Casual dress at work

[moutonfou]

AIBU to think working somewhere with a fairly casual dress code completely erodes your enjoyment of clothes? I only really buy something now if it can also be worn for work, and so all my clothes just remind me of work. When DH gets home he changes from his suit into his casual clothes and it's part of 'coming home' for him - but it would just be a waste of clothes for me to do that. None of my clothes give me that 'cosy' or 'relaxed' feeling.

If you work in a casual workplace, what do you do? Do you keep some clothes just for home?

Yep. Work clothes and home clothes.

My old job was casual wear and i did have seperate work clothes then on my days off would wear nicer jeans and blouses i would just put my pjs on after work

I have some casual things that I just keep for work that's like a uniform that indont wear at the weekends.

I live in Adidas, Nike, North Face etc so I'm delighted every one of my employers has had a completely casual dress code
I never dress up - hate it
I love buying good sports kit and trainers, so I've several cupboards and wardrobes full

I haven't worn a skirt or dress since I joyously left school in 1974 - I hated being forced to wear them before 6th form

Where I work we are allowed to be ' smart casual' I always lean towards the 'smart' as I feel that if I am too casual I will have nothing different to wear in my leisure time. I believe many of my colleagues are too casual and it is really not appropriate in a work setting.

Even whe I have had a more casual dress code I've always had work and home clothes hate wearing work stuff at home!

It doesn't bother me.

It doesn't bother me.

As you can see . Actually, I like it because I can see beautiful outfits from my young and trendy colleagues and it gives me more scope during the week to wear interesting clothes.

Separate work and home clothes, my wardrobe is divided! Never the two will mix..

Even with a casual dress code, I would still have 2 wardrobes (metaphorically). If nothing else, its an excuse to buy more clothes!
I would also still keep a few smart items, and tone them down, so I wouldn't have to buy everything new the day I change job.

We have a really casual dress code (or lack of a code). Men wearing shorts in hot weather, women in strappy tops etc. If one of the male staff turns up for work in a suit then he's usually attending court with a client.

I have my own dress code. I never wear jeans as I find them uncomfortable when sat down all day. I also never buy new for work. Clothes are bought new for wearing at home and after a while get "demoted " to work clothes.

We have a casual dress code at work but I tend to wear smarter tops and cardigans than I normally would at home.

Hoodies etc are kept for home wear. When I get back I usually change into joggers or pjs from skinny jeans so I still have a 'change and relax' mode - and I love that I can wear comfy jeans and trainers to work! Would much prefer that than smart work wear.

My friend is causal at work and wears the same clothes outside of work - it's a weird thing to do!

I'm also causal and have two separate wardrobes - I would never wear work clothes at the weekend ever

I dress smarter than I have to at work. I keep my wardrobes separate.

I tend to wear the same dresses, jeans, tops etc but change jackets, shoes and bags. But yeah, once something's been worn for work it's ruined. Its a work dress.

I have a lovely pyjama and gym wardrobe now though!

Yes! I like dressing for work. I like dressing for outside work. Having to wear the same clothes for both is just all wrong!!!

Because a lot of our clients have filthy squalid houses, our dress code is very casual. If anyone turns up looking smart, everyone assumes they've got a job interview. My nicer clothes are reserved for at home/going out, and even new jeans don't get worn to work until I've had them a good while.

I agree. We have been told (city law firm) that we can wear casual clothes over the summer months unless in court/ meetings etc. But I've ended up in my same work stuff (suits and shirts or fitted knee length dresses if it's hot). I don't want to "use up" my going out clothes at work and most of them are a bit too sexy/festivally for the office anyway. I hate all that agonising over what's appropriate/too long/too short etc. With a suit you don't give it a moments thought because it won't ever be "wrong" in an office environment.

Yup, YABU.

IME, people who wear casual clothes to work are more likely to dress up to go out at the weekend, and people who wear formal clothes to work are more likely to want to go casual when going out.

It is a ridiculous leap to then say it 'erodes your enjoyment of clothes' though.

Nothing beats the bra off feeling. I don't care what I put on after.

I have a few that are definitely work clothes and some that are definitely home but the majority is either. I've never worked anywhere with a strict dress code so I don't think about it too much. If it looks nice it looks nice.

I love having a relaxed dress code. It means I can buy clothes I really like and wear them 7 days a week, not just 2! It makes me enjoy clothes far more because I can buy things and actually get to wear them.

Clothes and work aren't particularly linked in my mind, because I get to wear the clothes I want to all the time. I don't need to change clothes at the end of the day because I didn't wear outfit X because I was at work - I wore outfit X and just happened to be at work.
When I worked somewhere more formal I would always get changed, because I couldn't lounge around in smart clothes - but I can do it fine in jeans and a cardi (my current outfit) so why would I feel the need to change?

I only really buy something now if it can also be worn for work, and so all my clothes just remind me of work.
This is your problem - and its all in the mind. Just because I can wear casual clothes to work doesn't mean I don't have some items that aren't work suitable. A cropped top isn't work suitable so I buy it and wear it at the weekend, same as I would if I had to wear a suit.

None of my clothes give me that 'cosy' or 'relaxed' feeling.
Why don't you buy some clothes that make you feel cosy and relaxed then? I assume you aren't wearing trackies and a hoody to the office...