How to Get Dressed Like a Grown Up and Still Feel Good

Every day we have to get dressed for a reason, do you still feel good?

We all know that many people use clothing as a mode of expression, and that a lot of people get dressed out of modesty or in response to a weather report.

I love to get dressed, it’s like my daily challenge, that is more often than not rewarding just because of the looks and responses I get. But more than that, it helps me prepare for whatever may come my way during the day, while I’m away from my safe place at home– it’s almost like a form of meditation.

When I performed with a marching band, summer after summer, I felt like I had to put a bow in my hair underneath my uniform hat to feel unique in that sea of matching. Later, I would begin to take pride in my hair-doing, so it would perfectly fit under that aussie, and that was my quiet, alone time to get mentally ready for a performance. This pre-show ritual soon turned into make up application. Not only was I a ‘boy” character in the show, but I would end up on a jumbo tron with eyeliner-THANK GOD. It was my time to get set, to get prepared in all ways.

Now, I’m a grown up (Phuh), I have events to go to once in a while, and I use my costuming skills to make myself look amazing (Which I way prefer to dressing thirty dancers in a week-woof.) But on the daily, I have an internal battle about what to wear and why. I feel like each piece should have a reason or purpose, whether it is comfort, highlights my god given (and gym achieved) features, or because it’s raining. And because I love dressing myself, I want to make it my life. It is my life, it gives me confidence for my day.

**note: I secretly make fun of myself whenever I go to a job where I have to wear something I definitely didn’t pick out, or do something out of the ordinary. I’ve always considered “dressing the part” as a serious part of getting dressed in the morning. If I’m painting, I wear my messy pants. If I’m doing ballet, I’m wearing all black to feel slim and sophisticated, and I’m sucked in in all places to further feel like a ballerina.**

who are you?

 

I dress the part, every day, but what does a “Becca” dress like?

(A year or so ago, I wrote a blog about why I dress the way I do, which you can find here. )

Here is what happened today, in my head, maybe outloud:

Weather: 76 degrees and overcast.

What on earth do I want to wear to be comfortable on this day that can’t decide?

Objective: get dressed even though I have nowhere to be…. Maybe enjoy the work I’ve been doing at the gym by putting an innovative, and dare I say, sexy outfit for the rest of the day.

Okay. Legs, you look good, let’s see what the closet has for you!

I start with the basics. Underwear and a bra. Phew. Those are comfy, and not a step down from the yoga pants I finally peeled off.

Okay. It’s kind of windy. Tights! It’s totally acceptable at the end of October. Plus none of my pants fit. Wait. Do I own pants that aren’t leggings?

Okay. Tights. And a loose top. I’m going for that skinny legs baggy sweater kind of look.  wait, boobs. Never mind. This used to be the “feel skinny with boobs and bloat top” and now it’s more like…. “Grandmas pj top she got from a pirate.”

Okay, baggy top and a skirt? Sure.

Sit down at the computer to get to work. Not inspired, this outfit is literally the ugliest ever, why do I own things that don’t look good?

Okay. Changing time. Tights are good. Maybe….. A high low top.. Still baggy to conceal the over eating of root-veggie chips…

(My trainer told me I could have some carbs again and I went CRAY!!! Not really, but a whole bag is a bit much, eh?)

Back to the baggy high-low top… Covers my butt, but what about the front?! Yoga shorts that look like real shorts! Victory!!!

This is cute but now I’m wearing three shades of gray—I need color. oh— that rainbow and white vest-yes!!

And something to make me less boxy? Oh yeah, that mala I made, that was such a pain, but I knew it’d be gorgeous.  I fought for you mala! You will do just fine to draw the line between tent boobs and pulled-together.

Okay. Feeling confident yet??

New objective: ACHIEVED
Put something together that makes me feel 100% me, confident, funky, nothing you’d expect, and cute!

How Do you get dressed in the morning? Please leave me some comment-love :):)

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