Una: Now I totally want to be a urban warrior princess stalking the streets of some pseudo-medieval post-apocalyptic world.

Well, I want to DRESS like one anyways.

Hmmm. Maybe Rae and I can post our personal versions of Urban Warrior Princess (UWP?). Thanks to my son, I have a plastic sword to accessorize!

This is really a GREAT post/thread! I have been working on this issue as well. I too work from home & often the only time I am see on the "outside" is picking up kids from school. I also had a closet full of things I did not need or wear but had lots of fun buying! LOL
(I have collected lots of heels, dresses, vintage items that I never wear, leggings & ill fitting various items)

Even though I have a very casual lifestyle, I had very little to wear/show for it!
Baggy jeans,faded T's & flip flops for example! *sigh*

I also bought things SMALLER than I am because "for sure by next month it will fit me"..nope by the time it does fit, i don't want it anymore! LOL

I am also guilty of seeing something *fabulous* on someone else & running out & trying to duplicate it! (and then it looks lousy)

Accepting that I really am a jeans/tshirt/flats girl has really opened my eyes to finding NEW ways to wear these items with more style/better fit so I feel great, comfortable & have FUN doing it!

I am also discovering that for me...less IS more (better quality vs a bunch of junk like I had accumulated) but I think that might be another post/topic lol

I think I am so excited for Fall because I can't wait to wear my new skinny jeans (including RED), nicer T's, blouses, cardigans, blazers, scarves & ballet flats I have been shopping for.
I even have a nice little "out to dinner/date capsule going!"

I just wanted to jump in & say "I get it"

This is what makes me appreciate my work at the office: opportunity to dress up a bit and have fun with dressing. I am often overdressed by my office standards (casual - read baggy jeans and polo shirts) but do I care? No!
However I do not have many opportunities to dress up outside of work. Sometimes I think I should create them myself!
What I have issue with is boots. On one hand I live in 4 season place and my cool to cold weather season spans 8 months - should be a perfect excuse to grow my boot collection, right? However 4 months out of these 8 we have PILES of snow which means I cannot really wear my nice boots. So in reality it leaves me 2 months in the spring and 2 months in the fall when I can wear my nice boots - do I really need more that 5 pairs I already have?

Sveta, honestly I wear my nice boots in the snow. I just waterproof-spray them constantly. Otherwise, what's the point? It makes me feel better and my husband knows I am entitled to all the boots and jackets I want in this climate.

This totally makes sense! Especially Annie's comment about the smaller clothes. If I really like something, I don't want to buy it a larger size but my old size so that it will go with my "smaller size" wardrobe. I have issues...
I bought a vintage 40s or 50s red satin dress last year to wear to my brother's wedding this past August but it didn't fit like I hoped it eventually would. I still hope I will get to wear it someday. All my vintage dresses are too small for me right now but I can't let them go. They will be great to wear to cafes in Europe, right?

I'm doing SYC right now and am not allowing myself to get rid of anything until I lose the weight to approximately where I originally was (all the various sizes will be needed I think). I find I have too many dressier clothes as well, considering I'm doing child care right now and dress very casually on a daily basis. I do plan to go back to work in a more formal setting in the future so I want to develop better wardrobe capsules for all the different aspects of my life. It seems like it does take a lot of research and planning to get it right though.

If only I had more Urban Warrior Princess outfits... I could join Una and Rae in their adventures. I do have a pair of black Fluevog boots (that I rarely wear anymore) that would be great for my outfit...

Have you seen this site? Not my style at all, but she does an amazing job incorporating her 50s glam fantasy style into her life as a SAHM:

http://superkawaiimama.com/

Una (and Rae): Please do! Maybe we'll find there are more Urban Warrior Princesses in our midst.

Maybe with my new Frye back lace boots I can be an Urban Warrior Lady-in-Waiting.....!

