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There has been a lot of banter/bitching/whatever online recently over how other people dress* . Today's day at work has led me to post a rare observational post on LJ about how and why I dress as I do.
Over the summer, my work attire has gradually become a little scruffy - swimming and walking after work mean that I've been dressing in a more "practical" manner and of course all the swimming has taken its toll on my hair colour too.
Yesterday was a bit of a crunch moment for me. i was having a bit of a meh day and I looked like shite, every time I saw myself in the mirror I got more down about how I looked - unprofessional, frumpy, old, scruffy etc, a real mid-life crisis moment! As a consequence, my mood got more and more grumpy until the slightest little thing wound me up and I hated everybody in the entire world!
So the sunny start to this morning inspired me to scrub up a little. Nothing too major, just one of my 50's dresses, making some attempt to style my hair and actually changing out of my trainers once I got to work!
The difference was quite noteable - I looked better, therefore felt better, therefore had a more confident outlook in general. It was interesting (and flattering!) to note just how many compliments I got too, from just that slight change. I wasn't doing this for compliments but that little boost, to have a positive conversation instead of the usual mutual whinge about how crap everything was, really made the day that little bit better. I still had a load of frustrated and irate emails to write but at least I felt better about doing so!
For me, "dressing up" is not putting on a costume/disguise or pretending to be something I'm not. It is me, a little outward expression of my inward creativity. I would feel more fake if i attempted to dress how the majority do, in jeans and t-shirt, because that is just not me and therefore not how i feel comfortable. My work attire has always felt a bit of a compromise. It might be easier if there was a strict dress code but instead i have to try to work out what makes me fit in with colleagues under that horrid guise of smart-casual, just so that I think I can be taken seriously - as today has proven, that is not neccessarily true!
I'm not saying its the same for everyone but I do feel there is some truth in that old saying of "the clothes make the (wo)man" Not just in how others judge you but how you feel about yourself. For me, casual is fine for lolling around at home but even then i start to feel a little, well, grubby if i have too many casual home days. Not saying that I'd dress to the nines every day, because that would make special occasions less special for a start but I have been brought up to dress for the occasion and think my daily work life might be that little bit better if I just spend a few more minutes in the morning to smarten up as i used to, instead of just dragging out the first thing I put my hand on in the wardrobe!
(I'm sure its not going to last and I will be back to my bad habits any day now but maybe I should consider why when I next feel grumpy and negative for no apparent reason)
*little disclaimer*
Whilst I'm aware there is sadly also the the type of people who like to bitch about those who don't dress up, the side I've been more painfully aware of is the attitude of smugness from those who choose not to. As if they are morally superior and more secure in themselves because they're not trying to hard. To stress, i couldn't give a rats arse about how somebody dresses, as long as they are clean and stench free and happy in how they are; however I would appreciate the same respect to be paid back to my choice of attire.
Over the summer, my work attire has gradually become a little scruffy - swimming and walking after work mean that I've been dressing in a more "practical" manner and of course all the swimming has taken its toll on my hair colour too.
Yesterday was a bit of a crunch moment for me. i was having a bit of a meh day and I looked like shite, every time I saw myself in the mirror I got more down about how I looked - unprofessional, frumpy, old, scruffy etc, a real mid-life crisis moment! As a consequence, my mood got more and more grumpy until the slightest little thing wound me up and I hated everybody in the entire world!
So the sunny start to this morning inspired me to scrub up a little. Nothing too major, just one of my 50's dresses, making some attempt to style my hair and actually changing out of my trainers once I got to work!
The difference was quite noteable - I looked better, therefore felt better, therefore had a more confident outlook in general. It was interesting (and flattering!) to note just how many compliments I got too, from just that slight change. I wasn't doing this for compliments but that little boost, to have a positive conversation instead of the usual mutual whinge about how crap everything was, really made the day that little bit better. I still had a load of frustrated and irate emails to write but at least I felt better about doing so!
For me, "dressing up" is not putting on a costume/disguise or pretending to be something I'm not. It is me, a little outward expression of my inward creativity. I would feel more fake if i attempted to dress how the majority do, in jeans and t-shirt, because that is just not me and therefore not how i feel comfortable. My work attire has always felt a bit of a compromise. It might be easier if there was a strict dress code but instead i have to try to work out what makes me fit in with colleagues under that horrid guise of smart-casual, just so that I think I can be taken seriously - as today has proven, that is not neccessarily true!
I'm not saying its the same for everyone but I do feel there is some truth in that old saying of "the clothes make the (wo)man" Not just in how others judge you but how you feel about yourself. For me, casual is fine for lolling around at home but even then i start to feel a little, well, grubby if i have too many casual home days. Not saying that I'd dress to the nines every day, because that would make special occasions less special for a start but I have been brought up to dress for the occasion and think my daily work life might be that little bit better if I just spend a few more minutes in the morning to smarten up as i used to, instead of just dragging out the first thing I put my hand on in the wardrobe!
(I'm sure its not going to last and I will be back to my bad habits any day now but maybe I should consider why when I next feel grumpy and negative for no apparent reason)
*little disclaimer*
Whilst I'm aware there is sadly also the the type of people who like to bitch about those who don't dress up, the side I've been more painfully aware of is the attitude of smugness from those who choose not to. As if they are morally superior and more secure in themselves because they're not trying to hard. To stress, i couldn't give a rats arse about how somebody dresses, as long as they are clean and stench free and happy in how they are; however I would appreciate the same respect to be paid back to my choice of attire.