It’s almost August.  How is that possible?  Already we are seeing “back to school” ads and occasional glimpses of the new fall fashions.  I’m not ready to go there yet, with so much summer yet to be had.  And, if like me, you live east of the Mississippi, you are anticipating more of those days when the mercury dances right around the 100 degree mark. 

When the temperature hovers at record-breaking levels day in and day out, there is only one thing on your mind – staying cool.  That usually means shedding as much clothing as possible.  However, I know quite a number of women over fifty who absolutely refuse to bare their arms in the name of comfort.  Seems like the desire to cover upper arms is stronger than the desire to be comfortable.  Lots of mature womenare self-conscious about their arms and see them as yet more proof that they are getting older.  Consequently, they want to cover them up, as if that will make us look any younger. 

Here’s my take on it.  I have issues with my arms – little dimples here and there, wrinkles in weird places.  And even though I work out regularly, I don’t have that “cut” look that others with better genes enjoy.  However, when it gets this hot, I feel as though I draw more attention to myself by covering up then by just going with it and baring those arms under a tank top or a sleeveless shirt.  This is yet another one of those issues where our body conscious culture embraces a look that just isn’t realistic for most of us, and because we buy into it, we suffer.  Sure, there are ways to try and cheat a little.  Instead of a sleeveless shirt, you can go for  a little capped sleeve or some variation.  But truth be told, I think going for the tank top and exposing more of the upper body actually makes those arms less noticeable and makes you more comfortable in the bargain.   Besides, most of us have great shoulders or chests – a little cleavage can go a long way – that will shift attention away from the arms.  Use them to your advantage

Let’s take comfort over the “perfect image” here.  This is one of those cases where we should embrace what’s practical, and what’s practical here is to dress in a way that will help us be as cool as possible when the temperature soars. 

Coming up, some tips for working those arms a bit so you can feel more confident and less self-conscious about what you’re baring to the world.  Come on, you deserve it.