I'm going to guess that what Tim means on that list instead of "sweatsuit alternative" is "something to schlep around in that doesn't look like shit."

I don't think I could wear a cashmere sweater and get away with it at this point in my life. Not without a heavy dose of irony, anyway.

I lived in sweatpants, but I hated the elastic ankles, too. Which means I just was low-level cranky all the time.

Lucy used to make the best exercise/yoga pants, but they seem to be branding themselves as the kind of sportswear for people who aren't going to sweat

My favorite exercise pants ever are my Lucy yoga pants. They were always expensive, but I didn't mind paying a little more every few years if I could get pants like these. Did they change the fabric or design or something? I may cry.

1. Basic Black Dress-- currently, no. oddly.
2. Trenchcoat -- hot pink!
3. Classic Dress Pants-- not so much anymore
4. Blazer-- a couple, but I don't wear them often
5. Skirt-- Yes. Too many.
6. Classic White Shirt-- yep. but I hate ironing so I buy them and wear them barely.
7. Day Dress-- again, many but I'm having fitting issues right now.
8. Jeans-- yep. but again with the fit.
9. Sweatsuit alternative-- dunno what he means.
10. Cashmere sweater-- yes. two. cardigans.

I am trying to make a budget to see just how much of a pay cut I can take if I need to. I looked back at old bills, took a 12 month average on them, I guessed at a few things, but educated guessing, and I thought I was probably low on my bs extra spending/month.....thing is, I am coming up with a number that is more than my pre-raise (June) salary. That just cannot be. I have no idea what is wrong.

I hate making budgets, job searching, not having a trust fund, general requirements of my life.

If you're ever at Century City, Kristin, look at the Lucy there and pretend you've never heard of them. Not only is there no way you'd guess it was an athletic clothing store (skirts in the window might mislead you) when I was shopping for sports bras a while back, they only had 2. Not two styles. Two bras. I haven't driven into Santa Monica since then to see if my "original" one is still true to the cause. I'm sad enough as it is.

Also, I can't find my steroids.

2. Trenchcoat-- vintage 70's camel-colored leather

Want. My own trenchcoat is a raincoat (in the trenchcoat manner). It is black.

I own several blazers, a couple of black dresses, almost no day dresses (I have one, which is linen, and two more which have been on the sewing pile for 2 years), and quite a bit in the trousers/skirts department. I... looking at Tim's list, he appears to think that you wear a basic white blouse with all things, and do not need any other tops. Which is a steaming pile of nonsense. A couple of sleeveless or short-sleeved shirts are kind of necessary, you think? Unless you're going nudie under that blazer.

And a cashmere sweater is... people who can actually wear wool should be required to do so, so that cashmere prices stay low for those of us who can't wear wool. (And people who live in Miami BETTER NOT be wearing my cashmere in their excessively-AC buildings.)

I was just there, ita. The Montana one is still sporty.

If you're ever at Century City, Kristin, look at the Lucy there and pretend you've never heard of them. Not only is there no way you'd guess it was an athletic clothing store (skirts in the window might mislead you) when I was shopping for sports bras a while back, they only had 2. Not two styles. Two bras. I haven't driven into Santa Monica since then to see if my "original" one is still true to the cause. I'm sad enough as it is.

t sobs

There's a Lucy right on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. I was planning on going there when my yoga pants were completely worn out (they're getting pretty damned close by now). Woe.

ETA:

I was just there, ita. The Montana one is still sporty.

I think the list of essentials itself is totally nuts, and the kind manufactured need that Lucky magazine excels at. Why doesn't one have these already, if they are essential? How can they be essential when slavishly folllowing such a list would give you a total of one work appropriate outfit?

Not to mention-- cashmere? A skirt? A pair of pants? the two latter are filler, not conceivably limited to a single item.

I have problems with the "blazer" idea because that's something awkward in a professional woman's wardrobe-- it can't match these so-called "dress" pants, and is a male staple. Cute jacket, yes. If a blazer is your wardrobe staple and you are a woman, why are you reading this when you should be toasting with Tad on the yacht.

Sweatsuit alternative? Stupid.