About 6 weeks ago , I started a new job (all rather suddenly and unexpectedly ) in a completely new industry , with a completely new kind of schedule and with a completely new dress code. I had been contemplating taking on part-time job in a different field for a few years, but have never really identified what that job would be. I had almost resigned myself to ending up working in retail somewhere (which is likely why I was procrastinating) and wasn't feeling particularly enthused about that option . Earlier this summer, a posting on-line from a medical fitness facility ( where I was a member several years ago) caught my attention ; I of course procrastinated some more, sending in my resume at the 11th hour. To make a long story less-so, I was interviewed and hired immediately - beating out 350 other applicants by a combination of sheer perseverance and timing . It's a bigger time commitment than I had initially wanted (30 hours a week) but the opportunity was far too good to ignore, so I accepted it. I am trying to maintain my sales business at the same time I train and learn this new job, and I'll admit it's been stressful to do so. However, that's just life, right? This looks like just the thing I can do to segue into semi-retirement and is worth the time it's taking.

What it's done for me in other facets of life has been really remarkable - to me, anyways Having an all-black "business casual" dress code (including shoes) has been the biggest breath of fresh air and release of anxiety and stress over clothes that I never expected. I don't have time to think about clothes or to shop, and when I do have a few minutes in a mall doing something else, it's easy to remind myself that I have zero need for anything new, and little interest in it anyways. I'm wearing a decent-sized capsule of black pieces I already owned supplemented with a couple of new pieces from Lululemon and from one of the clothing lines I sell in my other life. This is not a fashion show, other women there dress competently and comfortably, and extra trendy and fashiony/pretty stuff is too distracting and out of place. We move around a lot, run up and down stairs and in and out of the fitness and lab areas, and clothes need to be pared back and easy to move in. I like it . I expected to be bored and saddened by all of this black; instead I find myself less stressed about what to wear, what to buy , what works with what, and what is flattering . Shoes are all flat and comfortable, and again , I haven't had to buy a single new pair other than some black patent Birkenstocks, which was a choice and a treat to myself. I use my time and mental energy in other areas, and finally feel so much better having been released from the torment I used to put myself through with buying and trying on new clothes and always feeling crappy about my body and what didn't fit. I experiment a bit with proportion and different layering, but this is not the place to make it about the outfit. Clean, simple, minimal , comfortable, and stylish are the keywords. Easy.

I dress for my other business life and my personal /social life right out of my closet, with no desire to add anything to it at this time. Sure, my footwear is not of-the-moment, and I'm not wearing the trends of the season , but for the biggest part of my work week, IT DOESN"T MATTER! What I'm seeing in stores this summer hasn't been inspiring me anyways - and what you don't need and cannot justify spending on makes all of that stuff hanging in stores irrelevant anyways. I think a simple dress code like mine is perfect for someone like me who has stressed out and obsessed about fashion and body image her entire life. I'm taking this break from fashion and running with it for now .

Todays outfit: MPG stretch woven joggers (I wear these at least twice a week and absolutely love them) , a BR jersey tank, old Fly London ankle wrap low wedge shoes (which I would never have worn otherwise , seeing them as not particularly fashionable and not even my style ) , and a sheer knit asymmetric poncho from Pokoloko (which I get asked about every.single.time I wear it - it's one of my samples and something I NEVER would have considered wearing before and is now my favourite thing ever) No fragrance, minimal makeup and minimal jewellery; a shorter haircut with some rose gold temporary colour just for fun

Comments , jokes, thoughts etc ....you know they are always welcome!

xo
L.