Day One of Suiting Up

When I was in the sixth grade, I bought my first J.Crew skirt. It was beautiful- navy with swirly cream designs. It made me feel oh so chic and I liked to practice my French while wearing it.

Fast forward to this past Sunday: I was visiting friends and I mention I need new jeans. I've needed them for a few months, actually, but I hardly go shopping because, well, it's boring. I only go shopping if I need something, like jeans.

Oh, and suits.

For 13 years of my life, I wore uniforms. I went from a jumper to a skort (feminized shorts) to a wool skirt, all different plaids. I lived in monogrammed polos, wore the same sweatshirts with my school's name on it as everyone else, and had brown penny loafers.

I loved wearing my uniform. I didn't get it when people said they wanted to express their individuality- everyone I knew wore their uniform differently. I loved not having to think about what I was going to wear, the biggest problem being the morning search for mostly-clean, unwrinkled clothes.

Then came college, where I learned to dress myself everyday. You laugh, yes, but imagine not having this kind of stress in your life before! It was then that I noticed that most people fell into uniform-like patterns, wearing the same type of clothing every day, even if it wasn't the exact same outfit. I grew rather fond of dresses myself, especially a blue jersey jumper with pockets from the Gap. (Perfect for layering in any weather, especially winter!)

This is why I bought two suits yesterday at J.Crew. One is a medium gray and the other is navy. When I told my friend Goose, he asked who I was, as if wearing a suit changed me as a person. 

But I'm not a full-time journalist anymore. I don't have my daily run-ins with sources, who would be suspicious of me for being too-well dressed. I work in an office now, where I still write articles (currently one on parking exchanges, which have nothing to do with parking lots) but I am also in more situations with clients which means, frankly, how I dress matters.

So, I suit up.



Wearing a suit today has been a strangely liberating experience. I thought I would be much more adverse to it than I am. I am loving it: matching merino wool pants and jacket, ruffly blouse, black penny loafers. You know, the works. As you can tell, my matchy-matchy style has really changed over the years:

Other good things about this past weekend's visit: wine and spaghetti dinners with friends, fro-yo with E at the Red Mango, the best local Irish pub with a live band, Sunday brunch and peppermint moccachinos, and lessons in learning how to tawlk with a Southern drawl.

I said "fer" instead of saying "for" and that was about as far as I advanced. (I already say y'all because of the summers I spent down in SC and Latin.) Have I mentioned how much I love the South? How much I wish I was Southern? I learned this weekend that the only way I can become Southern is to marry a Southern man and move to the South. Not sure how I am going to accomplish this in the Midwest... Ah, tainted by my Northern roots! But I'm going to Georgia in February to visit Vivy, so I'll scheme more then. :)

A few good reads for the day:

"Intellectual combat is bad, and not just bad, ineffective." on Ignatius Insight
--an argument against intellectual apologetics & an excerpt from an interview with Cardinal Dulles on apologetics

"A Congress that Reasserts Its Power" by George Will at The Washington Post
--American exceptionalism, any one? I was always taught there is no such thing...

"In His Weakness, He is Strong: A Review of The King's Speech" by Elijah Davidson on Patheos
--I WANT TO SEE THIS MOVIE SO BADLY

"The American family: torn by a culture of rejection" by Carolyn Moynihan on MercatorNet
--I love mentions of the 1965 Moynihan Report

Also, a blog review of The Dilemma that I really like. I saw the movie on Saturday with a few friends and was fairly surprised by it. I wouldn't highly recommend it, but it was definitely thought-provoking. (warning: minor spoilers in review)

Also, I found my mom's pictures from Christmas last night and must share this one with y'all of my sister, our little cousin whom my sister taught to use a camera, and myself.

So cute! Have a happy Monday, y'all! Stay warm.