I’m pretty much a natural slob. By that, I mean I’ll spill stuff on myself. I’ll forget to close drawers completely. I’ll leave closet doors opened. I’ll be the one with that tuft of hair sticking out like Alfalfa. I’ll be the one who is all dressed up and the bra strap just insists on sticking out. I’ll get a heel stuck in my hem, ripping it and having to tape the falling hem until I can get to a tailor. I’ll have that random piece of spinach from the salad that I just ate sticking in between my two front teeth.
But—in spite of it all, I like things to be uniform and organized in my home.
For what it’s also worth, I like my wardrobe to be uniform—in more ways than one.
Come on in—I’ll explain:
I suppose I could blame my parents for this. Or I could actually blame the nuns who adhered to our strict dress code while in school. But I won’t. I’m an adult with choices. I chose to stick to what I grew up wearing—UNIFORMS!
A blazer. A bright, crisply ironed, white shirt. A skirt. Shoes—either loafers or oxfords.
St. Patrick School. Long Island. We wore dark green blazers with an “SPS” emblem. (I didn’t have a dark green marker. Sorry!). We wore the standard white blouse with a Peter Pan collar. We girls also had a plaid beret that was absolutely adorable–but sometimes it was hard to keep on your head–depending how big your hair would get!
Our skirt was pleated. It was deep green and deep red–actually more of a burgundy with yellow threading making the plaid actually pretty nice! Yes. it WAS burgundy. Red is the color of the devil! The nuns did not allow us to wear red!
Accessories? No pierced earrings. Actually NO earrings. The only jewelry permissible was a thin gold chain with a crucifix or a Miraculous Medal of Mary.
THIS was fine jewelry!
No polished nails. No makeup. Hair ribbons but only to tie our hair back with.
Only white or green sock or tights were compliant with the dress code. One day a classmate showed up wearing red tights. RED, Satan’s, and my favorite color! The principal, Sr. Mary Isabel showed up, and booted her ass home to change into more appropriate tights or socks. From that day, I was petrified of going to the beach during the warmer weather. What if I got sunburned legs? Those red legs would set Sister Mary Isabel on a tangent that I wanted no part of!
“No sister, it isn’t the devil’s work. It’s the sun’s work. I’m burnt!” “But you’ll be thrilled to know that I am suffering for my vanity!”
My office attire was always a take on the uniformed look worn in school.
A blazer.
Behind my two fitted denim jackets hangs a collection of J. Crew Schoolboy blazers. And YES. I even have red!
A bright white shirt—could be a blouse or a white t-shirt. And naturally, a collection of J. Crew Tippi Sweaters!
Ya think I have enough white shirts? I also have about 15 white fitted tees!
My wild side shows up in the form of bright J. Crew Tippi Sweaters….
..and some that have yet to be worn!
A skirt—usually solid to match the blazer, or still—plaid. Pants—skinny, usually ankle length.
Shoes. As I’ve gotten older, I like my dress shoes slightly slutty. Pointy toed, a low vamp allowing for toe cleavage. I’m too prudish for boob-cleavage. I am also quite fond of a thin high heel.
My kinda dress and work shoes. Check out the toe cleavage…
I still love and have my Bass Weejuns. In addition, my love for the Repetto ballet flats knows no boundaries!
For the seasons in which I cannot frolic about barefoot, my casual shoe preferences are Weejuns and Repetto Ballet flats. When it gets REALLY cold–knee high boots!
While I’ve strayed from this zone of comfort, I still manage to return to “The Uniform Basics”
One of my favorite skirts. I got it from J. Crew on sale. I can pair it with a red Tippi Sweater and my red slutty shoes! Notice the faux pearls! It’s a nice simple look. Or..
I can take that same skirt and this time pair it with a black Tippi sweater and J. Crew black Dulci kitten heels for a more demure look. Notice the different faux pearls…or…
Yup! Same skirt and shoes. This time with a J. Crew Schoolboy blazer in black, a white fitted T from Old Navy AND a strand of tiny faux pearls. Notice a habit here with the various pearls. I like everything uniform!
Same black blazer, same shoes, same T shirt and same faux pearls. This time with a black pencil skirt. It looks kind of severe but the skirt is shorter. The shorter length actually looks a bit better than a longer skirt. Sometimes longer skirts can look a bit frumpy!
My “backup” navy J. Crew Schoolboy blazer. I haven’t even taken the paper off the buttons yet. I love my navy blazer so much that I ordered a backup when I saw it for fifty percent off!…I wear it all the time..
The navy blazer looks great with these black watch plaid ankle pants from J. Crew. The navy lacey shoes are Ivanka Trump…
I also have the same plaid in a pencil skirt–again, J. Crew.
Navy pencil skirt with a bright green Tippi sweater and yet, another different pair of faux pearls can also be worn as a make shift suit with the navy blazer..
I love navy and bright yellow! J. Crew Factory pencil skirt, the navy shoes and a navy Tippi sweater with faux pearl are another part of my uniform look!
