To be annoyed about needing work clothes

I wouldn't say that at all, productivity more than likely hasn't dropped , more likely there is some micro manager who don't feel in control unless that see people and are sitting in the office, If certain people are not pulling their weight then thats because management have not been dealing with these people, guarantee these same peoples are not pulling their weight when i office too, Being in an office doesn't not make you more productive

Fair point. It's a LONG time since I've been in a shared office and an even longer time since I've worked for an ineffective manager.

To expand on my post above...

Find a pair of black trousers that fit really well. Buy a 2nd pair and keep buying the same when one wears out.

Tops need not be expensive. TK Maxx, M&S et cetera are good enough for most jobs.

Most of my smart jackets were charity shop buys.

Most of my work clothes budget was spent on really good, smart, comfortable shoes. Mostly John Lewis or Russell & Bromley sales.

Don't overthink it. Unless you wear way out there fashion - which I wouldn't recommend for work! - people won't actually notice what you are wearing.

I had two tops and 3 bottoms for 5 days a week. Now I work where there's a uniform and still did it with one top and 3 bottoms. Of course my coworker donated a few tops she outgrew so now I have 4. I've never owned more tops botton combos than days I worked. Just dress them up w accessories

Check out instyle magazines website. Try have a section called one outfit 5 ways. May give you some cheap ideas.

I wouldn't say that at all, productivity more than likely hasn't dropped , more likely there is some micro manager who don't feel in control unless that see people and are sitting in the office, If certain people are not pulling their weight then thats because management have not been dealing with these people, guarantee these same peoples are not pulling their weight when i office too, Being in an office doesn't not make you more productive

op you have a good basic wardrobe there, unless you are in a face to face client role i wouldn't worry too much, would rotate things. Office wear has become more casual too. If your worries about Vinted then ensure you know your measurements and ask these questions. Also look at the brands you have in your wardrobe that way you know them brands that fit. look at buying them brands

I mostly wear the same dress that I bought in four different colours (very sad I know). I do prefer a uniform I miss the days of not having to worry about what to wear to work. But you can't really complain about having to wear reasonable clothes to work sorry that's just life

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.

Two dresses. Or two tops and 1 skirt/trousers. That's all you need. Wear the same items each week. And if it's smart casual then you can just buy really plain items (e.g. plain coloured dress) which you can then dress up or down for other occasions.

You also don't have to buy new. Charity shops and EBay/Vinted have lots of very inexpensive items and recycling clothes in this way is better for the environment.

Ultimately, I assume you took the job knowing it was office based and knowing that there's a certain dress code. If so, then yeah you're being unreasonable. If you don't want to wear office clothes, get a 100pc remote job or get a job where you can wear whatever you want.

I go into the office four days a week. I have a few pairs of the same trousers from Boden in black and navy. A white shirt, a blue shirt, black and white and stripped t-shirts and a few smart blazers. It’s basically a uniform! If I have smart days (I.e in court) I have a black smart dress and a navy smart dress.

very easy - nothing in dramatic colours or patters so not memorable and I can wear on repeat. All good quality and withstand years of regular washing and dry cleaning.

Me too. I have tops under my dresses so can just keep on wearing them. Nobody has ever commented.

This - you acknowedge OP that you have saved loads of money over the past 3 years - now you are whinging because 'it is not fair' that the employer who pays your salary wants to see you in the office (which would be in your contract anyway).

I have work tops that are about 10 years old, bought non high fashion items and they still work now. I have to go to work 4 days a week, no wfh option, but I have a selection of basics and then rotate them, black, navy grey trousers, 4 of the same dress in different colours, cardigans and various tops that work for summer and winter with added cardi or not!

I agree with a PP its more than the clothes its more about the having to go to work. Seems to be happening to all of my friends who have been wfh since 2020, more and more time needed to be in the office.

I retired 6 months before Covid hit, from a 5 days a week office job. One of the best things about being retired is no longer needing to buy work clothes and especially shoes.

So don't buy new stuff. Wear what you have and only replace it when worn out. Most posters have pointed out that from your opening post you have plenty of clothes for two days a week.

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.

It doesn’t sound like you need to buy any more work clothes? You’re just looking for stuff to moan about because you’re expected to actually go into work 4 years after Covid .

Yeah, I’m the same age. I think it’s the dressing like a grown up thing I struggle with. Black trousers and a smart blouse just isn’t me. I definitely spend too long worrying about these things but if I don’t look okay I feel rubbish and it affects my confidence.

I work 2 days a week in the office and wear what I want within reason, usually jeans and a t-shirt/jumper/hoodie.

Unless someone was wearing something I particularly liked, I wouldn't pay any attention to what other people had on and certainly wouldn't bat an eyelid at someone wearing the same things most weeks, I think you're making a big deal where it doesn't need to be one.

My entire weather appropriate work wardrobe gets worn every week basically. Not always in exactly the same combinations.

I have a week’s worth of office outfits. Trousers, shirts and thin jumpers. They mostly mix and match. Currently worn with smart new trainers. When the weather gets too hot for that uniform I’ll swap to shirt dresses. I might buy one new dress and 1 pair of loafers at some point. I don’t get paid enough to not have a personal uniform for work.

You've got at least 4 outfits.
Why isn't that enough for 2 days a week in the office?
FWIW, I can't WFH. I have 2 pairs trousers, 3 winter jumpers, 5 summer tops.

I have 2 pairs of smart trousers, a few different tops and am in 2-3 tubes a week. 1 pair of trousers is fine for 3 days unless I spill something (common). Then I just wear a different top each day. You don’t need new stuff every week.

I have 4/5 outfits and I come in 4 days. I wear the same things every week and alternate between nice trousers/skirts and different tops

I have 2 summer trousers/blouses
2 winter trousers/tops
1 dress

You are overthinking this. You have clothes and can wear the same clothes twice.