New year. Finding my way back

Hard to believe its Jan 1st. And 2025 is here. I swear it was just July and then I turned around and we were deep into Black Friday and December planning. And now the holidays are over and spring 25 is just around the corner
And somewhere in between July travel and Xmas i seemed to have lost my fashion mojo. WFH 2 days a week & low key weekends found me leaning heavily into something between athleisure and well I got dressed today. And We had another reorg at work in august which changed little in my day to day life but moved my team to another group and moved our physical location on the days we are in the office. The new group is decidedly more casual, (the president of my new division wears sweatshirts most days) and I’ve been more aware of the social aspect of work dressing, and how I want to present, than I have been in a long time.
But as I move into 2025, I want to get my groove back. Fashion/style is a big part of who I am and what I enjoy.
I’m going to start with a Jan no repeats challenge. Not sure if I’ll be able to post every day, but that will be my goal as I feel like it gives less room to “wimp” out.
Anyway, sorry for this long post and hope that you’ll help my find my fashion mojo again

3 days ago

LJP

Veteran

Hi ! I noticed you had gone silent - I do check in to see what's being posted by my favourite people despite feeling very unmoored vis a vis style myself.

So many issues like climate change /sustainabilty/fashion pollution/over consumption etc have clouded my feelings about dressing, closet management and finding my personal style. Most days I think about the former more than the latter, and other days my lifelong interest in fashion and style take over and I fall into old thought patterns.

It sounds like your work situation has really put a cramp in your style - figuratively and literally. The very same thing happened to me. Not sure what the answer is, or if there even has to be one. When I do return to the " old Lisa" and dress for impact and style - I do feel good and am reassured that I still have it when I need it, lol. But I have also found that I don't need that thrill as much as I used to. I don't think we have to feel we must do anything . You'll find your groove naturally, I'm sure.

2 days ago

Suz

(website)

Great to see you back, kKards. And you know what? You have a fantastic wardrobe, so setting yourself a no repeat challenge may be just the thing to help you fall in love with it again!

Looking forward to seeing your outfits and deriving inspiration from them, as always.

I hope the new year treats you better than the one that has just passed. Onwards!

Runcarla

You’ve been missed - both your inspirational style and your pertinent commentary of fashion topics! Sounds like the work situation is a part of it, though sometimes a body can just run out of steam.

I’m one who will be looking forward to our OOTD!

Irina

Great to see you back. I enjoyed seeing your outfits and hope you will resume posting.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Great to see you chime in, kkards! Missed you too.

I echo Suz! You have a smashing wardrobe. All you need to do is shop your closet, and wear your fab stuff! For starters, anyway. I'm sure you'll find your way back to what feels honest and good, and inspire others along the way!

Here to help you through the pivot, Setting yourself a no-repeat challenge for a couple of weeks can be very helpful

Dee

Happy that your back on the forum, looking forward to your no repeat challenge, you've got a great wardrobe to work with.

Jaime

Looking forward to your posts whenever they may happen! Agree with Suz and Angie that you have a great wardrobe and exploring it might be just the thing to help you find your mojo. I am interested in what you said about becoming more aware of the social aspect of work dressing if you care to elaborate.

Lisa

I understand this situation well. I WFH most days and rarely have to dress up for work or my personal life, I'm very casual on most days. I've tried to shift to having fun with fashion for my casual lifestyle with colors, prints, patterns, and matching to keep my fashion mojo going with a casual lifestyle. Graphic tees are a large part of my wardrobe now, along with hoodies and joggers and lots of colorful combinations. A no repeat challenge is a great way to start the new year, good luck with your journey!

Aquamarine

Glad to see you back! You have a great wardrobe and I hope you get your mojo back…it happens to everyone occasionally.

kkards

Thanks for the welcome back!

Jamie — one of the changes that the reorg brought was my team’s in office space moving from a cube desk situation to an open concept environment. This means that you on display all day everyday day. So you become much more aware of the people in your space, even the ones you don’t know or actually work with. As the oldest in my division, I stand out. As one of the few without children, so no daycare or college funds to pay, I stand out. It’s made me self conscious. It’s made me feel like I need to “relax” how I dress so that I come across as less corporate and more laidback/approachable. It’s made me deliberately (sorry, going to get a little (lot?) controversial and use broad generalization here) try to to dress less boomer. Not trying to deny my age but trying to find what feels right and authentic to me, and right and authentic to my environment

pirouette

I am delighted you are back. I love your style especially your collection of jeans and shoes. I think we all go through highs and lows in our interest in fashion and it’s great you are getting your interest back. I retired over 2 years ago and although I wore scrubs at work I was mixing with a lot of fashionable women who inspired me. Since I retired I seem to have lost my interest I think partly due to the loss of this inspiration. I understand your situation as work can have a big influence on what we wear and our interest in fashion. I am looking forward to seeing your posts in 2025 as I get inspiration from lots of fabbers on the forum including you.

RobinF

Yeah, I think feeling "into it" and not can come and go depending on what's going on. You have a great wardrobe so it'll be fun to see what you come up with. I am sure a lot of the items can be casualized and still feel like you.

The age thing at work is weird. I went for years being the youngest and then all of a sudden I was the oldest! No in between and no warning - haha.

cat2

Sounds like initially a styling challenge, not a shopping challenge? If garment quality is an issue, maybe claim to be an ardent resale shopper?

catherine

Kkards, I absolutely admire your style and so enjoy your outfit posts. Can’t wait to see more.

Janet

Nice to see you again! You have such a fab collection of denim and boots, in particular, that I feel like you’ll find the right balance for your new situation with some styling experiments.

unfrumped

It may be that there is this initial somewhat unsettling change- especially the open office concept- that you need to “ dress for” specifically, in some ways that are comfort/ confidence supporting, or even somehow more style- neutral, or a bit casualized, if that helps; maybe your January challenge will lean that way. And then that aspect of change will settle down ( for you and for team as a group) and you can have a next phase.

SarahD8

Great to see you, kkards. I'm excited to hear that you plan a no-repeats challenge for January because I consider you Queen No Repeats Challenge and I always learn lots from your efforts in this area. Staying tuned to see what develops...

1 day ago

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