Yes, this is a Professionelle frivolous fashion piece so be
warned! I've been meaning to write about this
very-close-to-my-heart topic for a while now and really just needed
a good excuse. After reading Sarah's marvellous piece on the F word
and The R word I decided this was the perfect opportunity.
I think
it is great that we cover the lofty issues of how to get the
employees and the employers cooperating properly to ensure enough
flexibility to make it work for us working mothers and, indeed, for
all others who want a more balanced life. But let's not forget that
the whole flexible work arrangement adds an extra dimension to the
already perplexing question we are faced with every morning - 'what
should I wear today?'!!!
Yes, I am perfectly happy to admit that I have a really vain
streak in me. I am sure, though, that I am not alone in my
perpetual dilemma of what to wear when I regularly have days that
consist of...
- working from home on my computer for a couple of hours in the
morning
- followed by seeing a coaching client
- followed by picking my kids up from school and doing the whole
afternoon kids thing
- followed by a networking function in the evening!
Do I get changed before each of these events? If I decide to do
that, I end up spending half my days changing and it is a waste of
time, not to mention ever so slightly weird. But if I dress up
first thing in the morning and keep with it all day, then I feel
ridiculous sitting by myself dressed to the nines working on my
computer not to mention that it isn't that comfortable when you run
around with the kids.
As you can see, this is something that occupies my thinking
space on quite a regular basis and does present an interesting
dilemma. But fear not, I do have some suggestions and practical
ideas that I have been using regularly. I have also discussed them
with fellow flexi-workers who are quite snazzy dressers
themselves.
I hope you'll find this article helpful. I know that the whole
'what to wear' thing is a big issue for many of us. And as always,
we'd love to hear your thoughts, ideas and practical suggestions
for the rest of us.
Layering
I am a HUGE fan of layering. Well, first there's the Auckland
weather, I don't think there is another city in the world where the
phrase 'four seasons in one day' so aptly describes what we get
served up! In Auckland - and most of New Zealand for that matter (I
have been just about everywhere around this wonderful country of
ours, Stewart Island included) - learning how to layer is a must to
survive the sometimes violent weather changes.
Layering works a treat for flexi-dressing. I have numerous pairs
of leggings in my wardrobe, and no matter how many I have, I never
seem to have too many. Leggings have, first and foremost, the
important quality that they are really comfortable. I can work from
home with my leggings on and a nice plain top and be comfortable.
This is exactly what I have on now as I write this piece. Then, as
I leave for my various appointments, I can add the appropriate
pieces for the 'work outfit'.
The main piece that turns the outfit into 'work' is usually a
pinafore of sorts. I have a substantial number of pinafores in my
wardrobe for that exact reason, many of them grey (but that's
another story). I find it so easy to put on a pinafore on top of
the basic leggings with a nice shirt, and hey presto! with a bit of
make up and the right shoes or boots, you are dressed for public
consumption.
As my day progresses I end up adding or subtracting pieces to
suit the occasion. For picking up kids, I can change the heels to
ballet flats. Forgoing to a networking event, I can add a classic
jacket. And of course there are the accessories - more on that
below.
I hardly ever wear suits now (you can read about that in Red
Boots but no Suits), but I do have a selection of jackets
because there's nothing like adding a jacket to lift a whole
outfit. In fact, after much agonising and on the advice of some
lovely girlfriends, I just purchased another jacket yesterday for
that exact reason!
And if you're not a leggings kind of person you ask, what then?
I think the same principle still applies. Add a waistcoat on top of
the basic shirt, then a jacket, and of course we mustn't forget the
cardigans. No longer are cardigans the domain of nanas! I have
observed that some of the most stylish fashonistas I know wear them
regularly. I think that in this weather you'd be mad to miss out on
this functional item of clothing which can also be an extremely
stylish part of the layering theme. I do love having all in one
dresses as well.
