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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
CraftyBum · 05/04/2024 11:06

I dont see how you can begrudge something that you clearly agreed to before and have benefited from until now.

WhateverMate · 05/04/2024 11:06

It's better for the environment too.

So alternate two outfits, that's also better for the environment.

elQuintoConyo · 05/04/2024 11:06

Same skirt both days, different top.
Same trousers both days, different top.

Same shoes both days.

But different underwear, goes without saying.

Zero effort.

Rosesanddaisies1 · 05/04/2024 11:05

Just wear the same clothes each week, honestly no-one will notice - sounds like you have plenty already. As long as they are clean and suitable. Charity shops seem to have a lot of nice tops etc, if you do want a bit more choice. We were travelling and went to work in Australia for a few months, I did temp work and had to buy some office clothes, I bought exactly 5 outfits and wore them every week for months. No one cared.

CleftChin · 05/04/2024 11:04

When I had this, I had 1 outfit - 5 shirts (identical) and 2 pairs of trousers (identical) and one jacket. No-one cared.

My youngest has just announced that he 'wants to be like spongebob' - I'm to buy him a multi pack of black t-shirts, and he'll wear the same style of joggers to school every day (we already have the trousers), so he doesn't ever have to think about what he's wearing.

craigth162 · 05/04/2024 11:04

What u have sounds plenty

MrsSkylerWhite · 05/04/2024 11:04

A suit of some sort and 2 blouses. Sorted.

Youdontknowmedoyou · 05/04/2024 11:02

Just wear the same clothes. As long as they are office worthy and clean it doesn't matter.

Overtheatlantic · 05/04/2024 11:01

You really don’t need to keep buying new clothes. Some mix and match separates and a couple of dresses should be fine.

BabyImReadyToGo · 05/04/2024 10:59

I don't wear smart clothes for work so I don't have this dilemma but I feel your frustration.

I don't think you need to buy any new clothes, it looks like you have plenty - just keep wearing what you already have.

Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 05/04/2024 10:58

Does it matter if you wear the same thing every week?

One outfit for Monday one for Tuesday. Sorted.

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