Monday, January 11, 2010

A Change of Plans, My Default "Power Suit" and Food Judgment

Good evening! Today was day one of my three seminar stretch for the week and I have to say, I'm exhausted! Putting on a seminar for two hours is more draining than a run! I had this fantastic plan all mapped out for my run today. My seminar was ending around 3:30, so I'd get home around 4:30, leaving me with plenty of daylight to run 3.5 miles outdoors in the glorious above freezing weather. Sadly, this got put to a halt as I was needed back at the office. Which meant that I wasn't getting home until at least six. To darkness. So my only option was going home, getting my gym gear and going to the track at the gym to bang out 3.5 uneven miles. I then realized that the only things I had eaten all day were greek yogurt and two oatmeal cookies at the hotel (I tend not to eat before a presentation). Soooo, I made the executive decision to instead come home, whip up a batch of Annie's organic white cheddar whole wheat shells with peas (loves!) and drink a green machine drink. Instead of running I did 30 minutes of hip opening yoga, and I'll get my 3.5 miles in tomorrow (outdoors, woot!) since I'll be arriving in Garden City around 3. Sweet!

Whenever I have to present I always seem to fall back on one particular suit. I think I own somewhere around 15 suits. Classic fashion advice seems to suggest that a woman should own at least one suit; I would up that requirement to three, even if your office is business casual. I purchased my new favorite suit last summer at Banana Republic- it was so new to the store that they had it available in my size in the jacket, pants AND skirt. If you ever have the option to purchase a suit with both the pants and the skirt, do it. It gives you more bang for the buck in the sense that you can work more outfits out of it!

I really love BR suits. They are cut perfectly for my frame! The only drawback is the fairly steep price; I try to buy them in classic cuts and prints so that they will be worth the investment.

My latest BR love:
You can't really tell from the picture, but it's a medium grey with a thin white stripe.

Close up shot of the color:

Sorry for the random weird picture of my leg. I'm going to wear the same suit on Wednesday with the skirt.

When wearing a suit I rarely (if ever) wear a button up collared shirt with it. That's what I typically did in the past and it is such a pain to finagle with the collar over the jacket. I generally wear thin shells, camisoles or thin sweaters underneath my suit jacket. This way I never worry about whether or not my collar is sticking out!


Do you have to wear suits for work? How many suits do you own?

So when I was at the grocery store earlier purchasing my Naked Green Machine drink, the cashier gave it a weird look and said "that looks healthy". I told her that it was actually quite good. She said that she could tell from the contents of my shopping basket that I eat healthily. I asked her if she evaluated customers' purchases on the regular (I always wondered that!). The cashier said that she did and that you wouldn't believe some of the stuff people buy. She said it made her the most angry to see families with overweight children purchasing a bunch of "crap", like oreos, ramen and the like.

I hate to say this but when I'm at the grocery store I tend to look at other people's carts to see what they are getting. When I see someone with a cart full of nutritionally void food, I get very judgmental. Why are they purchasing that stuff? Do they want to have a heart attack? Then I feel guilty, because who am I to judge? It's not like I eat perfectly. Do you guys find yourself evaluating other people's food choices?

Have a great evening everyone! I'm meeting up with one of my oldest friends tomorrow (she recently moved to Long Island) and we are hitting up a delicious Italian restaurant. I can't wait! Night!

18 comments:

  1. I do the EXACT same thing at the grocery store-- judge, and then feel guilty! It's just hard not too.

    Of course, I think the store checkout people all hate me because I show up in line with "mystery" produce that they have to look up the bar codes for, haha. I guess a lot of people aren't buying kale and rutabagas?

    Love your suit! It's funny-- because I've always worked as a college instructor, I've never really had to "dress up"...not yet anyway. If I ever formally went on the academic job market, obviously I'd have to wear a suit, but until then...I'm good in jeans and a sweater! I always WANT to wear a suit though, because I think they're so pretty! Love the ones at BR and J Crew especially. So crisp and sleek!

    Good luck presenting!

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  2. love the suit! Skirt and pant option is a good idea. BR has some great cloths. Have fun at your dinner tomorrow!

