… the retail gods gave to me the Frye boots I’ve been waiting for all year.

So, I ran out on Christmas Eve morning for some last minute gift-buying errands, and stopped in at Winners. Regardless of the reason I stop in, I always take a quick look at the clearance racks, because you never know. Seriously, always look. For example, you might just stumble onto a $50 pair of Frye boots.

I have always wanted a pair of Melissas, and the funky distressed finish is growing on me. I’m not very gentle on my boots (quite the opposite), so I think these might turn out to be a perfect match.

Could it be? I was crazy about stripes this past summer, but I’ve hardly worn them recently. Take this Old Navy dress for example. On paper, it’s perfect. Good weight cotton-spandex blend, 3/4 sleeves, stripes. I should be reaching for it all the time, and I’m not. I made myself wear it last weekend, and I still couldn’t get excited about it. I guess I’m just not feeling stripes at the moment.

I’m actually in the middle of an unplanned closet purge. Like most people, I usually give my closet the once-over twice a year (at the end of summer and winter), but I’m feeling trigger happy right now for some reason, so I’ve been culling right and left. Anything that doesn’t fit well, or is less than good quality, or feels too immature, is getting the boot. Most of the purge is happening in my work wardrobe, and I don’t think that’s coincidental; I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my career trajectory, past and future, and it has made me more conscious of the role my clothes play in my professional image (persona?). As much as fun, feminine prints and colours are a part of my style identity, I’m starting to feel like I need to be more mindful of how I present myself at work. And, yet, I’m torn. I spend so much of my time at work, and the thought of wearing a wardrobe full of neutrals, day in and day out, feels stifling. That sounds silly, I know. On the other hand, as a woman (and mother) in a male-dominated, client-oriented field, it’s important that I put my best foot forward at all times. My love of florals may have to take a back seat.

Have you ever thought about how the way you dress may be helping, or hindering, your career goals? Are your style and professional identity in sync, or at odds? And if it’s the latter case, how do you find a comfortable compromise?