Planning for a lifestyle change

Sally

I haven’t been around much due to my shopping hiatus and so many changes happening. I am going to have a big lifestyle change next year as I have been given leave for a year to work remotely and contract. Not sure if the change is permanent or not. The role also requires me to present a week of workshops once a year and I plan to do supply teaching for one or two days a week. I am going for a month yoga course
in Bali midyear and due to the change in lifestyle, I’ll be able to do more
walking. I have enough yoga/walking clothes and will probably live in my jeans while working, which I have enough of (but don't want to be in my yoga pants all day like during the pandemic). I have also put on a little
weight so while my tops, boyfriend jeans, and dresses are still fitting, I have had to get a couple of new pairs of work trousers. I’m editing my wardrobe and wondering how much of each to keep. I need to be more professional but comfortable while teaching and presenting. I would like to have stuff on hand because when it all gets manic, I am not good at shopping. I will have a lot to learn setting myself up as a contractor so don’t want to be worried about my wardrobe. This winter, I’ve
just reverted to boyfriend jeans with a blazer and boots, but some schools do not allow jeans.

Do you start with what you need? How many work outfits should I plan for summer and winter? I like having a small wardrobe so don’t want to have too much.

1 year ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Sally

rachylou

Veteran

Wait, first I have to ask, what is supply teaching? If you work remotely, does that mean you will be on camera and/or computer cam?

1 year ago

RobinF

Veteran

Sounds like an exciting change! It seems like you will need a handful of work outfits - maybe all mix and match? and the rest casual for at home. Maybe store all the work outfits until needed?

1 year ago

Runcarla

Veteran

I think there’s a temptation to do a closet overhaul/purge whenever there’s a big change in a persons life. A lifestyle change can create feelings of loss of control, and cleaning out a closet is something you can control.

I’d suggest shopping your closet first - and a try on session. See if you can create outfits for the the different scenarios you describe (a mix and match capsule for a week of presenting, a couple of outfits that work for teaching days) - and put these back in the closet - making a list of what you felt was missing to complete the outfits or capsule.

Overhaul your existing fitness capsule, and see what works for your yoga practice. Maybe refresh with some additions for the month long retreat, and discard older items after the retreat - keeping the fresher ones for your ongoing practice.

Do a thorough review of footwear, and make sure your favourite walking shoes (sneakers, boots, other) are in tip top shape. Make sure you have enough to be able to rotate and let shoes ‘rest’ between wears.

If the remote work involves teleconferencing select a few of your best/favourite work tops and do trials of wearing them in front of the camera. View the tapes to see how they look. You can be business on the top and party on the bottom in this scenario.

Box up stuff that doesn’t fit or isn’t right for the activities you’ll be doing for the next year. Revisit them when the year is up. At that time you can reassess their place in your closet.

Note: the month long yoga retreat and the increased walking might very well resolve the pants fit issue!

1 year ago

Joy

Veteran

Carla is wise. Shop your closet first and don’t overdo it. You are smart to consider what this change means for your wardrobe, but you can always add things as you need them.

1 year ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Congratulations on the upcoming changes, the retreat-to-come and the new responsibilities! Carla has given you a great roadmap for going forward.

The only thing I'd add is that two days per week of supply teaching is still a significant classroom component, so you do need options (and clothes that work in different weather conditions). However, if you are moving from school to school, you may not require quite as much variety as you have in the past, while working in one school, so a clean-out of things you no longer enjoy or fit into seems reasonable.

I expect you'll want a slightly more polished look for the public workshops. Comfortable, yes, but also authoritative or energizing.

Do you know anyone who has been on this particular yoga retreat? They might have suggestions about the type of gear that's most appropriate to the setting and weather.

1 year ago

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Nice to hear from you again Sally! I've also been away from the forum for a bit, in a very similar transition to you! (I present workshops maybe a couple of times a week to various clients, but otherwise am mostly WFH. No more remote teaching right now but still have other aspects like marking & material prep). Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk more about this!

Anyway the reason I mention my own career transition is maybe I can share what's worked for me this past year?

