More often than not, I walk into an event, worrying that I'm Overdressed. That my outfit is fancier than the occasion. I'm not quite sure why I worry about this. I am ok being over dressed. I am usually over dressed.
It doesn't seem that long ago that people "dressed up". They'd dress up for birthday parties, church, a night out, dinner out (even with kids). It wasn't that long ago that Yoga Pants were for Yoga. I own several pairs of yoga pants, that have never seen a yoga class. But, they've also never seen a restaurant, or the inside of a grocery store. My yoga pants have seen the light of day while doing chores outside, or going for a walk. That's it.
While out on a "Day after Valentines Day, Lunch Date" with my husband, we went to an upscale restaurant. I was wearing a black sweater, a creamy gold and black striped Maxi Skirt, and black open toed heels. We were dressed up. We were without kids. We were going to a nice restaurant. We were incredibly OVER dressed. The table near us was a couple, and their son, who was probably 5. We go places with our kids. We go nice places with our kids. We dress up when we go nice places with our kids. This couple was wearing jeans, and hooded sweat shirts. She had a messy pony tail, and an ear warmer head band. They were under dressed for the place, and received less second or third looks than we did.
Why do people wear their pajamas to get groceries, or house hold necessities? People go shopping, without changing out of the pajamas. Without combing their hair, or brushing their teeth, and as a society, we've decided this is acceptable. It's not.
We live in a little town, and are lucky enough to have a little grocery store. In the last two months, I've been stopped twice, by the same woman, who has asked me, "Where are you going, all dressed up?" She actually blocks my shopping cart with hers, so I can't get around her, until I've given her an acceptable answer. All of this, while I'm wearing a Maxi Skirt, cowboy boots, and a winter coat, or a skirt that comes past my knees, with knee high boots, and a winter coat.
A while back, I started a new venture, and became a fashion consultant with Lularoe. I love it. I've also discovered more people tell me, "Oh, I don't have any reason to dress up" while they're out with their families at vendor fairs, in public, sporting pajamas. Isn't spending time with your family, outside of the house, worth dressing up? Isn't Tuesday worth dressing up? What about Friday, to welcome in the weekend? Welcoming in the weekend is worth it, to me. Dress up! Every day is worth being pulled together.
As a grown woman, starting to raise two kids, I want them to know it's better to dress up, than dress down. I don't think it's acceptable to be out running errands in pajamas. It takes two seconds to pull on jeans and go get your groceries, or your lunch. I want them to know when you go to a nice restaurant, jeans are great, but leave the sweat shirt at home, and pull on a nice shirt. Better yet, before you head out into public, brush your teeth, comb your hair, and look like you've put forth a little effort.
