I'm essential personnel for the university, and our office is closed to the public, but open for staff, as we have to manage phones and email accounts for the slew of inquiries about our university's fall planning.

While I work remotely 2-3 days a week, I do come into the office the other days. I like dressing as I would pre-pandemic for the office, but given other life circumstances (mainly a baby who DOES NOT SLEEP) I've been taking advantage of minimized exposure to others to streamline things! I woke up late (thanks, baby who does not sleep!) so I pulled my hair back for the first time, put on minimal makeup, threw on my favorite plaid pants and a tee (and a mask!), and speed-walked to work in my athletic sneakers. I keep the flats and a pair of heeled booties at the office, so it was one less thing to think about today.

While I'd love to get back to my usual amount of sleep, my usual morning routine, and a haircut, I've realized.... this is enough. This is okay. (I was able to make coffee so things are looking up!) Here I am! At the very least, I'm in a state where I can do my job, which impacts a lot of people. I'm glad to be here, and I didn't succumb to wearing ill-fitting jeans or staying in my athletic sneakers (a win!).

Fashion-wise: this is my first time semi-tucking (eeep!). I think it works - how does it look to your eye? It's just... new to me, after years of following advice for pear body types to "minimize the hips." I like it more and more. I have great hips - I can showcase them instead of minimizing them! Plaid is fun on my curves! I'm practicing walking confidently!

I'd love to get some other tees or knitwear that will work for summer, because I'm still pumping milk for baby, and I've steered away from my classic and slimmer button ups. I never thought I'd wear a tee with slacks, but it suits my purposes now.

I'd love to dress this up a bit more in the future - jewelry, a cardigan? I feel it needs another layer of interest to feel "done" to my taste, due to the casual tee.

Thanks for any thoughts, and solidarity with others that are showing up to work in midst of everything else going on!