Confidence is a tricky feeling to master; so many different things can impact it, most notably, your appearance. A great deal of what contributes to how confident you feel about your appearance is the clothing you choose to wear on a daily basis.

If you are someone who doesn’t buy new clothes regularly, you might begin to feel uninspired by your wardrobe and overall look. This may lead you to subconsciously feel less confident in yourself. This is not to say that constantly buying new clothes all the time will make you feel confident- not at all. But, regularly taking stock of what clothing you have that makes you feel your best, as well as incorporating a few new pieces into your wardrobe every now and then can help you maintain or even improve your self confidence.

Refresh Your Underwear Drawer

An often forgotten area of your wardrobe that should be refreshed regularly is your underwear. It is suggested that you replace your underwear every six to twelve months to help improve comfort and prevent any potential for infection. While it is unlikely that you would get an infection from wearing an older pair of clean underwear, the risk cannot be completely ruled out. Not to mention, wearing old, worn out underwear isn’t exactly comfortable either.

Start your new year off with a few new pairs of stylish yet supportive underwear. Not only will you feel more comfortable throughout the day, but that comfort can quickly turn into confidence too! Feeling secure and confident in your underwear can make you feel like the most stylish person in the room, and that is sure to make you feel good!

Upgrade Your Everyday Shoes

When you live a busy lifestyle, you want a pair of shoes you can rely on that are both stylish and comfortable. After a while, your favorite shoes will start to look worn out and eventually, you might not feel as confident when wearing them. Treat yourself to a new pair of shoes at least once a year to ensure that you don’t let your favorite pair get completely ruined and lose their appeal.

A new pair of shoes like basic black boots or clean white sneakers can be paired with nearly any outfit and are classic enough to work with your wardrobe for years. In order to keep your feet comfortable and your confidence strong, be sure to upgrade your shoes from time to time.

Find Your Perfect Pair Of Jeans

Finally, if you’re looking to upgrade your wardrobe and boost your confidence, the perfect pair of jeans is sure to do just that. A pair of jeans that fit you just the way you like and go with a variety of outfits is arguably one of the most efficient ways to feel confident in your clothing. If you don’t have a go-to pair just yet, make finding your perfect pair a top priority.

If you aren’t sure how to find the right jeans for you, here are a few tips to get you there. In general, you should have an idea of what your body type is and what cut of jeans you most prefer. Don’t be afraid to try on denim from a variety of stores and don’t worry so much about trying to fit into a specific size.

Keep an open mind while searching for the perfect pair. It can be easy to beat yourself up during the shopping process if you find that you don’t wear the same size you used to years ago, or that maybe you just can’t find a style that suits you. Try your hardest not to let those thoughts creep in. Remember: clothes are meant to fit and flatter you! Not the other way around.

Appearance isn’t everything, but confidence sure is. If you’re looking for a new way to boost your confidence going into the new year, try upgrading a few pieces in your wardrobe to feel more inspired and more like you.

Rarely do I hear or say my name, Alexandra, but I've always loved it. It's a very Greek name that has been passed down for generations in my family. When I just think about the name, I picture a beautiful and elegant woman that walks with confidence and grace. But, is that me?

I don't know if I am the most graceful, and I'm not sure how I feel about the description of "elegant," but I do know that I am beautiful and I am glad that I have found confidence. However, my journey to be able to say that I am beautiful has been a long one and there are still some days where my mind battles to believe that truth.

I've always been told that I have a lot of unique features. Unique is not a word that girls like during high school. Instead, girls want to fit in and look like famous models and actors. When I was only 14 I begged for a nose job and made an appointment with a plastic surgeon. I never noticed my nose was any different until kids starting pointing it out in school. They would ask how I broke it or say that I had a witch's nose...really mean things that still sting when I think about them. I ended up not getting a nose job more because I was afraid of anesthesia, but I'm really glad that I didn't.

There was also a day, and sadly, many days where I binged on food and then purged thinking that my curves weren't beautiful. Many tears have been shed over wishing my body looked different - even days where I didn't leave the house because nothing fit the way I thought it should. Terrible thoughts have plagued my mind and forced my eyes to stare at my stomach every time a mirror presented itself to check if it had gotten bigger or smaller. I would often put myself to sleep recounting what I ate and wake up planning my calories for the next.

Picking myself apart every day all while loving the fashion industry was very hard. It, honestly, was a big reason why I discouraged myself from pursuing fashion. You want to know something really interesting though? It was after I made the choice to become a stylist and really let myself be who I have been created to be that I found more self-confidence and appreciation for my body. It has ultimately been seeking the Truth in who I am and who I have been created to be that I have found freedom. Truth does set you free, and the truth is that I am beautifully made.

I love my curls, my hands, my lips, my teeth, my nose, my stomach, my mind, my creativity, my loyalty, my loud voice...I love everything. And, you know what my friends? I love my body even more after having a child.

I hope sharing my story helps and encourages you today. I've never publicly shared it before, and I guess it's in cyber space forever now, but I'm okay with that. There's power in sharing your life experiences. So, if you have any questions about my struggle with body image, please email me.

Photos by Gina Meola, makeup by Stephanie Neiheisel, hair by Kim Cornwell. Sequin skirt and shoes from Lulus.com.