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University staff common room

This board is for university-based professionals. Find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further education forum.

What do you wear to work?

22 replies

horseclothes · 08/03/2024 18:59

I just realised that I have different 'uniforms' for when I'm teaching/seminars and for when I've got meetings. A friend sent me a link to the 'dark academia' (basically inspired by what TV execs imagine academics wear) clothes trend and I realised that this is what my uniform looks like 😂 I usually wear my favourite eccentric/loud clothes at work when I know I have no meetings/teaching as I worry colleagues and students wouldn't take me seriously otherwise!

Does anyone do the same or do you just wear whatever you want all the time?!

OP posts:
CormorantStrikesBack · 08/03/2024 19:17

I wear pretty much the same when on campus regardless of whether it’s teaching or meetings, so dresses of some description. One of my students said I have a wacky art teacher vibe going on which I’m happy enough with. If I’m wfh I’m normally in gym gear, even for teams meetings.

bge · 09/03/2024 16:53

I try to be smart at work. I wear tailored trousers, brogues or boots, shirts or cashmere jumpers. I have lots of meetings with clinical staff, students, management (am on strategic board) etc all day so need to wear stuff suitable for all

horseclothes · 09/03/2024 17:09

I know it shouldn't really matter what we wear but I realised I'm always thinking about message I'm projecting when I'm at work depending on who I'm with. I look quite young so find corporate stuff (blazers, shirt and smart trousers) makes me feel more confident/senior in seminar/teaching settings and meetings. But it's not my natural go-to (wacky art teacher is!!) so I always feel like I'm dressing up in someone else's wardrobe 😂

OP posts:
Justkeepingplatesspinning · 10/03/2024 15:51

I tend to wear dresses. Sometimes with a jacket but our teaching rooms are so hot it sits on the back of a chair all day so what's the point...
If it's a programme review or interviews for new staff then I dress up a bit and have a jacket so externals and candidates don't feel overdressed.

Stonehill · 10/03/2024 15:55

jeans and a tee shirt

KStockHERO · 11/03/2024 13:00

What a great question.

I oscillate between quite smart and very casual.

On the quite smart end: I've got a few pairs of nice tailored trousers which I wear with stretchy tops tucked in and white pumps. I've got a few quite smart jumpsuits too which I wear with pumps.

In the middle: I wear skinny jeans, tops and boots.

On the quite casual side: Skinny jeans, mom jeans, T-shirts, tops, hoodies, pumps or boots.

On the very casual side: I've been known to wear tracksuit bottoms, oversized jumpers or hoodies, and trainers if I'm having a bit of a shit day, or if I'm just into work for one or two hours rather than being there all day.

I don't change what I wear whether its meetings or teaching. If I'm on an interview panel or I'm doing student recruitment work, then I go quite smart.

horseclothes · 11/03/2024 13:42

It really is amazing how much versatility we have as a sector - I'm just thinking about other careers where there is pretty much a universal uniform template you can seek out and follow. If an ECR/PhD asked me what to wear to a conference/day-to-day basis, I wouldn't know how to direct them. I previously worked in Professional Services in a university and we would get pulled up and told off for wearing denim/jeans though which still rankles years later...

Do you ever feel the need for a sharp distinction between your work and non-work clothes @KStockHERO ? I don't feel like there is a distinction between 'work me' and 'home me' which is one the quirks/perks/challenges of the job - it's not just something I do, but who I am IYSWIM (possibly no healthy, I know!). But I find when I'm working intensively everyday of the week including weekends sometimes, there's something nice about being able to wear my 'own' fun clothes to make me mentally switch off when I'm not working, if that makes sense!

I also realised that I have certain clothes that I need to wear when I'm writing intensively (loose/no waist bands and soft jumpers). I can't wear structured things which for some reason feel particularly restrictive when I'm trying to get serious writing done.

OP posts:
fishfingersandtoes · 11/03/2024 22:10

Cord skirts & blouses degenerating into jeans and t-shirts as the term goes on.

