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Monday, April 8, 2013

Hey! That New Shirt Really Makes You Look Productive!


I’m wearing a new shirt today.

What’s that, you say? Why yes, I find that to be true as well! New clothes do make life worth living!

As shallow and self-serving as it may sound, somehow, wearing something to work that I’ve never worn before makes my job more exciting.

Can you imagine? More excitement than I had yesterday! Is that possible? As if the giddiness of yesterday’s filing and repeated “Good morning this is Pearl how can I help you?” wasn’t enough!! And now I’m doing it in a new shirt?

How in the world am I going to top this? The mind. She reels.

It’s been a fact of my corporate/office-style existence since, oh, well, let’s see. I started working right after World War I – the War to End All Wars, we called it. At first, I was content to just draw lines up the backs of my legs to simulate nylons, but I wanted more. I wanted one of those mink-biting-its-feet stoles like you saw in the talkies. I wanted my cigarettes in those long holders. I wanted to draw arches into my eyebrows that said “beat it, wise guy!”. I wanted shoulder pads that would make Joan Crawford weep.

I’m a little more subdued these days. I no longer think that knee-high moccasins are appropriate for the office. You can no longer tell what my favorite bands are from the logos on my shirts. I no longer carry changes of clothes in the back seat of my car, just in case I didn’t make it home the night before; and I now put on new make-up every day, even if I woke up in yesterday’s.

How's that for upwardly mobile?

This new attention to my wardrobe might explain my rocket-like rise to power in the last 80 years from dance hall girl to vaudeville crooner to receptionist/copy lackey to World’s Best Executive Assistant. (The title is self-appointed, but I’m sure HR will back me up on this.)

Anyway, that’s all I had to say today. Just wanted to let you know that I look and feel spiffy.

Carry on!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

The girl in the cubicle next to me used to put smiley face stickers on her ear lobes when she forget to put on ear rings. I used to staple my hems if they came down at work. A new shirt? Wow! I wore an elastic band on my wrist once and had numerous compliments on my new bracelet. Spiffy indeed.

Nessa Locke said...

New make-up every day, you say? You're a real go-getter, Pearl!

I'm not that energetic, myself. (It keeps me humble.)

Shelly said...

I see you there, Pearlie, and you look right nice! Love the color, too. I'm waving back atcha~

fmcgmccllc said...

Oh me oh my, I own the minks biting their feet and actually do wear them in public on occasion. And I wear new makeup a lot of the time.

Geo. said...

As I suspected! Behind every surrealistic excellence is a new shirt. Pearl, I loved this.

Dawn@Lighten Up! said...

I, too, enjoy wearing nice new clothes to work. And on Fridays, I quite enjoy wearing my Kid Rock shirt, lurking stealthily underneath my cardigan. I'm klassy like that. ;)

wellfedfred said...

Minks? I always thought those were foxes. Well, having learned my one thing for the day, I can go back to bed. Enjoy your shirt!

Lorna said...

I find that what makes all the difference for me is lipstick. :-)

Bill Lisleman said...

Dear Spiffy, What's the outlook of shoulder pads coming back in style? You mentioned moccasins but not headbands, leather fringe or tied-dyed shirts. Moccasins without the ensemble is just plain wrong - don't you think?
I've attached a pic link to a very spiffy jacket
http://leathersupreme.com/leatherw/f1b.jpg

I can sense your spiffiness in your voice. thanks

Anonymous said...

I can see you are quite the fashion maven!!

Pearl said...

Good morning, everyone!

It's moving day here at Acme Grommets and Napkins, so if you need me, I'll be loading office-related flotsam on to a rolling cart (the slivers are free of charge...) and moving from my gorgeous view to an interior, sarcophagus style communal room.

Yeesh.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari om
Strutting yer stuff prior to hauling files? That works. It works. You work. All is well with the world.

#!-} YAM

jenny_o said...

Spiffy is good! I settle for just not making people blind.

Condolences on the loss of your view ... there is one small benefit I find: when the weather is delightful outside, I can't see it and pine for it. How's that for making a silk purse from a sow's ear? Yeah, I thought so.

No doubt all of us here will benefit from your move, however :)

Joanne Noragon said...

You're looking good today, and definitely rising on the corporate ladder if you're moving in a new shirt.

Perpetua said...

New clothes for work, Pearl? It MUST be spring!

Connie said...

I bet you look spiffy every day, Pearl! I'm trying to imagine what knee-high moccasins look like. I don't believe I've ever seen those, although they do sound cozy! :-)

Susan Kane said...

I think I can get you a fox biting its tail stole from an antique store for about $15. Let me know.

Christian at Point Counter-Point Point Point said...

I have always felt that 'spiffy' is a very underrated word. I wish life presented more opportunities to use it.

The Savage said...

The clothes don't make you look and feel good... you make the clothes look and feel good...

Unknown said...

there's nothing like a little something new to perk you up and make you feel good! Doesn't matter if it's a shirt, panties, a bra, shoes....you just feel recharged!

Gigi said...

I'm also in an interior communal area BUT I have a sliver view from where I sit. The only thing that makes it bearable is new clothes.

Linda O'Connell said...

Oh yeah, I know from where you come. I bought two new blouses exactly alike, different colors and I am a new person. You write funny stuff.

Lin said...

I get it. Some days it takes just a new bra to get me going.

HermanTurnip said...

Oh Pearl, you'll always be the bee's knees to us! Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go tie an onion to my belt...

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

I know what you mean when you say spiffy but I know some younger people who have no idea what it means..........

I like new clothes but then what female doesn't

Elephant's Child said...

You are spiffy. Mind and body. We knew that already.

Tempo said...

Nice to see that youre still striving for perfection Pearl...

River said...

I can get around in the oldest, grungiest things I own, but if even one item is new, I feel like a whole new person. Even if it is just my socks.

Simply Suthern said...

Just not enuff energy to draw fish net hose?

Rose L said...

Hmmm...my new clothes all come from thrift stores. I do buy new undies though!!