I remember when I moved to New York and had to get my first suit. However, what resulted wasn’t actually a suit, per se (I was eating a diet of canned corn and rice and sleeping on a pile of my own clothing at the time, if that gives you any idea of my living situation). I’d never really spent more than $40 on any piece of clothing in my life and swathed myself in all the ratty sweaters, torn jeans and worn-in boots that came in abundance from Iowa’s healthy crop of thrift stores. This suit thing was a big deal: I was convinced that all of my lofty aspirations for life in New York would come from acquiring some super-shouldered power suit. (And it had to be new. I thought that my closet full of used, “quirky” clothes just wouldn’t cut the cheese.) In the end I acquired cheap separates from H&M and looked like a poor woman’s parody of 9 to 5, weeping into my innumerable gin and tonics after endless days answering phones as a nameless temp in Midtown.
However, I soon exited my stint on New York’s version of The Office for greener, more creative, pastures. In fact, all of the jobs I loved resulted from being my (slightly ratty) self. Wearing oversize tiger sweaters and a turban was a deal maker, not a deal breaker! Having the option to wear whatever I’d like to work is a privilege of which I never tire. In fact, I should take advantage of it more often. Palazzo pants and a tube top? Why the hell not!
One thing I can say: now that I don’t have to wear pencil skirts and heels…I’m kind of all about it. (Dressing like Nancy Drew is just more fun when you’re not working in a sea of Old Navy-casual separates.) Even more so, the thought of being an arch, bemused 1930s diva in a slightly androgynous suit makes me shiver in anticipation. Garbo? Dietrich? My hands are sweating!
Givenchy’s pre-fall 2010 collection is just the kind of formal stiffness I crave (love the boxiness of the jackets and the knee-highs). Now all I need is a formal event. You get your top hat and I’ll fetch my accent and walking stick. Let’s hit the Waldorf Astoria for cocktails.
1930s diva…my hands are sweating now, too! fantastic. this will never go out of style *and if for some godforsaken reason it did, what a crying shame!!! *excellent post
I got my current job through a headhunter, and the night before the interview she was giving me this little pep talk and said to me, “You don’t need to dress too corporate, but a pantsuit never hurts. Just jazz it up with a fun necklace!” And I nearly died at the word “pantsuit.” No, I did not wear a pantsuit, as it was a frigging trend forecasting company, but to this day my boyfriend and I will still turn to each other randomly and say, “pantsuit!” and burst out laughing.
Oh lord, pantsuits! (Baaarf.) That’s a word that needs to be reinvented. Anything that needs to be “jazzed up” is probably too corporate in the first place. Hooo boy. “Corporate” is pretty much the most dirty word I can think of.
I was completely obsessed with this collection. I thought it was stunning – celine also had such a classic vibe to it.
Hope you are doing well!!
Oh lord, pantsuits! (Baaarf.) That’s a word that needs to be reinvented. Anything that needs to be “jazzed up” is probably too corporate in the first place. Hooo boy. “Corporate” is pretty much the most dirty word I can think of.
Agreed! When you don’t have to wear it, it seems so sophisticated and appealing. Your moving to NYC experience sounds a bit like mine — eating dinner on top of a carboard box on the floor? Check! Buying all of my toiletries at the dollar store? Check! Glad those days are past…
I totally had box furniture for the longest time. I literally moved to the city with two suitcases of clothes and nothing else. It was a total minimalist commune in my apartment! (The sleeping on clothes thing is not a joke.) I also ate a TON of Rice a Roni off of dollar store plastic plates. Oh, the salad days!
reminiscing tube tops now. faded memory of walking down the street in my small hometown, age 13, wearing striped tube top with boobs the size of grapes feeling oh so sexy. if you wear the palazzo pant/tube top combo to work one of these days i require a picture. please.
One day, just for kicks (at art school no less) I decided to wear a straight-up suit– jacket, pants, white collared shirt, tie. It actually all felt very snazzy and dapper, probably cause I wasn’t actually going to work in a corporate environment. Women’s “pantsuits” are actually kind of a travesty, but dressing man-style is occasionally quite entertaining.
[...] specials!), and the best cocktails you’ll ever down. I’ve yet to purchase a pantsuit or require that my neck be shaved, but if I ever feel the need, I know that I’ll hit up all [...]