All Dressed Up and Somewhere to Go

In ancient times (i.e. when I was in high school), the wardrobe you chose for your appearance at school was carefully planned out, coordinated with what your friends were going to wear and generally included a skirt and knee socks.  My dad forbade me to wear jeans into the hallowed halls, which was okay by me; none of my classmates wore them either.  No belly-baring, thong clad, pierced part of my body would have ever made it to see the light of day – my parents would have hung me up by my toe nails, grounded me for years and given me the lecture on modesty, true fashion sense and the fact that leaving a little to the imagination goes a long way.

With the “bible”, John T. Molloy’s “Dress for Success”, tightly in hand, my foray into the business world allowed me my own justification to indulge in custom-made suits, silk blouses and sensible high-heeled shoes.  Very few women wore slacks and casual wear was relegated to the weekends.  We all knew that to be taken seriously, we had to dress professionally.  The psychology of what we wore empowered us to greatness and we bought in hook, line and sinker that to be a capable and competent candidate for promotion, being well educated was only the foundation.  The rest of your “package” was worth its weight in good taste.

I remember the time when flying on an airplane was a big event, big enough to warrant pantyhose and tailored suits – no “at home leisure wear” to be seen on board.  My mom and dad always gussied up and insisted that my brother and I wore our Sunday best.  I could swear, in retrospect, that dressing up and playing the part made the whole experience that much more special.

The fact is you are how you dress.  A state of consciousness overcomes you when you know you are ‘lookin’ good and stylin’.  You stand taller, speak with more confidence and have more strut in your walk.  People tend to take you more seriously, friends and strangers admire you for your fashion savvy, and you get better, faster service at restaurants and stores.  And, most importantly, you will not look at your photos in twenty years and laugh uncontrollably due to the “fashion” faux pas you were making at the time.

It is time to pull off the price tags and get out the clothes we have been saving for that particular occasion. I am not talking the formal attire, just the items that seem to be “too good” to wear as everyday wear.  As a dear clothing comrade pointed out, what are we waiting for?  Aren’t we special enough to wear the nice things every day?  Don’t we deserve the benefits of service that comes with donning the unsullied apparel already stuffed in our closets?  Set free those sweaters, shirts, pants and shoes that have never seen the light of day!  Don’t be one of those people who put off till a rainy day… what if that day doesn’t come?

Save your “comfy” (alias, “my friends” – the stretchy black coordinates) stuff for home and hearth, and keep your “fat” garb close at hand, but unite with the small contingent (so far, there are only two of us) that want to put thought into what we wear, to head out into the world well accessorized, color coordinated, pressed and primped and ready to go – yet not “too-too” (trendy) to look like the fashion magazines.  Repeat to yourself “I want to rid myself of ripped, torn, or utterly disgusting items of unknown vintage” and then go through the motions of purging.  I promise, you can and will be just as happy and comfortable in other items… it’s your choice… make the fashionable one.

Cynthia A. McClelland, curious observer of the obvious with interpretations of the oddities of daily life.  Mother, wife and lover of the furry, resides in the north Lake Tahoe area.

Cynthia A. McClelland © 2003-