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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be annoyed about needing work clothes

111 replies

Limonjelly · 05/04/2024 10:57

We're being forced to go back to the office 2 days a week now (have been going 1 day a week for the past year but apparently that's not enough now). Apart from the time, cost and pointlessness of travelling to the office to sit at a desk for 8 hours, the thing that really annoys me about this is clothing.

I've barely bought any new clothes since lockdown and have saved so much money. It saves me time on deciding what to wear. It's better for the environment too. But people in my 'professional' London office tend to dress quite smart casual and I'll need to wear 2 different work outfits every week now. I don't want to, and can't afford to keep spending money on new clothes. I have 2 pairs of work trousers and a few tops/jumpers that I alternate. And a couple of dresses.

How many outfits do you have for work? How often do you wear the same thing?

OP posts:
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Superscientist · 06/04/2024 11:56

Lady vintage. They are lovely! Some of the prints aren't really suitable for work but very well cut dresses in mid 1900s styles. Made in England too if that's important to you.

NameChangedAgainn · 06/04/2024 01:08

Superscientist · 05/04/2024 16:52

I'm in 1-2 days a week. I've just switched to dresses. I bought 3 last year first purchases since covid in sales about £20-30 for £70rrp dresses. I also have suit trousers and 2 good shirts that still fit from prepregnancy. I wear the same outfit for 2 or 3 weeks. I also bought some new shoes that can be worn equally with dresses and trousers. I don't think I should have to buy more for the foreseeable. I have a few other old dresses which also are ok for work but I mostly use the new ones mostly as they have pockets! (Yay!)
I have separate clothes for the lab.

Please tell me more about the dresses with pockets - where are they from?

rockstarshoes · 06/04/2024 01:03

OP I think you might get a bit more sympathy & suggestions if you posted in Style & Beauty!

Original poster
Limonjelly · 05/04/2024 20:44

SabertoothKwazi · 05/04/2024 13:52

Another way to handle this is to put together 2 really bland office outfits and change up the accessories often. So you’d work on building up a little collection of silk type scarfs or costume jewelry. Those are things you can definitely buy from vinted or charity shops and not worry about them fitting.

Sorry accidentally quoted the wrong post!

OP posts:
WonderingWanda · 05/04/2024 19:41

Finding it hard to feel sorry for you only just having to return to the pre covid conditions you worked in....I assume you didn't wfh full time pre covid.

Gwenhwyfar · 05/04/2024 18:26

Auburngal · 05/04/2024 17:20

If any workplace wants ladies to wear heels, they can do one. I can’t wear heels as got weak ankles and flat footed

Show quote history

Couldn't you sue them for requiring heels?

Rainyblue · 05/04/2024 17:35

It doesn’t have to cost that much. I buy most of my office shirts, skirts and blazers from charity shops or Vinted for a few pounds. I’ve had compliments on quite a few of my second-hand clothes!
Anything that doesn’t fit quite right I sell on again, so there’s no loss.

I do tend to buy black trousers new from M&S, but then I also wear them for going out.

Auburngal · 05/04/2024 17:20

Divebar2021 · 05/04/2024 17:16

I’m surprised there are many offices that require suits and heels nowadays. Things have really moved in a casual direction. I do wear suits because I like them but often with a trainer or flat boot. I like the wide legged trouser from M&S that cost £39 and you can pick them up on Vinted pretty cheaply. I have been stung a couple of times with randomly sized items from there but mostly because I haven’t asked for measurements. If they don’t have a tape measure then I don’t buy. It’s not as if there’s a shortage of clothes in the world. Mostly I see going into the office as an opportunity to wear items that I wouldn’t otherwise be wearing.

If any workplace wants ladies to wear heels, they can do one. I can’t wear heels as got weak ankles and flat footed

Auburngal · 05/04/2024 17:19

When I worked in call centres on non dress down days, I just wore smart trousers and tops. Some I could wear on dress down days. Wearing a lightweight cardigan

What about charity shops? Some clothes may not been worn much.

SingingSands · 05/04/2024 17:18

My colleague has been wearing the same outfit for 20 years. Black trousers and a blue shirt. Nobody ever mentions it.

Divebar2021 · 05/04/2024 17:16

I’m surprised there are many offices that require suits and heels nowadays. Things have really moved in a casual direction. I do wear suits because I like them but often with a trainer or flat boot. I like the wide legged trouser from M&S that cost £39 and you can pick them up on Vinted pretty cheaply. I have been stung a couple of times with randomly sized items from there but mostly because I haven’t asked for measurements. If they don’t have a tape measure then I don’t buy. It’s not as if there’s a shortage of clothes in the world. Mostly I see going into the office as an opportunity to wear items that I wouldn’t otherwise be wearing.

tillyandmilly · 05/04/2024 17:03

I have 1 day in the office - have 1 black skirt that I wear - its maxi and chiffon - team with polo jumper in winter and chiffon long blouse with cami underneath for the summer! Sorry you are having to go in the office again - glad I only have 1 day!

imnotthatkindofmum · 05/04/2024 16:59

I wear the same outfits over and over and have done for about a year.

I'm a teacher though, I dress as casually as I can get away with and I don't care if my clothes are a bit old and rubbish tbh.

