Yoga pants are evil.

I once had a home health care client who said she found it appalling that young women did not do their hair to get ready for the day. With my ponytail pulled tight I thought, ouch!
But, when you think that she grew up in the era of finger waves and pin curls and beehives, there really was a different standard of dress and preparedness for women. I know what you are thinking right now- shut up, because they also were not expected to get up at 5 to be in class for 4 hours, and run to and fro, and they weren't hitting the gym, and getting ready in ten minutes and they weren't right.
But were they? This quasi feminist movement of ponytails, and sweat pants sure is comfortable, but how practical is it? We expect to be considered an object of desire by our (potential or current ) partners, we want to be taken seriously in class and in work, and by our peers. But what about the second skin of yoga pants really does say sexy, and professional?

So I did my own experiment... for the last month I woke up a little earlier, I played with makeup, I did my hair, I even (gasp) put on shape wear nearly every day and wore only professional or nicer clothes for the entire month.
I found that I listened and payed attention better in class, I was more inspired to actually go to class instead of maybe taking a lunch break. I felt more confident and when people did a double take or when women shot me a sneer I knew it was because I looked GOOD and they weren't thinking "wow, someone dragged herself out of bed this morning" or "I wonder how many times those have been worn between washes". Yeah- take that public!
Then today, I crumbled, I am struggling after one late night, I was exhausted yesterday but I still got mostly ready, then today, I faltered completely and pulled on my old faithfuls.
I feel like crap.
And it turns out, there is a reason- yoga pants are not all they are cracked up to be.

Get this-
1. People are less likely to take you seriously when you are not dressed decently.
2. When we wear stretchy clothing, we are more likely to make unhealthy food decisions, and will eat more- probably because we are volume eaters, and without the pressure of clothing holding your tummy back, you will eat to you heart's content, rather than your stomach's (weird, huh)
3. Sweatpants and yoga pants get less clean each time you wear and wash them. The fibers hold smells more and more with each wear. So you become smellier after every wear. Ew!





The bottom line? Dress well, look good, feel good.


I know I will.