How many work outfits should I have?

[WorriedDogMum87]

I might be going to get my first office job in a few months after wfh and I’m not sure how many work outfits I actually need. Is it okay to rotate the same few outfits, or do most people have quite a lot? What about shoes? I’m worried I’ll need loads if repeating is frowned upon!

Start off with a couple of pairs of non-descript trousers and some layered tops that all mix and match. You won't know if you'll need warmer/smarter clothes until you've been there for a while. Comfy shoes but not trainers unless that's the vibe there. Add to this wardrobe as you settle in. Good luck.

My work wardrobe is so boring, I have some black and some blue trousers. I have some black shirts which I pair with either a blue jacket or you guessed it a black jacket! I have a few dresses which work well with either jacket and a couple of colourful blouses for when I'm in the mood which work with the trousers or jackets! I have a pair of black court shoes and a pair of blue court shoes. OMG typing this out I'm so boring. It is likely a uniform but I don't want to think too much when getting dressed and I need to look smart.

PS unless your getting a clothing allowance then repeat away!

Well, that entirely depends on the type of Office you’re working in and what they expect you to wear. I wear the same clothes in and out of the office so it makes no difference to me for example. I can wear whatever I want from my wardrobe. Do you have to wear a suit or can you wear jeans? Are you allowed to wear heels, etc etc

I wear the same 3 dresses, tights, boots, or black jeans and top with a black cardigan and the same boots, I'm not wasting money on work clothes.

That's basically how I do it.

I have about 5-6 shirts / tops. 3 full trouser suits in Black, Grey and Navy blue. I have a couple of skirts. I have a black and white print dress that i can wear under my black work jacket. I have a blue jersey dress I can wear under my navy jacket. I have a burgundy dress under the grey jacket.

I rotate hard. That combination gives me alot of variety, but I do consider it a uniform.

FWIW- a colleague of mine only wears variations of grey and black and in work wardrobe and NEVER wears those colours outside of work. She considers it too depressing to wear any work clothes outside of work. I thought that was quite inspired tbh.

I have about five pairs of identical black trousers and have worn them in rotation, all year round, since I started my most recent job... ten years ago.

Combined with a variety of tops and cardigans according to season and the relative strength and proximity to the aircon unit in the office, that's pretty much it.

I have five warm weather outfits (cotton dresses, linen trousers) and five cold weather outfits (wool trousers/skirts), plus a few tops that will work with either.

I work in an office with poor heating/cooling so if the temperature outside changes, I need to change what I wear, to cope.

I have quite a lot of work clothes but we have to look smart. No jeans, hoodies, trainers, shorts etc.
In winter I wear either smart trousers in dark colours teamed with a blouse and dark coloured jumper or cardigan. Or a smart dress with tights. I either wear a pair of navy heels or I have some smart black flat shoes. Occasionally I will wear black boots with trousers. I do keep a blazer at work but I don’t find it practical. I also keep a smart scarf as sometimes it gets very cold.
In summer I keep a pair of heeled sandals at work. I wear either nice summer below the knee dresses or a skirt and blouse.

In my first office job I had a pair of black trousers, tan ones and grey ones. (Cigarette pants from H&M). I got a few good white shirts, a black shirt and some muted colours (the slithery ones also from H&M). I also had a beige pencil skirt and a black one. I just mixed and matched all of those for a few years.
In a different place now and can wear what I like within reason, but if you’re new to a smart office, neutrals are easier to rotate until your work wardrobe grows.

My office is anything goes so I have 2 pairs of black jeans, 2 pairs normal denmin and 3 or 4 hoodies. I usually wear trainers. I try and wear different say Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday I may wear Monday. So never 2 days in a row. I usually see who is working (its hybrid) and if they have seen me I won't wear same outfit!

Capsule wardrobe. My place of work has guidelines that is a black, white, grey colour pallet. Smart/casual but business like. I have trousers, tops, jackets, jumpers and shoes/boots/fashion trainers, plus a couple of dresses. All are interchangable to ensure I don't wear the same look everyday. Pick 3 or 4 colours that go together and chose belts and jewellery to compliment.

