What Do My “Outer Layers” Say About Me?

I have to say, most of us – everywhere in this world – label a person by what they wear. Even if we do not like to do it, we catch ourselves doing it sometimes. What kind of lady must she be if she wears her clothes so tightly?  That man who is wearing expensive clothes and lots of shiny, expensive, gold jewelry must be very arrogant. Is what we are wearing a reflection of who we really are, or a covering from who we really are? Or are we a little bit of both?

The lady with her hair pulled up in a bun and the blouse which covers her from her neck down is obviously very conservative. But the lady doctor with the white coat on – you can see her bikini tan line markings of the halter top ties around her neck. She is a doctor one day, and a beach babe the next.

I thought I would be one of those who it may be a little difficult to figure out.  I dress conservatively most of the time, with dress pants, a blouse and business jacket to work almost every day. After all, I have worked for law firms, banks, and christian school systems. But on my vacation to the Grand Canyon, I wore jean shorts and cowboy boots on the bus tour.  There is a photo of me wearing that in my Grand Canyon blog. And even with my conservative business suits, I often wear socks I can only describe as “whimsical.”  If I have to dress stuffy every day, I am going to wear polka dotted socks!

I showed them to a 27-year-old co-worker a few years ago, and she said to me (I was about 51-years-old at the time), “I stopped wearing socks like that in high school.”  “In high school,” I asked?!  “That is a shame.  Your quest for fun and whimsy should  never go away.”

So what does that say about me?  Wearing conservative suits, and hiding crazy socks underneath is not exactly the norm. I looked it up on the internet. Elitedaily.com states that people who wear crazy socks, “are rebellious and expressive.”  They also say that, “wearing certain clothing can give us the confidence to take on certain tasks, literally changing the way we think and act.”  Yourtango.com says, “people who wear crazy socks…are independent, interesting, and successful.” They add, “Another possible advantage of wearing fanciful socks and other unexpected attire: You build a brand as the gutsy guy or a creative type, and other times it may give you more room to bend or break the rules.”

So, apparently, I am rebellious and expressive, creative, interesting, and love to break the rules.  It must be all true – I found it on the internet.

Happy trails,

Denise

via Discover Challenge: Outer Layers