Pandemic return-to-work protocols are being rolled out as the world continues to reemerge from quarantine and isolation. My own workplace has introduced a semi-permanent hybrid work model allowing employees some discretion to work from home to balance work life demands. I was also eager to literally dust off my pressed shirts and cufflinks again. I slipped into a pair of jeans and Converse and threw on a three-quarter length light coat. Pretty proud of myself, I emerged from my bedroom and said to my daughter, “I’m ready for the world.” She looked at me and said, ‘You’re not going out looking like that are you, dad?’

First of all, this was something I thought I’d be the first to say to her. Second, do I look like a dork and what was wrong with my fashion tastes? As I stood there being eviscerated by her fashion judgement, her simple alterations were remarkably on point. The jeans were replaced with dark suit pants and leather shoes matched to belt. I knew that much at least. ‘Now you’re caszh, but still mean business. People won’t mistake you for some wannabe cool old guy.’ I wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or a put-down. I guess hours of TikTok has proven to be of some utility!

I’ve always known my daughter to take liberties with my closet as I often find hoodies and jackets missing. I would either find them in her room, in the car, sometimes on the floor and definitely not the closet where I would normally hang or fold clothes. I am mildly displeased but she does takes care of my stuff. But she also knows that under no circumstances is she to wear my leather jackets to school.

 

Once upon a time, I took a picture of all my shirts in the closet and labelled them numerically. I took a second picture of all my ties and labelled them alphabetically. I emailed both to a female coworker. Every morning, she would text me the number letter pair before showing up to work. It was literally dress by numbers. 

 

Then one day, I was putting away her folded laundry and I asked if her underwear still fits or whether she has enough. To which she said, ‘Dad, can you take me bra shopping?’ I naturally thought that it would be her mom helping her with this but then thought better of it. Without missing a beat, “Sure what do you need? More sports bras?” ‘I don’t need more sport bras, I need regular ones.’

We went to a department store and I confirmed if she wanted me to look through the underwear section with her. She did. I asked if she knew what size she was. She didn’t. She said that mom just bought them by small, medium and large depending on age. Then I said, “You know what? Let’s leave here and go to a women’s store specifically selling this type of garment.” Her eyes lit up as she was excited to explore stores she’s never been into. I briefly educated her on two things she needed to know: the band size and cup size. The factors relating to style, straps and color can be decide on her own later.

She brought them home and I said go try it on but don’t cut the tags off in case we have to exchange them for a different size. Our purchases were a perfect fit as we had a store employee help my daughter. She found new comfort and started to wear regular support for non-athletic activities.

I’m glad we are able to help each other. I can provide my limited functional knowledge and she can offer me current fashion sense. But I do admit that I got the better deal. My fashion sense was barely passible to begin with as I am often wrapped in a shirt and tie with little to no variations beyond colors and texture. Casual Friday often meant days of wardrobe dysfunction and after two years of shorts and sweatpants during virtual meetings, I have lost all sense of good style.

Once upon a time, I took a picture of all my shirts in the closet and labelled them numerically. I took a second picture of all my ties and labelled them alphabetically. I emailed both to a female coworker. Every morning, she would text me the number letter pair before showing up to work. It was literally dress by numbers. I’ve spent many years being dressed by ex-girlfriends, ex-wife and female coworkers. It’s good to now have a resident wardrobe advisor again!