Find Joy in Your Wardrobe: Keep Work and Weekend Attire Separate

The dress code at my last job at the University of Idaho was less strict than the dress code for a public defender; the University didn’t require so much as it forbade: no shorts, no t-shirts, no distressed denim, nothing dirty or grungy.  It gave this contract negotiator a lot of room to experiment with her wardrobe and test limits.  I never wore distressed jeans but a distressed denim vest over a shirt-dress?  Absolutely!  It was fun and relaxed but there was no separation between my work attire and weekend attire.  It may seem strange, but during that time, my wardrobe, which was larger than it is now, brought me less joy than it does now.  Why?  Because as a public defender I keep my work attire separate from my weekend attire.

Off duty look: WhoWhatWear dress, denim jack, and Adidas Superstar sneakers

In last week’s post I showcased a typical workday outfit: skirt, blazer, blouse, heels, and tote. Do I enjoy that look for work?  Yes, it’s polished and professional.  Would I wear it anywhere but work?  No, it’s conservative and sedated.  Wearing my work attire only at work gives me a chance to wear and enjoy less formal pieces on evenings and weekends.

There's nothing better than a bright, floral print to celebrate the weekend!

Every summer I buy a dress or two, and up until I began my current job, I would wear them to work as well as on the weekends.  Bouncing between work and leisure, those pieces decreased in enjoyment.  By the end of the summer, I’d seen enough of them and would purge them from my closet.  This year I bought one maxi dress that I have worn solely for leisure: Hilary’s baby shower, date nights with Brian, drink with friends, even running errands on weekends.  It has never seen the inside of my office or a courtroom or met any of my clients, and it never will.  I look forward to taking it out of the closet once Friday hits and plan to keep it around for at least another year. 

Adidas Superstars are my weekend go-to, no matter what I wear.

I encourage everyone, no matter the size of her closet, to keep work and leisure attire separate.  It will bring joy to your wardrobe.

Heading for the weekend and leaving work behind.