This morning when I was driving to work, Cher’s Greatest Hits blaring through my Ipod, I was mentally planning my outfit for this evening. The questions I asked myself were rather frightening – Where is my Year 12 footy jumper? Are my tracksuit pants clean? Did I leave my slippers at Mr Smaggle’s house? One would assume that I’m planning an evening on the couch by myself but what I’m actually doing is going to my best friend’s house to eat dinner, drink wine, annihilate an entire block of chocolate and talk about life and love. Surely this requires a pair of jeans at the very least? Not so for us. For some reason we never EVER dress up for each other and we all know that not dressing up for me is like not breathing. This got me thinking… who do you dress up for in your life? And who do you not dress up for? And when? And why? Oh I do love a good fashion debate! Here’s a few important people or groups of important people that I have done mini-fashion profiles on to see what inspires good grooming in Lady Smaggle…
- Who? My best friend Loz.
- How often do I dress up for her? Never, unless we plan on appearing in public together which we rarely do.
- Why? We’ve been besties since we were 10 years old. I think once you’ve seen someone wet their pants or blow snot all over their face then all bets are off. Being friends with her has made me realise that true friendship is very unglamourous… but really, really beautiful. Also I think that we created a precedent for our daggy outfits back in year 5. We’ll always be the grubby little girls climbing trees and rolling around in the dirt.
- Typical outfit? Grey, baggy tracksuit pants, footy jumper, Daddy Smaggle’s Explorer socks and a beanie. We like to sit outside on chilly evenings, drinking wine and slurring drunken life theories. I would die of shame if ANYONE else saw me but I’m totally raw and neutral around Loz. Always.
- Who? My immediate family.
- How often do I dress up for them? Never but always. They just have to cope with whatever phase I’m going through.
- Why? I was raised in a very ‘open door’ household. We Smaggles have no secrets and in the Smaggle Castle, pants are optional. I never feel self conscience around my family.
- Typical outfit? God only knows! A turban, a silk dressing gown, 1980’s overalls, knee high socks, cargo shorts, evening gowns. The true fashion comes out when I’m at home.
- Who? Mr Smaggle.
- How often do I dress up for him? Most of the time.
- Why? I guess I’m just an old fashioned gal at heart and I like to be desired. We’ve been together long enough that I don’t need to impress him anymore but I generally avoid looking homeless when I’m around him. I think relationships only lose their magic if you let them.
- Typical outfit? A maxi dress, head scarf and bangles for lounging around his apartment. General spiffy attire for when we are out and about.
- Who? My crew.
- How often do I dress up for them? Always. Like my bestie Loz, we spend a lot of time drinking gin and talking shit but I always dress to the nines when hanging with my group.
- Why? I have some serious sartorial competition in my group. There’s Steph who dresses like a 1950’s bombshell. There’s Na who always rocks matching accessories and killer red lipstick and nail polish. There’s Tain who dresses like Kate Moss, Ted who does tomboy-cute like no one I’ve ever met before and Fee who has a pixie cut and sports the most divine of coats. One must really raise the fashion bar around these cuties.
- Typical outfit? Heels, funky skirts, unusual dresses, massive earrings, heaps of bangles. I also test drive most of my weird fashion items on these gals. They were the first to see me in the turban, my stack of antique watches, ankle socks with heels, the bright green eyeshadow… all which were met with enthusiasm. I love my ladies.
- Who? Work colleagues.
- How often do I dress up for them? Everyday. Although occasionally I will drag myself out of bed minutes before I’m supposed to arrive at work and on those days I look less than fresh.
- Why? Because I think it’s polite to arrive at work not looking like you crawled out from underneath a rock. Simple as that.
- Typical outfit? Pretty much what I wear everyday in my daily outfit shots. I have a pretty relaxed dress code so I’m not too crazy at work. I keep my puppies hidden and I try to keep my skirt at a respectable length but apart from that anything goes!
Over to you my pretties! Who are the people that you dress to impress? Who are the people who are privileged enough to see you in your skanky pants? Feel free to use my mini-fashion profile layout to share your thoughts!
Love Lady Smaggle
xxx
P.S I must add a disclaimer that I totally lose the fashion plot when I’m cold. Get me a moth ridden blanket, a poncho, a men’s dressing gown… I don’t care! I’d rather look like a quivering heap of garbage than be cold.
16 Comments
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Well I don’t own trackies or a Year 12 footy jumper, but I have been known to wear only Bonds undies and a singlet top around my dear boy. i live alone so I don’t get dressed much if I’m not leaving the house.
Other than that, I pretty much dress up for everybody 🙂
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I dress for me and then dilute when appropriate.
Smart mad for work or client meetings.
Discreet mad around the peeps who won’t appreciate the cleave or the tattoos.
Cheer-up mad for chores and drudge.
And so on.
The only person I ever take notice of is my dear husband who has absolutely no agenda and will truthfully tell me when it isn’t working – and even then I reserve the right to wear it (ugly mad).
