It's confirmed: getting up early inhibits sartorial adventurousness - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

It's confirmed: getting up early inhibits sartorial adventurousness

Aziraphale

Veteran

This semester, for the first time, most of my classes start in the afternoon, as opposed to 8:30 in the morning. In order to get there by 8:30, I'd have to get up at 6:15, at which time it is generally still dark. And cold. (I sleep with the windows open all year long, on the assumption that lower temperatures and fresh air encourage deeper sleep). It's hard to tell what the weather's going to be like. If the weather network had predicted a fine day, I'd be inclined not to believe it. And so even if I'd laid out a fab outfit the night before, I would often impulsively swap it for my fallback cozy sweatshirt, loose jeans and flat boots. This was doubly likely to happen if I was a bit short on sleep.

Nowadays, I set the alarm for a more reasonable time (no earlier than 7:30), and I've notice that I am WAY more likely to go ahead with an adventuresome outfit. By the time I get dressed, I can tell what the day is going to be like. I have been wearing fuzzy sweats for a few hours (to drive the kids to school) and am no longer chilly. This arrangement is SO MUCH BETTER than my previous one, I'm not sure I can go back!

Has anyone else noticed this? Who else thinks any wake-up time that starts with a number less than 7 is inhumanly early?

Dressing

41 replies

Latest reply was from celia

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I completely agree that waking up before 7 am is inhumanly early. Unfortunately, with a commute of over an hour each way, I haven't been able to sleep past 5 am on workdays for many years. Working a later shift would mean not being around in the evenings when my family needs me to be there and also much worse traffic making the commute even longer. I get my outfit together the night before, and there have been times when the weather doesn't work out but I just have to deal with it last minute with outerwear and commuting shoes. I hope you get to keep your arrangement permanently!

Liz A.

Veteran

For me that cut off occurs at 9 am, but I'm with you on the premise Too bad I have to be at work at 9.

Sara L.

Veteran

I put out my clothes the night before and 80% of the time I don't deviate from what I've selected. Occasionally I do though, and it's usually for something warmer and cozier because I'm cold when I get up. I have to BE at work by 7 am, so I'm usually up by 5:45 am. I agree - I'm not at my best that early, which is why I pick out clothes the night before. I pay attention to the next day's weather forecast when picking out clothes and I'm usually successful with dressing for the weather.

Diana

Veteran

Anytime before 8 am is inhuman. 9 am is civilized. Luckily I can basically set my own schedule at work and I have no kids.

I never choose my outfit the day before, EXCEPT when I have to get up before the sun rises. Then I lay out everything and pack my bag the night before, because that early in the morning I'm liable to forget my keys or my bra or something. And yeah, it's all about a throw it on and go outfit because I'm not willing to get up even 5 minutes earlier! =P

RobinF

Veteran

Like Sara, I set out my clothes the night before, up at 5:45 and I would never be able to decide in the morning. However, I definitely have times when I lean toward comfy - like Mondays and Fridays. And if I know it's going to be a chilly day I take that into account. Lucy you Diana! That is one of the hardest thing about my job, getting up early every day.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Diana and Liz, I agree that 9:00 is a better time to get up! I usually don't wake up before then on weekends. But it's not realistic for weekdays (not until my kids are grown and gone). I figure 7 am is a reasonable hour; it allows me to go to bed at 11 pm and still get eight hours' sleep.

Laura, IKWYM about the commute times and wanting to be home in the evenings for the family. I have had the same problem in the past. As it is right now, my MIL gets the kids after school on Tues/Thurs and I don't come home until 8 pm. That works out well because she's family, and she's great with kids, and it's only two days a week. I wouldn't want a 5-days-a-week job where I didn't get home until 8 or later (like my partner, who often doesn't see the kids during the week!). But that may mean an early morning commute, and waking up at farmer's hours. Bleh. My current plan is to freelance. I will set my own hours.

Sara L, looking at the forecast does help, but it's not just that. I can look out at the milky pre-dawn sky and be pretty sure it'll be a sunny day, but I just can't bring myself to put on anything other than coziness at that hour! So even if my intentions were heels and pencil skirt, what actually happens is baggy jeans, Converse and pullover.

Robin, ermigerd, 5:45 is beyond inhuman. I remember a short period when I worked as a science student on a farm, and I had to get up at 5:00. I wanted to shoot myself. One time, I actually FELL ASLEEP at work while doing a seed-count at my desk.

