Fuzzyred's Marvelous Reading Nook

>> It also helps keep me from danger <<

And you also qualify as "nice stuff"; your existence helps make the universe a better place. I think I had that as an implicit thought.

>> I will admit I usually make the extra effort for other people rather than myself, <<

I have wound up on the other side of that. At least right now, it takes extra effort for me to own whatever cisvariant components of my presentation I like on a given day. If I'm not up to that, I'll put on something cisnormative that is accepted without my having to work for that.

>> but on the days where I don't try at all I'm more inclined to just not change out of pjs than anything. <<

I only wind up doing that when I'm ill. Putting on some actual clothes suited to the day's weather and activities is my signal to myself that I'm ready to participate in the day.

>> Jeans used to be my prefered pants, though recently I've acquired more options. <<

Jeans are boring. Great, if you're doing something where durability is important, they're fine. But otherwise, I'd rather wear something with an interesting shape or texture or pattern.

Jeans are also real. I'm not at all interested in blinged-up jeans, or non-jeans made to look like jeans. Those are as fake and unsatisfying to me as plastic colored to look like wood. If something doesn't need to be wood, I'd like it to be honest about being plastic.

>> I find I use tops to make the most statement in my outfit, with ocassional jewelry. <<

Jewelry and shoes are where I get the most notice. When one of my interesting pairs of shoes attracts attention, I point out that life's too short to wear boring shoes. Working on a broader range of tops and bottoms.

>> There is something particularly satisfying about putting on clothes just for me that I like, and I find it can boost my mood, so I try to remember to make the effort, and that I'm worth it. <<

I find I have a lot more energy when I successfully work out an outfit where I look like myself. I'm saving a lot of energy I would otherwise be faking it to match my outfit with.

I have bad outfit days where I either can't figure it out, or don't have anything that works. When I can, I work out what I wasn't finding, and keep it in mind. Thus does my wardrobe grow in ways that aligns it closer to my identity.

>> I am uncertain whether there will be a reaction or not. <<

Saw your subsequent comment on that matter. You are absolutely right about that being the important part. Have a great time until we chat again.