Does This Sweater Make Me Look Like a Writer?

One of the things I look forward to every month is getting a Stitch Fix delivery. Stitch Fix basically changed my entire confidence level, as well as how I shop for clothes. Maybe one of these days I’ll post about that, but, for now, I’m merely mentioning it in passing since Stitch Fix is how I acquired The Sweater. You can find out more about Stitch Fix here if you’re interested, though.

My personal stylist at Stitch Fix knows I’m into all things hygge, especially in winter, and while I was working on my novel last year, she sent me the coziest sweater ever in one of my Fixes. It’s nothing fancy, as you can see in the photo above: off-white with little flecks of dark color, with a large cowl neck (my fave!), and soft, cozy fabric. It’s also incredibly flattering on me, which doesn’t hurt its appeal.

The minute I pulled it out of the box, I thought, “Oooh…this sweater looks like one a WRITER would wear.” I put it on the next day with black leggings and fluffy slippers before I sat down to write, and it has since become my favorite writing outfit. I especially like to wear it on days I’m tackling a particularly tough revision or blog post, and therefore feel the least writer-y. The Sweater is my version of a power suit.

When I first decided to take a good, hard stab at writing a book, I was realistic about what I might accomplish, but I also had quite the romantic vision of myself as a writer. I was convinced that if I wanted to write well, it would help to look the part of a writer — specifically, one who lives in a cozy, little cottage overlooking some mountains.

I had visions of wafting around my house, dressed in some artistic ensemble involving a stylish poncho, or a chunky sweater à la Jamie from Love Actually. I would hold a cup of tea and gaze pensively out my window, in search of inspiration as I took a relaxing break from a few fantastic hours of writing.

Sometime during the first hour of creating my novel, all my plans of “looking like a writer” flew out said window. I became lost in my own words, just so damn grateful to write something that was actually pretty good, considering my talents had been dormant for nigh two decades. I think I looked outside maybe three times in four days, and, while I took breaks to make more tea, half of it grew cold next to me; I would abandon it in my hurry to get thoughts on paper before they flew from my head, forever and regrettably lost.

And, the writing outfit? I didn’t even put on a bra, let alone anything stylish and “writer-y” for the entire time I sequestered myself. I happily traded looking the part for being the part.

So, yeah. My romantic vision of a writerly life didn’t exactly come true that first week.

It’s now been a full year since those intensive days of non-stop writing, and I’m proud to say that I’ve mastered the art of wearing respectable clothing while working on my novel (and on my blog — Heyyy-o, not naked while writing this! … or am I???). I can also take normal breaks that don’t involve looking blankly out the window in search of yet another synonym for “gaze.”

And, while creative writing is still REALLY hard (but enjoyable) work, I’m happy to report that I’ve come a little bit closer to that romantic image I had in my head of being a writer.

Because, The Sweater? That lovely, gorgeous, dreamy, cozy sweater that Stitch Fix so kindly sent me one chilly day last January? I slip that baby over my head, and suddenly I can’t wait to brew a cuppa and settle in front of the laptop, ready to embrace the writer that I finally feel I’ve become.

Does this sweater make me look like a writer? Why, yes. Yes, it does. Thank you for noticing.

Note: This post contains my Stitch Fix referral link. I earn a Stitch Fix credit each time someone makes a purchase using this link.