I do browse the charity shops occasionally and might get a top or trousers but haven't done for ages. Or I check out Asda sale when it's on. I really begrudge buying work clothes which is weird as I spend most of my time there!

BobnLen · 05/04/2024 16:58

Surely it's an opportunity to wear the work stuff so it's not languishing in the wardrobe unworn and wasted

PotatoPudding · 05/04/2024 16:57

Why can’t you wear the same outfit both days each week? I literally wear the same clothes Monday-Friday.

BobnLen · 05/04/2024 16:55

Surely if it only 2 days there is plenty of time to wash what you have got in between.

Superscientist · 05/04/2024 16:52

I'm in 1-2 days a week. I've just switched to dresses. I bought 3 last year first purchases since covid in sales about £20-30 for £70rrp dresses. I also have suit trousers and 2 good shirts that still fit from prepregnancy. I wear the same outfit for 2 or 3 weeks. I also bought some new shoes that can be worn equally with dresses and trousers. I don't think I should have to buy more for the foreseeable. I have a few other old dresses which also are ok for work but I mostly use the new ones mostly as they have pockets! (Yay!)
I have separate clothes for the lab.

Caravaggiouch · 05/04/2024 16:48

CharlotteBog · 05/04/2024 15:24

We're being forced to go back to the office 2 days a week now (have been going 1 day a week for the past year but apparently that's not enough now). Apart from the time, cost and pointlessness of travelling to the office to sit at a desk for 8 hours

Apologies for not actually answering your question, but your first statement jumped out at me. Surely businesses are only asking people to return to the office because productivity has dropped, or maybe all the staff were asked and the majority felt more days were preferable.

I assume you were fully office-based prior to lockdown and thus this is a return to what your contract stipulates.

Yes and I’m sure people will say that of course they’re much more productive and it’s just bad management, but given it’s so many companies and organisations in so many different industries/sectors moving towards more in-person time again…they can’t all be staffed by micro managers.

Caravaggiouch · 05/04/2024 16:45

You’re only going in 2 days a week, sounds like you’ve got plenty of clothes. 2 days is hardly a big deal. If you don’t like it find a fully remote position (if there’s many still about).

BCBird · 05/04/2024 16:43

Work 5 days. Have 5 things on repeat. Wish I could have 1 day at home. I'm overweight so there isn't as much choice. When I was smaller 2 suits and different tops. What is everyone else wearing

Movinghouseatlast · 05/04/2024 16:39

I worked with someone once who had 2 tops and two.pairs of trousers which she wore in rotation every day for 7 years. She wore the same jacket every day. She was part time so presumably washed them/ had the jacket dry cleaned on her days not working.

At an 'away day' she wore one of the same tops but with jeans.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 05/04/2024 16:35

I can wear jeans to work, so I just buy the odd smart top and wear them on repeat.

I don't think anyone will notice if you wear the same few tops. And even if they do, fast fashion isn't ethical and it's much better to wear the same thing over and over :)

I get most of my clothes from eBay although if I am buying a smarter top for work I do tend to buy it new, as every time I buy a smarter top from eBay I end up not liking it!

I leave a pair of boots in the office and wear trainers to get there.

NameChangedAgainn · 05/04/2024 16:33

howshouldibehave · 05/04/2024 16:26

I find sizing too inconsistent to find much use on Vinted, ordered a few things that didn't fit me and have wasted that money.

I find the best way with Vinted is to buy things similar to what you already have, eg if you know the Next linen summer dresses fit you in a 14, buy one or two of those in different colours. If you know you buy M+S Ivy jeans in a 12, get a pair in black. If you’re unsure about sizing-ask the seller for the measurements then you can compare it to something similar you already own.

This is what I did, I've got trousers from Next in a size 10 that fit, bought similar shaped trousers from Next in a 10 on vinted and they didn't fit.
I had to rebuy work clothes from scratch so didn't have a lot to compare it with unfortunately.
I've found vinted sellers don't want to measure things too, I've had a few people just ignore me and others say they don't know/don't have a tape measure /"it's £10, buy it and sell it on if it doesn't fit". I wasted about £40 on vinted (including the fees and postage) before giving up and just going to shop in person.

howshouldibehave · 05/04/2024 16:26

I find sizing too inconsistent to find much use on Vinted, ordered a few things that didn't fit me and have wasted that money.

I find the best way with Vinted is to buy things similar to what you already have, eg if you know the Next linen summer dresses fit you in a 14, buy one or two of those in different colours. If you know you buy M+S Ivy jeans in a 12, get a pair in black. If you’re unsure about sizing-ask the seller for the measurements then you can compare it to something similar you already own.

NameChangedAgainn · 05/04/2024 16:17

I completely get your frustration, it pained me to buy work clothes again to go back to the office. I'd happily wear the same thing every week if there wasn't always women commenting on what other people wear, "oh Sandra's wearing that suit again, she's always wearing that".
I find sizing too inconsistent to find much use on Vinted, ordered a few things that didn't fit me and have wasted that money.
I've bought a couple of suits, a couple of pairs of trousers, a few blouses, a couple of smart jumpers/cardigans, and I just mix and match. I wear the same heels to work everyday more or less.