As I’ve mentioned on occasion, I mostly work from home. This is something that developed slowly over time at my job to where, several years later, we work remotely 99% of the time. The few of us from my department that are actually located in the same city sometimes pop into the office to be reminded what each other look like, for the Christmas party, etc. So I went from thinking a lot about business-very-casual clothes to rarely thinking about it.
People who both really enjoy style and also work from home, are stay-at-home parents, or for other reasons don’t have much reason to leave the house that often during the week all have one thing in common: trying to overcome the idea that it doesn’t really matter one iota what you wear during the day. If you’re someone who doesn’t give two figs about clothing anyway, not a big deal. But when you do? Man oh man. It’s easy to fall into the trap of wearing the same old thing, and that’s especially bad in winter, I find. It’s compounded if you love to shop, or sew, or knit, or thrift, or any combination of those kinds of things. Why do I need to knit more sweaters? I can just wear the same ones all winter. Why do I need another color pair of trousers, when the ones I wear all the time are just fine? Why am I looking at purses, when I don’t even need to carry one 7 days a week? And so it can go.
I’m not here to complain about my wardrobe or working from home—it’s a perk of my job that, despite the downsides, I love. When it’s warm, it always feels a lot easier to dress cute and casual at home. Throw on a cotton day dress or a skirt and knit tee and some sandals. But in the season of wool and boots and long underwear, it starts to feel like drudgery after awhile. And thus this winter, I’ve really been trying to remember to just pop on an accessory or two to brighten up my outfit and my attitude.
So what you’re seeing today is a pretty typical look for me on an average day in winter. You can’t see all the warm layers underneath (trust me, they’re there), but what you can see is a pair of corduroy trousers (from tweaked Butterick B5895 but never blogged), loafers, argyle socks, and a 49er style jacket over a cardigan. Switch out one or two components and this is pretty much my daily winter look. I can’t even fake warm weather attire at home because it’s too cold inside, much as I’d desperately love to be walking around in summer clothes in the house right about now! But nope, it’s still all layers and wool.
I actually bought this jacket last weekend at a large vintage clothing expo we went to with friends (alas, no photos even though we were all dressed to the 9s, we were too busy shopping!), from a shop called Go Vintage. I swore up and down at least twice that I had no business even looking at 49er jackets because I own several, even though they’re like a vintage beacon to me—I can spot them in any clothing rack!
But then I saw this one, and it was such a beautiful shade of periwinkle blue, and it matched the slightly unusual shade of the sapphire in my engagement ring… and well, a few minutes later I was confessing to our friends what I’d done.
But hey, it’s a slimmer fit than most of mine, which makes it perfect as a topper around the house when it’s chilly but I’m not in the mood to wear a heavy pullover. It’s not actually a Pendleton, but a brand called “Your Kasual Koat”. Purposeful misspellings even for great vintage labels still make my teeth itch a bit, I must admit.
I’ve been trying to take the time to throw on some earrings, or a brooch, or a hair flower… or you know, all three! I’ve been really enjoying wearing dangly earrings lately, and I have some fun crafty plans to try my hand at making myself a few pairs soon, too!
Since my hair has finally grown a bit I can wear it up off my face now, which is particularly great when I’m feeling lazy. But I think it’ll be fun to sport this when it warms up, too. Ironically it takes longer to style this messy updo than it does to brush out my hair when it’s set, but I’m happy I can add this back into my hairstyle rotation again.
So this is pretty typical winter day-to-day me. Minus the lipstick, of course, but hey, allow me to perk my face up a bit for photos, okay. 😉
Nothing flashy, but a casual vintage style with a few small things to pep me up a bit when I glance in the mirror. Lately I’ve found that’s enough to help put a smile on my face and keep me from feeling like I’m wearing the same ol’ humdrum thing every day, even when I basically am.
That being said… BRING ON SPRING, PLEASE! I’m sick of wearing outfits like this! 🙂
outfit details
vintage 49er style jacket – Go Vintage, purchased at Cat’s Pajamas show
corduroy trousers – made by me
earrings- Poison of Choice
hair flower – Ruth Nore Designs
vintage brooch – Mr. Filthy Rotten
vintage cardigan – misc.
socks – Target
shoes – Bass
I love that new jacket of yours – great find. I do love coming to work since it gives me the opportunity to wear all of my makes. I rarely get dressed up when I stay at home which means I’m mightily impressed by your dedication to looking snazzy. 😀
I keep hearing birds outside my house in the mornings and I think ‘It’s finally spring!” But its so not when the low is 7 degrees (without wind chill). Ugh… I think I may start sewing for Spring in any case. Maybe it will make it warm weather come here faster. Lol
Well my dedication only goes so far– I’m certainly not going to sit around in high heels and crinolines all day, much as I’d love to in my fantasy world! 😉
The birds outside of our front window haven’t left all winter, they’ve been confusing me for months!! Argh! But I hear it’ll get warm next week. Fingers crossed!
I have a similar situation where I don’t need to get dressed up much, it’s called retirement though. Since I have retired I have the time to knit, sew and weave to my heart’s content, but so many fewer opportunities to wear what I make, and less money too. I decided that I need to take the time to look good even if just for myself. I love your casual look, still very put together.
