Layering tops many of which are mesh from Ezibuy.
This is part 2 of a series – part 1 is here.
So, basically we’ve learned during this process of sorting out my wardrobe that I have become less over the past few years and I have been trying to work out what has caused that.
I think a huge part of this burrowing into my comfort zone began when my favourite manager left.
My favourite manager is an incredible person. Have you ever known someone who takes every opportunity to praise you and lift you up? Who makes everyone better just by existing – who makes everyone want to do their best for them – who makes people *more* somehow?
Someone who has your back with upper management even if you’ve made a stuff up – which she will address with you in a way that will teach you never to make that mistake again, and in fact you’ll make sure nobody within your earshot ever makes that mistake either?
Someone who is there for you when you need them, and will even go to great lengths for you to get you the help you need, even if it is not a part of her official job description?
Someone who – even years after they are no longer your boss – is more than willing to listen when things go wrong, and give you the guidance you need to make the best decisions for yourself in the situation you find yourself in?
Someone who tells you the unvarnished truth, not what you want to hear?
Someone who tucks in your tag if you managed to get out of the house with it sticking out without making you feel embarrassed, and she’ll have noticed it and fixed it moments after you walked in the door, even if she has to interrupt a meeting to do it?
Someone who inspires great loyalty from everyone she works with, even if they are people she does not personally like?
That is what my favourite manager was like. When she was working there, shifts during the day never dragged on. In fact I looked forward to them, to being in her presence, to feeling her light, hoping it would land on me from time to time. Listening to her train other people was a validation of all the things she taught me to do, of all the things she wanted – needed – from us.
She is utterly hilarious. Training with her was never boring because she made everything interesting with the way she chose to present it. Having her listen to your calls was a sheer delight. Having her sitting next to you and listening in was a thing of great joy.
She also had a fabulous sense of style. No two outfits were ever the same, and myself and pretty much everyone around her took a leaf from her book and found our own personal style. She would always comment on everyones outfit. There were no flip flops, not ever in her presence. The only way you showed your toes was in a peep toe.
Colourful tank dresses, none of which I would have bought without the influence of my favourite manager.
Sneakers were fine but they could not be plain and boring – they had to be colourful and delightful, or quirky. Layering was the order of the day and I enjoyed it, loved putting things together which I never would have considered before. Jewellery was to be oohed and aahed over, and discussed, and ranked in order of which pieces she most wanted to know where you got them because she wanted them too.
She allowed me to be who I truly am, she accepted who I was and validated the fact that it was ok to be unusual, to be quirky, to be different, to stand out in my own ways.
For the first time ever in my life, I was truly myself.
So how did the wardrobe sorting turn out? Everything in its place, baby!
Sorry some of these photos are quite long.. :)
My tiny collection of pencil skirts.
There are 3. I do not own a lot of skirts, I am more of a dress person. Plus, my Forever 21 animal print jumper.
My colourful collection of dresses.
So many different dresses.
Dresses without patterns, just one colour.
Going out tops all together in one place.
Little shrug cardigans.
Animal print tops all together in one place.
Exercise tops all together.
Around the house clothes –
You see all the identical pink ones at one end – those are all tops from rivers which are my in between seasons wear – 3/4 length sleeves. If I am not wearing a jumper and I am at home, there is a 99% chance I will be wearing one of those pink tops.
Jumpers Together –
some of them are in the wash.
So many clothes!
The only thing I have more than three of is t-shirts.
Unless we count knickers and socks, I have a couple of dozen each there.
I do not own one single dress.