Thursday, July 23, 2015

Workish

Another of my attempts to look workish:
Shirt shell: CAN CAN (thrifted)
Belt: evenement (thrifted in Japan)
Jeans: Mother jeans (retail)
Boots: ALDO (thrifted)
Favourite Joe has to work on holding the camera at me level.
The lower half of these jeans have traditional Japanese patterns on them! There are cherry blossoms, waves, pine, and fields. I don't know why this is, but I thought it was about the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Acquired on super sale at a little stand in Southern CA.

Thought I'd let them shine with a plain grey shirt and black boots, but the cut of the top is too distinct, I think. I wear all statement pieces and no basics. :D
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The more I look at photos of what I wear to work, the more I realize I fall outside the norm even when I'm dressing conservatively. It's not a bad thing, but the stakes have changed.

In school, I had no respect for the administration and the unofficial uniform of the campus was cheap black leggings-as-pants, a shapeless underwear-grey sweatshirt, and camel UGG boots. Gawd it was awful, watching crowds of girls shuffle by in that. Dressing up helped prepare me for daily stress and frustration and I told myself that I was lending a little color to the scenery.

Now I work for a company I respect, with people I like. There's no official dress code, and people are laid back, but I would like to dress tastefully and perhaps look like someone who knows what she is doing.

In short, I'm aiming for 'original style' and not 'colorblind bohemian street urchin' because I now give a shit. That means less wild experimentation Monday-Friday.

In work doings, I have opened a tea salon in my work cube so I can give away all of the tea I don't drink:
That's my coworker's action figure of Rodin's The Thinker holding a jelly bean. The robot is holding an origami box with more jelly beans.
...just in case I dressed so well I was in danger of looking like a serious person who deserves a career.

9 comments:

  1. I love those jeans! No chance they're still available at retail, is there?

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    1. Oops, commenting again so I get notifications...

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    2. Ooh, you get notifications now? I leave for several months and it's a whole new ballgame.

      Alas, the jeans are not available retail anywhere I can find. I have been searching around for them and the best I can tell, it's Mother Jeans (the brand) The Looker crop (the cut) floral. I haven't found a special name for the print. (http://www.lyst.com/clothing/mother-denim-the-cropped-looker-jean-floral/)

      This may also help: It comes in ridiculously small sizes, but the fabric is very stretchy. I normally wear a 27, and somehow I fit into the 23, which was the only size left.

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    3. Also, if I can help Internet shop for a similar color or floral print, let me know. Web surfing at night is my thing, yo.

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  2. I love the shirt shell in particular and the entire ensemble. Well done!

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  3. I think you look amazing. I think both pieces are statements, but I've kind of come to this realization - why is it a problem to wear statement pieces we love? Why not pair statement with statement? I love printed pants. I love unique tops. I love pairing print with print and color with color!

    I think you always look amazing and definitely have a personal style.

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  4. Your "workish" outfit is a hit. The cut of that shirt is so pretty on you and those pants are amazing! Liking the tea salon as well - every work place needs a little whimsy and good tea, right?

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  5. What a great look! Suits you perfectly.

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  6. Nothing wrong with multiple statements! I don't have many "basics" in my wardrobe either... I love the details on the jeans, and the tunic has something of the medieval warrior princess about it (which is A Good Thing, in case you were wondering).
    Interesting issue about workwear that stays true to your personal style aesthetic yet also says Professional At Work. I'm lucky, I can wear whatever I like at work but I think I would struggle in an environment where I felt I had to tone it down a little... xx

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