THE WHITE SHIRT: OWNING MY AGE

Getting older is an inevitability of life, but sometimes it feels like more of an unfortunate side effect. The last time I remember being genuinely excited about getting older, was on my 18th birthday. That was *gulp* 8 years ago. Since then birthdays have involved much cake and ever worsening hangovers. But there was something about this birthday that invoked much panic and evaluation of life thus far.    

I'm the un-fun side of 25. I recently had to fill in a form and I'm officially in the '26 - 34' box. To add to my unease I recently found out that the demographic for Radio 1 is '18 - 26 year olds', so the countdown begins for the switchover to Radio 2. 

However, it's not all doom and gloom (or so I'm trying to convince myself). I have recently decided to embrace this ageing lark by wearing an item that I previously felt left me resembling a school child - the white shirt. 

A white shirt is a classic. A staple piece, wear with anything, everything and nothing if you so wish. Dress down with jeans, dress up with stilettos, use as a beach cover-up, pop to the shops, tucked in smart, tied up around the waist, worn low on the shoulders, unbuttoned, sleeves tied around the bust, asymmetrically done up. One shirt, a multitude of ways to wear it.

However, up until this point in my life, the only thing I associated with a white shirt was my school uniform. So at the turn of my 26th birthday, I bought one as a token of embracing my new age. It makes me feel decidedly 'put together' and the fact that to this date I have yet to spill anything on it, makes me feel like a real grown up. 

I was feeling pretty into my older self in this white shirted rendition, until I read that the on-set of wrinkles begin at 26 -ugh. Ah well, at least I'm be well dressed as my decreasing collagen levels and gravity go to work on me...

(All pictures via Pinterest)

  

ARE BOOBS OFFICE WEAR APPROPRIATE?

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This week I did something truly shocking. In fact you should sit down. 

I dared to wear an egg on my boob and not only that, I dared to wear it into work.

"Have I lost my mind?!", I hear you ask.

In short, no I have not. But I'm pretty sure that everyone else has.

Now you may remember that I have previously written about my 'wear anything' office. In short - wear whatever you like, whatever you're comfortable in and most importantly, whatever is clean.

However, I seem to have found the exception to the rule, in my usually 'rule-less' office.

An egg upon the chest is seemingly just too salacious. Now I feel it important to point out here, that I didn't actually have a real egg atop my breast. That would be far too messy - although, if I read that it in someway increased longevity of life, I may be swayed to give it a go, though perhaps not in working hours...

No, it was a cute white tee with a little fried egg just below my clavicle, slightly to the left, in the general region that I have fondly come to know as my breast. Underneath the offending egg was the phrase 'keep it sunny' - how cute, right?  

Not so much, in fact it was just too much.

I am completely aware of the connotations that a fried egg has, especially when located in this area. I guess I just thought that it would go unnoticed, but the amount of second glances and double takes that I received, got me to thinking. 

My boobs are a constant to my body, like an arm or a leg. They are a physiological signifier that I am a woman. They will one day nurture my children. They sometimes hurt when I run down the stairs and sleeping on my front can sometimes be uncomfortable, but generally we get on well. Yet it seems that despite their permanent status, the mere reminder of their residency on my body seemed problematic.

The offending t-shirt is not brazenly demanding that any and every one should look at my tits. It really is a tongue-in-cheek, high neck, slightly oversize, muscle tee, that without the little motif, would be rather boring. 

My intention was not to be provocative; I'm definitely not awake enough to make any kind of social statement at that hour of the morning, my focus centring more so on remembering how to drive my car whilst my eyes are glued shut. Yet I do find it interesting that something as innocent as a mere fried egg, (the nucleus of which resembles a nipple in as much they're both spherical-ish), could bring about the quiet commotion of shifty eyes and confused glances.  

I'm not sure if this particular t-shirt will make an appearance in my office again, I'd hate to see productivity plummet by my seemingly distracting fashion choices. I've now relegated it to my weekend wear so I'll get shifty looks from strangers now instead - much better! 

(Girl Stole London has a range of boob synonyms emblazoned on t-shirts in a bid to "tackle the cancer taboo. To stop being so afraid to talk about the fucker. To encourage ya’ll to take responsibility for your bodies. And most importantly to save some bastard lives!"  I <3 her lots)

However, I have noticed a growing trend in t-shirts not just alluding but defiantly promoting boobs. Perhaps it's the effects of the 'Free the Nipple' campaign, or maybe it's just time for women to celebrate their bodies. Whatever the reason, I love it. Just maybe not during 9-5, I'd hate to detract from the excitement of spreadsheets after all... 

(Photos: Pinterest & girlstolelondon)