The Story of a Blazer

For many a year, my friend Sarah and I enjoyed chatting at length about professional development and how to comfortably pull off business casual. Sarah wins at professionalism, hands down, being that she's been with the same company at which we met oh-so-many years ago and has gone from a lowly CSR to a certified trainer in a mere five or so years. Maybe longer. But anyway, she always did business casual much better and I did... I know the principles but am unwilling to fork over the dollars for the nicer clothes, and/or what I'm attracted to isn't necessarily the things I should be wearing. I also tend to be rather simple and repetitive. At one point, Sarah's mom was offering to make me skirts because they always saw me wearing the same one (I got rid of it a long time ago though I admit I still think of it now and then) so often. Anyway, with Sarah's influence from afar, my mother's suggestions, and my own wherewithal, I've crafted a professional wardrobe that's maybe 80% ok: modest skirts in black and grey, 3/4 and full sleeve blouses in muted colours, grey sweaters (I have FOUR!), stuff like that. I have a nice pair of black boots and a sparkly pair of black Toms. On casual Fridays and weekends we can wear denim and t-shirts. And then we have the kicker that is the black. knit. blazer.

I probably acquired my black knit blazer sometime last year while I was job hunting. I got a pair of black trousers (at my mother's insistence despite the fact that I don't wear pants) and this nicely cut, multi-buttoned knit blazer. Both of these items sat in the back of my car for probably 6 months or more. Even after I started working, it just didn't occur to me to wear the darn thing. And then I got a new job and moved into a part of the building that needs to be kept cool 24/7 because the servers are there. I needed something nicer than a stained navy blue sweatshirt to keep bundled up in my cube. And though I'm a swaddler in terms of scarves, I don't believe in wearing blankets at work. Enter the wonder that is the black knit blazer.

It's perfect. It keeps me warm. It makes me look professional and pulled together when really I'm a good-natured scatterbrained mess. I can add a touch of personality to the ensemble with a colourful or sparkly scarf, whimsical brooch or rhinestone barrette. It's shocking to me that I let my blazer hang in my closet for so long. Now I'd like to get a couple more blazers (in grey, of course!) to keep it company. I feel silly going on for so long about a jacket but it really was a case of duh.

Perhaps next time we can analyze why I like grey so much and why I felt like 2 grey sweaters was too few while 5 may be too many but for some reason 4 is just right. Does it matter that they're different shades of grey?