So I was conceptualizing my choice of clothing last night.....lately I have really been paying attention to this. You see, I am one of two females at my job, which is cool and it has its perks....but ladies let me tells ya.....you can forget your inner goddess sometimes. You can work with the guys....but don't start looking like one of the guys.....especially if they are programmers. It can get ugly.
But dressing too nice can get ugly too so I have to get inventive sometimes. I try to stay conservative without looking like I could run a reform school with one fist.
Today's choice of wardrobe was a brown dress and Madras pearls (which reminds me, I have an article about these pearls) Sounds very 'Mary Atherton" right? (If there are any Mary Athertons out there I apologize....it is my code name for pilgrim. When I lived in NH with my daughters and our hispanic surname....my daughter wanted a pilgrim name.....so Mary Atherton was our "pretend" name.....did I mention that her name is Madelyn? hee) Back to the subject.....so I wanted a hint of something to remind me I am not taking a cruise on the Mayflower in the afternoon.
I bought some brown fishnet stockings (because even my shoes were conservative). Wow. I had no idea I was bringin' sexyback. And I know it has to be the stockings because I am so not that cute. I went to pump gas.....(I swear -- I get more indecent proposals at the gas pump lately...which I don't get. Mom, Dad this is "Jimbo", we met at the gas pump....no, this is a conversation I will not be having) and this guy is trying to strike up conversation.
Keep in mind this is a morning where I am actually sure hell hath frozen over because it is so cold.....but irregardless....he shall get no play....or conversation, besides my lips are frozen shut.....which might really make some folks quite happy.
Besides....this is pre-coffee times and I noticed he is not talking to me....he is talking to my legs. (Note to self: Fishnets and a hellaciously cold day.....what was I thinking....thankfully nylons are under the nets) My gas pump suitor must have sensed that my caffiene levels were low. He paid for my coffee.....and I mumbled a confused thank you and despite his thoughtfullness. I felt that hell hath a little more freezing to do before I would give this man my real name. For the occasion, I used "Ethel....Ethel MacGuillicutty".
On to the job.... where I found further proof that it was more my stocking than me as evidenced by my fellow road warriors. Someone changed the rules of the road here recently. Using a turn signal means, 'I would like to change lanes' to the driver and "hurry, gotta close the gap" to the 5 cars in the right lane. Yellow means light green. And you know you are in trouble if they have a Nascar sticker on their hooptee...illusions of grandeur I think they call it. Anyway......nobody was more or less kind on the road.....probably because they couldn't see the power stockings.
I pull in to the parking lot and my work partner is waiting for me, but that is usual. What is not usual is usually I am hurrying up to keep up with him.....because he holds doors and I carry too much crap (books, uniforms, etc)....today he was hurrying to keep up with me. And he told me my dress was pretty.....which is weird....because I had a coat on. Hmmm. It has to be the stockings. We were in the elevator with the other wage slaves....usually the corporate trixies who ride the elevator are too arrogant to return my hello. Today.....either the hell that froze over or the nets had them asking how I was doing. oooOOOoooo.
So it is 10 o'clock and people are actually trying to interact with me. Men and woman alike. It is good to break out of programmer girl chic. It has got to be the nets!!!
What is it about the nets? I have to know! Unless hell truly did freeze over and I am like an angel from hell harkening all other creatures to emerge/crawl from under the rocks from which we came.......trapping them with my lethal fish net hosiery. That answer makes much more sense and is kinda cool in a hellacious kind of way. (and Yes I actually do own a pocket protector......but I am not wearing it today...hmmm)
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Comments: 34
So if ole meat legs here can do it....I think maybe you could too!
Cindy! I KNEW it!
I know Shelly, we are all still cornfused. Hopefully we can get the opinion of the other side here soon. This is in the name of science!!! (I am in touch with my inner nerd)
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U I'm glad you're feeling better though.
The fishnet factor as it applies to males, well, I gotta say it makes a heck of a lot more sense than the time a guy tried to pick me up while I was holding my girlfriend's hair while she was violently ill in a random gutter. Fishnets as a positive attraction factor I will buy Any Day over vomit!
Wishing You Laughter
Boys are easily amused, fun to play with, and they make great pets. hee!
You must be a hot mama! It must have been the love in the air overpowering the Oh! de Vomit perfume wafting at your feet.
(But as for me, I loooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeee stockings with seams up the backs.)