This is my “Holiday/Christmas” uniform! A red (Santa red, not Satan red) flouncy skirt (Yeah–J. Crew. I got it for 29.00 on sale, beautifully heavy wool!), black Tippi Sweater and the black heels. I cannot believe I can still fit my fat gut into this. I must be dropping a bit of weight!!
LOL! Obligatory “fashion blogger” cute pose! I HAD to do that! Sorry!
I’ve got a ton of clothing hanging in my closet and folded neatly into drawers and shelves; I thought I would wear these items but I don’t. Alright– I’ve worn a few— maybe once or twice but never felt fully comfortable in them. Yet, I have this strange need to hold onto them!
A few years back I was on a Lilly Pulitzer tunic kick. I think I may have worn these tunics a total of twice each. I’m not kidding! They make me look pregnant! Why on earth would I continue to wear these tunics? WTF would I even think of holding on to them?
Is it because I grew up wearing Lilly? Is it because I think of my life in Lilly as one big pink and lime green cocktail party? I’m going to purge the tunics.
Those brightly colored tunics are now purged and thrown into a bag to be on the way to Goodwill!
I have a few sweaters that are somewhat short. They “cut” my body in half, making me look a bit stocky. I like my sweaters longer—especially since I have a pretty long torso. Time to purge the cropped and shorter length sweaters.
Listen. I may be “older” and a “woman of a certain age”, but truth be told. I like my skirts and dresses more toward the shorter side than the longer side. If the dress or skirt rides up too much when I sit down (Ladies, you know what I’m talking about) and my origin of the world is on display, then it’s time to purge!
Too-short sweaters, Lilly Pulitzer tunics AND dresses, and shorts like the Milly for Banana Republic. Nice stuff but I don’t wear it regularly. The dresses are just too short when I sit down–they ride all the way up my thighs. It’s not a pretty sight! Someone else can purchase it at the Goodwill. I feel so much better now that I did a purge!
I don’t want to be “On Trend”.
I don’t want anything I wear to “Pop”! God knows I’ve had buttons and snaps popping against my will for years.
I simply want to blend. I want to be comfortable. I just want to be in my uniform.
My uniform can be changed up with different scarfs, jewelry, shoes, boots and bags.
I can change up my uniform look with a scarf–I’ve got a shitload of ’em!
I’m set. It’s all good.
Go. Go get your uniforms ready people. Whether your uniform is similar to mine—or whether it isn’t! Wear your uniform and wear it well and with confidence.
You’re gaw-juhs!!! Keep being that way and don’t let anyone dictate to you what you should wear!
Well, since I rambled a bit about clothes–here’s David Bowie! “Fashion” Enjoy! XOXOXOXO!
I love your ‘uniform’….I LOVE skirts but I never got the hang of heels so Iwear them with boots. Looks funky but it’s my uniform and it’s a little sassy you know? But seriously CLOTHES ENVY. Your look is FAB!!!
Hi Anita! I’m glad you like my uniform! I LOVE your “skirts-with-boots” uniform too! It’s funky and cool and man, if that is your uniform you strut your stuff in those boots. BTW, I love over the knee boots with short skirts! It’s very sixties! Thank you! XOXOXOXO!
The heels are…just love!! <3
you look really pretty in that uniform 😀
i must say you have a really good choice for clothes.
Thanks Zara! I love my heels. They make the legs look longer too! Oh. And thinner–who doesn’t love THAT????? My sisters and brothers and I can really all thank my mother for giving us decent taste in our clothing. She was very “proper” when it came to clothing! XOXOXOXO!
I thought everyone spilled food on themselves, half closed drawers, left closet doors open, tripped in their hem and left spinach in their teeth! I swear you described me to a “T”! Your uniforms are lovely!
LuTress. I do believe we are most definitely kindred spirits on this subject!!! I’m so happy that you liked the uniforms!! XOXOXOXO
Haha, I love the strictness of your school uniform, poor thing worrying about sunburnt legs! Did you have to have matching underwear too? My mum did – got suspended once during a sports lesson for opting to wear something a little more feminine instead of regulation bottle green ‘hang-glider’ big knickers! Loving your mustard yellow skirt btw, navy and yellow, great combo 🙂
Hi Haylee. Trust me, I’ve HAD those sunburned legs and had to cover up with tights–its awful wearing tights over those burning legs! LOL. If we were jumping rope in the schoolyard, we had to wear shorts under our uniforms so that the boys couldn’t catch a glimpse of our forbidden fruit which happened to be hidden by wearing cotton granny pants! XOXOXOXO!
Oh how I love this post! I love it because it gave me an insight into those “posh” uniform-schools. You describe a world that is so far from my own schooldays – and of my sons current schooldays. I think the only dresscode we had, and my son has is – don’t show up naked…
It also got me on another level. You see, I’m Norwegian. Scandinavian. We are generally dead casual. Jeans and sneakers to work? No problem! And heels? I’ll wobble, fall down, scrape my knee, no problem!
