Tackling the Globe…

I’ve never considered myself the slightest bit fashionable, though shopping is my favorite pastime. As much of my job entails networking, I do, however, put great effort into what I look like when I leave the house (without sounding too narcissistic) and am particularly addicted to dresses, boots and coats (making fall my favorite accessory-friendly season though I haven’t had to break out the warm weather gear just yet as a) I’m actually in Central America at the moment and b) it’s still the end of summer in San Fran). I’ll be the first to admit, I like to look good (who doesn’t?), I like to mix and match my wardrobe, and I love to look at other people’s outfits and know what they’re wearing, as well. (It’s like online shopping without too much stress on your credit card!) So when I found out about Whoorl’s Working Closet, it was love at first sight.

The funny thing is that when I used to work at Lucky mag, we had this Cute Outfit of the Day feature on the Web. Those of us in the copy/research department mocked it regularly, as a) none of us were ever asked to participate (we were likely bitter about that) and b) we knew how contrived the whole thing was. I mean, honestly, there is no way an “average” girl (particularly one working on a paltry magazine salary) can afford Chloe, Hermes, Marc Jacobs, and the like every.single.day. And yet those editors who appeared on the feature were always bedecked in high-end designer duds, from head to toe. (Also, has it ever occurred to you that those working in fashion are usually the ones who don’t look all that great? Maybe it’s because they’re constantly on top of the trends, and let’s be honest, many style trends are not flattering in the slightest.) Sure, we were allowed to accept gifts, but I’d be shocked if any editor received enough clothing to pad an entire closet–the majority of samples we had to return anyway.

Another funny thing is said feature made it out to seem like the girls were handpicked each day by what they were wearing alone–but this wasn’t the case. One editor (no names for the sake of my career) would parole the office each day looking for someone worthy. I actually heard her on more than one occasion say something like, “does no one in this office know the meaning of accessorize?? Who here actually fits in sample sizes?!” and the sole girl who wore a size 0 would be banished to The Closet to find an appropriate outfit. It was very Devil Wears Prada, but also more than a bit dishonest as the way the whole section was meant to be a “what your average girl wears to work” type of thing. After many days of her unsuccessful trips through the departments, she decided to do a weekly shoot and pre-pick the five girls each week. They were ordered to wear their cutest and trendiest ensembles. One day, someone from our department was finally asked to participate, and you would have thought she won the lottery, as excited as we all were for her. We even took her out to lunch to celebrate. But alas, the style gods decided it just wasn’t meant to be for this eager lass, as her photo was eventually cut (guess she wasn’t “fierce” enough for Lucky). The fashion world’s a bitch, man.

All of this has little relevance, but as I was never selected to participate in the Cute Outfit of the Day, I have loved being a part of Whoorl’s Flickr Pool (open to anyone and everyone!). It’s normal gals wearing normal things. You don’t have any of this avante-gard BS going on, just fun and artsy (and, at times, pretty run-of-the-mill) creations. And best of all, it’s usually stuff you can afford (me, for example–the majority of my wardrobe comes from the Limited, J. Crew, Banana, and occasionally Anthropologie as I don’t have the funds for much else!). Plus, it’s kind of (really) fun to chronicle photos of what you wear every day (embrace your vain side; I know I do!), and gives me added incentive to actually look nice when I leave the house. I haven’t yet mastered the art of self portrait, as the lighting in our house is horrid and the tripod for our fancy cam is broken, but it’s a start. Aside from my favorite fashion blogger, Jessica of What I Wore, there just aren’t enough head-to-toe outfit shots out there that I actually like and would wear…until now. So, whaddya say, let’s all jump aboard the fashion train!