Returning to work; from comfort to client facing
“Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress on their days off that is the most intriguing.” — Alexander Wang
I’ve always liked this quote, but never more than now, when most of us are housebound. We may not exactly be having days off but we are not dressing for anyone else other than ourselves and those we live with.
So it’s worth pausing for a moment to consider if and how you’re dressing differently in lockdown… This is particularly pertinent to women, as we tend to administer more appearance altering processes to ourselves than men do before we exit the house.
There are anecdotes of women having cast aside their ‘best’ clothes, their heels, their makeup and their bras while in lockdown. And many of us have experienced longer hair in more natural colours than we’ve had for a while!
This begs the question; what items and processes will you take with you when you re-enter the world and what will you leave behind? The more reflective or analytical among us will have already questioned why they’ve traditionally implemented particular things to alter their appearance that they’re happy (or even relieved) to cease during lockdown.
Personally, I’ve worn very little makeup in the past 10 weeks. With the exception of being interviewed for a podcast, when I applied my version of full makeup (ie not much!), I’ve mostly worn only lipstick (I love the colour and feel!) and occasional eyeliner. But I’ve spent most of my days bare faced and I have to say, it’s been refreshing.
Because the weather is cool I’ve reached for either long, soft tube skirts or warm leggings with long jumpers and sweater dresses. To me they represent comfort and nurturing with a visual emphasis on legs. None of that surprises me as these are silhouettes I’ve always been drawn to and comfortable in. Being an intuitive dresser; a person who dresses according to what feels right at the time rather than according to plan or based on a formula, I trust and go with my instincts.
I’ll easily be able to translate these looks beyond lockdown. I know what I like, what suits my body and what I feel good in. I’ll continue to wear these looks with tailored jackets, chunky boots, hats and gloves; another recent addition to my regular wardrobe. I’ll be giving these classics a slight vintage spin with a nod to Polly from Peaky Blinders!
But what about you?? If you’ve been hanging around in a pyjama or tracksuit equivalent during lockdown and loving it, where are you going to take your look when you step back out into the world? It’s possible to strike a compromise between slouchy, couchy clothes and stiff workplace ones but in order to do that you need to identify why you love what you’re wearing now.
What are the elements you’re attracted to? How can you incorporate them into your future wardrobe? Is it colour, texture, a certain silhouette or a different attitude you’ve been embracing?
Whatever it is, I can help you choose clothes for the outside world that continue that theme. Or if you’re looking to simplify your grooming routine but still look like you’re ready for face to face meetings with clients and colleagues, I can help with that too.
There are two approaches you can consider:
Style Direction This is my most in-depth consultation. It occurs over several stages and I consider your physical attributes as well as your values, goals and lifestyle.
Quick! Outfit Fix This is a quick turnaround, online service focusing on individual outfits
How people dress on their days off is intriguing because it is only then that we dress completely for ourselves. And what we reach for on those days speaks volumes about us on the inside.
Comfortable corporate