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Dressing

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

70% of the way there, 85% of the time

Auburn

Veteran

Do any of you feel this way?
It's like I'm MOSTLY succeeding in putting a fashionable and functional look together, but I just can't/don't get all the way there, particularly when it comes to work dressing.
Some examples: I often default to a work dress because they are so easy for purposes of creating a "look" and, as a result, I have a lot of them.
I've seen enough successful WIWs on this site to know that the outfit would greatly benefit from, say, some bangles or a long necklace or, let's be honest, doing my hair and yet, somehow, it just doesn't happen before I walk out the door.
And I don't even have kids to blame! A combination of apathy and laziness, I guess. A feeling like--will anyone even notice? Enh, probably not, so why take the extra time. And yet that is NOT my attitude with fashion as a whole which I, an admitted shopaholic, am somewhat of a slave to. So what gives?

I guess I'm just so impressed with the many women on this site who consistently NAIL a look, head to toe. I feel like I do a better job of this when I'm out and about on the weekends or out to dinner. It's really the drudgery of the office setting that seems to impair my energy for and ability to pull it all together on a day-to-day basis.

So, with a nod to the old agage that misery loves company, who's with me?

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Kim

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I am!!!! But I am not working right now so for me it's casual running about town look. I guess MOTG minus the mom part lol. I know I can pull looks together but I hold back. Today I could have thrown a cool long colorful necklace on but I felt like that would be 'overdoing it' somehow. To be fair, I went to the chiropractor and the dry cleaners, not exactly fashion's hallowed halls. But I get what you're saying completely.

Carole

Veteran

Sometimes I wish I still worked in an office setting so that I could put so many of the looks inspired here to the test. That is my preferred way of dressing because I spent so many years and hours working. I have a harder time being stylishly casual. Why bother if no one will see me today, but it's fun to try and then when I have a date planned with friends, hubby and such I'm not too overwhelmed in putting together a stylish outfit. It seems we can relate to each other in opposite venues. What if you were to plan the night before what you were going to wear, I know that would help me. Having to get ready in a hurry in the morning doesn't lend itself to being creative, but falling back into comfortable quick outfits. Taking pictures of outfits that work could help remind you of what worked so you could quickly put it together in the morning. Not sure if I'm addressing your problem perfectly, but I hope it helps a little.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

You've posted some great things! Don't do yourself down. Anyway, that's quite a good proportion to be hitting!

Don't forget that lots of people only post the looks that work. There was a thread recently on the 'not so fab' days that we all have. Also, it takes time to change what you do. I discovered YLF about 18 months ago and I would say that over time I'm getting a higher proportion of days when I'm happy with what I'm wearing. Also, the things I've bought since finding YLF are more 'reliable' as items of clothing - they contribute to a look now, whereas before many things were a bit random - bought because they were cheap in a sale and fit ok. As you have more things that really work with your new image/ideas, it gets easier to drag them out quickly.

Have you read Angie's posts on dressing business casual recently?

April

Veteran

I do feel that way, Auburn. I have the pieces of a nice wardrobe, but I have been lazy about exploring new combinations of items, taking and posting pictures to get feedback, and really figuring out what works and doesn't for me.

I'm lightyears from where I was when I found YLF, but still have a ways to go.

Beth

Veteran

Auburn, I can definitely relate. I think out of five work days, I look fab on two days, "better than I used to look" for two more days, and a boring, pre-YLF look on one day. It's a huge improvement over just a year ago, but I still need to step it up.

I'm still in the process of revamping my wardrobe, so that's a part of it. But some days I get so tired and work feels like such a soul-sucking experience that I just want to throw something mindless on.

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Oh yeah without a doubt. For me work dressing is easy though because I have a uniform to wear but that in turn stifles my creativity a bit and so when it comes to dressing for myself I struggle. I echo Polly's post above, not every outfit that we wear must be WOW, sometimes you just need a comfy no fail outfit to get you through those times when there are other things going on in your life. Dont feel to stressed or pressured to be 100%, we all have off days you just might not see them on YLF

April

Veteran

LOL -- this isn't funny at all, and it's OT (sorry, Auburn) but I *so* related to BethW's comment about work feeling like "such a soul-sucking experience." (Yes, we're in the same field.)