I like your style. Its not too flashy – but flashy enough. I am taking notes. I will buy me some bright coloured sweathers and start wearing skirts. I’s a start, isn’t it? In time I might even learn to walk in heels. For right now I am not ready to retire my sneakers or biker-boots.
Thanks for this post, it gave me quite a few helpful tips. And it also made me giggle. (Toe cleavage!)
Good Morning Olive! I’m happy you like the post and got a giggle. (Hey, I’m happy that I have cleavage, even if it IS on my feet!). As far as a work wardrobe goes, here, in the States, many companies have a very casual and relaxed dress code. I’ve worked in finance and healthcare and the corporations I’ve worked in were more conservative in their dress expectations–that’s why I stick to a simple uniform. Heels aren’t that difficult to walk in once you get the hang of it. But-I could and would never, ever walk outside in heels in icy or snowy weather!!! I would break my legs..and arms..and hands…and nose…….XOXOXOXOX!!!
You have wonderful taste! You put much more effort into your outfits than I do, I’ve definitely gotten rather lazy as I’ve grown older. The other day I was wearing a very baggy black tee over very baggy black harem pants and was explaining to my family I actually look stylish and there was a unanimous veto (I still went out in the outfit anyway!). LOVE your cute blogger pose – that should be blown up and framed!
Hi gk! Thanks for the compliment on my taste. LOL-I’m still an incredibly lazy dresser when I’m home. It’s usually an old, stain-ridden stripped maxi dress that I believe Bonaparte recently threw in the trash. I’ll have to dig it out! Or–what I’m wearing now. Booty shorts and an old t-shirt. I have to get dressed to run errands. Ugh. I’m hoping that I do have reason to wear my uniform soon though! I’m visualizing your harem pants and black –and it IS stylish!!! XOXOXOXOXO!
Hi gk! Thanks for the compliment on my taste. LOL-I’m still an incredibly lazy dresser when I’m home. It’s usually an old, stain-ridden stripped maxi dress that I believe Bonaparte recently threw in the trash. I’ll have to dig it out! Or–what I’m wearing now. Booty shorts and an old t-shirt. I have to get dressed to run errands. Ugh. I’m hoping that I do have reason to wear my uniform soon though! I’m visualizing your harem pants and black –and it IS stylish!!! XOXOXOXOXO!
I love your style and have since been trying to find a few staples for myself that you turned me on to. Reppetto shoe(s) and a Kut from the Kloth fitted jean jacket or on my short list – in addition to the cute skirts and sweaters you have from JCrew. I am really not stalking you, but I think I may be getting dangerously close to becoming the European version of you – which isn’t such a bad thing. 🙂
I have to tell you. I LOVE my Kut from the Kloth denim jacket. It is so flattering and the price was great! Make sure if you purchase it, to get it on sale. I sized up because I like to layer and I love being comfortable! It’s so funny–the only time I purchase Repetto shoes are when I’m in France during the soldes–the pricing is excellent. They are just too expensive to purchase here in the States! I’m so flattered and happy that you love my style! XOXOXOXOXO!
You have made fashion interesting, which is an incredible feat! But didn’t those nuns make you wear a hat? I hate wearing hats now because nuns forced me into some very silly hats and policed us not only in school but half way home as well. My pillbox hat went in my bag as soon as I was out of their sight and in very little time got converted into a beret. All rules are made to be broken so heavy eyeliner was the thing in upper fours, and as for the silver chains, forbidden unless you were one of the Mexican boarders, who must have come from somewhere near a silver mine and wore at least twenty all the time! Oh school days…
Hi Maddy! Oh the nuns made us wear hats alright! When I was in the younger grades it was a beanie. Thankfully, in the older grades the beanies were traded in for berets! I’m not much of a hat person these days either! I wear them in the winter only to keep my head and ears warm. I don’t want all that gray matter to freeze! Hope you continue to read on…and on…and on! XOXOXOXO!!!
I will, maybe you can help me improve my style!
Oh so funny, I had similar experiences in my Catholic schools too. One day in eighth grade I decided to go to school with blue nail polish on. My lay-teacher took one look at that and called Sr Principal in to have a look. “But it’s my favorite color!” didn’t hold any water as an excuse and I was told to remove it before coming in the next day. Needless to say, I was a hit at lunchtime. My all-girls high school was even better – we had to wear Madonna blue tunics with matching puffy bloomers for gym and run around the front lawn and roadway. Horns were honking away! I wouldn’t trade these “now” funny memories for the world. Thanks for a trip down memory lane!
Margaret–right? I think that the two best things about attending Catholic school is that it builds our character AND gives us all a great sense of humor–we’re able to laugh at ourselves and have fun memories! XOXOXOXO!
Hi Catherine, thanks for the insight into your wardrobe. Great photos and I love your sketches. A working uniform is the sign of a successful person…think of Steve Jobs, Richard Branson…their choices are casual, but basically a uniform. Like you I’m a classic…can’t go wrong with a string or 6 of pearls!
Hi Avril! I’m glad you liked the insight into my most uniform wardrobe–I feel the same way you do about owning a string…or many more of pearls!! XOXOXOXO!