Last Week, This Week: Enlightened, March 9-13

A couple of weeks ago as I was doing my editorial planning, “enlightened” had meant to refer to the recent switch to daylight saving time. It would have included thoughts as to why the time change feels like jet lag. And what was lost in that hour? Perhaps a thought or two as to whether the adjustment is harder or easier in March than it is in November. However, last week I was completely distracted from those concerns over worries about COVID-19.

Last Week This Week is a look back at what I actually wore last Monday thru Friday as long as it was a workday. I’ve included a brief description of each outfit and if I wore it for a specific event other than a typical workday. Without a specified dress-code in my workplace, casual Friday isn’t really an official thing but I usually adhere to it nonetheless.

It’s enlightening that even concepts of how to best avoid being exposed to the virus can be so polarizing. Until recently, there were deep divides regarding the actions necessary for protecting not only one’s personal health but that of the greater public as well. Jokes aside on excessive purchasing of paper and sanitizing products, it can be challenging to make smart decisions when you have a heightened level of anxiety about your personal safety.

Monday

One of the best ways to handle stress is by reducing stress. Hear me out as I explain how I attempted to do just that last week with my daily outfits. For a while, I’ve wanted to try out the idea of wearing the same basic or basics for a week. My purpose was twofold; to ease up on the decision of what to wear each morning and to see if anyone at work (or home) noticed.

My basic garment of choice was an LBD that I knew I could mix and match with a lot in my wardrobe. On my first day out, the weather was warmish so bare legs would do just fine. My B/W tweed jacket and a bold pendant necklace finish off the look.

Tuesday

Wtih temps expected to be cooler and the skies a bit gray, tall boots and my unlined tweed coatigan did the trick. I layered up a double-strand necklace and a lariat styled one for a chunkier look.

Wednesday

So much for the additional handwashing and being more mindful about not touching my face … I came down with a cold. Being mindful of the health of my colleagues, I stayed home. No photos.

Thursday

Stayed at home another day. No fever, no cough, no shortness of breath, no panic. Just a cold and again, no photos.

Friday

As you can probably tell from my photos, I have the luxury of having a private office at my work. So I went into the office knowing that I could limit my interactions with other staff. Besides, I expected it to be a quiet day. Another of my tweed jackets plus a pair of lug sole boots round out my week’s worth of looks for my LBD.

And there you have it, a look back at what I wore to work last week. How do you decide what you will wear to work? Let me clarify … unless you’ve declared yourself to be checked out from any type of routine, anything you do during daylight hours (and sometimes nighttime ones as well) whether or not you get paid for it, I consider that to be your “work” and you should/can be dressed accordingly. And even if you are retired, in whatever manner you’ve enjoyed your day is good enough for me.

I did find making the choice of what to wear each morning a little less stressful since the foundation of the outfits was already determined. No one seemed to notice the repeating LBD or at least no one said anything or asked. Maybe I just didn’t get away from my desk enough. In any case, I’ve been enlightened by this experiment.

I hope that you and yours are healthy and taking all the necessary precautions to stay that way.