I wish I could say that I was a fearless fashionista but sadly, that is not the case.

Growing up (particularly as a plus-sized girl) there were rules from the start.

Don’t wear that – it makes you look like a linebacker. Wear this instead to conceal, hide, trick the eye, etc. That’s too short, too much white, too big a pattern, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

You know what all those rules did? They made me fearful.

I wanted to look cute and fashionable, just like most young girls, but I was afraid. Afraid I would miss the mark, afraid I would be too much or too little or too awkward. People might talk about how I shouldn’t be wearing those shorts or that color combo or, gasp, those horizontal stripes!

And the worst fate of fall, I might look like a linebacker.

Thankfully, the years have passed and with age has come a certain measure of fearlessness. No, I’m not completely out of the woods yet, but I no longer let fear drive my fashion choices.

Take last night for example. A friend of mine was having a birthday party at a local nursery/hangout called The Beer Garden.

Enter fear #1. It’s Texas. It’s 99 degrees outside. What am I possibly going to wear that is cute and cool but doesn’t show too much skin or make me look fat?

Solution: My new Jessica Simpson romper!! (Details at end of post)

Enter fear #2. The pattern is kind of big and bright. Am I sure I don’t look like a linebacker…wearing re-purposed curtains?

Solution: No fear. If I do look like a curtain-clad football player, I’m going to be the cutest, most confident one there ever was. And worse case scenario, if someone says something negative about my outfit, I’ll just tackle them.

Enter fear #3. I’m wearing red but my nails are pink. Is it too early for valentine colors?

Solution: Stop being an idiot, Amy.

Here’s the moral of this story.

I don’t yet consider myself a fearless fashionista, however, the more risks I take the more I’m discovering, a) just how silly and archaic some of these “fashion rules” are and b) how many other women are waiting for someone to pave the way – a fashion renegade, if you will, who will take a chance and show the world that fashion is not meant to be fearful. It’s meant to be fun!

Romper & Cross-body purse by Jessica Simpson (from Macy’s and Kohl’s respectively)

Wedges from Ross

Belt from Amazon.com (here)