JAMES PERSE leggings
SPLENDID layers long sleeve shirt
ZADY wool sweater | 100% sourced & made in the US
RAG & BONE Aston booties
CASLON (Nordstrom) jacket | mine is an older style
JAS M.B. Bag
Everlane laptop sleeve
MADEWELL scarf | sort of similar
WARBY PARKER Webb frames
After I made the decision, resolution, goal, whatever, to set aside time to write non-“work” related stuff every day, it hit me quickly how unrealistic that was…
- I wrote a lot of content most days last week, and by the time I am “finished” for the day, I don’t want to write anymore
- I LIKE to write about “work”-related stuff
So I decided instead, that I would make time on the weekends to write, because I don’t “work” on the weekends. I also wanted to do my “extra-curricular” writing somewhere else, besides home, for a change of scenery.
I sought out coffee shops that looked interesting and decided to go to a local (very large) independent bookstore in Dallas to sit and work for a while. And wore basically what I was wearing at home, just switching out my UGG boots and adding a jacket.
It turns out, it wasn’t as interesting as I thought it was going to be, and the atmosphere left a lot to be desired, but I was incredibly productive. I sat for an hour with some peppermint tea and wrote a lot. About clothes. See…I just can’t NOT write about clothes & personal style. It’s impossible. I tried, but everything I think and want to write about comes back to personal style, perceptions, why we buy/wear what we wear, etc., etc.,
And I’m not going to fight it. That’s what I love, and that’s what I want to write about, so I will.
While I was sitting there and getting ready to leave, I thought for a second since it’s so close to the mall I like to go to, I could pop in to Nordstrom (I desperately need new underwear). But then I realized what I was wearing. And that it’s not something I would choose to wear “shopping;” definitely not something I would wear to NorthPark mall.
Which led my thinking back around to why we (I) wear what we wear, and how occasion, circumstance, weather, and people affect our sartorial choices. I’m a practical dresser, always. I want to be able to walk and be comfortable in whatever I’m wearing. But, I also want to look somewhat stylish & modern, “dressed” appropriately, and I use occasions, like going shopping, as reasons to wear something I wouldn’t normally wear to just run errands.
It’s normal for people to have somewhat segmented wardrobes, depending on the stage of life they’re in. If you go to an office, you probably wear something different to work than what you wear at home, or on the weekend. If you’re a new mom, you’ll wear something different than you’d wear as your children get older.
I don’t have that segmentation, so I create it. What I wear to sit and write at the bookstore is different than what I wear to go shopping (or at least walk around) at an upscale mall. Not that I absolutely wouldn’t have gone to the mall if I really wanted to anyway. But it was an interesting “aha” moment…
I realize all of this may sound silly to a lot of people, but I have a feeling many of you understand. Do you ever have a moment of spontaneity and realize you’re not quite dressed for it?
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My husband tells this story about when he was eight or nine years old, and had just gone to church with his family, so he was dressed in a little suit and nice shoes (he looooooved “dressing up” when he was little — and still does — so putty on fancy clothes for church was a real treat for him). But after church, his parents took him to a friend’s farm where they were going to go horseback riding. He’d brought “riding clothes” but forgot to bring the right shoes. So he had to wear his church shoes. He says that the whole time they were out riding, he couldn’t enjoy it because he had on the wrong shoes! He just kept thinking that if he had on his riding shoes, the whole experience would be better!
So I like what you’re saying :-). I think there are people for whom style *really* does intrinsically matter, and that’s a beautiful, aesthetic thing, and the world is more lovely because of people like you! xo Julia
Sure, I can relate. If I’m going shopping, I wear stuff that I can whip on and off quickly while trying on clothing. Sometimes I’ll get a bit dressed up and go to the mall to window shop and have lunch – I just love the mall!!
Monica.
I can’t say that I’d avoid the mall if I made a last minute decision to go and wasn’t dressed “right,” but I definitely try to step up my game when I know I’m going to be shopping somewhere like Nordstrom or Bloomies. Part of it is just for me to feel good, but I also know that (right or wrong) you are sometimes treated differently by sales associates if you’re wearing nicer clothes/shoes/bag.
I don’t disagree with your idea in principle, I’m just having a hard time understanding this particular event. I understand wanting to look nice when shopping at upscale stores, but you look great!
yes, you’re right fiona – there’s nothing wrong with it…it’s just not what i would normally wear to go to the mall; it’s more my “lounging” – sitting – wandering around outside in a casual environment outfit.
i guess i didn’t feel entirely comfortable wearing it for being around a lot of people generally – if my jacket was longer, or if i was wearing jeans, i wouldn’t have hesitated. it’s my “issue” with leggings really. my ass wsa definitely covered, but not enough. if that makes sense 😉
i love that story!!! i can totally relate. but. i would like to be a little less “uptight” about having the exact right pair of shoes or outfit or whatever, so i can feel more comfortable being spontaneous, you know? and this is what i obsess about before i travel too – will i have the right things for whatever might happen??
yes! i have so few occasions to dress up, it’s nice to make them up every once in a while….
no, i wouldn’t have avoided it if i really needed to go, but i didn’t, and it was late, and i was ready to go home anyway…;)
i’ve definitely found that i get treated different depending on the bag i’m carrying. when i had my yellow balenciaga, i got a LOT of attention…which really frustrated me. then again, though, most of the time, i find sales associates to be very friendly and welcoming. here, anyway. in austin, some were quite snobby…
Oh man, I must really look like a shlub at the mall, I think your look was lovely Grechen, accessorized too.
no!!! i don’t mean to judge or say that what i’m wearing isn’t appropriate for the mall, it’s just not what I would have planned to wear. mostly because i’m wearing leggings without a very long cardigan over them 😉
Personally, I think you look cute. I usually dress chicly, but simple for shopping, but if I wanted to go on the spur of the moment while I was out and about, I wouldn’t let my clothes stop me. I call it “The Pretty Woman Test”: If the SA’s treat me kindly when I’m not dressed up, it’s a place I’ll return to….if not, they lose out on my cash!
I wasn’t feeling judged at all kind lady, just being a wise arse.
I love this post. More trenchant observations, Grechen, and such a cute story about not being able to stop writing about what you love. More goodies for your readers that way!
There’s no reason you can’t branch out with your writing and still write about what you love. Maybe work on a book about fashion. I could see you expanding your thoughts on minimalism and your journey to buy thoughtfully into a book.
ha 🙂 good. i thought so, but you can never be too careful here on the internets…