Just saw a really cute suit that I would love but now no need. Won’t need if for work and not the type of thing that I would wear to the theater or out to dinner as I usually wear a more feminine type dress for those occasions.
H wore suits and ties for 35 years as a healthcare CEO. Now that he has a new job his attire depends on who his clients are. Suit if meeting with other CEOs, dress shirt and pants if meeting with smaller companies and jeans and button down shirt if working in office and not meeting clients. I think this is harder as he has to have clothes for so many different options. He is also tall so we have a hard time finding jeans and shirts with his sleeve length. D1’s office is business casual. D2 has now gone from a formal office where she wore suits and mandatory closed toe shoes(!) to a mostly business casual environment. She still wears blazers/jackets. At the tax firm they could only wear jeans on certain Fridays if you weren’t meeting with clients and then you had to pay $5 for a fundraiser She is the fashionista of the family so even her casual outfits seem dressy to me.
I am busy trying to dress myself for our visit to Boston/RI in a few weeks. This is for D’s residency match day/meet FSIL’s parents. Evidently he is taking H and I to lunch without D. I have already warned H not to make is dry jokes and make him uncomfortable. Then we return in May for her graduation and again in July for nephew wedding in MA.
I am not a jean and T person (threw all of my jeans out a few years ago when I realized how uncomfortable they felt). I basically have two sets of clothes. My “uniform” of black tight Eileen Fisher pants, a black tank top or dressier T and loose cotton sweaters. I am allergic to wool including cashmere as of this winter. I wear this everywhere and for every function simply dressing up with nicer sweaters, shoes, jewelry. I then have outdoor clothes for hiking. At home I am in pj’s and old old stuff because I am so messy when I cook.
The East coast is intimidating! Many PNW folks feel this way. The clothes are more formal, more expensive, and pulled together. At my Mah Jong class yesterday I was the only woman of 9 who had on make up and did not have on running shoes which I will only wear if I am doing an athletic activity.
But my uniform is just my style and as I really do not like clothes/style/shopping it works for
me. My quest right now is to pull some nicer looks together for the trip. H has not make a peep about
how much this is costing, he even mentioned I need a new purse/bag.
Having gained weight when my thyroid went on strike has left me feeling self conscious which
has not been helpful. A lovely 19 year old helped me at Nordstrom’s ( a place I do not enjoy)
yesterday and basically said that I need to embrace those parts of my body that make me uncomfortable. It was interesting. Still, I will be taking the top back that she sold me. It is structured
and does not feel like me at all. I do find many of the younger woman I meet have a healthier
attitude about their bodies and clothes that in the past.
Oregon - I’m of the fact if you don’t like how I look - don’t look at me. 
I love clothes!!! I love shopping!!! All MUCH to my husbands dismay I might add. I will wear hot pink capris with high heals and I tight shirt - as long as nothing is gaping open. And well I’m BIG!! I just don’t care what others think to some degree. It’s how do I feel in the clothes. I really like Talbots. Just my type of clothes. Structured classics for the most part with lots of color if you want it. Probably 90% of my wardrobe is from there including my jeans and leggings. I guess I’ve never been what you call thin so I just don’t care if people think I’m fat. I am. LOL! That’s okay. That’s ME! Now I’m healthy so that is what counts right? I do try to lose weight but I don’t obsess over it. If I did I would weigh a LOT less. Instead I’m eating jelly beans as I type this.
Great attitude RM! I especially love the jellybeans!
I do not like the FEEL of clothes. A sensory thing.
I love Talbots look but feel like I am in a straight jacket in them.
I finally figured out that I was buying my clothes and shoes way to big and
have been better at that.
I just love the feel of a loose mu mu ;;). I have not worn an actual dress in over 15 years
and have many old gauzy hippie long dresses for the house–a little too see through for company.
D was quite worried I was going to wear one while her BF was visiting. sans bra.
It will be interesting to find an outfit for D’s future wedding.
But no dress for sure.
Part of it Oregon as my mother only wore dark pants because she was heavy and wanted to try to disguise it. Well people still knew she was heavy. Didn’t really work. I saw that growing up and figured I would wear what I wanted and if people didn’t like it then they didn’t need to look. Lived most of my life that way.
oregon…Ha! I also have to admit that the first item I remove when I get home is my bra! 
When I am at the lake I wear loose tees and old athletic shorts BUT now that son in laws are around I grudgingly wear bras.
My daily uniform is black leggings/yoga pants/capris and a tunic sweater/sweatshirt/. I love almost anything from Athleta or Zella. I do wear jeans out for dinner but they have to be soft and stretchy. I love long necklaces and scarfs so I accessorize with those. I just bought a new pair of black slip on shoes to run everyday errands that are perfect for leggings. I love them! I wanted some Vans but I have such a high arch and instep I couldn’t get my foot in them! My Nordstrom girl recommended these:http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/via-spiga-raine-slip-on-sneakers?ID=2449972&pla_country=US&cm_mmc=Google-PLA-ADC--Women%27s%20Shoes-NA--Via%20Spiga-_-727684113436USA&CAWELAID=120156070004710480&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=35637446592&CATCI=pla-269389490571&catargetid=120156070004437159&cadevice=c
I am still looking for the perfect lightweight long black waterfall cardigan. Perfect to add on a cool spring or summer evening.
@NorthMinnesota , How about a nice camisole instead of a bra when the sons in law are around? Would be more comfortable than a bra but still provide another layer.
I love my skinny jeans and am wearing them to work today :). Like NM I also love Athleta. Oregon, I like the idea of having a certain “uniform” and yours sounds lovely to me. I live on the east coast (DC area) and people dress more casually here than they did years ago.
