Finding My Outer Home-Girl

While Jslow searches for her school uniform, I’ve stumbled upon my own “home” uniform, at least for the next few months. And let me tell you how liberating this is. It’s also a necessity.

And really ironic.

We write this blog because we love, LOVE, L O V E fashion, and have always spent a big chunk of our days obsessing and searching and shopping for the perfect whatever, quickly moving on to the next must-have. And the next. And the next. It’s like being on a giant hamster-wheel that never stops. Except money is involved. Too much.

Right-side of my closet. “Please Paula, no more! We can barely breathe in here!”

The thing is, when you look at the really creative, interesting people of the world, they all have a uniform that lets them focus their time and money on actually living their life and creating, not dressing for the act. I remember when I went back to art school at 40, most of the freshmen girls fresh out of high-school teetered around in sky high heels, tiny bodies wrapped in neon, and/or fur, and/or distressed denim, swaddled in as many trends as possible, listing to the left, hunched over under the weight of their giant portfolios, paint bins and insecurities. The seniors? Same boots and jeans everyday, stomping about, heads held high.

Sometimes I look in my closet and want to cry. I’m paralyzed with options and I just don’t know what to wear, which is dumb since I bought it all and technically can wear any of it. These are all things I obsessed over and bought, so why isn’t it perfect and why does it all cause me such confusion and angst?

Left-side of my closet. “Seriously, put the mouse down, how many jackets do you need?”

I wanted to cry today too after my annual meeting with my financial planner. Yes, I have one of those. I had to come face to face with the fact that I spent too much money on clothes.

Which brings me back to my uniform.

Last month I bought the most luxurious and soft fur coat from CRIS, a consignment store on Polk and Broadway in my old neighborhood in San Francisco. It’s 100% fox and was a steal at under $250. It’s so light and sweater-like it’s easy to toss on over anything, even though it’s so formal and fancy. And yet, I’ve been wearing it almost every day over one of my 25 pairs of jeans and 25 tank tops, with the same beat-up beige Birkenstocks, which yes, have been my go-to footwear when it’s not raining. I love how out of place the Birks are with the fur, how utterly opposite they are, and how the quintessential Birkenstock person frowns on fur in a big way.

I feel so cozy and comfortable in this uniform and so utterly me, the home-girl who has more than she will ever need, the home-girl who needs to step off that hamster wheel. At least for now.

Ladies: What is your uniform? Do you have one? We’d love to hear about yours. And remember, Jslow really needs ideas!

xo