much attention to them and make me look misshapen. What I do is wear more form-fitting shirts or T-shirts, along with regular fit pants. This way, my shoulders and thin waistline stand out while my legs stay more out of sight.

All this to say that you should find out what you want to accentuate with your clothing, as well as what you wish to draw attention away from. Based on that, try more form-fitting clothes on what you find pleasing and baggier clothes over what you think detracts from your looks. Hell, sometimes a mix of a larger size with a skinnier fit or vice-versa may help you get the effect you want

i feel this too, and sometimes even when im not dressed. my boyfriend thinks i have body dysmorphia because he says he doesn’t understand why i think im fat or ugly looking. maybe you have the same? i dont have rly any solutions except maybe therapy, but you could just be seeing yourself differently when in clothes than not, i feel fat asf in a tank top or tight shirt, then shirtless i feel too thin.

Figure out your body shape and dress accordingly. For example I’m a mix between “X” and “V”. Because my hips are slightly smaller than my shoulders, and my waist goes in smaller, I’m going to wear something that accentuates my hips and waist and draws less attention to my shoulders.

You prob just got no drip bro. Easily fixable

I have had issues with this my entire life. Once I stopped trying to fit into a size I wanted to be, and started buying based upon my body type, it’s been so much better. I also look excellent most of the time because my clothes fits me right. I don’t buy oversized, I buy fitted (which is different than tight).

I’ve always been on the thinner side, but am bottom heavy. I am also skinny fat, so not toned and the thickness of clothes matter as well for my chunky bits.

You’ll be discouraged as you try to find the right clothes, but go to different stores and try it out. Also, if you can splurge a little on some basics that make you feel good, try that as well.

is this what they call humble bragging

Look, if you like what you see naked then something is SERIOUSLY wrong with the way you're dressing.

One the one hand, this is something you should discuss with a therapist. There's obviously some kind of trauma attached to you seeing yourself with clothes on.

On the other hand, go to the clothing stores with the clothes you think are cool and let the folks who work their pick out what THEY think works for you.

This reminds me how grateful I am to have a confident woman in my life who also listens to me when I tell her she’s beautiful. I also tell her when she looks bad (if she asks how something looks on her) for the sole purpose that when I tell her she looks beautiful, she knows I’m telling the truth and I mean it. She doesn’t second guess herself. I couldn’t be with someone like that, not again.

Could be your close but also could be a psychological thing. I had a similar issue, and realized it was because of two main reasons. The first was because majority of the times I was told I was pretty/beautiful/sexy was when I was naked. The second is because in the moments where you're naked most likely those are really body positive environments so you aren't as self conscious about how you look

Get off of IG and get your clothes tailored

Do you feel you were acutely aware of the sexualization of nakedness, it’s taboo, or anything related while you were growing up? Attention applied by yourself out of interest, but also by exposure by someone else, accidentally or on purpose?

Sometimes the combined exemplar of whatever we idealized as sexy at various ages (some experiences weigh more than others) is pretty close to when we feel sexiest.

Why many women like being fucked in heels (among other reasons lol) - 21F lol I hope that’s remotely helpful to anyone

You can’t dress

At least you have a partner. Someone finds you pretty.

Maybe you’re just bad at finding clothes that fit you well. No matter how good you look poor fitting clothes don’t do anything but hurt

If your boyfriend likes you then stop worrying about it, who are you trying to impress? If we saw a picture of you dressed we could give better advice.

Whoa this is so weird. I was just flashing my husband in the kitchen and said

“I bet all couples do this when they get serious, because women are shamed for being hot and it’s like.. I just want to show all this goddess energy off, damn.”

And here we are.

It’s because you got it going on and possibly your clothes are ill-fitted. Try finding your favorite jeans in your favorite inseam and take them to an alterations place. Pay 20 bucks and get them fitted just to you. Make sure it’s that atypical $150 pair that lasts 5 years and fits well between sizes. It’s well worth the savings.

What do you look like naked

My mrs is a very pretty lady, but she really doesnt like unwanted attention. So she dresses "down" (a bit old-timey clothes, long skirts etc), I dont mind at all, up to her. Her naked body though, gets me every time.. and she knows very well. Even my 3yo son tells her out of the shower she looks good. Isnt it great to look good naked and that being between you and your SO? Im not a woman so IDK, I understand attention is nice, but I also understand that ie. my wife dont want some random guys in a bar hit on her just because she has tight clothes etc.

How old are you, and where do you live? Yes, this matters.

it’s cuz clothes usually emphasize shadows which shows fat

I'd take it as a compliment to yourself. So good by default that any coverage can only worsen it. Put it like this and the problem becomes the solution.

Most likely because you're young. When you get to my age I only look good with clothes on.

No wonder when you are wearing clothes that dont fit your body shape 😂😂. Go shopping, change you clothes

I think I need a bit more information.... in fact it might be best to just send me s few of those photos so I can get a really good idea.... you know, to help you

the confidence starts inside. also try flattering clothes for your body type!

I think you have an insecurity. This doesn't have to do with clothing or fashion or lack thereof.

Those are just triggers perhaps

Maybe you dress like shit.

Or maybe you are hyper focused on your sexuality.

Or both, you lunatic.

God bless!

Wait you are both too fat ANd too small assed? How does that work????

So the clothes you are choosing may be unflattering. Shop around.

Get put of your comfort zone. When you can buy or try clothes you wouldnt thibk they look good but trust. They might. I was and still am sometimes in your situation. Try to buy fitted clothes with double lining so rolls dont show and try using appropriate underwear too. It all matters