Matching Your Wardrobe with Your Hats

Men will not like this post. Why? Sometimes truth hurts. But, for the most part, women were created to be the ones who can most effectively multitask. Today, across America you will find men sitting in their lounge chairs after work struggling with a remote….while in the kitchen a woman talks on the phone, cooks dinner, changes out laundry cycles, feeds the dog, and does homework with a child…all at the same time!


We most often wear the majority of hats…whether single, married, or retired…women easily accept different roles. We are the relational ones who want the hats…after all not many guys go to the restroom together! Right?


We have a career hat…mom hat…grandmother hat…volunteer hat…wife hat….friend hat…daughter hat…aunt hat….and also special talents hats! I wrote out all of my duties as a mother once and it was too long to post here but included baker, cook, teacher, party planner (now wedding planner), taxi, maid, etc. etc.


My question today is HOW DO YOU DRESS FOR ALL THE HATS? As a woman on a teacher’s income, I have to make certain that my wardrobe serves many purposes. I try to think of all of the mileage I can get before I make a purchase. As I stated in my previous post, I did this when I picked the wedding outfit. Mileage is an important plus for me.


Are there any of you who buy in sections: outfits for work, outfits for play, outfits for dates, etc?? Please share with us how that strategy works. Or are some of you like me…seeking multitasking for the wardrobe as well!!


  Please join in the conversation….I have to go now and put on the teacher hat!!

13 Comments

  1. Oh yes, there are a few different women in my closet! But lately I've been trying to stick to pieces that can do double- or triple-duty. A pair of black slacks can go to work or out to a nice dinner or party (with the right top). I think the simpler the pieces, the easier they are to multi-task. Which I guess is a good lesson for our lives…keep it simple! 😉

  2. hahaha-so true about your example of men and women. I just buy stuff I like, not really thinking of where I will wear it. And according to most, I dress up way to much for my mom hat!!

  3. Une femme – I agree with you re: making our pieces work double-duty. Most of my work pieces can go casual, b/c of the nature of my job. Same with crossing over to civic/volunteer activities. I have a *very* small selection of dress-up clothes. Pam, I love your photos!

  4. What a great point about us women wearing so many hats. And I believe you when you say the mom duties list was too long to post, because I feel like a mom's duties are never ending.

    I usually try to shop for clothes that can pull double duty. I do find myself purchasing clothes for work more often than the casual stuff. One thing I look for when I purchase an item is if I can wear it for multiple seasons. You get a lot of wear out of an item if you can wear it more than just in the summer, etc.

  5. I'm so with you, my clothes have to multitask, I can't afford to have different sets. I usually do pretty basic pieces and then get more creative, or more "me" with accessories, especially bags and scarves.

  6. My entire wardrobe can work for every aspect of my life. Excluding the one or two party dresses. But in general everything can be worn everywhere. I just change accessories (shoes, jewels, etc) for the occasion to dress up or dress down the outfit.

    I wear dancer clothes when I'm working out at circus school. It's more like dancing but 30 ft in the air. But it's a very leotard, shrug, leg warmers kind of environment. So, that's a fun thing to dress differently for.

    xo,
    Tracy

  7. I wear everything everywhere. The only time I have different clothes is when I go swimming – I wear a swimming suit. 🙂 I have a limit on space for my clothing… due to my living in a rockstar RV. And I don't think we need to have different clothes for everything! I have lived in Asia and there are VERY POOR people there that own 1 pair of flip flops and that is all for their shoes!! And they are super happy…. so I figure I am super lucky to even have a choice. We are truly blessed to live in the U.S. I wish you all enough. Cheers!

  8. Is that one of your students in the last photo? Cool! I think wearing so may hats is one reason I tend to gravitate toward what I call sportwear. I can dress it up or dress it down, as the situation demands. That's one reason I had so few dresses when Rags began.

  9. Oh, Pam, now I am dying to make my list and see how many roles I play as a mother/wife! This is going to be interesting! xo

  10. SO interesting! Like some of the other commenters, I like to be able to wear the same clothes everywhere — I just put them together differently. (Of course, I don't wear shorts to work, or certain jackets out to get ice cream, etc.)

    Ironically, I've always felt that I'm an honorary guy, because I don't think I multi-task well at all! (Good thing I didn't have kids). But my clothes multi-task quite well. I'm always thrilled when I can wear something with my "teacher" hat that also works for my "going out on Saturday night" hat.

  11. I love your questions!
    They are so well thought out and i can tell you really are sincere!
    I don't shop with anything in mind, if i see something, i usually get it and i know i'll wear it whether now, later or someday!

    There is an exception, that's event shopping.
    I do enjoy wearing something "new", thrifted included and is still "new" to me, so i will go out with a 'concept" in mind, like do i wish to look bohemian or dressy (weddings),
    though it seems that i usually DON"T end up wearing what i bought, but rather an outfit i had in mind from my collection anyway!
    (I always start with s look and go out for the perfect scarf,shoe,etc………)

    Great question!
    xXx
    Reva

  12. This is such a GREAT post and it's nice to see some diversity on the blogosphere! Here here to strong, beautiful, smart women.

    I used to definitely buy in "sections" but always wanted to wear my "play" clothes to the office. Now that I stay at home and freelance – I feel so free!

    xoxo
    Stacey Kay
    “Runway Inspiration, Vintage Decoration”
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