AIBU to refuse to wear my work uniform?

[Pussinboots25]

Hi, sorry this is a very boring AIBU. I recently got a new job and filled out a sheet regarding uniform. The options are small, medium, large and extra large and I picked small (I’m a size 6/8 and very petite)

The uniform came today and I tried it on when I got home, it is HUGE! The polo shirt is so long it almost goes to my knees and and the jacket could fit me in twice. I look absolutely ridiculous. AIBU to refuse to wear the uniform? They have told me they don’t do extra small

Are they unisex uniforms, i.e. men’s clothing? I’ve had that before and looked ridiculous because I had to get the bigger and much baggier size because men’s clothing isn’t cut for hips and boobs.

Maybe they’ve ordered you a men’s Small. If it’s as bad as you say, I’m sure they’ll take one look at you and sort it out

I got a "small" fleece for a job I had in a previous life. It came to my knees and my friend and I could fit in it together (I was a distinctly average size 10). I thought it was hilarious and wore it with relish. I worked in a very male dominated industry, everyone just thought it was funny. Try and laugh at yourself and don't take it too seriously until you can sort something out like sourcing your own or getting it altered.

@WrongKindOfFace it could be unisex or even accidentally a males size. There are only women in my department so I’m not sure if the men’s would be the same

@Chattybum I think I’m only worried because it is huge and I don’t know anyone yet. Once I’ve settled in, I’m sure it will be hilarious!

I'm curious to see the photo
My second job.. we often had a spare jumper knocking around to keep warm on the night shifts.. it was huge and I remember it coming down to my knees too. Thankfully it was only on the cold nights you wore it but it was a picture

And I'm inclined tosay..YANBU but it's not as straight forward. It's as if it's a spare uniform rather than one for you (I.e. lost property) so I do understand why you wouldnt be confident.
I would maybe measure it and check it against typical measurements for the size it should be. Just so you can say "look.. this really isn't a small". They are all very generic sizing though. Not like a superdry small (sobs because I no longer fit into an XS)

@TryingToBeBold thank you for a sensible comment I would feel like I forgot my PE and had to wear something from lost property!

Shouldn't a play therapist be ok with looking a bit silly. The dc had a reception teacher who turned up looking like Andy Pandy. She was much loved.

OP I’m sure they’ll come up with a solution for you. Also, you are now armed with a few suggestions you can put to them if they refuse to change the items. It could be that some poor sod put the wrong labels in a factory somewhere in China. If they really can’t source a near enough size for you, ask them to provide an alteration service and allow you to wear something else until you get the correct size. There’s nothing worse than ill fitting work clothes (either too big or too small) apart of how one looks in them, they are very uncomfortable.
The final option will be for you to pay for alterations yourself and at least you’ll get the perfect fit. A jacket is a nightmare to alter as a DIY job unless you’ve got time to spare and are experienced, shoulders and arm holes in particular.
Altering a t-shirt it’s not necessarily as easy as taking up the hem. If it’s to wide around the arms, across the chest, over the shoulders, there’s a lot of cutting and restiching involved.
I hope this gets sorted quickly for you and congratulations on your new job.

@OhTheRoses maybe I wouldn’t mind if everyone was going to look silly and the uniform was supposed to be silly.

What's wrong with some people on this thread?! It's a uniform that doesn't fit her at all!
It's not as simple as length in most things. As I mentioned earlier, I used to have to wear theatre scrubs that drowned me. They would be hanging off my shoulders and the V-neck would be low enough to show my lower sternum. It is embarrassing. It can make you feel child like and unprofessional. I don't get why people can't see this. Obviously not everyone has experienced this problem. It's not the greatest problem in the world of course but it's mean and unnecessary to deny the OP her feelings because you think it's a non issue.
And I do buy children's clothes aged 11 as they fit me much better!
OP if it's not indecent I'd wear the uniform tomorrow to show them what it's like but take a change of clothes. You shouldn't have to wear a sac just to comply with the rules! Good luck

@WillowSummerSloth thank you I’m sure I will get it sorted and you’re right, I’m certainly not the end of the world

@WillowSummerSloth it’s **

It might be a mens as PPs have said. If it's an NHS uniform though, depending on the manufacturers the sizing can be mental. I had 4 tops all "the same size". 2 of them I could put myself in twice, the other 2 were normal. One of the other girls is petite and her tunic came down to her knees. They were able to order a short version though. Despite being told they didn't exist.

Youll get sorted (maybe wear a vest though 😂)

Once was forced into XXL scrub top as it was all that was left once in a private clinic. I wear XS Came out to show the hospital manager why I couldn't bend over (even standing up you could see the wire on my bra), that was the end of my scrub day 😂

Fellow NHSer here - at our trust all tunics and things are in women's and men's sizing. Anything other than those, polo shirts, fleeces, jackets etc were all S, M, L - men's sizing. I quite enjoyed it as I am distinctly average sized and always found a small too big, but wearable.
Anyone who was smaller than me tended to buy their own

Aw I was hoping by now we had both finished our dinners and I'd be coming on to see a photo

I agree that comparing the measurements to see if it has been mislabelled is a good idea. Hopefully though once your managers or hr see how ridiculous it is they will tell you it's looks unprofessional to the public to be seen like that.

I understand where you're coming from OP. I'm no longer a size 6 and 5'4" and genuinely did have to buy kids clothes so uniform drowned me. It makes you feel out of place and it's hard to look professional or feel as though you can be taken seriously, especially as it's a new environment. I would have thought that they'll allow you to either have it tailored or let you buy plain items and attach the logo. They may even have another supplier that they can use. Hope you get it sorted. (Also curious to see a pic )

I had a huge uniform when I started. I just tucked the top in/tied it and wore fitted trousers so it was only the top that was loose. The huge fleece was a life saver in the winter (could layer under it)... and then I fell pregnant. Ended up filling everything . Just make sure your bottom half is tight and itll look fine.

OP I hope you managed to get sorted tomorrow.

I am 5'1 and a size 6, I work in male dominated sector and our uniform is meant to be unisex. I got the smallest size tailored as small as they could do it (pockets have to remain a certain size) and it was still too big. It is a pain and I agree looks very unprofessional to be drowning in your uniform.

Ignore the nasty comments. I totally get where you’re coming from, you want to make an impression and with oversized clothes it might not be the right one.
You may just have to use a few pins etc tomorrow. Good luck with your first day.

I’m sorry you’re getting such an unnecessarily hard time OP.
I wonder if they are supposed to be ‘oversized’ for comfort given your job role so they are sized larger? And then say the small is an 8-10 but you’re a petite 6, it would already be too large.
They must be able to special order another option for you though... alternatively maybe you/they can source a polo in the same colour and then add the logo on (my mum used to do this to save money in my school days!)

I would imagine that if they require you to wear a uniform they are required to provide one that fits properly even if this means sourcing elsewhere.

It has to work 2 ways. No one should be made to wear ill fitting uniforms.