When else but Christmastime in the workplace would any self-respecting woman wear a red and green brooch the size of a drink coaster. This is the only time we are okay with wearing a piece of jewelry that does not match our outfit in any way, and which makes jingling noises as we stride purposefully toward the boardroom for the important meeting. We could be wearing our beautiful two-hundred-and-seventy-five dollar camel wool coat and slap on a giant nativity scene tableau (with eye dots that are painted outside the eye sockets, making the faces of the holy family look downright creepy). Any other time of the year, we wouldn’t even wear the “wrong” shade of pantyhose (even though they’re all basically tan).
They talk about Christmas sweaters, but I've got a giant horse’s head with a Christmas wreath around its neck (my favorite - you'd have to see it) that says Christmas pins are just as tacky. And yet, I love my tacky pin collection. Sometimes when I come across it – when the season is not upon us – I take out the small red, glass trinket box that stores my pins, spread them out on my bed, and lovingly turn each one over in my hand, then re-elect the pins that are my favorites. Ahh.
So you can imagine how crushed I was when I realized that I wouldn’t have the daily ritual this year of selecting two pins each morning: one for my work outfit and one for my coat. Who’s going to see my cloisonné stocking now, or my candy cane with the holly and real crystals? Or my golfing Santa? No one, that’s who. And who needs a Christmas pin on the cotton lounge pants and fleece jacket ensemble that you’ve taken to wearing as both pajamas and your street clothes? (I like to call this my 24-hour suit – kinda like the 18-hour bra only less figure flattering.)
Me. I do. I need a Christmas pin on my hoodie. It matches my Christmas socks. Besides, I might have an interview.
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Oh I would love to see those pins and sweaters...since I don't teach I wear them less and less...
ReplyDeleteLove the Christmas Tree pin! It accessorizes the PJs perfectly. Try posting pix of all of your pins on Facebook, so we can all "ooh" and "aah". It's funny what things we end up missing about the workplace. Like the particular brand of pretzel nuggets in the snack machine, or the particularly sweet smile from one co-worker. Huge adjustment.
ReplyDeleteI chose not to wear my pins this year. Not being a humbug, but the day of the office Christmas party it was too warm to wear any heavy jackets or sweaters upon which I would affix the heavy objects, and I didn't want to muss my lightweight salmon-colored top that was bought second hand, but which I hear repeatedly compliments my skin tone. So, no oversize reindeer. Since I mostly work from home, I hardly think the dog would have been impressed. Weirdly, Christmas pins are what I have the most of in that type of jewelry.
ReplyDeleteI want to see the horse and wreath sweater
ReplyDelete