JAileen

Veteran

My husband sets the alarm for 5:30. He gets up after 30 minutes of NPR, showers, and then fixes breakfast. I've been awake since 5:30 of course. Anyway, I get up about 6:30, have breakfast and coffee, and read the various papers. Meanwhile, NPR has given the weather report several times, plus I look out the window to see what's actually going on. I try to remember to look at our outside thermometers to see how hot or cold it is. It's already been down to 37. Today it's supposed to get up to 90. So by the time I get dressed, around 8, I have a very good idea of what the day should bring. If I have something going on that day, I might have an idea of what I want to wear. I may tweak it depending on the weather, or what's clean!

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

Indeed so--this issue was one of the biggest factors in me being a fashion failure most of my life! Early to school, early to work, especially on dark, cold New England mornings. Adding to the problem, of course, was that I always had limited closets of items that didn't necessarily play well together. I did used to pick out ensembles the night before, sometimes only mentally, but I was too unsavvy to *try on* those outfits early enough to see if they actually worked--and of course, a lot of the time they just didn't. I was not giving getting dressed the attention it deserves. I am so, so glad those days are in the past and love how much more YLF has boosted that quotient.

shedev

Veteran

I had a job where I got up at 330. What's beyond in human?

Joy

Veteran

This is where planning ahead outfits with ideas for weather variations pays off. That has been my challenge this month as it is chilly at 6 when I get up but the sun can feel hot by mid morning. My husband is an early riser and prefers going to 7:30am mass. To be on time, I need to lay everything out the night before. Angie's capsules save me. The time they take to put together is time well spent, as is trying on everything in your closet to be sure it fits and is in good condition.

Momo

Veteran

Oh am I with you.. Love my job.. Hate getting up so early. Have to leave my house at 6:45
Ugh

bj1111

Veteran

shedev, that is cruel and unusual punishment

Staysfit

Veteran

Sheepish admission.......I'm awake every day at 5 am. Some days I'm up before my alarm at 4:30am. I do Yoga or Pilates, walk with my neighbor, and then I go to work by 8am.

catgirl

Veteran

This is why I had a 6AM shift capsule that was functional and intermixable but not the height of fashion. Just easy to get into and out the door.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

My alarm goes off at 5 a.m. every weekday, and after hitting the snooze button (just twice!) I am up at 5:20. I exercise every morning, and then it's off to work by 7. I get my clothes ready for the week on Sunday and hang them on a special rack.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Mr. Suz gets up before dawn most days. And while my natural inclination is to sleep later, years of life with him (and an early rising kid) has turned me into an earlier riser. I have an exercise class at 7 am twice a week and walk there (not a long walk), so I tend to get up around 6:30 or so most days.

In summer it's no problem at all -- but in the dark days it becomes much harder.

I must admit, though, I don't really have to get dressed most days before 9 am and that truly helps. Because I'm a mood and weather dresser and even though I check the weather and plan my outfits in advance, I'm likely to change my mind in the moment and, like you, can get messed up (or just lazy) if I don't know what the day holds.

anne

Veteran

I can relate!! When I was a SAHM (not that you are), I didn't get showered and properly dressed til after those kids who were going, went to school (DH took them since his work was nearby). So like Suz I didn't have to make those decisions til later in the day, which I prefer.

I may well have been up early with a toddler, or gone to the gym or out for a run, but I could just wear PJ's, comfy lounge clothes or gear (often with something warm over it)

I prefer deciding in the morning as I'm tired at night and not good at decisions. I currently get up at 6:30/45 and pretty much just dress and go (shower at night, have breakfast at work).

However if I was to return to riding my bike to work, which I hope to do soon, or start going to a before work exercise class again, I would pack my clothes for the next day the night before and lay out my travelling. exercise gear.

Mind you, my daily dressing isn't very exciting anyway. About 5 or 6 FFBO office outfits and a rotation of 3 or 4 smart casual oufits for Fridays. It is more a case of what haven't I worn this week and is cleaned, mended and ironed and fits (some are a little snug at some weight fluctuation points)

Kari

Veteran

Yes. I used to have to be up at 4:30, out the door by 5:15. That's why I stopped taking WIW photos, drying my hair, etc. It's just not feasible.

These days I'm waking up at 5:45.

Gaylene

Veteran

Teaching 8am university classes meant having to be in my office by 7:30am--or even 6:30am if I had an early morning meeting. My only decision was to pick which shoe or boot to wear that day. Then dressing was like a weird flowchart: grab a pair of pants which went with the footwear, pick a jacket that complemented the pants, and then find a top which could tie everything together. Total formula dressing--my closet was organized in categories, and my buying habits reinforced my method. Every pair of shoes had its complementary pants; every pant had its complementary jackets, and every pant/jacket combo had its array of tops. Boring, but effective.

