As usually happens, the weather turned colder, and my outfits got blander. I've been so busy since I last wrote. In October, I bought a house and also picked up a class for the spring, as well as found out my other two part time jobs will continue, so while my income will be reduced in the spring (and the job hunt continues), I will survive. Thank goodness for my mortgage being dramatically cheaper than rent! In other good news, my boss observed me last week, and was pleased with what he saw. I was the only adjunct offered a class next semester, so that feels both flattering and perilous. The only good thing about being an adjunct is having more time to work on my own research and writing.
This is the first semester that I've managed to dress up for each class. That's four days a week and 12 weeks so far. It's the first time I've maintained the dressing up, and I think it has helped save my sanity a lot. In the past I've ended up with a uniform of nice jeans, and a long sweater coat every single day. I wish I'd documented each outfit as I planned, but it is stressful and difficult for me to maintain a blog. Seeing photos of myself is hard when I already feel so watched already.
An exciting thing about buying a house is that I turned a spare bedroom into a closet by putting up some closet hardware on the walls. It's not finished yet, but one entire wall is devoted to dresses, with another wall for blazers, sweaters, pants, skirts, etc. with split hanging racks. I love it.
I'm struggling to stay warm, and jeans under a dress has been my go-to right now. It's so much warmer than leggings. Which brings me to an amazing find: fleece-lined teggings from Re/Dress! Sadly they don't fit me, but I did turn them into leg warmers, so I've been wearing them underneath another pair of leggings. Layering tights and leggings and such is definitely something I'll be experimenting with as it gets even colder. Midwestern cold gets into your bones in a way that the desert cold never did.
Another way I've experimented with extending my wardrobe is wearing a neutral long-sleeved shirt underneath a shorter-sleeved or sleeveless dress. Maybe this seems obvious to others, but it hadn't occurred to me before. Maybe it says "Mormon fashion" to some, but it keeps me toasty warm.
Around the house, I wear an old-fashioned chenille housecoat/robe over sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Until I found my space heater, I was wearing three layers to bed. It's damn cold.
There's so much more I want to say, but I don't want to let the perfect be the enemy of the good; I thought any post was better than no post, so this is what you have. I've had a migraine all day, and last night had a bat in my house and this evening the Roto Rooter guy freeing my pipes from tree roots.
How do you stay warm in the winter? How do you keep your clothes organized?