Wow-- lots of work being done, fun things happening, and realizations made. It is exciting to see what others are looking forward to and trying out!
For me this past season was less retail-therapy and more therapy. YLF has really got me thinking about how I have been dressing the past few years and analyzing WHY I was making the clothing and fashion choices I've been making. I've had to start being really honest with myself and let go of some of the things I've insisted on being the irrefutable truth.
I am really excited about finally having a decent interview look, although as I build my closet further there are some pieces I could surely add. That said, I feel so much more comfortable going into situations that need a put-together capsule than I did 6 months ago. Prior to this I was always scrambling to cobble together something somewhat workable (and most often questionable and uncomfortable) for interviews, funerals, and other important events that weren't jeans or formal dress appropriate. My little capsule of 2 pairs of slacks, a pencil skirt, and several button downs (plus low-heeled oxfords) is my accomplishment of the season, and as silly as that sounds-- I'm really proud. It is one of my goals to use the last month or two of really cold winter weather here to completely tie up loose ends with the pieces I currently have. For me, that means double checking sleeve lengths and pants lengths, taking the last pair of slacks for alteration, and finding a nude bra or cami for my white button down. I have a few more goals I'd like to kick into gear and complete that I had started before our season here is completely over. I do need to get my behind into gear on spring though, and possibly for a work wardrobe (I'm waiting on phone calls for interviews again).
During the process of building an interview or business capsule, I learned a couple of things.
1) Tailoring makes a huge difference, but it can only do so much. I used professional services for the first time and it is great to know what they can do (huge difference in how things fit, especially pants, and it was affordable) and what is really difficult and costly. This knowledge opens up options to me as well as help me evaluate pieces based on structure, hopefully helping me pick pieces that are easier to alter in cases where there are not ready-made options (like I want things that fit my waist!).
2) Having business clothing that fits and is comfortable and appropriate is an important investment in myself and my future and I should have something that I don't have to freeze in, bake in, constantly readjust . . . especially when I am trying to make a good impression. Maybe the comfort level will help me branch out and use these pieces to step it up in other areas.
3) Wool is not evil, and neither is dry clean only. I'm a chronically frozen person . . . being comfortable is worth it.
Outside of those strides a lot of my thinking this past season has dealt with how I've been presenting myself (and why) and how I want people to see me and what I need to do to make that happen. I've realized that my self-confidence has been damaged and is holding me back, but I am going to try to keep that from happening anymore. I need to look different than the sweatshirts and boho clubwear than most of the women in my age range in the community wear, because I have different goals. For the first time in my life, I'm dressing too young. I never knew that MDAL could apply to people in their twenties, but I am still dressing like high school and college kids, but I don't have the juniors-size body and it isn't doing me any favors. I've really seen how visible I am to people that are influential in doing what I want to do for work in the community, and had a AH-HA moment about how I'm dressing at the grocery store.
I think the last straw was the man I've been seeing a) having to explain to his coworkers (who we ran into randomly-- hello small town) that he wasn't robbing the cradle (he is 2 years older than me, and looks his age-- but apparently I don't) and b) despite being a casual, laid-back guy, he has expressed interest in seeing me "cleaned up".
So, that said . . . SWEATSHIRTS ARE GEAR!!!!!!!
I deserve to have nice things . . . for me.. Just because no one may be actively judging me based on what I wear places other than interviews or work, that doesn't mean that feeling good isn't important.
The little things I wear everyday are really important to the overall look. I need to take the time to find a watch, purse, ect.
Building a closet is overwhelming, especially trying to prioritize, but I want to make it a priority to build a decent outfit to wear for multiple aspects of life and go from there.
It is all good and well to say that it is ok to keep wearing unflattering, uncomfortable, awkward, and trashed things because no one important sees your loungewear, PJs, workout gear, casual clothes, hiking stuff . . . until all of the sudden that changes and you realize that it sucks to wear sweats with holes just because it is "only you". Plus, it is really embarrassing to grab that pair when you are running out the doorto something public!
The same kinda goes for fancy clothes . . . it is easy to justify not needing them enough to have some and spend money on them . . . and then you need them.
Having appropriate warm clothes is important, and those important layers that make winter bearable are on the top of my list for next winter.
I also realized the importance of having a real hairstyle.
I came to terms with my love of classic, and that it is ok to mix it with other elements that inspire me.
Now, I'm figuring out how.