Wow, this thread is amazing to read. I was at Nordstrom, debating whether I want to buy the Vince Camuto black and hot pink platforms. They were surprising comfortable and made a statement, but they weren't appropriate for work or MOTG...and I have enough date night shoes. I was actually thinking that if I bought them, I would buy them just for my "I still am single and still live in NYC" fantasy- not that I want to be single or live in NY!!!
One time I met Brenda Kinsel (she's written some great fashion books, btw) at a lecture, and I confessed that when I dressed nicely (not "up") I was always told the same thing as you, Claire- "Oh, you're so dressed up" and it made me self conscious. She replied that as a young mom she initially felt that way, but 1) people got used to it and 2) when you dress well, you give others permission to as well-
I think sometimes when you are dressed well, there's a fear of looking "vain" - but I've come to realize that when I feel my hair is maintained, I've put on eyeliner, mascara and gloss, worn something coordinated, *I* feel good, and when I feel good, I'm a nicer person to be around! Of course there are days I wear workout wear or riding clothes (with Uggs, no less)- but in general, the better I feel, the better I *do*.
Maybe I'll get those shoes and wear them to school pick up with dark skinny Js....

Yellowgirl, in response to your comment "I'm not somebody who will sit around the house in my Gap L&Ls, though I consider them perfect for MOTG wear. Ugh. I refuse to fall into the sweats & tees trap, so I have to find a happy medium. I'm going to be looking into ponte knit pants to possibly fill that void. Anybody else experience this, too?"

I've had the same experience. I'm a mom and I work three days a week from my home studio. I find that that bottoms matter a lot more than tops in terms of comfort, so lately, this is what I do: I get dressed in a proper outfit in the morning -- usually a top and skirt or skinny jeans, and nice shoes (often with a heel) -- and drop the kids off at school, then I go straight back home and swap out my bottom half for comfy sweats. Never mind if they look ridiculous with whatever top I have on. When I go back out again, I swap the sweatpants for the original skirt/jeans. Sounds like a lot of effort, but really it takes thirty seconds, even if there are tights involved.

On days when I have a client meeting, or if I'm going out for other reasons, I don't bother to change. Or sometimes I just never get around to changing. But if I'm working hard, it's nice to be in comfy pants. And there's the added bonus of not ruining my nicer clothes, what with the ink/paint I drop all down my pants on a regular basis.

The two days a week where I have my preschooler home with me, I wear my more casual MOTG outfits, which generally involve looser jeans or unstructured skirts, and flat boots or converse.

Does anyone else do this?

I too struggle with shopping for the life I lead....rather than the one I "live" in my head. In all honesty, my days are split between 2 places:

1. Work - A business casual bordering on business formal office

2. Gym - Where I teach aerobics.

Therefore, the bulk of my wardrobe should be devoted to career wear or work out items. However, I often find myself purchasing items that are far too casual only because I saw them on another person and swooned. I am slowly teaching myself to purchase items that work for my primary life but that could serve double duty. For example, I have recently purchased layering tees that look great under suit jackets or cardis for work, but also work in Angie's MOTG formulas for weekend wear.

It's still a struggle and I am sometimes give into the impulse buy (can we say grecian goddess inspired sundress?) but I am working on improving.

Hello writer-sisters!

On the change to knits front. I do this. I wear MOTG jeans or skirts and swap out to yoga pants at home. It feels a little silly, but it keeps my skirts and jeans nicer for longer and I can be comfortable when I am browsing online catalogs - - I mean, working on my novel.

Oh, I empathise with you all - I am the same. I love tailored, formal 'office' clothes, but I left that life 18 years ago! I also love all the Christmas lovely sparkly cocktail dresses - but I don't really go to parties.

I spend my days running the house, working out, studying 3 hours a day to finish my degree, with a dash of lunch with friends, shopping, the movies and other low key socialising.

I love that on YLF we can talk about this without people thinking we are a little mad, and that other people are as interested in our decisions about purchases as we ourselves are!

Hail, Yellowgirl! Hail Zoe! Hail Rhubarbgirl!

Yes, we need a thread for those of us who work at home in comfort wear!

YG, I definitely struggle with the what to wear at home that's comfy problem. Yoga pants were my solution for most of last year.

Claire, you've started a firestorm here. Evidently a lot of us would rather dress for our fantasy lives!

I would love to be an Urban Warrior Princess, too, but normally I end up looking more like an Award Winning Real Estate Agent! LOL

I feel lucky because I bat for Team Dressy and I work in one of the last bastions of Business Within Spitting Distance of Formal. And I'm senior enough that I feel like I can have more fun with fashion than many of the young lawyers who work alongside me.