MedSchoolRat · 13/03/2024 19:53

Scruffbag. Jeans & hoody. Shorts in summer.

ItsallIeverwanted · 13/03/2024 22:33

I try to have some smartness about me if I'm teaching UG/PG students, in other words, in winter a wool coat, decent top although I alternate between smarter bottom halves (long pleated skirt, short dress, the odd dress) and casual ones (baggier jeans, black skinnies). Out of work, I wear pretty much the same stuff but err on the casual side. I love two days off campus a week and wear my scruffiest stuff and no make-up on those days. Otherwise I do wear make-up to present myself to the world, always have (my insecurity, not suggesting others need to). I can always spot the other lecturers on campus by their clothes- the students are clones!

Acinonyx2 · 14/03/2024 07:34

It's an odd one. I have some smarter trousers etc that I got for teaching 6th form and I never wear those at University as they feel..... too smart and out of place. I replaced them with cords/chinos. I could wear jeans - lots do - but I just decided I'd like to keep them for home just so there was some home/work division. I might cave on that though. Cycling also dictates to some extent.

KStockHERO · 15/03/2024 11:11

horseclothes · 11/03/2024 13:42

It really is amazing how much versatility we have as a sector - I'm just thinking about other careers where there is pretty much a universal uniform template you can seek out and follow. If an ECR/PhD asked me what to wear to a conference/day-to-day basis, I wouldn't know how to direct them. I previously worked in Professional Services in a university and we would get pulled up and told off for wearing denim/jeans though which still rankles years later...

Do you ever feel the need for a sharp distinction between your work and non-work clothes @KStockHERO ? I don't feel like there is a distinction between 'work me' and 'home me' which is one the quirks/perks/challenges of the job - it's not just something I do, but who I am IYSWIM (possibly no healthy, I know!). But I find when I'm working intensively everyday of the week including weekends sometimes, there's something nice about being able to wear my 'own' fun clothes to make me mentally switch off when I'm not working, if that makes sense!

I also realised that I have certain clothes that I need to wear when I'm writing intensively (loose/no waist bands and soft jumpers). I can't wear structured things which for some reason feel particularly restrictive when I'm trying to get serious writing done.

Yes, there's definitely a distinction for me between work and non-work clothes. If I'm just at home or out and about I'll wear sports gear (tracksuits, leggins, gym clothes) which I wouldn't wear to work. I do slob around at work a bit but hear-to-toe in a matching Nike tracksuit is a bit too far for me.

If I'm going "out" in non-work time like meeting friends or going for a meal or whatever, I'd probably wear a lot of the same clothes that I'd wear to work but I feel different because I do my hair differently, I wear a different bag etc. I guess to look at my you'd think there's no difference but I feel different with those small changes.

I also have work and non-work perfume 💀

Revealingall · 15/03/2024 11:37

Working from home: Athleisure 🤣, usually a smarter "co-ord" if that's a thing. Long line puffy gilet on top. Slip on trainers (Hush Puppies Black Snakeskin). No makeup, hair in a bun. If I get a Teams call, I whip off the gilet and the top of the co-ord is usually smart enough to pass as a plain top.

If I've a meeting online, it's a nice blouse or smarter knitwear on top, make up, stretchy black pants on bottom!

Teaching in person: Usually a dress with black tights, knit coat, smart boots. Sometimes tailored trousers with heels and smart knitwear or blouse. Occasionally a blazer. Often a smart black leather jacket if not wearing a coat.
Maxi dress or skirt in summer but in darker colours (olive greens, navy etc as opposed to my off duty whites and brights).

Office on campus: Similar to above but sometimes slightly more casual, i.e mini skirt and thick tights with polo jumper, long
line top or jumper with good quality thick leggings. Some more out of the ordinary stuff from boutiques.

