I know. I can scarcely believe it myself. Today was a landmark day. No, not because it was the first
day of my new job but because it’s the first time in 12 months I have worn a
skirt above the ankles, in fact, it’s the first time my legs have seen the
light of day except for two afternoons in Dubai and I’m sorry, I know it’s a
desperately sad and ridiculous thing to do but I had to take a photo to
commemorate the occasion.
Unfortunately however, it was all too much. I sat at breakfast
in my shoulder sleeved blouse and my skirt (knee length but with slit at the
front) and felt conspicuous by my nakedness. By the time I got halfway through
my breakfast baguette I was yearning for a good shawl to cover my arms and found myself
wondering ‘’will they think I’m indecently dressed?’’ (in a Jermyn Street
blouse and knee length skirt). I had not aimed for indecency but my suit is in
storage and these are the only office clothes I have.
My panic was
assuaged by the memories of my dear French friend with her vertiginous hemlines who assured me ‘’in Paris people dress like this’’. Still,
I dashed back upstairs for a good cardigan (despite the warm temperatures) and kept
it on all day (probably all the other women in vest tops and tank tops think I
am adjusting from African to European temperatures – no, that’s not the issue).
I walked past a shop window and caught sight of myself in a
reflection I thought ‘Oh MY GOD you can see the shape of my ass in this skirt!’’ You know those dreams where you imagine you're walking down the road naked? That's how I felt today.
I just can't do headscarf cold turkey like this. It’s going to take me a while to readjust…
Long sleeves tomorrow...and perhaps a full length skirt
