Grubbiness: the 8th deadly sin?

The girly post is brought to you by the letters s and the number 42...


Part of what I like in my job is that because I work in a laboratory with all manner of things that may stain me or infect me, I can wear very casual things to work. Sure, no open toe shoes or shorts or even mid calf hobbit pants or skirts, but I can wear jeans and t-shirts, only having to snazz up a bit for the odd departmental meeting where I'm forced to speak in front of the doctors. Usually I'm covered in a lab coat, and if I wear nicer things they inevitably get ruined, so I don't make a habit of it. For shoes I wear comfy expensive running shoes, my one concession, because I stand all day and work in 4 labs in 2 different buildings so I do a lot of stairs and my feet thank me for it. Heels and uncomfortable shoes would be agony. As a result, after having lost weight and not really replaced my clothes afterwards, I don't have many nice things. I tend to spend $$ on entertainment, food or music before me. And usually I'm OK with it.
I only lament this rarely when I want to look more girly or dressy. It doesn't happen often, but I have occasional fits of girlishness (I'm in the midst of one right now) where I want to look pretty and take the time to look very nice...and much to my annoyance I find that other than a few outfits suitable for say a church service or wedding, I've got NOTHING to wear. I kid you not- I'm not being melodramatic female here - my husband has more shoes and nice clothes for his job than I do. Lots more. He's the opposite - when we go camping he doesn't really have anything to dress *down* in and often will wear khakis and a nice shirt camping, while I'm in shorts or a t-shirt. He doesn't mind though, as I don't think he'd wear a pear of jeans or sandals now unless I paid him - he was raised british and in the end he just likes dressing that way. It makes him feel more confident. I don't think he's worn jeans since we dated. I like it too...he always looks nice :). And comparatively, I end up looking a bit scruffy on his arm.

In an attempt to remedy my grubbiness, I'm trying to put together nicer things and it's been a challenge. I've started feeling as though I'm not being taken seriously because of how I look at work, and I think if I put a bit more effort into things, over the next few months I could really evolve here from a slob into a rather swanky goddess of charm. I'll never be posh or super high style (you can't wash out the tomboy that easily), but I am in the mood to get in touch with my feminine side and see what comes up. I think what brought this on is our upcoming anniversary. In preparation for our trip, I'd like to actually dress a bit up and not wander in running shoes and ratty jeans.
I've found a nice pear of Clarks Unstructured mary jane style black walking shoes which fit like a glove and are incredibly comfortable...I don't even have to break them in and they look better than a pair of white and pink trainers. I've also picked up a nice sundress to wear on holiday (here's hoping for some sun!), and found a few things in the closet that are a step up from slightly too big t-shirts and old jeans. I do have a few new pairs of jeans that fit and are remotely in style (just have to get around to hemming them), and I think, as long as the weather isn't too warm, I may not look completely scruffy. I'm not going too crazy or girly here, here...just trying to rise above what's become the norm around here. I feel more confident at work this way.

We shall see. Tomorrow this may be all out the window.
But for now, I've got AWESOME shoes :)