The business trip in July. It's in a much fancier city than where I'm at, with much fancier people than I usually work with. I'm afraid I'm going to need to step my game up a bit.
It sounds as though you are doubting yourself & are afraid of what other people will think. I totally get it. But you can't let a fear of other people's opinions stop you!
I hear you on that, and I'm trying to evaluate honestly. I really am thinking though, that it's not just doubting myself. I'm
certain that most of what I have is too worn to be professional. Some of that is just a function of heavy use, but some of that as a result of weight gain that's keeping me out of some of my older clothes. It's not a lot of weight gain, but I don't think it's going to be gone by July, and just a little bit too snug is not a professional look.
This trip will let me do networking on a national level that I think is going to be instrumental in leading toward the sort of consulting I want to do in a few years when I "retire." I don't know. I'm not sure I'm going to be talked down here. I am going to go back through my wardrobe again to be sure, but I'm not a big clothes buyer, and there's not anything in there that's been "lost."
Be strong! Are there ways around the problem without resorting to breaking the challenge? It seems as though it started off as just pants, but quickly went down a vortex that had you talking about buying entire new wardrobes .... its a slippery slope, isn't it?
I really hear you on this. There do seem to be more things that I need than I had anticipated. The shoe purchase is a given, becauseI've worn these loafers nearly every day for the last year, and they're just about worn out. It just happens. The sandals are just a want, not a need. And I'll probably skip them again this year. I just get tired of my feet being hot. But, my feet have been hot for the last two summers, and it hasn't killed me. If I could wear cheap sandals without significant pain, I probably would've broken down and bought some both years. But I need hard-core arch supports (hence the loafers), so the sandals aren't cheap. Usually, I can't find any used ones, either.
i wonder if there is a way to look professional/seasonally appropriate & be comfortable without buying anything new. It will be July, and hot. Wool slacks are out. What about a dress or skirt? This is what I usually wear to work - can be dressed up or down and can also be worn with bare legs or leggings depending on the weather.
I don't wear skirts to work generally, so I don't already have any. I do have a dress that has gone to work sometimes, but it's winter weight. Come to think of it, though, one suit has a skirt, too tight at my last check, but I've been making progress on the extra weight, so I'll check it again.
Can you borrow any items from a friend for the business trip?
Here's a thought. One of my colleagues dresses well enough, but she's about a size one, and I'm a twelve trying to get back into my tens... I can't think of anyone else who has the clothes (other than two male colleagues).
I would also suggest trying the technique OldToyota mentioned above, of laying out your clothes and trying to come up with 'new' outfits. Sometimes we just have to make what we already have feel FRESH again :)
I'm definitely going to try this. Really, though, I'm not going for fresh; I'm not really worried about that. However, I do need to achieve "respectable" and I'm just not sure that my wardrobe is there. Hitting the closet sounds like a lot more fun than the assessments I'm supposed to be writing today, so I think I'll take an hour and do that before I get going for the day. I'll report back!