Thanks, Ellen! Yes, I think it’s easy to forget that it’s perfectly acceptable to look good just for ourselves. 🙂
The jacket looks great! That’s a no remorse purchase, if I ever saw one. 😀
The weather for me is all about little bench markers: we made it past meteorological spring, then we change clocks, next is official first day of spring on March 21, etc… Eyes forward. HAHA. It can’t stay cold forever, or can it?
Agreed! I mean, I DO wear them a lot, after all… 😉
It’s going to be over 40 Sunday… break out the bathing suits! lol
What a lovely outfit! I have been wearing jeans a lot as it’s been cold and snowy. I’m ready for skirts and dresses without having to wear tights!
I know, me too! I’m also really ready to wear shoes without tights or nylons or knee highs even in the house. Ugh!
Your jacket find is spectacular! It is totally worth an exception to your buying rule.
I have been housebound due to illness these past 3-4 months with few visitors and it has been hard justifying even getting dressed in the morning. I do force myself to put on clothes and jewellery, and straighten my hair even though no one will see it. But my wardrobe has definitely become more plain and comfortable of late – no tight waisted fancy dresses for me and certainly no makeup. It makes you wonder how much you dress for yourself and how much for the public.
That’s such a good point. It seems like we dress to please ourselves, but when no one’s around and we don’t feel like doing it, it really makes the case that we’re doing it a lot more for other people than we realize. So taking a tiny bit of time just for me (not even to do anything fancy) has helped me this winter.
Come Spring the 49er jacket can be an actual outside cover-up! I love purposeful misspellings on vintage labels.
I know, eventually I’ll be able to wear it outside the house for real! 😉
There is absolutely no way I could have waltzed past that 49er without stopping, too. They are amazing in ♥ Jessica (and lighter shades in general) and this one is simply outstanding. I really like how you partnered it with darker pants. The two seem to represent some of the best elements (colour and style wise, I mean) of both winter and spring.
♥ Jessica
Thanks, Jessica! I couldn’t resist. 🙂
You look so lovely, Tasha, I couldn’t have gone by that 49er either! I work from home and although I have to wear a uniform, otherwise my lovely things would get wrecked, I’m a firm believer in taking every opportunity to wear my cool stuff. After years of dressing in a boring fashion I’m making up for lost time! It’s through people like you that I draw my inspiration, thank you! I now dress in vintage and reproduction vintage, putting colour with colour and enjoying every second of it. You’ll be horrified, but I’m ready for a bit of cooler weather (I live in NZ), it’s been a blistering hot summer here, so I hope it bodes well for you in your part of the world, and that some warmth arrives your way really soon. x
Thanks, Katrina! And no, I’m not horrified for your desire for warmer weather, I’ve watched plenty of people on Instagram in AU and NZ go through the hot summer. I’m glad you’ve felt inspired to enjoy your style and make up for lost time as you said! So much more fun to enjoy yourself a bit more. 🙂
What a great find! Looks beautiful on you. Those light shades are so pretty. You are an inspiration for those like me that stay home most of the time. Thanks you 🙂
Beta
Thanks, Beta! It’s hard when you’re usually home, this post was as much a reminder to myself to keep on trying just a little bit. It’s easy to fall into a funk otherwise! 🙂
That’s funny : after reading your saga about fitting B5895 to get your perfect cigarette pants, I decided to do the same…and the first pair I’m going to make (just gotta give myself a kick in the butt to press and cut my fabric) happen to be in corduroy!
Nice! I wear these black ones in a stretch corduroy (such a small wale they almost look like velveteen) ALL the time. I also have some brown velveteen I’d like to sew up for spring. I need more hours in the day! 😀
I think that you would have regretted it so much if you hadn’t bought that coat! it really is unique and beautiful, as well as being your style.
That is a gorgeous coat. I love the color, it looks like just the thing to help brighten up a cold day. But hey, it seems like spring is finally on it’s way! It might even get up to 50 next week!
On the topic of “what’s the point of buying/making cool clothes when I wear the same thing nearly every day”, I wear a uniform for work, but I think I’d probably shoot myself if I had to wear it on the train ride in. I put a slightly ridiculous amount of thought into what I’m going to wear on weekdays when I literally only wear the clothes for about 3 hours.
Tasha,
I know that feeling. While ago, it was easier to just “jump into” some wotn out old sweatshirt and sweatpants *oooh, I know*
My excuse was: I was too tired to care – especially when I come hime from working overtime.. AND, there was that “no one’s gonna see me” excuse. But, the truth is: folks see us.. on our worst hair moment, in old pants -as we are having our hair untidy, and standing in the line in the local gorcery shop on the corner. And they SEE what I looked like “off duty”. 🙁
Now, there are NO sweatpant to be seen.
Great post.
Marija
That is such a nice colour 49-er :).
I disappeared for a few months and when I come back your hair has changed again? 🙂 I think the darker hair does make you look like Snow White though – really nice xx
Thank you!!! The struggle is SO real. My mom and I own a small quilt store, in an uber casual pocket of the Northwest, and I’m a middle school tutor. I love sewing and vintage fashions, but it’s so hard to convince myself to put together a cute outfit some days. Thanks for the encouragement/inspiration!