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  3. I definitely judge other people's grocery carts. Do you ever read Post Secret? There was a secret about that recently. (It wasn't mine!) I showed it to my fiance and was like, "I totally do this!"

    I own two suits. I have only worn them for job interviews.

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  4. I just found your blog - it's great! I'm also an attorney, and I got married 4 months ago. I work in a business casual office so I only have to wear a suit if I'm attending a client meeting, but yours looks great.

    I don't really judge at the grocery store, but I do when I see someone eating fast food, or carrying something they just picked up at a fast food restaurant. I just wonder how people can make such unhealthy choices!

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  5. I'm always peeking in other people's carts! Haha I'm not sure if I'm judging or if I'm just trying to evaluate how the rest of America eats (because I am going to be a registered dietitian). I don't wear suits yet (ah the joy of being a sloppy college student) but I will soon. I'll be sure to look at BR

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  6. I only wear suits when I have meetings with clients or if I'm at an offsite trip. The rest of the time I'm very casual at work!

    I am also guilty of looking at people's carts. I do it more as a form of people watching and since I think about food most of the time anyways, this makes sense!

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  7. Great suit! I do own a suit. I bought it in 2001 and just pulled the pants out of the closet because they need to be hemmed only to realize the tags are still on the pants. Yeah, I own one but have never worn it.

    I look at what other people are buying as well, but only when I'm shopping sans kids.

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  8. I check out other people's food too sometimes. It's so sad to see what some people buy, but most times cost is a huge factor and the crappy stuff is cheapest - so they think biggest bang for their buck.

    I own three suits I think - I don't have to wear them on a regular basis. I hate how expensive they are! My hubby has to wear them everyday!

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  9. Cute suit. I love Banana Republic! I don't think there is a thing in that store I wouldn't want. Glad the presenation went well.

    Enjoy meeting up with your friend.

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  10. you can judge its ok, its human nature to do that. I do the same thing like if I am in a restaurant and see huge people ordering unhealthy crap. it almost makes me mad.

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  11. Way cute suit! My job only requires me to wear a suit jacket about 1 week of the year. So I haven't really invested in a full outfit yet, but I would like to. It would make more sense if I had more opportunity to wear it I suppose.

    Ant that is interesting about the check - out store lady. I used to work at starbucks and would wonder about the people who would order a venti sized latte with the half/half used instead of milk. UGGHH! Seriously - these people would come in everyday and drink 20 oz of steamed half & half. And you know, I just kept thinking that can't be good for you. You know, everyday. But then again if it makes them happy whatever. I am trying to just worry about myself these days. But it definitely sparks conversation!

    Have fun at the italian restraunt! :)

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  12. Have fun tonight with your girlfriend. Love the suit!! Please don't judge me when I come and see you because I will NOT be drinking your green drink, lol....Love Ya

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  13. Hi Katie,
    You look so darn cute/professional in that suit. I wear scrubs to work two days a week and professional attire the other two days. I own two suits I purchased one from Express and the other from Macy's. I will have to check out BR and J Crew:)

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  14. It seems that I am not the norm but I dont judge other people for what they have in their carts. Its probably because I was once obese and have been judged most of my adult life. Some people dont know any better, cant afford healthy stuff or just dont care.

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  15. PS - You pull that suit off great! Since I've lost all this weight I have not purchased a suit. I am waiting until I reach my goal weight and maybe I'll check out BR!

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  16. I definitely look at other buggies but I also evaluate my buggy. Once a lady in my school system was in front of me in the check out line and gave me huge compliments about my selection.

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  17. I own one suit...it's from J-Crew. I only whip it out for interviews. Thankfully a career in psychology typically equals very little suit wearing. I totally agree about the dress shirt over the suit collar thing. Such a pain!

    I'd never thought about food judgement before, but honestly, I don't think I have any. I'm all about letting people make their own choices. Although I typically eat healthfully, I slip up daily! So I just don't feel like I can judge anyone else.

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  18. Your suit is so cute! It fits you perfectly. I honestly don't own any suits right now, and I'm waiting until I hit my goal weight to buy any real investment pieces.

    Hypocritical as it may sound, I definitely am a food judger. I try not to care, but I think significant weight loss really changes the way you view our society.

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