I to am wearing skinny jeans today from Talbots - okay - maybe not so skinny meaning the size is large and a Talbots pull over sweater. Not so much of a “uniform” type person. Really for me it’s “how do I feel today” and dress accordingly. Difficult as I now need to pick out clothes the night before and pack to take them to the gym now that my gym isn’t as close to home as it was before. Sigh… but I’m pretty good about guessing how I will feel the next day. Being able to wear jeans every day will be an adjustment.
On the home front we are replacing our carpeted stairs with hardwood. H started the project last night. I think this is going to mean a major cleaning once he is through. Cutting the existing stairs to put the new treads on is causing a LOT of dust. SIgh. I know that I’m going to love them when they are done. Now if H doesn’t get upset it will all be good. Guess it’s a tad (understatement) work than he had originally anticipated. I am slowly getting rid of the carpet in my house and replacing with hardwood or tile. I like the look more and it is so much easier to clean. Just need good finish with the dog.
Last night we watched Life, Animated on Netflix. It was nominated for best feature length documentary. It’s about the autistic kid who learned to communicate by imitating lines from Disney animated movies. I wished we had waited and watched it with Son, just to see if he would recognize himself at all. Son is no where as severe, but it was striking to see similarities.
A medical month for us. My 92 yo mother fell while reaching for garlic in the kitchen in the middle of cooking and broke her hip. Surgery today. Then rehab hospital and probably PT at home thereafter. She is completely cogent and has all her wits about her – has a PhD and is pretty smart – and was exercising 3 days a week at the gym. Even with that, at her age, balance is diminished.
ShawSon is having surgery early next week. Three days expected in hospital. Then he’ll stay with us for a week or so before heading back to his dorm. Liquid diet for about a month. We brought our VitaMix from Boston and will lend it to him.
I’m going to hold off on visiting my mother until after ShawSon’s surgery/recovery. My brother is there with her. One sister lives in Queens and can drive. Another one is flying from Memphis. We’d planned Passover in Memphis but maybe we will have to reconsider. How soon can someone fly after hip surgery.
MP, very interested in that film. ShawWife and I will watch.
Went for a hike in Marin Headlands yesterday – it was 68 and beautiful. Today looks the same but I have to have lunch and go to Costco to shop in the afternoon. We are having ShawSon’s 27th Bday party and then we’ve invited one of my college roommate’s and wife to the houseboat for dinner.
@shawbridge Sorry about your mother and son needing surgery. Good luck to both of them. In terms of flying, check with the doctor But it does seem like her being ready to fly by Passover could be pushing it. So much would depend on how her recovery goes and hopefully there will be a lack of complications. You may be in a position of not knowing until very near Passover whether or not she could go to Memphis.
Happy Birthday to your son!
Happy Friday, all. Sendin healing mojo to your collective loved ones, cbb and ahaw.
Just on a quick break from work but had to weigh in on this one today that resonates:
That is exactly how I feel about a) bras and b) swimsuits 
Today I Did my private-dome swim physio in a bathing suit because the sky dome contractor was here at 7:30 am and I felt no need to traumatize either of us But boy did I resent it!
Re the former for anyone interested who can get away with it, Chicos sells a wonderfully comfy stretch cami that has completely freed me from bra nonsense
Sorry to hear about your mother, @shawbridge. Hope S’s surgery goes well.
Well, H’s colonoscopy was sort of a bust – apparently he wasn’t “clean” enough, so he has to have another one. This will require drinking twice as much of the nasty stuff! So, that’s no fun. Plus, his recovery yesterday took quite a bit longer than previously – he was all bloated, felt nauseous, etc.
And, in the worse news department, one of my brothers was just diagnosed with bladder cancer. (My brothers are twins, 2 years older than me.) One of H’s investments was in a cancer care network, with several oncologists on the board. H will contact them so my brother can talk to them/get second opinions, etc. B and his wife are staying pretty calm about things – at least on the face of things. Never the diagnosis anyone wants to hear.
Shaw, good luck to your mom. H’s 95 year old mother broke her ankle and her tibia a few months ago. She
is doing fine but doubt she would want a plane trip. Good wishes for your S.
CBBB, so sorry about your brother. Sending positive thoughts.
And your poor H–that stuff is just yucky. I learned to have the stuff on ice, drink through a straw, and
have a mint in your cheek, and hold your nose. It helped me get through the last one.
Ok, I just have never worn a pair of jeans that are actually comfortable. If they fit one place they do not
fit in another.
CBB, so sorry to hear about your brother. And even though it doesn’t rise to the same level, I’m also very sorry for your H, having to go through prep twice.
On a much different topic…bras. The worst are strapless, in the summer. When I do have to wear one to work, as soon as I’m in the car, one flick and one tug and it’s off. Sorry Shaw if it’s TMI, but you have a wife and a D and I’m sure you know more than that already.
Sorry a out all the illness. I have seen two spectrums of bladder cancer none fatal. My brother in law had a treatment through a catheter and has been cancer free. A friend had to have chemo. Hoping he is like my brother in law. Which was an easier treatment. it is connected to smoking.
I have had two colonoscopies. hate them. The last one I swore I would not be back. but need to schedule another one.
I frequently go with out a bra when its just me and my family, otherwise no. It makes people uncomfortable.
Still plodding in school. Two more months or so. H is already talking about places we will go when I am done. I just want to get my house clean and cleaned out. Buy me a dumpster for graduation!
Oh, CBB and shaw…so sorry to hear. Sending prayers and hugs.
Sending thoughts and prayers for CBB’s brother, Shaw’s mothers and Shawson.