Other than that – most things need to be adjusted for motorcycle riding which I do at least once or twice a day (stuff it in/under voluminous bike gear mad). -
I am glad I’m not the only person who is a slob (albeit a very comfy one) around my best friend. Ianthe and I would probably die if anyone else came over when we are wearing tracky pants and bleach stained ex-boyfriend jumpers, but just for us it’s perfect.
Everyone else I generally dress up for. Even my parents. I wish I could say the same though – I go to mum’s house for dinner and she’s cooking in pyjama pants and a bra. While I’m not a prude, I often wonder how she avoids getting hot oils splashes on her decolletage.
This is an awesome post my dear, a very wonderful look inside the world of Smaggle 😉
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I dress up when I feel likei t, really! Usually it’s for me, I enjoy wearing pretty things.
I don’t dress up for work, as there’s not really a dress code in my office, and I’d rather my nicer things were kept for joyful occasions!
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I definitely have levels of comfort around different groups of friends… there are those that I’d feel fine walking round in daggy trackies with my flab hanging out and then those that I always want to feel immaculate around. It’s funny how there’s an expected level between friends although it’s never explicitly stated.
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Oooh, what a thought provoking discussion! Actually, interestingly, when a normally typically slightly frumpish gal pal of mine arranged a shopping date with me the other day, she arrived in a pretty dress, most unusual, but a pleasant surprise… apparently I’m the person she dresses up for!
Me, I dress up when I need to make myself feel good (oh, that would be every day!). When I’m looking good, I feel in control, it’s just no good facing a day with the children looking and feeling crap – away with the trackies. I even break out the pointy shoes more these days, although the jeans are still a fav part of my uniform. I just love ambling around the supermarket in my high heels – yes, I’m a strange one!
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Ha, just remembered my first P&C meeting about a month ago. Apparently you just cant be taken seriously if you are wearing anything more exciting than navy blue trackie-dacks and matching crew neck jumper (extra cred if it is a little threadbare), that canteen lady sure did look down on me. I must remember to dumb it down a little for the next one…ackkk.
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What a great question! I think I dress up for pretty much everyone except my hubby at this point, including my fam. Unless I’m trapped inside all day, I’d rather do myself up and feel awesome.
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Great idea for a post, I love that you and your bestie where just whatever! 🙂 I def always dress up for work too, there is the rare day (like today!) when it is so freakin cold that I am not so dressy but still professional.
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Great topic!! I hear you re the bestie situation… I used to live with mine and we would get around in our underwear half the time (every blokes dreaM?)!! Think we gave the neighbours a scare from time to time probably should of ‘dressed’ for them!!
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I’ve always been a bit sporty and so usually go for comfort. I’m no fashionista, but things do need to match and look crisp. Even when I’m covered in paint and have my work clothes on I still try to look neat, unless I’m feeling particularly arty and then I’ll let the hair go mad and “accidentally” smear appropriately placed splodges of paint on my face. I’m a wanker, but it’s part of my charm.
Hmmm, do I dress up for anyone? Yes, for random crushes, especially if you know you’ll see them for a little bit, but won’t be able to talk to them for long – what the conversation lacks the outfit can sometimes make up for, and I can give that vibe of “oh I’m super classy and dress very nicely, but my aren’t I busy, la-di-da, must go, can’t talk, swish swish swish.”
My style changes a lot though, there’s work Ruin, girly Ruin, punk Ruin, I just rolled out of bed Ruin, been to the gym Ruin, obviously never got out of the emo phase Ruin… Lady S, you’re probably more aware than I am on my style. If you can name it please do, for now I’ll go with daggy.
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One person who looms large in my mind when I get dressed is my ex-boyfriend, a rather natty dresser and harsh critic of others’ dress. My simply going to get the paper on Saturday morning with wet hair can summon him up out of nowhere. I have to be careful! It never works of course and I always see him when I’m wearing unironed shirts, running clothes etc.
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I love Ted’s sailor shorts 😀
I dress for me..but probably other women when I go out so I don’t feel like a complete idiot. I like dressing up for my boy when we’re going out- makes a change from trackies!
Only recently for me!
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Hey that’s my friend from primary school in the photo!
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Hmmm… I tend to dress more for occasions or destinations than people. Also the more strangers I’m likely to have looking at me, the better I dress.
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I dress for you!
I’m kidding. Partially.
I dress mostly to appease whichever of my multiple, delightful Piscean voices is screeching loudest in my head: Diva Pisces, Drunk Pisces, Riot Girl Pisces, Academic Pisces, French Schoolgirl Pisces, Hippie Pisces, Hipster Pisces, Nancy Cunard Pisces, Saucy Secretary Pisces, 50s Housewife Pisces, Courtney Love Pisces, Cowgirl Pisces… if I don’t, I end up feeling like I’ve just walked out of a mental institution. So to answer the question: if I actually manage to get dressed, I dress up.
