Do You Feel Like a Ten?
Lately I’ve been hearing business owners encouraging their employees to step-up their professional appearances as we’re slowly reopening offices.
There’s no doubt that people who’ve been working from home for the past several months have adapted to dressing very casually (I’m including all those who got away with not wearing pants during Zoom meetings).
Now that we’re meeting face to face again, have you considered your professional wardrobe? Here’s a little something I did last year that helped me ‘get real’ about what was in my closet.
Over the years, I’ve attended too many industry-related association luncheons/dinners to count. In addition to eating more than my share of undercooked or overcooked chicken, this also means I’ve had the opportunity to listen to scads of motivational speakers as part of these meetings.
Although the majority of these typically thirty-minute presentations have been somewhat forgettable, there was one speaker who said something that has always stuck out in my mind: “You should get rid of anything in your closet that doesn’t make you feel like a ”ten’,” he preached emphatically from the podium. “How can you be self-confident and make a great impression if you don’t believe you look your professional best?”
Years later, one of my grown sons frowned when he saw the abundance of clothes I owned. “Why does anyone need this much stuff?” he asked. “I bet you could go the rest of the year without wearing the same outfit to work.”
I was doubtful about that, but decided to see just how long I could go without repeating an outfit. So, last February, I began a quest I called Closet ClotheSure. Here are the rules: I must wear everything in my closet, regardless of whether it’s too small, too large, out of style, etc. This was my way of ‘punishing’ myself for hanging onto clothes I didn’t love.
Each weekend, I’d choose my Monday-Thursday for the upcoming workweek including accessories and shoes. I’d set these outfits out in the order I’d be wearing them.
I can purchase no new clothes during the challenge. At the end of each day, I’d ask myself: Does what I’m wearing make me feel like a ‘ten’? If the answer was ‘no’, the outfit went bye-bye.
I created special tags for my hangers and would write down the date so that I could easily discern which outfits had been worn.
I’m happy (and perhaps a bit embarrassed) to share that I made it one full year without repeating an outfit. Here’s a quick peek at my Pinterest page showing the year in review:
https://www.pinterest.com/mesimmons32/pins/
In case you’re wondering, when all was said and done, over the course of Closet ClotheSure, I wore a total of 203 different outfits. I donated 86 of them and kept 117.
If you’re in shock as to how someone acquires such an abundance of clothes, I can tell you that it isn’t difficult to do! Closet ClotheSure gave me the opportunity to remember some questionable past buying decisions.
Check out some of the things I’ve told myself to see if you’ve done the same thing:
These pants don’t fit now, but in a couple of weeks . . .
This really isn’t my color but maybe I can pull it off.
The fabric is scratchy but I can live with it.
This skirt is too short but I can always wear black tights underneath it.
This top looks great. I’m sure there’s something in my closet that will go with it.
With the right accessories this can totally work.
Hmm. Perhaps if I wear a cami underneath this blouse it won’t be so revealing.
There were been many outfits that my husband encouraged me to get rid of because he didn’t think they were up to the ‘ten’ level. And, while I appreciated his input (as well as his patience with this admittedly insane project!), the decision was all mine.
Of course, feeling like a ‘ten’ involves more than just your outward appearance. Here are some other things I believe to be of equal importance:
The first thing starts before I even slip on my chosen outfit for the day. It’s important to me to get my head and my heart in the right place each morning. Since I’m an early riser, I try to set aside devotional time for God in the quiet of the morning.
Secondly, each morning I spend between twenty and thirty minutes doing some kind of exercise. For the last few years, this has been done predominantly on our vibrating platform. If you haven’t read my blog, Sending Out Good Vibrations (https://www.monicaesimmons.com/post/sending-out-good-vibrations) I’d encourage you to do so to learn more about this incredible workout tool.
I once heard a radio personality who’d been paid to use a particular weight-loss supplement boast about how effective it had been for her. “It’s great to wake up and know you can wear anything that’s in your closet!”
Before Closet ClotheSure, there’d have been no way this would be true for me. I had some size 6’s that hadn’t seen the light of day for fifteen years hanging in my closet!
I’m pleased to admit that because of Closet ClotheSure, I can say the same thing—and it didn’t take a diet pill to get me there. It was simply being smart about not keeping clothing that no longer worked for me.
To all the outfits I donated during my quest, thanks for the memories and I hope that you always make your new owner feel like a ‘ten’!
Monica E. Simmons, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for JDC Enterprises, LLC, has worked in the multi-family industry in several different capacities since 1987. She is a published author whose books include; I Have A Complex, But I’m Managing It!, It Happened in The Hill Country, 30-Love and it’s sequel, Match Point.
Contact her at: Monica@TheVendorGuide.com
