listersgirl | (no subject)

I have decided that it's time for me to step up my game in terms of the way I dress at work. Comfort is one thing, but I feel frumpy a lot of the time here, and that doesn't help when I need to put ideas forward or work with management. So goodbye cargo pants, hello...??

I think this is what I need.

Shoes: I'm starting with the painful one (literally), but I need to find at least one pair of sandals that don't cut my feet up, but that are classier than my birks. And that don't make me feel like I'm someone's 60-year-old mother. So, sandals, a pair of black flats, and no more Sketchers (sadly). And then once we hit winter, more dressy boots, but I have a few months to prepare myself for that.

Tops: I'm fine for shirts, really. Except that now that I've said that, I need some tank-top type things that aren't spaghetti strapped and cleavage-y. Sleeveless but slightly dressy. And I have this one awesome blazer that dresses everything up, so more things like that - fitted light blazers, fitted cardigans, that sort of stuff.

Bottoms: I think I'm okay for skirts, although I'm not sure the summer ones fit anymore, but that's another issue. Pants, though, are always an issue. Dress pants are so HARD, and I feel stupid in capris (although I wear them, because shorts are evil, but skirts aren't always the most useful thing in the sweaty summer). But I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and try things on, see if I can find something.

Not that I'm planning on running out and buying everything at once! Because a) money, and b) ugh shopping. But it will happen.

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If your issue with skirts in summer is the same as mine (i.e., thighs rubbing), there's a great product sold here (I don't know about Canada) that's a "Soothing Relief Chafing Relief Powder-Gel". I know, it sounds weird, but I found it last summer and I have the thighs from hell and it actually works. Which is good, because I much prefer to wear skirts to work in the summer.

(And I'm wearing my Skecher Mary Janes today!)

I use Lush's "Silky Underwear" powder to help the chafing. It works!

A friend of mine uses the Band-Aid blister stuff — it rolls on (like deodorant), and she says it works better than other stuff she's tried.

Good to know! Because yes, hi, chafing.

For blazers, thrift shops are the way to go- if you find a shop in an area w/ lots of more professional people (ie, somewhere more suburban than college/trendy), you can get really good quality blazers cheaply.

That may also be the case w/ pants- aside from the price, there's just the thing where everything in a thrift shop has come off an actual female body before, which really isn't the case for department stores. Since my dressy pants are generally less fitted and more forgiving fabrics, this is actually much more or help w/ jeans- I can't remember when I last found jeans that actually fit in a regular store at a price I was even willing to consider.

Can't really reccomend second-hand shoes though-- I have over the years found a couple obviously unworn pairs, but second hand sandals would be really offputting...

Secondhand shoes are just way too shaped like other people's feet. So uncomfortable!

you read my mind! I have this talk with myself on a semi regular basis, too.

Comfyshoes - Clarks, or naturalizers. Comfy, mostly stylish (specially the clarks) and not too spendy (in the $100 range). I love my Clarks. :)

I'm just SERIOUSLY picky with shoes - both in how they fit and how they look. I might have to relax a little. :)

Noooooo, stay picky with shoes! It is not worth getting shoes that don't fit you just right, because they'll just give you blisters. (Me and my crazy flat feet are speaking from experience here. Hi. Ow.)

Oh god - I'm going through a similar stage. I'm still trying to figure out exactly how I want to dress at the new job.

I go back and forth - some days I feel the need to be dressy - but then when I see others in polos and jeans, I wonder why I bother.

That's part of the problem here - people dress all over the place, from shorts and t-shirts, to suits and ties. I just need to find my happy place.

Oh, I feel your pain. I'm trying to build up my wardrobe slowly -- I'm buying 1-2 things a month, which is all I have the time or patience for. But somehow I still end up wearing the same three things on days I teach. Aargh.

And I hate both shorts and capris, so in the summer I'm stuck with skirts. I might try some of those slim-fitting knee-length shorts, though, because they seem more flattering than either capris or shorter shorts.

They always look so good on other people, and so bad on me. Although I read somewhere recently that pants should always be worn with longer shirts, and I think that might actually make a difference.

Good luck with finding things!

However you dress, it's hard to feel you've got it right, when there's no overall code. There's a huge variety here, and whatever I do, it seems like I'll end up feeling out of place with someone at some point!

Wow, like so many others, I'm completely on the same wavelength as you. Must. Dress. Better. Ideally, maybe even like a girl. I've grown scared of my legs for some reason.

I second the Clarks suggestion-you have to choose carefully, though. Or Mephisto have some nice styles but they might be crazy expensive there, I don't know.

Why can't we all just go barefoot? Shoe shopping is lame.

Wearing shoes that hurt is lame. Literally.

I second the motion of Clarks. I love them. Also, I have discovered Ecco. About the same price range as Clarks, and also so nice for toes. And cute!

I wore my sandals and shoes for 4-hour long sightseeing in Spain and nary a blister in sight.

I also find that Key West makes cute shoes. Winners often has these brands for so, so cheap.

Good luck!

For shoes, have you tried Aerosoles? They're making cute comfy stuff these days.

I have a pair of these birks (http://catalog.birkenstockcentral.com/cgi-bin/VirtualCatalog3/CatalogMgr.pl?cartID=b-3688&SearchField=category&SearchFor=morgan&template=Htx/template-a.htx) that everyone at work loves. They are comfy and dressier than traditional birks.

Those are totally cute. How can they be cute and comfy. Isn't there a law?

I hate shopping. Occasionally I'll get lucky and find a whole bunch of things on sale that I like, but usually I just wander around disliking everything. I went into one of the major department stores here and asked if they had any work trousers that didn't have a low rise, and they said no. Not a single pair in the entire store. (This was over a year ago, but I've still never found a pair there.)

Ugh, shopping. Part of my problem is that I tend to only look at specific stuff (brightly coloured cocktail dressses! cord skirts!)- it's like I'm blind to the rest of the store, which, sadly, includes normal stuff like black trousers.

For professional stuff that's OK on the budget and pants that are stylish, but fit curves, I've had some good luck with Rickis. I also bought amazing pants at Jacob, but went back and none of the new line fit, so...

And secondhand is always a good way to go - and I second looking in the ritzier areas of town. It is a hassle though, isn't it?

I love Jacob stuff, but it totally doesn't fit me anymore. Sad!

I'm terrible with secondhand shopping, but I'll have to try again.

I used to do a lot of second hand shopping, but I find it doesn't work when I'm looking for a specific thing (like black dress pants). It's better for just browsing for whatever catches your eye.

I had successful shopping today at Cotton Ginny. I actually bought jeans and there were no tears involved. $45 and organic cotton and they are so, so comfy. Love them. I also bought a casual a-line skirt with a little flounce detail that I really like. It was $50, so kind of a lot for a casual skirt, but I really liked it. They had a ton of pants that looks nice - not too fussy and not too casual. All about $40 and most of them in organic cotton. I notice their t-shirts are longer this year too. Much nicer.

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More professional Birks

Re: More professional Birks

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shopping