Thanks Dharma, it makes perfect sense.
After posting here and mulling it over today, I realized how silly it is to be worrying about this stuff. (Oops, value judgments are bad... ahh! Nothing is bad or good! I can't stop!)
I just mean, I feel much more at peace with the whole subject now.
Starlet, thanks so much for your personal story.. so nice to hear from a girl who's been there and done that.
I think the best shopping advice I ever heard was "If it makes you smile, it's your style"
I'm glad to hear that you have embraced your personal style, hawaiian shirts and all. I'm sure you are gorgeous, inside and out.
I know my boyfriend would prefer it if my style matched his perception of a stylish girl, and this had made me feel self-conscious. I guess it's something to work out with him, eh? Maybe I should post something in the relationship section of this forum :P