When my winter wardrobe committed a crime

A love letter to the Woman I'm Becoming

In 2024, I took on my first corporate job in Canada. I wanted to see what corporate life was like. My aim, was to make it through the first week without being pulled into the Human Resources’s office for being too offensive with my Australian jokes, or with my words in any way. For the record, I’m very polite according to Aussies, okay.

I found corporate life in Canada a little different to what I’m used to in Australia. Canadians tend to be more reserved, conservative and diplomatic in how they communicate... Or maybe it’s just in Alberta, I don’t know.

If you meet an Australian, what you see is usually what you get. We love to dish it out, but we can “cop it,” aka take it just as well. I find it deeply cathartic, that kind of honesty is something that I’ve grown up with. You build relationships where you can say what’s on your mind and still be accepted for who you are.

Over here in Canada, it feels like a culture of suppressed emotions particularly at the workplace. I feel there’s a level of resentment carried amongst individuals, leading them to express themselves through passive-aggressive behaviour, such as words and actions… Sometimes at work, the conversations can feel, inauthentic, and makes me feel I need to be inauthentic too, such as biting my tongue, because I don’t think I can dish it out like we do back in Australia. Honestly, it’s exhausting. It’s like you’re trying to “fit in” by behaving a certain way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m mindful of my words generally, because I care about “how it lands.” It’s just something else, I can’t fully describe…

Anyway, so we had a few work events during the Canadian colder months. The snow during that time wasn’t so bad actually, and it isn’t as cold as you think… It’s like being in a cold office, and sometimes, it may feel like you’re walking inside a freezer; and even then, it’s not so bad if you’re wearing a scarf, beanie, waterproof boots and warm clothing. As the saying goes in Canada,

“there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”

So when is it considered bad clothing? When you’re cold? Right?

For over twenty years, my wardrobe staple pieces for work events include elegant long dresses, structured coats and sleek one-pieces. I love elegant colours that are simple yet sophisticated, and if there’s any pattern, it’s very discreet, in my opinion.

I’ve attended many work functions, and all these times, I’ve been authentic to the Aussie in me. Aussie winters can feel much colder than Canada. Yet, you will see, people in heels, tank tops and jeans going to clubs and bars. It’s just part of the Aussie culture.

So after a few days of changing clothes and inlcuding my usual long tailoured red dress, with a black fitting coat, and black heels. Just so you know, wearing heels in winter isn’t as bad as it sounds. People can skate on ice, so walking on ice is perfectly fineeee… Come on! I guess I never expected to hear a fellow female to tell me, “there’s no such thing as fashion in winter.” Honestly, I was taken aback by the comment.

At first, I felt bad that my fashion came across as offensive.
Then I felt bad for her. Because in that moment, I realised how sad it must be to grow up in Canada, or to be Canadian and feeling the need to stay wrapped up, not just in layers, but in restraint.

Not long after, I quit my corporate job in Canada. My Australian business was growing and I’d already made some sacrifices for my corporate work, and I wasn’t going to make the biggest sacrifice of them all: my identity, my sense of humour, and my self-worth.

Never in my wildest dreams, did I imagined I’d be too fabulous for frost…

But that moment taught me something important:
Mediocrity isn’t a season I subscribe to—
and neither should you.

With love, fire & mythic,

Monique x