Shopping my Closet, Again…

smart casual pattern mixing

I took the old trench coat out for another spin…

This is what I call a ‘work outfit’. As you can see, it’s not that different from anything I would wear off duty. However, these photos were taken when I was actually on my way to work.

Yes, for a while, I actually had to go to work a couple of days a week, on and off. Which means that I had to get dressed, put on some make up, and face other people. I have mixed feelings about it.

shopping my closetsmart casual over 40

To be honest, I’d rather just work from home all the time. It would be so much simpler in many ways. For starters, I hate the commute: wearing the mask on the train and on the bus, and all the people who – for whatever reason – refuse to wear the mask in crowded places. And I hate the stupid visor I have to wear at work; it makes me feel like I’m wearing a space helmet. And my hair is too big for it.

I would also  like to have all of my students either on Zoom or in the classroom, not split between the two. I hate multi-tasking and would prefer to focus my attention on one thing at a time.

But that’s life these days: everything is complicated, and we’re being pulled in all directions. I think we’re all starting to feel the strain a bit. I know I am.

pattern mixing over 50

Outfit details (all old):
coat: Zara / top: Tommy Hilfiger / trousers: PBO /
scarf: Alexander McQueen / bag: Longchamp / shoes: Ecco / sunglasses: Prada

Tiina

Is your on duty wardrobe different from your off duty wardrobe?

Linking up with:

Elegantly Dressed and StylishHigh Latitude StyleA Labour of LifeCurly Crafty Mom, Doused in Pink,  Not Dressed As LambLiving on Cloud NineElegance and Mommyhood, Nancy’s Fashion StyleShelbee on the EdgeA Pocketful of Polka Dots Style SplashAway from the BlueMummabstylish Mutton Years Style and I, Confessions of a Montreal Styling DivaIndependent Fashion Bloggers

20 Comments

  1. 18 October 2020 / 5:55 pm

    Sorry that you have to deal with usual (stupid) unmasked people when commuting, and totally understand that you prefer to work from home.
    I’ve realised that I put more effort in my outfit if I’m going to work in the office. I keep on wearing accessories even if they’re not going to be visible for anyone. My coworkers only can see me from a distance, as we work far apart and just wave hands when going in and out.

    I like your outfit, love your comfy&cool style and elegant attitude. These blues with details in red are so fab. Lovely scarf too. You rock it!
    besos

    • Tiina
      Author
      19 October 2020 / 6:00 pm

      Thanks! Yes, I think we all put in a bit more effort when we get out of the house, especially to work. And it’s polite, isn’t it, to make an effort when we might encounter other people? And it’s probably good for us, too: it shows that we can still look nice and dress well, in spite of what’s going on. But I think it’s equally important to relax and lower the standards at home…

  2. q
    18 October 2020 / 7:34 pm

    Yes, my on duty wardrobe is different from my off duty wardrobe. I don’t wear jeans to office. Some of the skirts and dresses I do wear both on and off duty, but usually with different style of accessories. I often make an effort for the work outfits and I like to add some trendy aspects to them also.
    But it has been such a long time since I last was at the office, that I feel it would be a challenge to put together an outfit for day at the office. I feel like I’ve lost the touch not only for trends but for any office smart outfits totally. -q

    • Tiina
      Author
      19 October 2020 / 6:04 pm

      I find it difficult to dress up for work these days. Not that I ever did (I work in a very casual environment) really, but now I think I would just like to go to work in my pyjamas…

  3. mireilleftm
    19 October 2020 / 4:16 pm

    I do think it is also better for the students to do it one way or another. The boys had several weeks of hybrid school and now are back full time. They are all pretty happy. Easier for me too. Virtual school wasn’t too bad but not enough work for the younger ones. I think being in class has been very beneficial for my high schooler as he is not the most social kid. Good for him to get out of the house.
    http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      19 October 2020 / 6:10 pm

      Oh yes, absolutely! At least they can work in small groups online whereas in the classroom they had to keep safe distance and could only work on their own. Not to mention that having a few students online and a few in the classroom, at the same time, made it all a bit chaotic…

  4. Flora
    19 October 2020 / 4:37 pm

    Yes I think we are all fed up at this stage and wearing a mask is not much to ask. I’m sure working from home will become ever more common in the future. My daughter in Seattle has worked from home for several years her ‘team’ are based all over the United States not just in her home state, Washington. I don’t really have ‘special’ outfits and lately I’ve lost interest in clothes shopping, not that I need more clothes. Lately I’ve been combining outfits and hanging them together and so I don’t need to think about what I want to wear. Just grab a hanger.

    • Tiina
      Author
      19 October 2020 / 6:14 pm

      Yes, I think working from home will become the new normal for a lot of people, at least some of the time. And that’s probably a good thing, more flexibility is what we need. Of course, it also makes it more difficult to get the work-life balance right. Not to mention how hard it is for people living in small flats…
      I think I know what you mean: I have zero interest in clothes shopping at the moment, and I could spend days wearing just my pyjamas. But I think it’s just a phase. Or at least I hope it is…

  5. Lise
    19 October 2020 / 4:58 pm

    I love your top and scarf, very me, and very flattering on you! Tommy Hilfiger rarely disappoints for quality and stripey goodness 🙂

    • Tiina
      Author
      19 October 2020 / 6:15 pm

      Thanks, Lise! Stripes are always good, in any colour…

  6. shelbeeontheedge1
    22 October 2020 / 7:17 pm

    Tiina, I really like this outfit and the colors are so rich and pretty together. I rarely have reason to leave my house so other than sometimes dressing up just for fun to take photos, I am in something comfortable and casual. These times are definitely a struggle. Hopefully we all come out of it better humans. Thanks for joining my link party.

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    • Tiina
      Author
      24 October 2020 / 10:51 am

      Thanks! I seem to be wearing the same (very comfortable and casual) clothes most of the time. I’m beginning to think most of my clothes are useless, and what I really need is a wardrobe full of loungewear…

    • Tiina
      Author
      24 October 2020 / 10:51 am

      Thank you!

    • Tiina
      Author
      24 October 2020 / 10:52 am

      Thanks, Nicole. I think we will have to wait for snow for quite a while still. We hardly had any (here in the south of Finland) last winter!

    • Tiina
      Author
      24 October 2020 / 10:57 am

      Thanks! Layers look nice, and I always admire how other people do it. Personally, I’m not a fan of layers: for me, it’s usually just one layer of clothing plus outerwear, otherwise I start feeling constrained by my clothes. So, when it gets colder, I just wear a warmer coat. No wonder I have so many coats…

  7. 25 October 2020 / 11:55 pm

    I love all the different shades of blue in this outfit, and the skull scarf with the stripes! That’s one of my fave print mixes when I wear my skull scarves 🙂

    We are opening up our office on a volunteer basis but I’m not comfortable going back yet as I’d have to take public transport – I think it will be weird for a while to start adjusting to going back a day or so a week and I’ll wait until the new year before I decide what to do. When our New Zealand office opened on a volunteer basis it was only open a week or so before there was that outbreak and they were in lockdown again, so I’m wary! haha!

    Hope that you had a good weekend! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup!

    • Tiina
      Author
      28 October 2020 / 10:17 am

      Thanks, Mica!
      I know, I’m wary, too. Although I’ve been taking public transport every now and then to run errands (I have to: it’s the only way to get to of the suburbs…), it’s going back to work that worries me more. I would rather just keep working from home. And yes, most likely there’ll be another outbreak, sooner or later, and then what? Back to working from home…

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