Now that I am in a dress down office my wardrobe is much more varied but in the past it has been pretty repetitive with about a couple of pairs of trousers and a skirt being rotated with a few tops most of the time.

May depend what type of office.
At my workplace everything goes and most wear jeans+hoodie/sweatshirt type of tops. I generally go for the same, have several pairs of jeans in different colours, few different (but all black) pairs of Sketchers. I prefer plain tops/t-shirts/hoodies without logos or writing. If I feel especially fancy I may wear a knitted jumper. I'm a super casual person and wouldn't even interview for a job that requires business attire, luckily in my industry casual is the norm.
Good luck with the new job.

Congrats.
Depending of what vibe is in office.
Ive had experience with some high class chicks and people who will never look at you, and then those who simply come to office and work.
I'd say buy 2 outfits, smart yet classy and see how ot goes from there.
Dont work for the wardrobe.
Jewelery to minimum or good quality and constant.

Don't go crazy buying things until you're there and see what the vibe is. Some offices are smart, others very casual. I feel since covid especially, our office has gone really casual and it's accepted. Dark jeans with a top, casual dresses, trainers or loafers. Our service head even wears jeans, trainers and a blazer. I wear the same black skinny jeans with bog standard tshirts/jumpers and trainers. Repeat outfits every week.

I have about 10 skirts of varying lengths, 6 dresses, and 3 shirts. Other than the shirts I just wear normal tops that I also wear out of work, and zip up hoodies to stay warm. And I always wear the same pair of trainers.

I have accumulated these over the years though in sales, two of my skirts are H&M and they were £4 each. As pp say don't go mad shopping until you have worked out what everyone else is wearing.

Depends where you’re working and even then it can vary.
i work for a global corporate in their head office. Making a coffee I’ll see people walking around in jeans, trainers and a tshirt. Sometimes even some random football shirt.
To others in full suits with braces under their jacket.

I like to be smart but still on the smart casual side. So if I wear jeans they are a dark wash with a fine knit cropped / boxy cardigan or sweater. Often wear tailored trousers with a blouse or again a fine knit sweater. Some times a shirt but I don’t like to iron so I go for a relaxed fit look.

i do wear trainers but they’re smart ones, not new balance (but people do wear them). But mainly wear flat smart pretty ones.

you won’t need loads of outfits or loads of shoes. Go for a couple of key basics. Smart trousers in a nice neutral and a couple of coordinated tops that you feel comfortable and go from there. See how you feel once you’re in and find your own style.

I started with black jeans and two shirts. 3 days in the office so I washed mid week to wear one on the Friday. As soon as I was paid I bought a pair of smart very dark blue jeans and another shirt. Now I rotate the two pairs of jeans and have got about 7 shirts and a couple of more casual (but still smarter than my every day clothes) T-shirts. Three jumpers. Trainers or boots if I've a meeting.

I think a bit more info is needed, like what kind of office and how many days a week.

Im in our office two days a week, and I wear jeans, trainers and a nice top and cardie. Have about 6 tops in rotation.

I would be shocked at any workplace that made judgements about how often anyone wore the same outfit!!!

This makes me feel hugely extravagant as I have a huge work wardrobe 😆 but I dress reasonably formal and the thought of black trousers and a top is totally not my style at all!

I have 5 dresses. Each worn with leggings and boots, with a cardigan. I aim for presentable rather than fashionable.

I only work in the office 1 day a week and then maybe 1 day a week I will be attending face to face meetings or delivering training so I only really need 2 outfits per week, but I have 2 pairs or black trousers that I mix with 6 tops and a grey pair of trousers that I mix with 3 tops, I also have 3 dresses that I wear with sandals in the summer and tights and boots in the winter. I pair my trouser/top combinations with loafers. A lot of people I work with dress a lot more casual now jeans/ tshirts/ trainers but I prefer to be a bit smarter with a “work uniform” I would only buy a couple of outfits for the first couple of days until you see what how smart/casual it is

We are dress down so I just wear my normal clothes with a few dresses and skirts thrown in.

I work three days a week, so I have six outfits so I only have to wash my work outfits once a fortnight.