suitless in Manhattan

So I’m meeting this woman (I’ll call her Sofia) I hope to partner with.  She’s another Bellmarc agent and my boss (whom I love) has recommended this fix up.  Sofia is very busy right now; she has many buyers and needs some help in managing them all.

It takes me far too long to decide what to wear.  This is a casual, just-the-two-of-us get together.  I can’t believe I am giving the fashion element of the meeting this much thought. I mean, it’s not like we’re meeting to discuss the latest color trends, or Stella McCartney’s fall line.

It’s a cool afternoon.  I choose a pair of black leggings with a crisp, white ruffled blouse, Fiorentini & Baker boots and a short black leather jacket.  Casual, but chic, if I had to describe the look.

I am speaking to M before leaving and she asks what I’m wearing.  I tell her, and she says, “You can’t wear that.  I can tell from Sofia’s picture that she will be dressed.”  I decide I’d rather be safe than sorry and change into a black skirt, Prada boots, a LV leopard scarf, and a black Transit coat.

We meet at Le Pain Quotidien, just a few blocks from my apartment.  Sofia arrives stylishly and professionally dressed — nice pantsuit, Louboutin heels, and an Hermes belt.  I’m glad I listened to M.

Sofia and I talk for two and a half hours.  She is smart and ambitious, and I think we would complement each other well.  She knows real estate; I know marketing.  We’d make a great team.  She asks if I can help out on an Open House this Sunday, and I tell her yes.

Later in the conversation she asks me how I dress.  I am taken off guard, but answer honestly.  When I’m not working, I am a casual dresser.  Jeans.  Boots.  Leather tote.  And a nice coat; I love nice coats.  She accurately describes me as more downtown than uptown.  I think I am, at least in theory, if not in practice.

Sofia tells me she only wears suits for work.  I am sure she has many as her previous career was on Wall Street.   I do a quick inventory of my closet and come up short on suits.  My career was in entertainment marketing, and there, the required dress did not include suits.

I have skirts of all styles and lengths.  Casual and dressy pants.  White blouses in different fabrics and styles. Wolford tops.  Cashmere sweaters. Stylish wraps. A few dresses.  But only two suits and one of those can only be worn in winter.

I think I’ve landed on a good reason to go shopping. But first, a pay check— something that’s been missing from my life for over 18 months.  Once I get one of those, I'll be better able to justify a new suit.