1) Elasticated waistbands:
Even in my work trousers, a 'buttonhole elastic' can work wonders to keep that 'smart' look (no drawstrings or bunching/ pleating) but still with the comfort of elastic. It's also super easy to undo (just cut out the elastic & button)!
If I *really* don't want to wear them during remote work though, I just keep them as 'alternative' bottoms on my bedroom door hook in case I later have a call/ need to answer the door etc lol.

2) Pockets & Practical Bags:
I don't know the exact nature of your role, but there are lots of details I won't know until I'm actually in the classroom on the day. So all my work bottoms have either pockets or a sturdy waistband, for my personal essentials/ stashing extra pens/ hooking up a body microphone etc. Seriously, you never know what the tech situation is going to be like lol! So I'd also recommend a bag that can hold some cables/ extra USB stick/ papers etc as needed (I have a convertible backpack wheelie for when I don't know what the lifts/ accessibility are like to get to a classroom - otherwise a simple backpack on days I don't need to bring my laptop etc).

3) Hold then scope:
I know you don't want to keep too large of a wardrobe, but a holding zone can help until you've had a chance to scope out how others dress on the job (for me it was just a suitcase I wasn't using for travel). I rescued some silk blouses from it after one client who all were in shirts (oops! In my defense though, other places wear windbreakers with tshirts & jeans lol!)
Since I'm assuming your schools will also vary, I've kept 2-3 smarter outfits of wool trousers & silk blouses (though you may need to add 2 blazers & long johns to your winter capsule) - you could use just one outfit for the first day at any new client, then mix & match if there's still a need.

4) The active stuff:
Having more time to get out & about during the day makes such a difference! But I've found it's also easy not to do anything with that time, lol...
I've put my gym stuff into an easier to reach location in various cubbies (including the relevant underpinnings), so that I can throw something on for a walk or exercise. If I'm working remotely, I may switch out just the top or the bottom afterwards.
I literally have the same 6 tops & leggings for my gym clothes, 4 tops + cargo pants for my hiking gear (stored with my hiking bag, bandanas & hats), & 3 sets of swimming costumes.

Your situation may not be the exact same as mine, but I hope that's given you some useful pointers on where to start at least? It sounds like a big transition - good luck! Hopefully you'll settle into it soon though

1 year ago

kkards

Veteran

Gosh —-so excited for you. Maybe this video would help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arVVrJn7rss

i thought she laid it out really well, and it was easy follow.

1 year ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I think a big try- on is in order. To cull or box up/ hold anything that does not fit you or you feel confident in. I would cull for poor quality/ condition and for poor fit plus not likely to fit, Hold for what often fits a few # away IF items are good ( I mostly Hold good quality pants that for me have a problem if just a few # off). If something is a bit dressy or more polished than you THINK you need but it fits great, don’t toss. Those items may work well juxtaposed with more casual or sporty items. Or other items you live but might need a companion piece you don’t have right now.

Another thing you could do is Wishlist items you suspect would be good if you find you’re needing more variety of outfits , or do Retail Research to know what to get quick, or lastly buy a few Panic items that have a looong return window.

1 year ago

Sally

Veteran

Thank you all. Some great ideas that will definitely help.
Rachylou - supply teaching is relief teaching or substitute teaching. The remote stuff is on camera as well as off camera.
RobinF - yes I am thinking mix and match is best. I have bought a couple of wide legs pants - black and plum coloured to wear for work.
Runcarla - some great ideas. I definitely do need to spend some time while I have it researching/sorting out my walking shoes as I find it hard to get to specialty stores while I"m busy. I did think the walking etc might solve the pants fit problem but want to be prepared if it doesn't. I think Ill put my smaller pants on hold just in case.
Joy - thanks yes shop my closet first definitely. I haven't bought anything for 6 months apart from 4 items last week though.
Suz - Yes I know several people who have been on the same yoga course and the clothes I have are ok for it. You make a good point about needing more polished outfits (than probably what I currently wear) which need to be comfortable.

1 year ago

Sally

Veteran

Zaeobi - Thanks for all the suggestions and contingency plans - you do make a good point about pockets or a bag to hold things. Your situation does sound similar to mine except you are probably presenting more regularly. I will PM you with more details soon if that is ok.
kkards - that is a great video - thank you ....a practical way to organise things and prepare.
unfrumped - I do need to do a big try on and put on hold those pants that are a size away from fitting. Good point about using formal items even if I need to dress them down.

1 year ago

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