I don’t know what to wear. Regularly. I don’t look forward to clothing shopping and do it infrequently. I am tall and definitely not willowy so the fit of clothing is challenging. I want to be comfortable and able to defend myself in a public place, so most women’s clothing is unappealing. And yet, I would like to regularly blend in with my surroundings, to have “just the right thing” to wear for any type of event I might have to attend.
I also work in a “business formal” environment, which feels about as natural to me as putting on full ski gear to go sit on the beach. The “uniform” for men is so simple- well-fitted suits, multiple button down white shirts, some variety of tie, black shoes, brown shoes. I probably wouldn’t notice if they wore the same suit two days in a row as long as they switched the tie and didn’t smell funny. I want it to be that easy. Now I feel like I’m whining. I could write about the example my parents set, clothing wise, but I’ll summarize- kindergarten teacher and never wore a suit.
Mostly I just wish I had a magical shopper, who could come in like the uncle in Louisa May Alcott’s Eight Cousins, insisting on (and providing) clothing that allows for a woman’s natural shape and ability to move freely, without causing permanent harm to the female frame by ridiculous shoes and other trendy items. In the meantime, I wear flats or wedges and attempt to match the dress code, feeling irritable at my options and the amount of time it takes to find them. Did I mention that men have stores that provide nothing but suits? There is no woman’s equivalent. There may be the freedom of variety and plethora of women’s clothing stores and brands but I don’t want that freedom in my work clothes. I want it to be simple and require no decision making or clothing I have to fidget with, like Steve Jobs black turtleneck and jeans.
— slowjamr
I also work in a “business formal” environment, which feels about as natural to me as putting on full ski gear to go sit on the beach. The “uniform” for men is so simple- well-fitted suits, multiple button down white shirts, some variety of tie, black shoes, brown shoes. I probably wouldn’t notice if they wore the same suit two days in a row as long as they switched the tie and didn’t smell funny. I want it to be that easy. Now I feel like I’m whining. I could write about the example my parents set, clothing wise, but I’ll summarize- kindergarten teacher and never wore a suit.
Mostly I just wish I had a magical shopper, who could come in like the uncle in Louisa May Alcott’s Eight Cousins, insisting on (and providing) clothing that allows for a woman’s natural shape and ability to move freely, without causing permanent harm to the female frame by ridiculous shoes and other trendy items. In the meantime, I wear flats or wedges and attempt to match the dress code, feeling irritable at my options and the amount of time it takes to find them. Did I mention that men have stores that provide nothing but suits? There is no woman’s equivalent. There may be the freedom of variety and plethora of women’s clothing stores and brands but I don’t want that freedom in my work clothes. I want it to be simple and require no decision making or clothing I have to fidget with, like Steve Jobs black turtleneck and jeans.
— slowjamr
Perhaps if you just adopted Steve Jobs' aesthetic and offered no apologies, people would say, "WOW" and accept and even emulate...?
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