More formal meetings on campus: Coloured long line blazer with good quality scoop necked top or blouse, tailored slim fit trousers. Pleated midi skirt with good quality top/knitwear. Nice dress with blazer. All with heels. If "arty person" formal meeting, more of an "out-there" maxi dress with leather jacket and chunky boots.

Off duty...I never really wear jeans, trainers or hoodies anywhere. I might wear my work from home gear to nip to the shop, doctors or for a walk.

My teaching clothes could be worn for coffee/lunch with friends.

My office clothes are more of an every day clothing that I'd wear to go into town during the day.

My formal meeting clothes are what I might wear to anything I'd need to be relatively smart for, ranging from a funeral to a "drinks in a nice bar" date.

In my off duty time I probably wear "prettier", more feminine, "floaty", clothes than I'd wear to work.

Acinonyx2 · 15/03/2024 12:55

I also have work and non-work perfume!

Revealingall · 15/03/2024 13:00

Acinonyx2 · 15/03/2024 12:55

I also have work and non-work perfume!

Same 😂

Acinonyx2 · 15/03/2024 13:02

Hmm. Would it be too outing to share our work perfumes...? 🤔

Revealingall · 15/03/2024 13:12

Acinonyx2 · 15/03/2024 13:02

Hmm. Would it be too outing to share our work perfumes...? 🤔

Hugo Boss Deep Red
Calvin Klein Eternity Moment
Fragonard Fleur D'Oranger Intense
La Nuit Tresor

Basically anything relatively cheap haha!

KStockHERO · 15/03/2024 13:24

I'm so pleased that others have work and non-work perfumes too. I told a friend about that (also an academic) and she was doubled over with laughter at me 🤔

Work in winter = Maison Margiela "By the fire side" or Calvin Klein "Eternity"
Work in summer = Dolma "Calista" or Dolma "Light Bloom"

Non-work = Lush "Orange Blossom" or Sol de Janeiro number 62 or 68

Acinonyx2 · 15/03/2024 14:57

Work - mainly Dior 'Dune' (hard to get now - this may be my last bottle!)
And last of a bottle of Arden 'Green Tea'.

Otherwise Hermes 'Aux des merveilles' - which is actually a lot like Dune....

And elsewhere - allsorts - I like perfume, some heavier oriental-style - some light like DYNK 'Apple Blossom'.

Every 2-3 years I treat myself to a few samples - I'll have to try some of these here. I fancy La Nuit Tresor and the sound of Lush 'Orange Blossom'.

horseclothes · 15/03/2024 15:19

@Revealingall I think we're the same person!! I also keep my 'soft' clothes for home only as I'd feel too vulnerable wearing them at work if that makes sense - my structured work blazers feel like my battle armour in the classroom & difficult meetings! 😂

@Acinonyx2 I have the same thing about some clothes being too smart as well and feeling out of place.

@KStockHERO I think that's exactly it - it's about feeling different even if the difference is indiscernible to others.

I don't wear perfume but really interesting that people have separate ones for work and for home. Maybe I ought to start wearing some to drown out the smell of Lynx in my classrooms... 😂I do have separate jewellery though (mainly earrings) that are for home only and standard hoops etc for work.

OP posts:
KStockHERO · 17/03/2024 16:43

Acinonyx2 · 15/03/2024 14:57

Work - mainly Dior 'Dune' (hard to get now - this may be my last bottle!)
And last of a bottle of Arden 'Green Tea'.

Otherwise Hermes 'Aux des merveilles' - which is actually a lot like Dune....

And elsewhere - allsorts - I like perfume, some heavier oriental-style - some light like DYNK 'Apple Blossom'.

Every 2-3 years I treat myself to a few samples - I'll have to try some of these here. I fancy La Nuit Tresor and the sound of Lush 'Orange Blossom'.

Lush 'Orange Blossom' is really lovely. It's very orange-y but not in a horrible synthetic way. It makes me smile. I boycott Lush because of the breast binder issue so I find myself a bit conflicted!

Acinonyx2 · 18/03/2024 08:13

I'll check that out when I'm in town :)

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