I am an uptown girl. I would say I was raised in an "uptown world" but I believe someone else already has a patent on that phrase. I will say that I come from a nice family and expect that my deportment, or lack thereof, will reflect either well or poorly upon my upbringing. I strive to present a polished and poised visage to the world every day in all facets of life. Working in Engineering presents unique challenges but we all have them don't we?
Therefore, I have Four (4) Wardrobes:
- A sharply-tailored and well-maintained wardrobe for the office
- A small selection of formal attire
- A casual wardrobe that supports a variety of outdoor activities
- Specific clothing for running, soccer, mountain biking, snow sports an yoga
Some of the items cross over between wardrobes like casual and sporty and casual to office. However most of the wardrobes absolutely do not cross over. It took me a long time to figure this out but once I did I was immensely happier with my wardrobe. I could finally streamline each separate set and clearly define what was needed. I really wanted a minimal, streamlined wardrobe that could go everywhere but for the same reasons it won't do to wear cotton trousers while camping, it won't do to wear wool trousers to work year round.
I live in Colorado, a state where inhabitants are issued standard patagonia/north face fleece outerwear with their driver's license. This is not really true but it seems to be the general rule that you must own at least one micro-fleece item if you live here.
There are plenty of great reasons for this and several other peculiar sartorial faux pas. Foremost is the standard forty degree temperature swing from day to night, second, Denver is still in many ways a "cow town." Denver is a tiny urban landscape replete with disheveled and disappearing sidewalks and seething suburbs all dwarfed by soaring mountains to the West. Many of the most charming places in Colorado are remote, wild and unkempt. Which leads us back to the mountains and all they entail including skiing, hiking, climbing, camping, rafting and mountain biking to name a few hobbies of those who live here to play.
Being a native of this great state, I don't discriminate against 'flatlanders' however I divide residents into two categories; those that came for 'the view' and those who came to play.
The real residents spend most of their time outside and require clothing appropriate to the environment which can vary wildly from hour to hour. Any combination of blistering sun, drenching rain, heavy snow and blustering winds can accompany a day's fun which includes the stringent exertion of hurling one's body at various velocity (pick your poison) either up or down a mountain.
How does one maintain gloss covered in sweat and dirt from a 35 mile mountain bike ride?
Here are a few tips.
It is vastly more important to wear appropriate clothing than to look stylish -no wedge hiking boots or other atrocities. Remember, unless you have a very limited set of activities and inhabit only cities or only 'the sticks', you will have more than one wardrobe and items do not cross over*. *Some outerwear excluded. Luckily, there are several athletic brands that have transcended the 'Rocky' aesthetic. However, don't limit your wardrobe to exclusively 'athletic' brands or you run the risk of being covered head to toe in synthetics and micro-fleece.
While out and about;
Take it easy and remember the beauty you see around is a reflection of the beauty inside you. Whoever said beauty is only skin deep is a shallow idiot. Who cares if you look a wreck as long as you are enjoying yourself. "Your looks" are the last thing that should preoccupy your mind. The prettiest girl is always the one who is smiling so get over yourself. Really, it's the same as any day. You make your toilette and dress in the morning and never give it another thought because you you are wearing the most appropriate clothing.
Stay hydrated. Use chapstick. Wash and moisturize your skin following your normal routine and skip makeup altogether or use the side-view mirror to apply only mascara (if you must). Wear long loose clothing and a sun hat and stay out of the sun as much as possible. Sunscreen is often recommended but I am not personally a fan of chemical sunscreens and the zinc-oxide based ones leave my olive skin look ghastly. This could be a whole other blog post but just take a second to consider that our ancestors were intelligent enough not to sit outside in the sun all day long and sought shade as shelter.
No matter where you go or what you do, be sure to always leave a clean set of clothes in the car for the ride home. Another reminder not to be afraid of how you look in the mountains; anyone else you're liable to run into 'up there' probably hasn't showered recently either.
Once you get back 'to town' you can clean the dirt out of your teeth, cover your bruises and raspberries with long pants and no one will be the wiser regarding your adventures as a 'weekend warrior'.
