I do okay with the office attire. Mostly, I think I pull it off. I wear black and I iron things and make sure nothing’s stuck in my hair.

But then she stops me and gets this goofy smile like she caught me at something:

Co-worker: “That is such an interesting outfit. You wear the most interesting things. I mean, I couldn’t get away with that.”

Me: “Thanks?”

Co-worker: (throwing her hands up in amazement) “How do you come up with this stuff?”

Me: “I never really thought about it that way. Um, I just get dressed.”

Co-worker. “I don’t know. I think you’re pretty creative. (trying to pull someone else into the conversation about my outfit) Patty, isn’t she wacky?”

Me: “I have to get back to my cubicle now”

Do these people go to school for this stuff? Did I miss the class and now everyone knows that I’m not really cut out for the office? Dressing for work 101 – i.e. don’t wear the red shoes and the flowered pj’s peeking out from under the black dress thinking that all the black on top will cancel out the rest and nobody will notice?