I’m not scheduled to go back to work for a few more months, and with the state of the world as it is, who knows what the situation will be like by then. Still, that hasn’t stopped me from daydreaming about my perfect work wear wardrobe. I pretty much already do dress like a little old lady at work – I am a champion thrifter, and am fortunate to work in a neighborhood with a very high population of very old biddies who donate their wool skirts to the local charity shop. Still, I should perhaps emphasize the “daydreaming’ part here – I am a children’s librarian, and my work attire has to err on the side of practicality, as I do a lot of jumping, bending and reaching in my quest to encourage childhood literacy. I rarely wear anything to work that I wouldn’t mourn if a child managed to rip a hole in it. A girl can dream of finer things, though (and a limitless budget) and in my dreams I am living the vintage librarian aesthetic I have always longed for, sparing no expense. To help me achieve that pinnacle of librarian chic, here are a few wardrobe pieces I have been virtually lusting over.
Shoes
Funnily enough, I’m not much of a shoe person. On a day to day basis I actually wear…Crocs! I know! But before you stone me, they are black ballet flat-style Crocs, and I wear them because I can easily wash them in the sink should a baby puke on them or a child spill paint on them. Practicality trumps fashion in my world. If I didn’t have to worry about various fluid spills, however, here are a few shoes I would love to own. They are all from American Duchess, who make the most incredible reproductions of historical shoes. I am deeply, deeply in love.
Alice Retro CutOut Oxfords – American Duchess
Peggy 1940s Spectator Pumps – American Duchess
Ruth 1940s Oxfords – American Duchess
Evelyn Retro Oxfords – American Duchess
Dresses
Here’s a funny story – I wore a pair of jeans to work once (we were doing some major shifting of books, and I needed to wear something sturdy), and a coworker exclaimed in surprise when she saw me. Apparently I wear long dresses and dowdy skirts so much that she assumed I was dressing according to some religious requirements, and was shocked to see me in pants! I am most certainly not religious (living that #atheistlife over here), but it’s true that I wear skirts and dresses to work 99% of the time. I just feel more polished and professional in dresses and skirts, and I particularly love dresses because of the one-and-done factor – put on a single item of clothing, and you’ve got an entire outfit done, no need to try and match things! Here are a few dresses I’ve been wearing in my dreams, while stamping people’s date-due cards and sternly telling them to “shhhhhhh”.
1920s-inspired dress in navy blue and white – LaVieDelight
1920s Great Gatsby dress light green – LaVieDelight
1920s high tea dress in pink and black – LaVieDelight
Great Gatsby dress in black with rose print – LaVieDelight
If you sense a bit of a theme here, it’s because I’ve always been enamored with 1920s fashion – I love the long lines and drop waists. Another funny story – when I was a teenager I worked as a historical interpreter at a living history museum set in the 1920s, and my favourite part of the job was the costumes! In fact, I had blunt bangs and a bob at the time, and I looked so the part that tourists would clamour to take their pictures with me, and children looked at me in awe and asked me in hushed tones if I really was from the past. 🙂
Skirts
When I’m not wearing dresses I wear skirts – midi-length skirts, usually wool, either grey or with a pattern. While my dress aesthetic veers more 1920s, my love of skirts is perhaps more rooted in the 1940s. I’ve made off like a veritable bandit at my local thrift stores, and have quite a collection of skirts waiting for me to shed the last few (dozen) pounds of baby weight.
Here are a few lovely skirts I could make room for in my collection.
Classic vintage wool skirt – ByJackieVintage
Long Wool Skirt – RauzaBoutique
Cardigans
Now what’s a librarian without a cardigan? I have…a few cardigans already, but that doesn’t stop me from admiring and longing for more! When you wear a solid-coloured skirt and a plain blouse, you can really change up your look just by switching out your cardigan! And if you’ve ever working in a library, you know that the temperatures can vary wildly on an almost hourly basis, so cardigans are practical as well as beautiful. Fortunately you can also find cute cardigans at just about every high street store, so you don’t have to spend a fortune or have a thrift store nearby to satisfy your desire for librarian chic.
Crew-Neck Cardigan for Women – Old Navy
Button-Front V-Neck Cardi – Old Navy
Open-Front Cocoon Sweater – Old Navy
Shaker-Stitch V-neck Cardigan for Women – Old Navy
Well, this was a fun post to write! There’s nothing quite as cheery as doing a good spot of online window shopping! Did any of these items spark your fancy?