Superficially speaking; Clothes

A week or two ago, I wore a new outfit when I went to my mom's house. It wasn't really new, just a refashioning of old stuff, including an old t-shirt of Jeff's. I felt amazingly comfortable in it. Not just physically, it was comfortable to wear, but it felt like me. I would describe the style as "boho" or gypsy and it was shades of gray. My mom and sister complimented me. Not like I was asking about the outfit, but of their own accord, that not only did they like the clothes, but the style was flattering to me.

Being me, if I find something that works, I like to make a rule out of it. We like tacos? Great! Taco Tuesday it is! The kids are more willing to brush their teeth and get dressed if we are going outside? Great! It's part of our routine- get ready to go outside! And so, being so comfortable and complimented, I drove home thinking "this is my new style!" I immediately started planning how I would achieve this.  What items did I need to buy or make or pull out of my closet to put outfits together? What rules could I follow to bring this style into being?

Okay, so rules and using what works is quite practical. I have to admit I enjoy being practical. I don't like to have a lot of shoes or lipstick colors to choose from. I like what works. Routines help us stay focused and grounded and calm. They help get things done. This is all great. I like to think I'm a productive person and this is all part of that.

But...

One day I was thinking of wearing the aforementioned outfit, or putting something similar together and guess what? I didn't feel like wearing that style. Perhaps I was going to clean the toilet and couldn't have flowy things falling in. Or maybe I was going to the grocery store and wanted something more ... whatever. Then we are always going to the playground and I didn't want to snag the scarf. And it dawned on me.
Maybe I don't need multiple outfits of the same thing. Perhaps I can just enjoy that one perfect outfit on the days that's what I want to wear. And then I have a mom day outfit or one for days I'm going visiting teaching or what I wear when we meet friends at the park. I could even have an outfit for staying home and scrubbing toilets and tubs and mopping the floor. Maybe it's even okay if I wear the same one or two outfits to church each week!

It kind of makes me feel scattered to have different styles on different days. Like I'm not really being honest to who I am if one day it's gypsy and the next more preppy. It probably sounds silly but this is an important thing to learn about myself. I've accepted that I like only one lipstick and two pairs of shoes (okay, I have three- sneakers and two for church- and I'm really wanting some flip flops for summer!). Now maybe I need to accept that I have different roles on different days and that it's okay if I also have different moods. Dress up one day, extremely down the next. It's okay!!