My only real problem is that I have a lot of fun casual wear and not enough weekend time to wear it!

This is a great thread and I doubt I will mention anything that hasn't already been said. But here I go anyway.

I think it is far too common to shop for items that bring a "feeling" or "fantasy" that you want. If I purchase a formal dress, I can pretend I go to say a red carpet event and be all glamorous and important. And I especially want to feel this way on days when I need a pick me up. Or on days when I want to feel like I have a different life, at least owning the item, it's one step closer to that fantasy.

Of course, the reality is, most people have a casual dress code. In my office jeans, sweatshirts and sneakers are the norm. And certainly I can wear these items at work and on the weekends in most settings. But I am not happy dressed that casual. So I compromise. My blazers, scarves, and boots make me feel dressed up and "important" and my jeans fit in with the casual office enviornment. When I shop I focus on purchasing better quality items of what I can wear everyday, rather than snag a formal dress on sale that I cannot really use. It's all about finding balance.

As far as seasons go, I live in a 4 season climate. And I have my favorites. Like many, I prefer the layering options and darker colors of winter months. My solution in the heat is to layer with lighter options: replace blazers with cardigans, scarves with necklaces. I keep the idea of what I enjoy and just switch up the presentation. If it was really hot, the cardigans may be crochet with lots of holes, or perhaps a vest instead.

I have this problem, except I don't do as much buying as shopping. I am not even a mommy---- I just don't have a life.

Here me out here-- there is a good reason I don't have a life. I have moved 4 times (more if we count temporary but long-term travel stays) in 4 years, lived in three different cities, changed jobs 3 times, studied at two colleges, and went through a serious break up and health issues. Those really are quite sucessful at keeping the social life and the hobbies to a minimum and the friends all a long-distance phone call away. Now I am looking at potentially another move as I am on the job hunt again-- and then perhaps that might lead to another college and another move!

Basically, this all adds up to a lot of time spent in the local and student uniform of jeans and a t. I shop for a different life then ask myself who I am kidding at the checkout stand. Then when I do have a date or get invited out or have to go to an event that doesn't involve sitting on an old friends couch underneath her 6 year old I have nothing to wear.

Occasionally I do end up with a capsule for life on some remote tropical island or coastal town in Mexico though!

clearlyclaire
Wow, thanks for putting into words the very revelations I've had since coming here - and in the order I was discovering them:
1) dressing the body we have
2) shopping for my dominant (geographical) season
3) shopping for the life I lead

I am yet to read all the responses and have 'hearted' the theme to go back to it when I have a bit more time, but am already excited about it

Good thoughts everyone!
Yellowgirl and Elisabeth, I want to address the yoga pants issue. I noticed that at the bottom of Tim Gunn's list of 10 essential items is the "sweat suit alternative".

Trust me, when I am seated for most of the day I would rather not be in my skinny jeans, even though they do have a lot of stretch. Last winter, I would change into my yoga pants (the Old Navy ones that were advertised to make your bum look fab). They were ok, but I still didn't like to run out in them unless I was in head to toe gear. When if was time to pick up the kids, I would switch back to jeans, especially if I needed to run an errand, too.

There has got to be a better looking option. Something that looks like street wear but feels like lounge pants (pajama jeans?!!) I'd rather not try the ponte knit leggings because none of my tops are tunic length. Do they have real pants, with a zipper and button that aren't skin tight?

Have you looked at Athleta's selection? There are some stretch jeggings with button, zip and pockets but not denim...

http://athleta.gap.com/browse/.....?cid=46800

Those look nice, AG, do you have any experience with the ones that look like regular jeans/pants? For that price, they'd have to feel like my jimjams to get me to bite...

I don't have any experience with their pants but I like that they come in different lengths. The quality of other items I've ordered has been great. I'd give them a whirl - the return policy is good!

I went out looking for "yoga cut" pants and did manage to find some. They are my favourite pants at the moment. Found some black ones at Macy's. Also found some grey ones and a pin stripe pair in a couple of teeny bopper stores.

Oh, have to tell you about a girl I saw in a Peet's coffee. She had an inspired look: Yoga pants, mid-heeled booties, long light-weight sweater, little cropped leather jacket and a scarf. She definitely looked cool and dressed to go outside.