How To Embrace Your Clothing
One unspoken rule that I followed for many years was that dresses were for dressy times, such as when I was going to work or a dressier event, and home and relaxation times were for jeans and t-shirts. I would never think of wearing a comfortable dress around the house or to the store because that broke my unspoken rule.
Since, I've retired, however, I have begun to challenge some of these unspoken clothing rules. For one thing, since I'm no longer going out to work on a daily basis, the dresses I owned were hanging in my closet unworn. I liked those dresses and missed having opportunities to wear them.
I also have begun to notice that dresses can by a very comfy choice since the looser styles don't bind around the waist like some pants do. Plus, many dresses can be styled multiple ways, with or without leggings, with casual or dressier shoes, using "fun" or more formal jewelry. The combinations truly are endless. Not to mention that dresses can also be much cooler to wear on hot days than pants or jeans.
You may think it a bit strange when I say that I am "noticing" things about dresses after owning them and wearing them for years. But, I have discovered that because we all have these unspoken "clothing rules" that each of us follows, it can be challenging to break out of our usual ways of doing things to try something new. At first, breaking our personal clothing rules can feel really strange. It can also feel awkward the first time you wear a dress out to the grocery store or to run errands. You might feel "overdressed" or like you look "odd" to others. But when you think about it, who is it hurting? If you like a particular outfit that is not getting much wear, why not put it on to run errands? You bought it, paid for it and like it, so why not wear it?
I'm not saying that we should put on evening gowns to go to the grocery store or scrub bathrooms in, but then again, would it make a difference if you did? Some of our clothes, shoes and jewelry hang, or are stored, in closets, drawers and jewelry boxes for years, never being worn because we say we don't have anyplace to wear them. I say we should "embrace" our clothes and enjoy them and wear them! Even if you change back into your jeans and t-shirts when you get back home. Even if you wear heels to the grocery store and bring along tennis shoes to change into to go to the library. Even if you wear your fancy pearl necklace with your jeans and top to go to a friend's house. The outfits you see in today's post are ones that I have been "embracing" multiple times this summer.
How about you? What clothing, jewelry or shoes do you have that need to be "embraced" by you? What personal "clothing rules" do you follow? How do you break out of your clothing routine to try something new? Hope you will take a moment to leave a comment. I love hearing from you!
Until Next Time,
Debbie
10 comments:
I love dresses! I always dress up when I leave the house, because I'm a homemaker and otherwise would never dress up. I usually wear a dress or skirt to go shopping, and I find them more comfortable than shorts in hot weather. LOVE your blue and white shift dress.
This summer I’ve really embraced wearing a few of my dresses for running my errands.
Excellent food for thought, Debbie! And you look so cute in all your outfits. I,too,believe that it is easy to get into a "grub rut," even though I also believe we feel better when we feel like we look good. That said, there are days when I dread having to put on a bra!
Thanks, Amy. That blue and white dress is one of my favorites this summer. It is so "easy" to wear!
That's great, Carol! I've done the very same thing and am enjoying wearing all of the clothes.
Hey Laura: I hear you about the bra thing! I'm not giving up my jeans and t-shirts every day, though!
Now I understand what you mean about embracing our clothes. I believe in using what I have in the closet, and I do love dresses. I like how you've styled your dresses here, and that black top with the scarf is so pretty! I wear skirts and dresses a lot in the summer, even at home. At work it's kind of a given, but even on weekends I prefer sundresses and skirts to jeans and shorts. I never thought much about the clothing rules we tend to follow, but you're right, I think most of us have them. Good idea to change that thinking. It gives us more options, it's more fun, more interesting, and we have to think in different ways. I've changed a lot of this strict, by the book kind of thinking in recent years because like you said, if you wash your floors in a prom dress, who cares!? I think I'd be laughing the entire time!!
Wow, I've never thought about self-imposed clothing rules. I know I have them, though, now that I think about it. It's something that I'm going to explore since I do have clothes hanging in my closet that I rarely wear. I enjoyed this post, and I love that blue and white dress!
You're right, Karen. Laughing while we scrub the floor in our prom dress would certainly lighten our day! I've been known to put on my wedding gown and just sit and enjoy having it on again. I think it is nice to use and enjoy what we own and what gives us happy feelings and memories.
Thanks, Sharon. I have really enjoyed wearing that blue and white dress this summer!
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