So, the dreaded “formal skirt suit” day arrived. You know, the kind of day that just pops up on your calendar, usually with very little warning, demanding you look like you stepped out of a business magazine from 1998.
The Panic Begins
I got this email, right? Big important meeting. Last minute, of course. My brain immediately went: “What am I gonna wear?” My usual smart casual wasn’t going to cut it. This screamed for a formal skirt suit. My stomach dropped. I haven’t needed one of those in ages. Seriously, who even wears them anymore unless they’re, like, a lawyer on TV?
First, I did the obligatory closet dive. Pulled out this old thing I think I bought for my cousin’s wedding ten years ago. Tried it on. Nope. The skirt was too tight, the jacket looked like I’d borrowed it from my much smaller, much more serious aunt. It was a disaster. I spent a good hour trying to convince myself it was “vintage” or “classic.” It wasn’t. It was just old and sad.
The Shopping Ordeal
So, I had to go shopping. Ugh. The very next day, my only free slot. I dragged myself to the department store. The lighting in those places is designed to make you hate yourself, I swear. Everything looked either too frumpy or ridiculously over-the-top. I wanted something simple, professional, not something that screamed “I’m trying too hard!”
I must have tried on at least fifteen different suits. Here’s a rundown of my frustrations:
- Skirts that were either too long and made me feel like a grandma, or too short and made me feel… well, inappropriate for this “big important meeting.”
- Jackets with weird shoulder pads. Are we bringing those back? Please, no.
- Fabrics that felt cheap and scratchy, even with a hefty price tag.
- Colors! Black is safe, but boring. Navy? Maybe. Grey? Felt like a uniform.
I was getting so frustrated. The sales assistants were hovering, offering “helpful” suggestions that were anything but. “This one is very popular!” one chirped, holding up something that looked like it was made of shiny tarpaulin. I just wanted to scream.
The Compromise
After what felt like an eternity, I found one. Just one. It wasn’t perfect, mind you. The skirt was a tiny bit longer than I’d ideally want, and the jacket was a classic cut, maybe a little too classic. But it fit. It was a decent quality fabric. And it was black, so, you know, safe. I bought it. Mostly because I was exhausted and couldn’t face another fitting room.
I got it home, hung it up, and just stared at it. This symbol of corporate conformity. Was it worth all that hassle? Probably not. The meeting went fine, by the way. I don’t think anyone even noticed the suit, to be honest. They were more interested in the actual work stuff. Shocking, I know.
So, that’s my adventure with the formal skirt suit. It’s now hanging in my closet, probably waiting another ten years for its next outing. I’m just hoping that by then, we’ll all have moved on to something more comfortable. Maybe professional pajamas? A girl can dream.
