Do we really need Bra's now we have Zoom?!

I’ve recognized that throughout my working life I have always conformed to wearing 'business attire'.?Over the years I’ve probably spent $$$’s on the high heels, the pencil skirts and the tailored suit jackets in order to ‘do my job'. I don’t know why I didn’t question this conformity; I wonder why I continually tolerated the sore feet at the end of the day and didn't question whether wearing my 'business attire' made a difference to my job performance.?I just followed the crowd.

In 2020, like many in the world, I started working remotely more, and I found that the less time I went to the office or to in-person client meetings the more relaxed I felt with my clothing choices.?Slowly the dust accumulated on the high heels, and my morning hair and makeup routine didn’t take half as long (YAY for Zoom touch up - Thank YOU!!).?

Now let’s talk about Bra’s…

Every woman knows that being at home we can be free of Bra’s and sometimes it’s THEE best feeling after a long day! But one morning I was answering some emails, when the Zoom calendar alert announces the two back-to-back calls I had scheduled, the first starting in 5 minutes!?I immediately got my client notes together and grabbed my headset and was ready for my first call. ?Ten minutes into my call I realized that I wasn’t wearing my Bra!!!!!!!!!!!?A huge wave of vulnerability washed over me, I felt, well, literally naked!?EEEKKK

But I kept talking, I kept with my call and stayed ‘in the zone’ talking about what I think I know best and what I love to do, and somehow I managed to end the call without losing my focus, or at least the Client didn’t seem to notice?!?Then I jumped right onto the next call, all brave and super confident, I felt very empowered knowing my little secret wasn’t going to hold me back…

And that was the moment.

That morning I realized that the only person who really cared about how I was dressed was Me! Providing support to a Client didn’t take a bra, or high heels, or tons of make-up, it was Me that the client was 'buying into' all along - but I just didn’t know my value without the ‘attire’.

So, the business attire wardrobe got bagged up and donated (except for a few choice pieces…come on, I can’t go completely cold turkey just yet!) and now I don’t worry half as much as I did about what I am wearing to meeting. And now I actually enjoy dressing in a suit once in a while, but because I dictate it, not my employer or my clients, or societal norms...

And the biggest BONUS??

I feel I perform my job even better now I am more comfortable in my own skin, and I have waaayyyy more time to spend on things that DO matter like family and friends… I’ll still keep the Bra’s though, a girl’s gotta have some support along the way :) but I won't let my clothes hold me back anymore...