Frustrated but I'll get over it. AKA not being prepared!

I'm in Brazil for work. Trip is going great. Felt pretty good about my outfits two of the three work days here but yesterday I couldn't help but feel frumpy. Will post WIWs soon. I did take pics except for yesterday. Tells me something when I forgot to take the pic on the day I felt sub-par.

Women here dress, well, dressier, and with heels, and looking quite glam for doing pretty much anything from what I can tell, including corporate working women. Polish is part of the look and dowdy, conservative and frumpy are not seen!

I used to wear heels more often until (A) I had kids and (B) I moved to a huge city and my lifestyle changed to be one that includes lots of walking on city sidewalks hence no heels.

I have another trip here coming up and I'm going to try to glam it up a bit to try to fit in. I know, I don't have to do that and I need to be authentic to myself but I don't want to feel dowdy either. I can do glam, too! in my own way of course.

Yesterday's outfit just didn't feel good and I need to learn from it. A bonus is that I don't do much walking here so I can wear more heels next time! I'll be busting them out from the ABC archives! I do miss them sometimes.

I also am frustrated due to identifying two gaping wardrobe holes I didn't realize I had as I started preparing for the Sept trip.

First up is swimwear. I did more research and the high temps are around 80 degrees. I think I'm going to focus more on cover ups than the suits. I doubt we get into the water.

The other wardrobe hole is open toe walking sandals (12 hr). I don't mind spending on these as much as the swimwear as I know I'll get my money's worth and they can be used for a long time to come. Provided I get the right pair(s) I can wear them for some trips out of the house even though they're open toe and for real city daily wear I prefer closed toe.

We are trying to save for a house so I feel like these holes are not just of the wardrobe kind, they're hemorrhaging money from my wallet when I don't need it to happen.

Sorry for the rant. Just feeling frustrated! I hate surprises! I pride myself on planning ahead and these are back to back blows to budget and self esteem.

I like the post I just saw entitled something like what could be surprise wardrobe holes. Well, here you have mine and the back-stories of each!

12 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

So sorry about that. The good news is that if you are able to find your size, you should be able that swimsuit, coverup, and sandals for a great price since it is quite late in the season! If you were doing this search in April, you would probably be paying double.

Anonymous

At least you have an action plan now, and have identified your holes! Sorry you felt frumpy, that is no fun.

lyn*

(website)

Aww, I hope you don't feel frumpy for very long! There is a doc here from Brazil and she is always 100% perfectly dressed, including 4" heels. I have no idea how she does ward work with 4" heels. She also has beautiful long hair that is never out of place. It's nuts.

If it makes you feel better, it's one of the places where a lot of beauty is artificial - tons of plastic surgery. If I ever needed to get plastics done, I'd go to Brazil or South Korea. Tons of experience

Caro in Oz

Nothing worse than feeling frumpy but it sounds like you won't let it happen again Don't be too hard on yourself sounds like you are doing really well.

Thistle

Sorry you felt frumpy! You might have just been being overly hard on yourself and looking so very fab. Still, I am sorry you felt that way and at least you have a way forward.

rachylou

I can't imagine. You're such a snazzy dresser. Throw on a pair of pumps, and I should think you'd be set to go. My colleague in Rio doesn't seem to dress so different.

I'm sorry you are feeling out of sorts about your outfits. It sounds like you know exactly what to do to fix that though, so its not for naught. Hope your trip turns around.

Adelfa

I *cannot wait* to see you all glammed up! Fun! When I was in college a friend studied in Salamanca, Spain, for a whole year. When she got back, she said it was so hard because she was tall and big boned and dressed in LL Bean, while all the Spanish students were wearing skintight jeans with very high heels! When I went to Costa Rica in April, all the Costa Rican women were in heels, even the senior citizens.

Crazy. I don't know how they do it.

rute

Now it's winter on Brazil.
Brazilian women dress well and they are very careful with details: hair, make-up and nails. They are always polished!

you can always go for a small kitten heel, it's very elegant!

Suz

It's so interesting to see how people in different cultures and climates interpret a similar dress code. On paper, it might look the same, but in practice it is much different. Try not to be so hard on yourself. You had no way of knowing. Now you do, and you will soon be feeling a lot less frumpy.

abc

Hi, ladies. I posted this last night then had my first flight back home this am (on a layover right now). I apologize for the delay in my response.

I really, really appreciate the commiseration and encouragement.

Tomorrow when I'm finally home and have time to respond to each post I will but for now I just wanted to hop in and send a big thank you to my friends at YLF for helping me feel better about myself.

I'm definitely going to be spending more time preparing my outfits (and shoes, one of my favorite things lol) for the next trip to Brazil in a month.

Thanks again!!!

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