i think it's brave: corporate office outfit diary
week of may 19
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!! To kick this delayed newsletter off, I have a tiny secret to finally share. Getting dressed for work has been a little more difficult than I’ve led on lately, because at almost 24 weeks pregnant, half of my closet has been packed away!
I’ve been journaling a lot about the experience (and now that the cat’s out of the bag, you might see some of it!!!), and while it’s had its mental challenges and stressors, I cannot complain about the physical experience of my pregnancy. At first, people would ask how I was feeling in a way that felt leading, like they wanted me to complain. So I did, I had been tired and a little nauseous, right? But one day I realized that, actually, I was feeling pretty great! After last year’s loss, this is all I wanted. I’ve been able to stay active and am not constantly sick. I’m sure, in a month or two, it will come - I will be sweaty and uncomfortable and feel very very big. But for now, I am just so grateful for the overly active baby girl using my belly as her own personal bouncy house.
As for how this changes my COODs? Well, I can tell you that my logs for getting dressed might carry a bit more frustration. I’m also going to be wearing the same items over and over again, so I’m going to have to get creative if I want to keep it fresh. A RTR membership this month will hopefully help in that department too.
But for the most part, I think it’ll look the same. As we all experience changes in our lives and our closets and our bodies, we still have to get dressed to go to work. And I think the thoughts around that are universal no matter what!
Let’s see what we left the house in…
Monday 5/19
Sunday night game plan: tomorrow I am giving a presentation to all of US sales and I’ve been practicing like crazy. The presentation is in person but it will be live streamed to the whole company, so it’s kind of a big deal! As I said in my last newsletter, I am going to wear one of the outfits I wore in Chicago, because it made me feel very confident. Navy J.Crew flares, white button down, vintage Prada kitten heels, a fun turquoise necklace from Sezane and a camel colored Max Mara blazer that is quickly becoming a big hitter in my closet.
Monday morning: auto-pilot dressing this morning, my favorite! I do my makeup and my lovely husband drives me to a different train station so I can get to work early to be mic’d up.
Tuesday 5/20
Monday night game plan: I get in bed to read the Hunger Games prequel at 8:30 and am asleep by 9.
Tuesday morning: I try on some COS trousers and realize they need to be moved into my “no longer fits” bin. Another one bites the dust. Instead, I pull on a pair of drawstring pinstriped pants and add a new long-line top I got from Mango. But, when trying sweater options, I realize that it’s just too cold for this today. With little time left, I default to my red J.Crew flares, which I know fit, and a short sleeve cashmere sweater from Theory. I add a printed silk scarf AND zebra print flats because I am feeling a little extra this morning. It works! Off we go!
Wednesday 5/21
Tuesday night game plan: I see this fitted white dress from my bachelorette party in my closet, and think I can wear it as a skirt. I’ll try tomorrow.
Wednesday morning: Starting with the dress as a base, I try multiple top options. My Gap big shirt in black is too much volume, so I swap for a navy men’s Everlane sweater which is a longer layer. Because I have time, I want to try a blazer but then I can’t figure out how to belt it as a top. So I go BACK to my sweater idea but this time I try it in black. I like this the best, especially for a dreary May day in New York. I was channeling
a bit with this combo, she’s been so creative with her outfits while pregnant, it’s inspiring me to look at my closet in different ways.Thursday 5/22
Wednesday night game plan: tomorrow it’s going to rain alllllll day. What happened to APRIL showers?! It’s almost June and we have barely had any sun :( I anticipate lots of black, because city rain is dirty rain.
Thursday morning: I slept a measly 5.5 hours after a very sad Knicks OT loss. As predicted, it’s pouring and freezing, so I go straight for black. These black Zara pants have been a real savior, and I pair them with a black Gap button down and Gucci slides (once I get to the office). I pile on necklaces and big gold earrings to distract from the bags under my eyes. This is as good as it’s going to get today folks.
Friday 5/23
Working from home today! I am heading in for a growth scan early this morning. These vintage carpenter jeans are men’s that my sister sourced, she found me 2 pairs and I am relying on them heavily when I am not at work. They’re low rise and very worn in, perfect pregnancy jeans for spring!
Saturday 5/24 + Sunday 5/25
Saturday night we went for drinks with my parents and my sister. It was cold and rainy so I wore a cashmere sweater, some gold jewelry, brown flats and these pink silk pants I am renting. In hindsight, the sweater was not the most flattering option, but at least I was warm.
Sunday we started the day at the gym and then went for a big walk. Starting to dress the bump is some tighter things actually makes it look so cute?!
Sunday night we went to my family’s club opening party at the beach - though it was not beach weather! I tried 18 different outfits on before landing on the above. It felt a little kitschy red white & blue but if not this weekend, then when?! The top is SEA from TRR, the jeans and sweater are COS, the shoes are Target and my bag is from a sidewalk sale by 2 teenage girls in London. *note that these jeans are 4 sizes up from my regular size*
Book Shelf
Just finished: Sunrise on the Reaping
Did not finish: Care and Feeding (I read 100 pages of this and gave up. Horrible.)
Next up: Any suggestions?!
Chef’s Corner
We made these chicken thighs on the grill for the week, so good every single time.
Wishlist Items?!
This short-sleeve knit polo from J.Crew. But what do I actually need? Another one of these Gap bras that are the most comfortable fabric I’ve ever worn. It’s a problem when the 1 I own is in the wash.
smiling sooooo big at my computer screen at work right now!! congratulations meighan!!! you and baby girl are looking SO CUTE
You’re about four weeks ahead of me! I’m so happy for you!!!!