You must look really cute in them. Can you have someone take a pic? I haven't worn fishnets since high school, but it's a good memory...
Hmm. So for a twist on Forrest Gump "Sexy is as sexy does" and what lies within is a super power. *scribbles note.....if ever offered job as a super hero.....fishnets are a must*
Oh and David I totally dig the line up the back. I wore those in high school....but it is so hard to get the line straight!!! I also used to dance in high school ...well out of high school off hours..... (don't get any ugly ideas) and when I was in Chorusline we had sparkles stuck to us with the tacky gluey junk and I would use it on the back of my legs to keep the seam straight. I totally loved doing "Boogie woogie Bugle Boy from Company B" The uniform and hair and shoes were cool. Can't we do a 40s revival? ugh that might involve a whole lot of ironing though.
See I am a geek.
There is a lovely little moment in the film Valmont (a version of Dangerous Liason's with Colin Firth), where the notorious rake is completely distracted while dictating a letter by the sound of a young lady's stockings rubbing together as she swings her feet and writes. It draws him in irresistably.
I think the key element really is Confidence. We project what we feel and are drawn to those things we most desire in our own lives. Most people want to feel more cofident, so of Course they notice this quality in others. You don't want to go over the line though, 'cause then you're just an arrogant git and Nobody likes that lol. That being said, having a subtle or unique flair for how you wrap your goodies certainly has it's own appeal! It is just as certain that leading or leaving something to the imagination has been intriguing others for centuries. Goodness! There was a time when seeing the flash of a lady's stocking-clad ankle was thought titilating and rather scandalous!
FYI ....there is your picture....weird angle yes....but I felt weird about asking someone....please take my picture.....and get my legs in the picture, please? I feel kinda weird about posting it at all......but there it is.....check out the Mary Atherton shoes.
Remember the Leg Lamp in the Christmas Story? hee hee......nobody shoot me with their bb gun please. :D
People talked to me like all day. Men and women alike. I was totally shocked. At first I was pleased but towards the end of the day I started feeling weird. Reason being...and maybe this is silly....but I would say hello to anyone. No matter how they were dressed. And I thought.....so if I am not dressed to *their* expectation, I am not worth speaking to? Do I really want to get a hello from someone who would just act like I am not there the next day? No...really I don't. I am more than the sum of my parts or wardrobe. And I dress for me. Not them. And although it was for me.....I did not like the attention it drew and I don't mean that it was all bad....just uncomfortable...it felt....hypocritical. I don't know if any of this makes any kind of sense. But Case in point. Today is casual Friday. Everyone can wear their Jeans (woot). I look very nice. Very professional. Conservative jeans but not overly so. On my way up the elevator this AM there was this girl who was all about talking to me yesterday. I said hello. she did not even return my hello. Which I think is completely rude.....but again.....no loss. It is just curious to me is all. I tell you this though. I am counting the days till I finish nursing school....where I can wear scrubs like everybody else.....and my worth will be judged by my care and skill.I am so not cut out for corporate politicing. I am who I am.
I don't know if this makes any sense.
Oh but one more cute story. I work with 3 guys from India. Over the years we have worked together, we (the girl who usually works here with me) have adopted each other. My friend Srini is forever looking out for me. And at the end of the day....he says to me.....You girls should not be wearing hoseiry with so many holes in them because you will get cold!!! You must care for your health. (I had layers so I was warm and let him in on the secret) And he looks all astonished......AH!!! Thank goodness. I was glad to let him know that we are a little more prepared than that......and it was nice to know he cared. Plus it gave him something to worry about besides my meat eating hee!
Bonnie - you give me too much credit but thanks! Oh and you too MIchele !!
Hmmm Mars.....you may be on to something. I wonder if i could rock the multicolored wig. Maybe not at work though.
And Jody.....now that is conservative with a twist!
I just love the tiara in your picture. Combine that with the fish nets, and va-va-va-voom!!! :) I usually just employ my fuschia feather boa...
Sounds like you may have caught a fish already! wooot!
Actually it was a Tech Guy....they are not as geeky. They live more in the real world. And my job is to bridge the geeky programmer divide as their Business Analyst Extrodinaire. i speak geek. Or I have a chewy, geeky inside and a barely socially functioning outside.
I can laugh-snort with the best of them. hee! (but you have to be reallllllly funny)