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Perhaps a sign of maturing is that one would rather be dressed in comfort instead of in fashion-but are the two in opposition? I got away from dressing to impress after becoming a stay at home mom, but it seems that fashion focus can come and go throughout life.

When I first started working, business suits were required. I lived most of my waking hours in “dressy” blouses tucked in, pantyhose, heels-and suit jackets when with clients. It wasn’t fun or comfortable, but I accepted it as a way of appearing older and getting respect from co-workers and bosses much older than myself. After 8 years, I transferred to a department that was more lax, and found that my existing wardrobe was too formal. Even dressing down to a skirt or dressy pants wasn’t necessary, but by that time, “clothes made the woman” and I sacrificed comfort. On “dress-down” days, I did not feel right, although I was more comfortable. That’s the funny thing about clothes; when we can get used to dressing a certain way, other styles make us feel differently. (It corresponds to the times as children when we were told that it had to wear our specific clothes for specific circumstances. It’s hard to deny that doing so added to the unique flavor of the experience.)

I was at my most comfortable, while trying to be fashionable, while pregnant. Wearing loose dresses and flats made the other physical symptoms tolerable. Today, there are even better styles of maternity wear from which to choose, and fashion really has made quite a statement from the frilly frocks of decades ago.
After the decision to resign, I moaned to a colleague that I would become a household drudge, and she assured me I would not. However, there were times I’d gaze at my sweatpants and t-shirt and wonder what happened. How can a stay at home mom have the time, energy or inclination to care about the latest styles, when it’s hard enough to keep ahead of the laundry? Eventually, I found my niche in a wardrobe of comfy, co-coordinated “sets”, making sure that I fought the urge to wear mismatched cast-offs belonging to my husband. “Fashion” can mean different things at different times of our lives, and often reflects the lifestyles of those around us. I did not see women in the grocery store wearing designer duds.

Returning to work as a dance teacher was pretty easy, especially since it required a standard “outfit” that, to me, is the most comfortable thing on earth. All I needed was a pair of pants over a leotard and tights, and I was ready to go. It dawned on me that the emphasis on dancewear in the fashion world was heavily based on its comfort. With the introduction of stretchy leotards that never bind (or even move, for that matter) and flat ballerina shoes, dancer’s working attire was also viewed as fashionably attractive. It was also good to see that leg warmers had become a popular accessory, as well as shrugs and bun covers.

Concurrent with this time was my assisting in a preschool, where I had to forget wearing anything that wasn’t washable. I had juice, paint, glue, and marker spilled or dropped onto me. I had to get down onto the floor for various reasons, and we often ran at recess. It was definitely a jeans, sweatshirt and tennis-shoe kind of job. Were any of the teachers “fashionable”? I’d have to say fashion displayed itself in jewelry and purses, validating that fashion can go beyond actual tops, bottoms and footwear.

By this point, I’ve gotten quite used to casual attire, and admire men and women who are confident enough to dress for comfort. I continue to search for fashionable clothes that provide that comfort and ease of wear. They are out there, even if they may not be quite as form fitting or stunning as what’s in magazines. I sometimes think that if everyone were more comfortable, there may be less disgruntlement and fewer disagreements in the long run. I know I’m in a much better mood when my clothes aren’t annoying me!