I’m embarking on another mini-challenge in the midst of the end of the semester and the A-Z blogging challenge. Yes, I’m a bonafide fool, but that’s just how I roll. I love to put myself under pressure.

My boyfriend and I had a tiff over the weekend about my wardrobe. He’s sick of the pair of jeans that I wear almost every day and would like to see me in the skirts and dresses that line my closet. Now, before you jump all over him about him trying to control me, or his insensitivity about how busy my life is, and why he should love me no matter what I’m wearing (which did come to forefront at the time of said argument), you should know something about me. I get lazy. Often. And I go through phases where I say I’m going to do something and then do it for a little while and not follow through. My boyfriend knows this about me. And he called me out on it. So the argument really isn’t about the wardrobe, per se – it’s about making grandiose statements, spending extensive amounts of money, and then finding excuses as to why I can’t continue.

This happened with my wardrobe. When I started graduate school I wanted to change how I presented myself. I wanted to dress the part of the classy, confident professor. I didn’t want to dress like most of the other students, who looked like they rolled right out of bed and into class. I wanted to show people that I was serious, that I wanted to be there, that this was my future. My boyfriend and I bought a bunch of new clothes for me and even had them tailored. I tried really hard for a while, always going to class in a put together outfit – skirts, heels, and a nice blouse. It was difficult at times to be the only person dressed up, trying not to sweat too much, or have my make-up run and having people look at me like I was crazy for trying so hard. But it got easier, and I learned what worked for me and what didn’t, and people got used to my effort until it became the norm. I figured it was better to be known as the woman who always dressed up rather than the one who never did.

Over the winter, I started in with the excuses about the cold (though I have plenty of tights and a couple pairs of slacks that would have been just fine) and started with the jeans. When it got warmer, I sprinkled in some skirts every once in a while, but it was still the jeans. Even a classmate made a comment about how shocked he was to see me in jeans so often. I fell into a rut. And after Christmas, my boyfriend and I stopped working out as much and gained some weight back, then got sick. Lately, I just haven’t felt like making the effort. So the boyfriend noticed and reminded me about my goals. It hurt a little, to be reminded so smartly, but the boyfriend apologized and we both realized that the fight was a culmination of uncommunicated frustrations and emotional upheaval.

The result came in the form of this challenge.

No pants for 36 days…

It’s just as it reads. I have to wear skirts or dresses everyday for 36 days. And no, this wasn’t the boyfriend’s idea. I decided that in order for dressing up to become habit again I would need to do something more drastic. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. I get back to dressing up everyday, my boyfriend gets to see me in my nice clothes (which he finds incredibly attractive), and the university as well as the world gets to see me as the classy, intelligent, well-dressed woman that I am.

I’ll be documenting this via my new camera, but we’ll see if I decide to post those photos.

Do you feel more confident when you’re dressed well?

Until then..

Study. Engage. Imbibe.