I can’t deny that high fashion is amazing. It’s a form of art after all, and leafing through a copy of Vogue is highly inspiring. But when it comes to my everyday life, that crazy life that I lead with a fully packed schedule, taking care of the kids and of the house while working almost full time, I just can’t imagine wearing anything other than casual women’s clothing.
Still not convinced? Here are my main reasons for sticking with casual women’s clothes:
1. They are comfortable! I value comfort above almost anything else, and although I don’t think one should necessarily sacrifice style for comfort (we’ll get to the style factor later), I am unwilling to sacrifice comfort for style. So if a piece of clothing is amazing and totally flattering, but is also restrictive in any way, I won’t buy it.
2. Casual clothes are practical. I like to wear clothes that can be tossed in the washer (ideally in the dryer too) without giving it a second thought. You can do that with most casual items, but not with tailored, elegant pieces that need to be hand washed (like I have the time!) or dry cleaned (as if I have the budget).
3. I need clothes that can be replaced easily. Let’s face it: as a busy mom, my clothes never last too long. I play with my kids, I go with them to the playground, my kids spill things all over me at least once a week. I just can’t wear something so expensive that I won’t be able to replace it if (when!) it gets ruined. Casual items are affordable, which is a huge plus for me. Even if an item gets ruined, I can easily replace it with something else.
4. I need clothes that won’t restrict my movement. I’m busy! I run around a lot. I work, I run errands, I play with my kids. My days are long and there is absolutely no way I can wear clothing that would make me feel restricted or uncomfortable. As much as I think that wool pencil skirts and high-heeled pumps are fabulous, I simply can’t picture myself wearing these items day after day for several hours each day! That would be way too uncomfortable.
5. I believe that a woman can be stylish AND comfortable. “Casual” should NOT be confused with “frumpy!” Casual fashions can be very flattering and in fact many casual items are well-fitting and look absolutely fabulous, which is why I like to say that “casual is the new fabulous.” The modern woman, the woman who lives an extremely demanding lifestyle and has to wear so many different hats throughout the day, need not wear clothing that are uncomfortable or restrictive. She should be able to fill her closet with women’s fashions that unite beauty and style with practicality and comfort.
So, do I never wear anything other than casual women’s clothing? Of course I do. I own several tailored, highly structured items that I wear with high heels, mostly when I go out at night. I love the way I look in these items, but I must confess: after a few hours wearing them, I can’t wait to get back home, take them off and go back to my casual, comfy, fabulous clothes.
