Style Diaries | Anniversary Dress

Last Thursday marked two years at my current job. As a now former teacher, I’m still baffled by this. I told my coworkers in one of my interviews that I would probably only stay for a year. I was so intimidated by my now boss in my interview that I couldn’t even ask her to call me “Chellie,” so I’ve been going by my given name. Three months in while walking across the street to get lunch, I dropped the bomb on her. Two years in, she genuinely tries to call me Chellie + so do some of my teammates, but it seems that to the company as a whole, I will remain the girl that goes by her given name. One day I’ll (hopefully) put my foot down about that. That day isn’t today. Today I make jokes about being Chellie company-wide, but that’s as far as it goes.

If you told me I’d be this happy in Corporate America, I’d never have believed you. If you told me I’d have the confidence to decorate my cube as extensively as I have, I’d never have believed you. If you told me I’d occasionally wear heels to work, I’d never have believed you. But here I am two years in loving most minutes of it. Sure not everything is perfect + sometimes I find myself attempting (+ failing) to hide tears of frustration at my desk. But compared to teaching, I want to go to work every morning. It’s still tough getting out of bed but that’s because my mattress is so comfortable. But once I’m up, I genuinely look forward to being here.

On my first day, I wore a grey “office-y” dress from The Limited (RIP) with a salmon blazer from New York & Company. I also put on a pair of heels from Target but ditched those for flats, also from Target, as soon as I got to my car still in my own driveway. My first day was overwhelming + I was nauseous the whole time. I ordered a salad when we went to lunch as a team + I think all I ate was the protein in it. When 4:30 rolled around + I walked out to my car, I was so emotionally out of breath. What was I thinking? How did I think I could handle this job I legitimately have no background in? Well, I figured it out.

Fast forward to last Wednesday. I was having an awful day dealing with some personal matters so I treated myself to a fast shopping trip at lunch. I knew I needed some new work dresses + wanted to wear a dress for my anniversary. So I headed across the street to the “danger zone,” aka the mall. I planned to make one stop at francesca’s + grab something. One of francesca’s fall colors is purple + I’m so excited! I haven’t owned a lot of purple but it’s one of my favorite colors. I mean at work I only write in my purple Papermate Flair pens. As francesca’s was running a BOGO 50% off sale, I grabbed three dresses + a vest(in purple). The other two dresses, you can find here + here.

I chose this purple floral frock to celebrate my anniversary in + paired it with my favorite beige gladiator sandals from Target. These sandals have been great to me. They’re incredibly comfortable to walk in around the office or out + about. I love francesca’s a-line dresses in this modified halter style. As far as I’ve seen, this silhouette looks fantastic on everyone + doesn’t give you weird “side of chest fat pouches” like a bridesmaid dress I wore a couple of years ago did. You get shape without feeling restricted or that you can’t sit down. For me, finding a dress that fits that window  is quite difficult which is why I’m a big fan of these dresses. I need structure without being confined, just like in every aspect of my life.

The dress goes great from work to play as that evening I met my friend Abbey for dinner + a comedy show. I spent over 15 hours in this dress + could eat what ever I wanted + still be comfortable. You know comfort is the #1 thing I go for when it comes to being dressed. I’m all for looking great but being uncomfortable all day. I can’t wait to wear this dress again!

xo.