Dress up; Show up and never forget to keep a reminder to Iron your clothes

 

             When a group of friends get together, when a conversation is started, what is inevitable is the customary exchange of compliments on external appearances. There are some who would dress up to impress, there are some who would tone down their preferences for maintaining a societal image, there are some who think clothing has to be simple. Whatever the way of dressing is, it is acceptable to an onlooker who has trained his/her mind to be broadminded. Societal norms are precursor to one’s dressing sense and a little experimentation is needed now and then to keep us engaged in dressing up, because we need to show up and survive every day. When you wear similar clothes every day, which you have no intention of wearing and do so because of a certain reason (the list is endless) you would be bored of the clothes you are wearing every day, and ultimately be bored of yourself (really?). The cycle is repetitive, endless and the end result is you would not only be unhappy with the way you dress up but feel lousy as well.

            Then there are a set of people who transform themselves into someone so remarkably well dressed only when they step out of the house. The question is, when we spend a considerable amount of time inside our homes in today’s lock down situation and when the work from home trend is going strong, our presence in our home should also be remarkable, isn’t it? Just because you are cooking an elaborate meal or cleaning the house, wearing a night dress at home always is not an excuse. This preposition for you to be well dressed is only for yourself and do not do it for others, who would be ready to judge you based on your external appearance. Dressing up smartly is part of the smart therapy you have to give yourself every day, because if you don’t deserve it, then who else would.

                   Age is just a number, so is your list of reasons for not dressing up the way you would prefer yourself to be. A homemaker should remove the thought that ‘being presentable and wearing smart clothes even at home, is only for the ivy league’. When someone in your circle suppresses your intention to be presentable always, do not hesitate to give them a piece of your mind, for consequences that arise out of a temporary dispute can be resolved, but damage created on your self-image due to continuously wearing a night dress is irreparable. Do not lose out on the happiness that fills your heart when you believe that you are always well dressed.

   Smart tips to dress up, show up and never give up:  

1.      It is not necessary to splurge money to dress up smartly. You can patronage local brands and stores and look up on a clothing sale for being well dressed.

2.       The choice is always yours when it comes to selecting clothing, for none can know you better than yourself. Never go by other’s opinion on colour, sizing, and the type of clothing.  

3.      Refrain from being judgmental on other’s dressing sense, since we do not need this excess baggage when it is time for others to be judgmental on us. Showing disappointment on someone’s way of dressing on their face would not only damage their self- image but show us in very poor light.

4.      Whether you decide to wash and iron your clothes inhouse or you decide to outsource the chore. Do it on a daily basis. Never put off doing laundry for tomorrow, for the day will never come.

5.      If you want your clothes fresh even in rainy weather, soak them with a few drops of natural essential oil like rose, jasmine, lemon or lavender oil. This works wonders to the clothes and will calm your nerves.

6.      I often do a quick survey of the house, so that I neatly stack used and unused clothes separately. A family member should hold the responsibility of re-organizing the clothes of the entire family on a periodical basis, say once in a month so that the clothes are neat, organized and always available for wearing.

               The reminder rings on my phone every time I need to take out the clothes for ironing, for it is a prerequisite in our house that we present ourselves smartly.

Get that smart therapy for yourself, for you deserve it!