What, Beth, you don't find it rewarding to work for administrators with room-temperature IQs?

catgirl

Veteran

Me, but even lower percentages. You are not alone! If I could manage what Beth said she does, I'd be so happy! This morning I put on my purple anthro cardi over some grey slouch trousers and my Frye oxfords. Good base, but did I bother to find any jewelry? Do I even own a long necklace? So it was not even worth posting.

For me a lot of it still is figuring out what I lack, and what I have but don't use. Factor in that I'd rather sleep than look good, a kid, three pets, my own law practice, and I'm lucky if my shoes match. I don't feel like I've found a fashion stride or rhythm like so many of you here, and it's harder work than I thought, now that my eyes have been opened to PPL and bookending. On the other hand, I can't just forget it all either, now that I know the difference.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

If I waited until I felt an outfit was fab, you would not have seen pic one from me yet! It's not always easy to put yourself out there but I've found everyone here very helpful and if we don't risk failure we don't grow. I personally feel there is less value in posting what I'm pretty sure is a good pulled together look than in posting one I have questions or insecurities about and seeking honest feedback on. Now I'm rambling - sorry - just thinking that most of us are not batting 1000 and so don't be mislead by what you do see - no one wants to show the days they are vacuuming still in their PJ's at noon!

Marley

Veteran

Auburn - you are WAY ahead of me! I am probably about 75% there - 45% of the time. Most days I put on a pair of boyfriend jeans and a variation of some type of t-shirt top - tennies or flats - and I'm done. A lot of the reason for that is because I am not working right now and so I have no reason to dress up - and part of the reason is my closet is so stuffed full of clothes, shoes, purses, etc. that I really can't "see" what I have. I know that I have some knock-out pieces in my closet, but its just too crowded and unorganized to find them - coupled with the fact that I am usually in a hurry in the mornings when I am getting dressed and so I don't really have time to search for pieces in my closet. I just grab the nearest and the easiest. YLF is really helping me though - I am realizing that I tend to buy a lot of "different" kind of clothes that I absolutely LOVE, but I never invest/buy any of the basics. I don't own a pencil skirt - I have absolutely NO fall/winter dresses. Its really weird what my shopping patterns have been these last couple of years! OK, enough yapping!

Louise

Veteran

Auburn don't feel down. Don't forget most ladies here don't post a WIW daily so you're usually only seeing the best of outfits. If mine are blah or so so I usually don't bother posting them in WIW unless I want advice. Accessories totally take most outfits from blah to fab even throwing on a scarf can make the world of difference x

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Auburn, it's funny, I find myself taking MORE care for work outfits than I do play ones; I feel like a work I have an obligation to look nice and professional but at home is just for me and I can be a little more careless about my appearance. I've actually been making more of an effort on the weekends lately, and I am finding that the same sense of satisfaction at getting it right is just as powerful on Sunday as it is on Wednesday. Maybe for you the reverse will work!

Last year I wore dresses to work almost exclusively, but while doing so I had a ton of fun with accessories, and I learned how they can change a dress so you don't even realize it's the same one. Necklaces, shoes, tights, scarves and belts -- and my stock of beloved boyfriend cardigans -- were in constant rotation with the dresses, and I had ball with them!

Trust me, people at work will notice. Sometimes good, sometimes not-so-good, but the boost in confidence and attitude when you are wearing an outfit you know is 100% is undeniably noticeable.

teri

Veteran

I spend more time looking nice for work these days. I find that when I dress nice I feel so confident all day, it makes me feel good. I dress nicer than anyone in my office.... lol (even my boss).

My work environment is a mix of office and production areas. Most of the work I do doesn't require business attire, but i wear it anyway. I do computer graphics and procurement. Most girls in my office wear tshirts and sneakers. I just can't do that.

Kim

Veteran

I work at home with little kids, so I lead a *really* casual lifestyle. I don<code>t feel</code>FAB<code>every single day, but I am getting it more and more often. It</code>s hard to feel fab in clothes that you don`t worry about getting paint on, or boogers...</p> <p>However, even is a shell, a nice cardie and skinny jeans along with some earrings, makeup and hair done, I`m way ahead of alot of my profession who actually answer the door for their clients in their sweatsuits or housecoats...

Admittedly, my standard isn`t too high! LOL