style

Ah! What to wear?

This week has been packed to the gills, and I woke up this morning without a good go to interview outfit. Oops. The standards I’ve had in my closet aren’t fitting right these days (thank you, yoga) which means I find myself in an HR lobby with slightly baggy pants. Double oops. Shopping for professional clothes is not something I’ve gotten deeply into. As someone with limited disposable income, I like the items I buy to work for any and all things. Generally, this means I dress California business casual, aka New York loungey. I get comments like “you always look so comfortable.” I like that. I also like the ability to take deep breaths and move my arms around. A yogi once said “change your clothes, change my life” and last week a friend said “you could probably do yoga in every outfit you wear”. This is okay with me.

That said, this look is not going to work for this round of interviews. I’ve got to pull off something new. One that says, sure I just got out of school a year ago, but I will happily and confidently run the psychosocial part of your service. And help with program development. And be a great team member. And liaison with hospital leadership and the joint commission. Got it, no problem. Just probably not while wearing Clark’s and black denim and trendy polka dots.

Suggestions?

Every so often there is something I am attracted to (usually an article of clothing or an accessory) and I want it. Somewhat desperately. I get fixated. This in itself is not crazy. I usually have a bucket list of things I would buy immediately if I was given mass amonts of money that had to be spent on fun things only. The difference with the items I am mentioning is that while I like how they look, and think they would add a certain pizazz to my look, they also bring up a mix of feelings about their message and politics. Usually they are appropriating culture in a specific way that I could speak to generally, but wouldn’t want to get into an deep analysis about. This happens for me all over the yoga world. T-shirts galore (that are pretty) but use sanscrit and sacred symbols in a sort of poppy way. I know, this is vague. Let’s get specific.

Example #1: The Palestinian Keffiyah Scarf. As recently seen in every urban outfitters known to american kind.

I love it. I think it’s beautiful. But I can’t do it. It would be to wear way too much politic. But I still look at them longingly.

Example #2: Pendaltons Native Print Inspired everything and moccasins.

In full disclosure, I have one of these pieces. I get complimented on it every time I leave the house. Usually multiple times. It’s a beautiful piece of clothing. But it is not from my lineage or tradition or people. I don’t wear it that often cause it leaves me with a funny feeling. I just don’t feel right. Or authentic.

Example #3: My most recent fixation.

Yikes. Gangster. Is it cool for an overly educated white girl to where something that says gangster? Have we reclaimed that word to that extent? The answer for me is, no. This shirt is. Just too much. And I still weirdly like it, even though I don’t want to admit it. This is some serious attraction and aversion.