Let’s start by clarifying that despite the title of this post, I have been a big, if not the *biggest*, advocate for the humble dressing gown. Though simple in design, it has been known in my household to medicate all matter of ills: colds, hangovers, heartbreaks – you name it, DG has seen it. Completed it mate. For anyone who has spent an extended amount of time with me (bravo), you will know that I usually spend at least 60% of my existence in my dressing gown. Throughout university, my housemates would comment that I was forever shuffling from one room to the next in a baby pink fluffy robe. In the last year however, I have upgraded to this plush number:

There’s definitely a hint of Count Olaf, the notorious villain in A Series of Unfortunate Events, to this piece. I’ve always been emotionally invested in Jim Carrey’s 2004 performance and therefore feel particularly evil and masterful walking slowly down my staircase in this – even in my bloody pyjamas. It’s got an edge. Completely ridiculous, I know.

Anyhow, I’ve steered away from the point. That point being that I have found my dressing gown to be, hysterically, a rather dangerous coping mechanism for the endless emotional trials of adulthood. I cannot put my finger on as to why I wrap myself in my dressing gown every time I feel particularly drudged down or unsatisfied with the day’s proceedings – but I can tell you that it has always been the first thing I want to do when I get through the door. How SAD, the crowd jeers. Honestly, it has always appealed to me as a fluffy comfort blanket that won’t judge me for my long-list of horrendous decisions made the night before, or a quietly quilted embrace when I need it most. However, along with it brought a very lazy attitude. It seemed to be all I wore when at home, and I started to fear that I was in sloth-transition. There was a lot of negative energy surrounding my poor, defenceless dressing gown and with it a state of being I needed to shake. SO, I made the decision last week that the dressing gown will be… no more. Sure, I’ll still use it in the winter evenings when I want to feel warm and fuzzy, or on the brisk walk from shower to bedroom: it can’t be completely discounted. But as for it being a strict uniform for every day off – hundreds of which I have wasted thus far – it is not.

It’s remarkable how much good getting up and putting on actual clothes can do. I know this is something that normal, successful people do without hesitation, but you’d be surprised at how many people live in the same sad, squishy existence I did. Actually dressing in *real* clothes and preparing yourself for the day can ignite a fire in you that you may have thought went out a long time ago. Mentally, it powers my brain into productivity. It sounds trivial, but the dressing gown instantly made me feel like a failure. Since getting up and wearing the clothes I feel good in, I’ve applied for a number of jobs and courses, and have made productive changes to my daily routine. This website being one of them. Even if you’re working from home where no one will see you, remember that you will see you. Dust yourself off. Glean back that vital sense of self-worth that may have been led astray by the allure of loungewear. Even within closed doors where there’s no one else to impress – ditch the dressing gown to impress yourself.

Rhi x