Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Bad Outfit, Good Karma

I hope you will all forgive my terrible outfit today! My company sponsored a hot breakfast (eggs, sausages and potatoes) at the local outreach and the dozen of us volunteers wore our company t-shirts as we worked. I had to get up at 5am, and I did not want to wear anything complicated.
This picture above was taken when I got home, as it was dark in the morning before I left. I don't really have big red blobs on my boob and back, either - I've painted out the company logo/slogan.


  • T-shirt - Company swag, never to be worn here again (unless I'm doing this again)
  • Long-sleeved top - Majestic, swap from Caro; had since February 2009 here, now worn only at home
  • Skirt - Dolce & Gabbana, thrifted; last seen here (4th outfit) in February with mustard
  • Boots - BCBG; last worn here (4th outfit) last weekend with red plaid
  • Coat - Danier Leather

These pictures (with my contacts in) were taken at 6:20am. Dark outside.

 *sigh* It is nearly impossible to look good in a boxy t-shirt. I tried, though! This is my thrifted Dolce & Gabbana wool and silk skirt - that dark strip is Persian lamb! I paid $6.00 for it a few years ago and still love that it was so cheap.
I had to wear shoes I could walk to the outreach centre, then walk to work in - we had to lock our stuff up while there. I bussed tables and scraped ketchup-y eggs into compost bins. My hands reeked after an hour, but it was incredibly humbling to see all these people lining up for a hot breakfast. We served close to 400 breakfasts for only a $500 donation. I was shocked that there were so many elderly (not homeless, but without enough money for food), working poor (I've worked minimum wage, and it's hard to make ends meet) and people with mental illness and addictions and abuse issues. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Probably the best I looked all day.
I proudly worked in my horrid outfit all day, and talked to my coworkers about this - we want to raise enough money to do this again in December. It was a good cause...good karma.

The stuff:
Although I'm sure there is something deeply ironic about wearing expensive (even if later thrifted) clothing to this kind of place, I tried not to be ostentatious about it.


  • Earrings - Frances Jewelers, gift from L


 My boss, Tony, gave me a bottle of blended scotch for my birthday - thanks, Boss!
And my coworker, Clint, gave me a box of Purdy's chocolates (the BCers are all oohing and ahhing right now!).

I promise a better outfit tomorrow...but I had a good reason!

14 comments:

  1. So long as you didn't - &, of course, you didn't! - swan about telling people to mind your skirt, and refusing to get your hands dirty, I don't think there's anything wrong with wearing nice clothing to perform such work. On the contrary, dressing well is respectful, here as elsewhere. It would be much ruder to wear clothing that looks like you are doing dirty work, I would think; after all, you are serving a meal to people. I agree that it might feel different if you actually spent thousands on every clothing item...

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    1. I agree - I think dressing appropriately is well and good, but I also like to dress to show respect for the occasion. Thanks, Radostin!

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  2. It's great of you to volunteer, so never mind the outfit. I wasn't sure what was "wrong" with that second photo, but then you mentioned you were wearing your contacts. Isn't it strange how soon one gets used to someone's face looking a certain way, in your case with glasses? xxx

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  3. I would happily donate to this cause. Please let me know if I can. And happy belated birthday!

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    1. Thanks, Erin! Please search for your local food bank or shelter online - many of them will take tax-deductible online donations, and they are always looking for food, clothing items, etc.!

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  4. Well done you - it really didn't matter what you liked like as long as you were comfortable. I admire your blogging dedication - despite getting up at 5 am you still managed to take photos; I wouldn't have bothered!

    xxx

    Veronica
    vronni60s.blogspot.com

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    1. Aw, thanks, Veronica! Photos are such a habit with me now!

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  5. Volunteering always looks good, regardless of what you are wearing my dear Sheila ;)

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  6. Kudos on the charitable work. Too few people are willing to help others these days.

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    1. Thanks, Ally! I try to give back as much as I can. It is only one little step and many of us could be there.

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  7. What a great shout doing this charity work - it's amazing how many struggling people live on the margins of our lives and we rarely see/notice them. Well done to everyone involved. Today's outfit does fade into insignificance against that kind of backdrop honey. You got up, got dressed and did an amazing job - awesome effort.
    Anna x

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Anna! It was a really cool thing to do - I hope I get to do it again.

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