I like clothes. I like wearing clothes. I like how clothing comes in so many different styles, colours and materials. It's really nice to have such a variety.
My only complaint when it comes to getting dressed is having to wear formal clothing. Because what exactly is formal clothing? Is formal clothing a knee-length skirt and blouse? Is it a mini-dress with heels? Or perhaps dress pants with a sweater?
Some clubs and bars require women to wear formal attire. This can pose quite a problem. Let's say it's -47 with the wind chill, like it was earlier this week. So it's freezing cold and exposed skin is in danger of turning blue, but you're heading to a formal club. Heels can slip on the ice, bare legs and arms can freeze, and lots of women won't wear coats if they aren't sure there's a coat check. Would leggings and flats be OK? Or perhaps a maxi-dress would be appropriate? You don't want to get funny looks or worse, asked to leave, because you don't match up with the dress code.
There's also the issue in the workplace. Many office jobs require employees to dress "office casual." Which may/may not include jeans, or maybe just jeans on Fridays. But it probably doesn't include hoodies, but hey, some jobs might be cool with that, and weather could be a factor too. Because if you're working outside all day, how could you not be allowed to wear a hoodie to keep you warm? Anyways, dress pants and nice tops are a safe go-to. Skirts can be safe too, but one really needs to consider the length, fit and material. Something clingy and short could send the wrong message to one's co-workers, but something long and awkward might be uncomfortable or super unflattering. Also, what might be considered work appropriate at one workplace can definitely be the wrong choice at another.
Plus, changing seasons and temperatures require different styles. Are shorts OK at this workplace when it's 30 degrees outside? Can I wear flip-flops with this dress? And then there's air conditioning. I've definitely spent all day freezing to death in my office, wearing my Gryffindor snuggie and slippers, and then have ventured outdoors only to sweat.
It's often the fit that causes the most problems, in my opinion. So many articles of women's clothing are designed to be revealing, suggesting that showing skin is the style for women. Even T-shirts, which are a staple in men's wardrobes, can be skin-tight and low-cut for girls.
I can imagine that female teachers are in a tough situation. They go to school every day and are bombarded with young people in young-people styles. And teachers try to dress in a way that earns respect, and even admiration from their students. But wearing the same styles and brands as their students, or even people who have graduated, can be risky. It can cross that line between professional and "I-can-see-way-too-much-of-your-cleavage." Female students have a tough time respecting teachers who they feel dress inappropriately, while male students are often quick to make risqué-dressed teachers the butt of jokes. It's tough, and I'm definitely glad I didn't go into education (that, and I'm terrified of kids).
If any of this is news to you, I ask that the next time you see a woman who looks good in her work attire, consider what you now know. She probably had to consider a lot of these details before she got dressed in the morning.
And don't look down her top. She can tell you're doing that.
Tonaya Marr has to wear dress clothing to work now. She hates dress pants and her job requires that she spend a lot of time outside, so skirts are pretty impractical. So many difficult problems. If you have equally trying problems, you can e-mail Tonaya at tonaya.marr@gmail.com or tweet her @TonayaMarr. And ya, she changed her Twitter handle. You can ask her about that, too.
