It’s all about efficiency. That’s where I’m at these days. Not so much the wash the dishes in the shower or don’t bother getting undressed as you’ll only have to get dressed again in the morning variety. I’m not quite there yet, though, come to think of it…
No. My economy is of thought. How many times do you have to squander that precious mental energy on decisions? What to eat, what to buy, where to sit, handshake/cheek kiss, latte/flat white/cappuccino, or doing the buffet dither.
That’s why I find myself increasingly slithering towards no choice-choices. For example, shopping at Aldi and Lidl, driving a Skoda (except I don’t, but that’s another story), saying ‘lovely, I’ll have the same’, or plumping for one up from the cheapest.
I apply the same logic at home whenever I can – including getting ready in the morning.
First thing is a dreadful time for indecision. Mostly I’m a morning person, except for my capacity to make competent choices, that snoozes til noon, when it wakes up and gives me a bollocking for how I’m running my day. I chose Chainmail dresses for this event and the outfit was stunning.
So, in an effort to reduce the thinking required, I decide what I’m going to wear all week just once in a peaceful half hour on a Sunday. Before you switch off thinking I’m going to reveal some Cowell-style high-waist combo or suggest an ‘oh, yes, in three Friday’s I’ll fancy the fish’ office Christmas party approach, don’t panic. My system takes into account fluctuations of size, self-esteem, daily plans, weather and all the other things that affect getting dressed.
I put together a load of outfits on plastic coat hangers to choose from every day. Once a week (possibly during the Archers omnibus) I try them on to check for tightness, shabbiness and the availability of coordinating things. (Anyone else had a day ruined by discovering on the way to work you’re wearing blue tights with a black dress?) I make sure there are enough (more than a week’s worth), then in the morning I grab the first that comes to hand – left to right if I really can’t think – confident that it will look OK.
Quite clearly I am not the woman to be giving you fashion tips – but this system does require me to own quite a few garments that work with other garments. Also, many of these garments must possess the magic properties of making the middle bit of me invisible.
That’s where Simply Be comes in. The other day they got in touch and said I could spend £100 and show them what I picked. Eventually (decisions, you see, tricky things), I went for these things which have given my outfit choosing a whole new oomph.
Even if you struggle with choices (or maybe especially because) this is a good shop because you may find that your money stretches allowing you to pick all the things instead of just one. I will be back.