This is like the game hipster or homeless where you spot a person and then have to guess whether he’s a hipster or he’s homeless. Only, it’s less cleverly called grad student or homeless.
Let me first say that I’ve generally been rocking my crazy schedule. 4, 5, 6 hours of sleep, I not only survive, but thrive on them all. It’s like my body knows there’s no other option. But, I have my limits, of course, and one thing I can’t seem to manage on a regular basis is looking like a presentable human being.
I’ve never dressed fashionably, but now it’s a miracle if I show up anywhere not looking like I just rolled out of bed. If it’s the morning, then I did just roll out of bed. I rarely get up more than a half hour before I have to be somewhere. But, that’s nothing new. It’s the joy and curse of living 2 minutes away from anywhere you need to be.
It’s just that I’ve kind of stopped wearing outfits, so whatever shirt I happen to be wearing when I wakeup is likely to be the shirt I continue wearing. Then I put on a pair of jeans. I wear knee socks, because it’s cold in the morning and I want to be Punky Brewster. Converse. And one of two hoodies, though I own a gazillion more. My hair is usually in some kind of a messy bun.
I tell myself it doesn’t matter if I look like a mess, because this is just what I’m wearing to class or my second job. I’ll change later. What I fail to realize is that these things take up a good portion of my day and after spending half a day looking like a mess, I’m not going to waste any of my short lunch break trying to rectify the situation, so I make the few adjustments necessary before heading into the library. I pull a Mr. Rodgers and trade in my Converse for some flats, my t-shirt for a slightly nicer shirt, and my hoodie for the same black cardigan I wear all the time. Despite the upgrades, I still feel like a mess.
I guess that at 26, I’m tired of looking like a walking Gap ad, but I continue to do it out of convenience. Each week, I make it my mini goal to stop looking like a homeless girl who used to buy all of her clothes at Old Navy. I’d really like to burn my collection of hoodies (or, you know, give them away to someone who can use them), but then I would probably go cold.
It doesn’t seem that hard. I even try to plan out what to wear so I don’t have to think about it, but something about dressing half decent takes a lot of energy. But, I do want to start dressing a little more maturely. It’s nice that dress codes are lax around here, but I’m working among the people who will later write me recommendations or hire me, and I think it’s time I start dressing more professionally. I even have the clothes necessary to do so. It’s just that they’re never within arms length when I’m running out the door in the morning.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Story of my life! Seriously. I ALWAYS look like a bum. I can’t seem to make myself presentable for the life of me. Worse still, I have (or had, pre-economic meltdown) an office job. I have all these cute clothes, and even if/when I do wear them, I somehow screw it up. I never look hip or chic. I’ve perfected the “librarian look” (not to be taken negatively – you know what I mean) like you would not believe. And I can’t seem to break it.
Great blog. Spoke to my soul.
Awww! Well I’m nearly 28 (ack) and I want to look my age or at least nice but at 6am my mind can’t go there. Meanwhile it’s always freezing in my classroom so wearing a skirt is out (not to mention I’m at a school right now with dumb rules like your skirt has to be below the knee, which makes me look frumpy)… and I’m always on my feet so sneakers are comfortable.
But eh. You gotta do what you gotta do!
I have found myself in the same predicament—in fact, I jokingly refer to my work style as “fancy hobo.”. I am sort of in the process of compiling outfits that I know look decent & then laying them out the night before. I know that if I try & do it at 6 am, I will grab the sane dress & cardigan I always wear.
I have all these nice clothes too, but they are still mostly packed from my move and I’m only working with a limited selection, so annoying. What I find that helps in my a.m. rush is to plan what I am wearing for the entire week on a Sunday so I know everything is cleaned/ironed/ready to go. Then, I just pick and choose when I wake up.
I am a poor poor teacher right now living out of a suitcase and moving across the state a couple times a week so I have very little money to expand my one color shirt and slacks wardrobe. i am hoping someday, but alas…
I own 4 zip up hoodies, 2 pullover hoodies, 4 jackets, 2 fleece pullovers and 2 coats (one of which has a wearable inside layer). A lot, yes. But for the most part, I actually wear them all quite regularly.
I could awlways use a “new” hoodie lol.
I wear the same thing 5 out of 7 days a week. Literally, I get home, change into pj’s, sleep, get up, change into work clothes, rinse and repeat.
I can’t afford to dress really well. My favorite is when my students will ask me, “Oh hey Ms. is that from Forever 21? I have the same one in green!”
Ugh. Yes…..that sucks.
i felt the same way when i first started law school, then again (after that time didn’t pan out) when i started the new job. all i can say is that it’s actually much more of a struggle for me to dress professionally than it seemed at first. and though i know stacy and clinton hate this: nice clothes just aren’t as comfortable as my jeans, chucks and hoodies!
also, re: the hoodies? don’t give them all away! some, yes. all, nooooooo. :)
Regarding how much sleep you get: you’re a rock star. I can’t fathom it.
I need to look more mature, too. But I’m never giving up the hoodies. Never. I just can’t. I just need to work on not wanting to wear one every day.
I would not be able to function on 5-6 hours of sleep. Heck no!!!
Whenever I have to wake up early, I have no desire to look cute, until I reach the afternoon and wish I would have at least done my hair. haha. So I can relate. :)
It’s only been recently that I insist on wearing make up everyday to work. Don’t rush it – sometimes I miss the days where I wasn’t as mindful of my appearance. :)
That was totally me last semsester; with three jobs and a full-time school schedule, caring what I looked like every day was the least of my concerns. Eventually, I got tired of looking sloppy and sluggish all the time, so I’ve changed my ways. Taking showers at night helps so you don’t have to do it in the morning. It’s also good to lay out clothes the night before so you don’t have to think about it when it’s time to get dressed. You can also use jewelry to dress up an outfit for work or cute headbands and hair accessories to fancy up your messy buns. =)
Have your friends nominate you for “What Not to Wear!” How fun! I’m the same way though, although, working from home, no one sees me except my neighbors, dog and boyfriend. So, sadly enough, I don’t think it matters what I wear. Because of that, I think I tend to overdress now when I go out, which is kinda nice…
I dont do mornings. Thankfully my office is business casual with an emphasis on the casual. I have khaki’s and black pants that can be paired with any number of the various hued plain v-neck shirts in my drawer then grab either a black or white cardigan to complete the look. I usually have enough time to run a straightener through my hair, apply a bit of eyeliner, mascara, and lipgloss and I’m out the door.
i LOVE dressing up cute for work. whenever i dress like a mess, i FEEL like a mess. so i always try and take a few extra minutes to put on some makeup and wear a cute outfit with some jewelry…it definitely puts me in the right mindset, like ready to take on the world : )
It’s sort of a blessing and a curse that there is no dress code at my job and I could come in here in sweats or baggy shorts and sneakers. A lot of people do. And this is helpful for when I’m sick or hungover or grumpy and I need to wear sandals and a hoodie. But it’s not a good motivating factor for trying to look nice. Which is poopy, because I am mildly fashionable and I COULD look nice, if I put in just a bit of effort.
That, too, is a double-edged sword, because when I start putting in effort, I can’t stop, and I end up changing5 times before I leave the house, which is what happens on Saturday nights. And I just don’t have time for that crap in the morning before work.
So, what I’m saying is, I relate. And I have also often called myself a walking Gap ad.
Hehe I have to be very careful when ogling guys in public because I have a thing for the hobo-chic look but I work with the homeless and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference!