Fashion Update

CCL asked about clothes!  Good question, given my anxiety about it!

So the day after my last exam, I went through my closet and pulled all of my “worky-works,” as Andy Bernard would say, and did an assessment of my work clothing situation.  And I realized that by adding just a handful of pieces, I would actually have a pretty darn workable professional wardrobe.  I needed a pair of shoes that would go with most of my wardrobe, so  I bought an absolutely unreal pair of nude, slightly sparkly python pumps from Ann Taylor.  (I feel compelled to tell you I did not pay full price.  Does anybody, at Ann Taylor?)  The python bit is pretty subtle, so they work really well as a neutral shoe. They are pretty darn high, but comfortable enough.  Aside from those, I have a pair of black heels, and then a pair of serviceable peep toe camel flats and some black patent pointy toed flats.  I’d like at least one more pair of work shoes, but for now these four pairs are working out for me.  My Target dresses are fine – perfect.  I also bought an Ann Taylor suit on clearance – an off white skirt and jacket in a sort of nubbly (admittedly probably winter) fabric.  So I now have four suits, and two of them even fit me!  (Seriously, though, I need to join the Y here.  I cannot zip the pants from two of the suits.  This is unacceptable.)

I have plenty of dresses, cardigans, and conservative jewelry – I’d like a few more shells to go under my suits.  I think it’s better to have sleeves, both so you can take off your jacket without worrying about bra straps peeping out, and also so your suit jacket doesn’t need cleaning as often.  So that’s something I’m lacking.  I wear a suit twice or three times a week because of going to court or a deposition or something (they’re pretty great about including us in as much of that as possible).  I already need to dry clean two of them.  Cha-ching.

For now, getting dressed up every day is a novelty.  I’m sure eventually I will be over it.  I’m also glad I forced myself to dry my hair and apply some sort of makeup every day of the last term.  It got me into the habit, and I think it’s important.  It’s important to me, anyway.  Like putting on my armor.  A lot of my assignments are kinda complicated.  A dash of lipstick and a swish of perfectly dried hair gives me an illusion of competence.  And maybe other people will glom onto that illusion as well.  Can’t hurt!

Our third and final summer associate starts on Thursday.  I hope she’s nice.