the chic files

sigh
where has my chicness gone?


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lockdown clothes blues

Most days of the lockdown, I have been making a point of not descending into slobbiness. Some days, of course I have. I have slobbed. And thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt like I was doing something sneakily naughty, and getting away with it. Yes, I am pathetic, and yes, I do know that I am.

However, as a habit, and as a moi rule, I do like to be tidied up and looking and feeling good. It was just something that I saw Nanna, and my slightly older aunt, Margaret, do each day. And so in my young teenage head, I thought that this was just what one did. Decades later, I'm still doing it. It's a nice way to live. And I have found that for me, it stops me being a slob in other areas of my life.

Almost always, I do dress nicely, albeit very casually, and put on a miniscule amount of make-up. I know for sure that this makes me feel good, it makes me get into whatever work needs to be done (I mostly work from home), it makes me feel that I am accomplishing things. So yeah, I do like to scrub up.

My winter clothes, though, are a trifle sad. Threadbare tights, trousers that were so worn out that they had to go into the ragbag, not enough jumpers. All tres sigh. And of course, I am too paranoid to actually go clothes shopping during level 2 of the lockdown. I may have to "get over it" and finally do some online shopping. In the sales, naturally. I do not believe in spending a lot of money to look good. 

Chic-ness has just not been happening. I often wonder if it is actually possible to be this chic person when I'm only 157 centimetres tall. I also wonder if tiny people are supposed to look perky instead. Which I am so not doing.

My idea of chic has nothing to do with looking and dressing expensively. Nor one hundred percent tidily. It's more like a way of dressing that is unique to oneself, that allows the inner charm and quirks to be outwardly expressed. A reflective soul like moi is quite reticent about loudly expressing oneself in word, deed, or clothing. It's more of a quiet expression. 

But sometimes I do realise that I must have be doing something right here and there. For example, I've flatted with quite a few different women over the years, and have been shocked whenever one of these women would dress just like me. Same lipstick colour, same outfits. In one case, even the same hairdo and colour. Quite  freaky. 

But today, I had a call from someone wanting to catch up. Immediately. They were by my gate. And guess what? I'd been slobbing. Well, not actually. I was so busy Doing Important Stuff that I had simply forgotten to sort out moi. And this is another reason why, generally, I like to look okay, because then, it's like I'm ready for anything exciting that might suddenly happen. All systems a-go. 

I'm assuming that I'm not alone in this?







Comments

  1. Thank you for visiting my blog! I am so glad you enjoyed my post and that you want to try the recipe! I usually post a "recipe of the week" if I can. Also I'm so glad you liked my wedding dress. I designed and made it myself. I have very eclectic ethnic tastes and tend to mix and match (I'm no purist!) and it was mostly Russian-based initially, but I added a nod to Thai dancers with the wired pieces on the shoulders. The midriff was smocked all round with 3 different shades of pure silk floss. The bridesmaids' dresses were somewhat Russian/Eastern European - I wanted them to look as if they had just come in from the fields after gathering flowers in their baskets.

    Like you I have tried not to sink into slobbiness during the lockdown! There is a style known as "lockdown chic" which mostly refers to people's uncut hair because the hairdressers are all closed, and I quite like this label! It rather suits my style anyway! I haven't worn makeup since the lockdown began so I suppose I have become a bit slobby. Most of my winter clothes are geared towards warmth rather than fashion but I do love colourful Kaffe Fasset-style knitwear which I wear a lot. I love my summer clothes which tend to be ethnic.

    Thanks again for visiting.
    Shoshi

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  2. Thanks for commenting, Shoshi. I tell you, my eye was caught by your wedding dress, I love it, and the bridesmaids' ones too. I love ethnic clothes too however it's rather hard to find them these days in New Zealand (sigh)

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  3. Hi there! Somehow I seemed to have lost my link to your blog so am happy to find it again.
    I used to often have days when I would get 'caught out' wearing slobby clothes. When we moved into caravan living I decided that with campground living I simply HAD to wear better clothes, and that habit has stayed with me. I seldom wear makeup, so tidy hair and nice clothes (I dress in a good-casual style), and I am ready to face the world.
    Enjoy your day :)

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  4. Margaret, so nice to hear from you again. I understand a little bit about caravan living and tidying oneself up, as a few years ago I was living in a very secluded wee cottage, I could go for days without seeing anyone, and I felt that I could get so sloppy, that I simply decided to tidy myself up a bit.

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  5. I have to admit that I never aspired to chic-ness, much to the dismay of various family members! :)

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  6. I think "slobby" starts in the mind, to be honest I have a fairly casual/relaxed style anyway - Im a tee shirts and comfort type of person, but "slobby" been there and to me it is associated with times that I dont care to revisit when self-care took a back burner and things were a bit grim. I may not look much to others but it is the little rituals of self care and centre-ing in on representing ones self that I find really matter to me, so it may be a pair of earrings (hard to see in my troublesome hair but I dont care)... it may be a little eye makeup (I like colouring myself in - I have pale skin, pale eyes and pale hair..) but at all times I like clean and in good repair.Also if I am wearing jewellery or knitting I have created for myself then that act of creating something deserves respect. No reeking of conditioner or washed every time I wear something but - clean and good repair matters (I am currently a huge fan of visible mending), but things are cared for and put away neatly etc, that way I feel someone cares about me - even if that person IS me :) The one treat I do have a weakness for and makes me feel unslobby is perfume - the small scale indie perfumeries out there making really lovely and subtle fragrances from natural ingredients is incredible and yes, it is only me who can smell it - but even as I type I am sitting straighter and feeling more on top of it as I think of some of these little treasures.

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    1. Yes I do feel that slobby belongs in the mind too, Juliet. I really love the way that you expressed all of this.

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  7. I can't do slobby! I've read a few blogs where the writer reveals that they haven't bothered getting dressed for weeks, staying in pyjamas or leggings and a sloppy tee shirt and it horrifies me.
    I wear mascara, lipstick and eyeliner every day and - unless it's a bikini day - always wear something decent, I don't feel ready to face the day otherwise.
    xxxx

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  8. It horrifies me too, Vix. And it is so nice to feel good because you look good. The lockdown, though, really caught me unawares regarding winter clothes.

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  9. I have been taking advantge of Iso to be so underdressed! My "good" otufits are jeans and a tee which feel a lot more dressed up than my pjyamas and loungewear I've been wearing most of the time! Like you I foudn an unexpected visit had me realising I should try wear something a bit more impressive each day, but I have been pretty relaxed about it all.

    I'm seeing this as a time to rest and recharge and also, to be honest sometimes after getting the kids up and dressed and fed and lunchbox packed I have no time left to get out of pyjamas myself before I start working from home, haha! My mum, who is a big believer in getting dressed each day, would be shocked by how little I actually get out of loungewear now! But it's a small blip in time and I know I'll get back to dressing up every day soon - the school run is a good motivator to get out of my comfy clothes, ha!

    Hope you are having a nice week :)

    Away From Blue

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    1. Thanks, Mica. Working from home with children - I'm so impressed!!!! Thanks for dropping by. xx

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  10. I feel better when I look nice, too. Same goes for my house and garden. My mom was so disciplined with all that stuff. I think it's worth the effort.

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    1. So do I, Stephenie - I love the look of your cottage and garden xxx

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