I’m not in college anymore

I am a mess when it comes to my appearance at work. If you saw what I wear to the office, compared to what my co-workers wear, you’d probably be appalled. I wear skate shoes to the office. I wear zip-up hoodies. I wear khakis. And sometimes, I even wear yoga pants. Every day is casual Friday in my world. I never wear make-up, and I rarely ever do my hair. My co-workers, on the other hand, wear cute, fashionable clothes. They always look fresh and polished; they look like they belong there. I, on the other hand, look like a disheveled college student.

During the hockey season, if I had to work at the arena after my day job, I would get up extra early, take a shower, put on make-up, flat iron my hair, and dress in the few ‘office appropriate’ pieces I own. I took the bus to preserve my fresh appearance for the day, and dammit I looked good! But even those days were few and far between, because most games were on the weekends.

It’s mostly due to a convenience factor. I get up at 6:50am, and am on the road by 7:25am. I don’t put on make-up or do my hair because it’ll just get ruined in my helmet during my 35 minute scooter commute. I don’t wear nice clothes because it’s a lot of effort to take an extra change of clothing/shoes to change into once I get to work. Plus, I don’t have a lot of “nice” clothes anyway. And besides, I just sit in my office and stare at my computer screen all day long. Who’s going to care what I look like anyway?

ME! I care! Just because I look like a college slob doesn’t mean I like it! I want to shout from the top of the roof! “I CAN LOOK CUTE AND PROFESSIONAL IF I WANTED TO!!!” But I’m stuck. It would take a lot of effort (and some money) to look more professional. I console myself every time I look at myself in the washroom mirrors at work, that I’m saving money by continuing to wear clothes I should have given to my kid sister years ago. But I need to change. Something has to give. All in all, I have one pair of nice work pants, a work skirt, a cardigan I stole from my cousin, and a couple of tops. That’s it. Sprucing up my appearance is something I need to do in order to be taken seriously in the business world – especially in the industry I’m in … I can’t just feel confident, I need to look the part as well. I’m beginning to realize that appearance is important in this world of first impressions.

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with that TV show, What Not To Wear. Stacey and Clinton always look so fabulous. I wish someone would nominate me for that show. I wouldn’t even care about going in the 360 degree room, or being torn apart on national TV. If it meant a completely new wardrobe, it’d be worth it.

So I’m resolving to put more effort into my look. I’m going to look high and low to find classic pieces for my wardrobe. They have to be 100% perfect, or I won’t buy them. And maybe I don’t have to go as far as wearing a power suit to work (not that I own one), but would it kill me to spend 20 minutes in the morning at least attempting to look presentable?

2 Responses to “I’m not in college anymore”

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1. Give Me Back My Five Bucks » I’m an awful shopper says:

   Friday, March 5, 2010 - 08:48pm at 8:20 pm

   [...] of 8 hours, and I haven’t bought one article of clothing. NOT ONE! Since I’ve made it a goal to purchase new pieces for my work wardrobe, I can’t find anything I like. Maybe it’s hard to break out of my frugal/saving ways, [...]

   Reply
2. Give Me Back My Five Bucks » Need to update my summer work clothing says:

   Saturday, March 6, 2010 - 06:58pm at 6:39 pm

   [...] past few days that I don’t have a lot of work appropriate summer wear. Over the past few years I’ve been slowly trying to collect classic pieces that will last. I have pants, 3 sweaters and 3 button-down shirts. I own 1 skirt that is work appropriate (and is [...]

   Reply

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