I work in a corporate environment with different types of roles, cultures, and interests. Everyone is unique and has their style. A couple of my interests are clothes and shoes. Now at my corporate office, it’s not like you would imagine Google or Facebook. The ratio of people walking round with purple hair, piercings, and visible tattoos is 1:150. I would say we are on the conservative side of attire. Not suits and ties like we work at a fancy law firm. But conservative.

Around the people I work with I am considered by my peers to be fashionable. This is far from the truth in my opinion, but I will take the compliment. Now my interests are clothes and shoes not fashion. Fashion to me means runway, designers, and artists. I am none of that. I don’t own anything designer. Outside of work I live in PJs, sweatpants, and sweatshirts. I’m sure if someone from work saw me at Target, they wouldn’t recognize me.

Growing up my mom bought shoes all the time, she would dress up for work. I would see my mom transform herself into a corporate goddess. I have a feeling that’s where I got it from. So, I started my own shoe collection. I’m not talking about shoes I don’t wear. I know someone who has designer heels and never wears them. I’m talking about comfortable shoes in all colors. I started in 10th grade, yes, I still have shoes from 10th grade. I would still have my black Converse from 7th grade if my sister hadn’t convinced me to toss them.

I have more shoes than clothes, and some shoes do not go with my current style or any piece of clothing I currently own. But I love having them all. I had to buy multiple 6 tier shoe racks from Amazon. Let me tell you they are not cheap, sometimes they are more expensive than a pair of shoes. Why would I buy a shoe rack if I could buy a pair of shoes instead? There are shoes that I wear to work and others I don’t.

In my office, there are 3 style buckets for the most part. Very Casual: jeans and a T-shirt. Casual: jeans and a polo shirt or blouse. Business Casual: Slacks and button up or nice blouse. I’ve always thought that I need to be in the Business Casual style bucket. Obviously, there are different levels within each style bucket but for the most part I try to stay within the Business Casual style bucket.

So today, Thursday, I woke up and thought. Thursday is close to Friday. Before COVID it was casual Friday. As most work from home (WFH) on Friday I thought Thursday can be casual. So, I decided to wear my black Converse to work. Before leaving the house I almost changed my shoes. I had a full-on debate about the shoes. My outfit: black scoped blouse, black gold button sweater, green slacks, black belt with gold buckle, black bow ribbon in my hair, with my black Converse. I don’t know why people consider me fashionable when I wear green slacks.