I rarely laid out outfits the night before because I could never settle on my footwear the night before....

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am the opposite. I believe any social activity planned after 7pm is hazardous to my health.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Wow, there are a lot of early birds out there! I almost feel left out. On balance, though, I'd rather be a night owl. It just sucks being a night owl who is forced into a morning lark schedule.

Obviously the solution is to be self-employed, lol.

anne

Veteran

I can't work out if I am an early bird or not. I certainly was a night owl for years, and into my thirties. But DH is an extreme night owl and I'm more moderate.

Years of having to get up early (or earlyish, not as early as some above) for kids, if it was the only time to exercise or to get to work has changed my body clock and I don't sleep in much at weekends which is annoying. I also fade early on at night. But recently by the Monday of a long weekend I finally managed to sleep in to 8:45! (then Tues morning was correspondingly difficult).

Being a night owl comes into its own with teenagers. I struggle sometimes to stay awake to put my DD13 to bed, and chat when she wants to. It is a real dillemma for me. Night Owl DH, however, has great long talks with the older girls on Friday nights when they come home late and chatty and I've often collapsed into bed.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I'm like Jamie...I like all social activities to begin by 7pm and be done with before 11pm. I wake up by 6:30am everyday (years of having dogs will do that to you) in summer. While my husband wakes at 5am to walk the dogs. It's so warm here in summer, it's difficult to walk the dogs once the sun is out. I have a workout class 3 days a week in the morning, and the other 4 days I practice yoga in the morning.

However, my advantage is that I work from home. So I only go for a shower by 9:30am....so don't have to get dressed too early. Oh, and since I plan my own work schedule, I make time for an afternoon siesta most days It feels like a luxury! And I feel recharged for the evening, when I have to walk my dogs and then later brisk walk for another hour with a friend. The 6pm to 7:30pm I spend outdoors is the high point of my day

In winters, I will happily sleep until 8am most mornings.

anne

Veteran

Manny I used to love an afternoon nap too. When I was home with kids it's how I coped with my early morning/ late night life. I was rigorous about having the kids nap at the same time in the afternoon (or have time alone in their rooms, if they didn't nap when older) and often didn't even clear the lunch table before I was off to bed! Doing without a nap now I work is hard and I sometimes enjoy one on a Saturday.

lyn67

Veteran

I agree:-) and consider myself very very lucky to always have had a job which admits setting my own schedule (starting sometime between 8,00-8,30)....sigh-sigh-sigh,... for you early birdies out there! I feel for you all:-((.

Style Fan

Veteran

When I was working I was up by 5 am. Walked my dogs for at least 30 mins. Maybe longer. Got ready for work. For awhile I commuted 45 mins to work. Not a bad commute. I was often the only car on the road. Depending on the job I started work at 8 or 9 am.
There was a time when I went to fitness classes in the morning. That stopped in my early 40s.
Now that I am retired I still wake up at 5 am. Dogs do that to you. Sophie can't wait to get outside. She loves it.
I never planned my outfit ahead of getting dressed. I had a formula. Pants, top, topper. Footwear. Accessories. Make Up. Everything went with everything. Never realized until I joined YLF.

Sisi

Veteran

I agree wholeheartedly! Getting up early has always been a great suffering for me. Especially in Winter. Now I can get up at 7.30 or even at 8 depending on how fast I decide to be in getting prepared. That's a decent time. Ideal time for me is 8.30. I have always envied people who get up early without difficulty.

For what concerns planning one's outfit the night before, it generally does not work for me. First, the weather is unpredictable. Second, I am unpredictable. If I prepare an outfit the night before then often next morning I change my mind ...

Deborah

Veteran

Anything before 7 is uncivilized! Having said that since I took on my new job with an 8.30a.m. start, I really need to be up between 6.30 and 6.45 to ensure I have time to sartorial creativity, otherwise it's straight to my FFBO's.

Staysfit

Veteran

Shevia, you and I should hang out sometime. It sounds like we run on the same sort of schedule! I'm definitely not a nite owl! I somehow pick my clothes in the am without difficulty and manage to be weather appropriate despite the dubious reliability of the local weather person. I use layers, carry an umbrella, an extra jacket in my car, and rely on the sure fact that I live in CNY where weather rules. Anything goes!

12