I realise that for some, the idea of mixing many pieces together
may seem daunting. But the thing is that once you give it a go and
start layering little by little, you'll never look back. Get a
girlfriend or a gay friend (or a straight friend with a great
fashion sense for that matter), to help you out. Choose someone
whose fashion sense you like and who is also going to be honest
with you. Spread your favourite pieces on the bed and get them to
suggest what they think will go well together for you. You can even
invest in a stylist to help you out. The key is that once you learn
you'll never go back.
I should know as many years ago, after I had my first child and
started grappling with this issue, the only way I knew was to have
two completely different wardrobes: the 'work wardrobe' and the
'play wardrobe' and the two did not mix. Luckily, I met this
fabulous woman who taught me a huge amount about mixing and
matching and layering for flexidressing and introduced me to my
next big tip - learning to accessorise…
Accessories
Don't yawn, please. I used to yawn when I saw yet another
article about how important accessories are to make an outfit. I
thought to myself that if you were wearing interesting clothes
anyway that should surely be enough in itself for being
fashionable.
How wrong I was, which my friend gently and firmly pointed out
to me. The accessories do make the outfit. And they are
particularly important for successfully mastering
flexi-dressing.
Shoes
To me, my must-have accessories include my shoes (obviously),
handbag, belts and some jewellery. As I learned to accessorise, I
have since 'ventured' out and invested in headpieces like scarves,
but I do think that if you master those four most basic of
accessories, you've got it sussed!
Shoes do make an outfit! One of my very basic flexi-dressing
tricks is changing my ballet flats to my high heeled boots before I
go into a meeting or a more formal work occasion. The whole outfit
can remain un-changed but just changing to the more 'formal' boots
transforms the outfit into one that's right for work. And everyone
notices shoes, it always astounds me how that true that is and how
important it is to get the shoes right.
Handbags
Handbags are something that I never really appreciated until I
had my kids and they literally became bigger than Ben-Hur as more
and more items became necessary for even the simplest outing. As I
started working again, I invested in two completely stocked
handbags. One was for 'work' which had my makeup kit, professional
looking sun-glasses and a brush. The other one was for being with
the kids: it held all the kiddy paraphernalia, including wet-wipes,
disinfectant and a small but perfectly formed first aid kit as well
as some very basic personal items for me (plain lipstick included).
All I ever needed to switch over was my wallet. It worked really
well. Just by the act of changing handbags I also changed my
headspace, and it helped the 'good' handbag last longer too as
little sticky hands didn't have much to do with it…
Belts
And belts, I LOVE them. They add a certain je ne sais
quoi to any outfit, not to mention how they beautifully
accentuate the waist - or actually re-invent it when you don't have
one any more! I really used to think that belts were something that
you used to keep your trousers up and could never understand why
people spent so much money on them. Now I certainly do. But the
beauty of investing in belts is threefold: you can't have too many,
they don't age so much, and even those of us who are a bit
squeamish about wearing second hand clothes can stomach the idea of
second hand belts.
Jewellery
Finally there's the jewellery. Not the expensive diamond type,
but the pieces that you can buy quite cheaply and can be used so
successfully to add the final touch on the outfit. I had one
necklace I bought years ago in a Trade Aid shop that only cost $35;
it went with just about anything and ALWAYS got comments. It was
black and grey and has recently finally broken after many years of
loyal service. Luckily a good friend bought me a couple of
gorgeously interesting necklaces recently so I have something new
to play with. I do have some more expensive pieces that I cherish,
and they too have their place in the more formal dressing side of
life.
The key point is that jewellery doesn't have to be expensive to
be interesting, and you can also do a good deed by purchasing a
statement piece from a Trade Aid shop near you. Highly
recommended!
One final thought, I do try to not overdo accessorising, as less
is certainly more when it comes to all accessories. It allows me to
keep things interesting for myself in my own head and hopefully
everyone else. It also makes for some interesting 'rediscoveries'
in my own drawers and wardrobe.
So, if you haven't yet, try it, first the layering, then the
accessorising. I promise, you'll never look back!
Copyright Professionelle Ltd 2009