To be annoyed about needing work clothes

[Limonjelly]

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?

One pair of chinos and two shirts, easy

I understand your frustration, however reading between the lines, would I be wrong to assume that your frustration is more about having to go back to the office an extra day, than the actual problem of ‘work outfits’?

Exactly. That sounds like at least 6 different combinations so makes no sense for OP to say she needs more.

You’re making a fuss about nothing. For me I have 6 tops/shirts, 2 decent jumpers, 3 plain trousers, 1 skirt, 2 jackets, 1 black shoe and 1 black ankle boot. I only go in 2 days a week and I have enough rotation for 4 weeks.
For the rest of the week because I always go out for the school run, I have 2 jeans, 5 jumpers and 1 black trainers. I don’t even have to think of what to wear.

You are really making this into a problem when it’s not! Use some of the time you used to spend commuting the rest of the week to buy a couple of tops from Vinted/Matalan/Sainsburys and alternate those with trousers you already own.

Those people who have always gone to work in person seem to manage just fine.

I used to travel for work. I would be flying from one place to another every day or two. Cabin baggage only.

I had 2 pairs of identical black Ann Taylor trousers and a few simple tops, plus one fairly smart jacket for every day. As well as a smart jacket for 'important clients'.

Not forgetting the comfortable but smart shoes. Good shoes are really important.

Sorted.

I have 2 pairs of work trousers and a few tops/jumpers that I alternate. And a couple of dresses.

This is plenty for two days. I'm not seeing the issue, do you wash them separately from your other clothes and want to wash less often?

I think it sounds like you've got plenty already. I go into the office two days a week and wouldn't have a scooby if someone wore something they'd worn the week before!
If you wanted to get a couple of new bits, have you got a Matalan nearby? They've got a good range of reasonably costing work wear

You’ve still saved money over the last few years and be grateful it’s only two days in the office and not five.

Well firstly it seems like you have work clothes already and second you can buy them inexpensively.
My gym is at a shopping centre with a Sainsburys and I get most of my work clothes from Tu now. They have a decent range of stuff, it maybe doesn't last as long as more expensive brands but it's smart and quite stylish.

Your use of 'forced' and 'apparently' suggests you just dont want to go into the office so why not just say that. Lots of people have got used to wfh but it's not working for some companies any more regardless of how the staff dress.

I have 2 summer trousers/blouses
2 winter trousers/tops
1 dress

You are overthinking this. You have clothes and can wear the same clothes twice.

I have 4/5 outfits and I come in 4 days. I wear the same things every week and alternate between nice trousers/skirts and different tops

I have 2 pairs of smart trousers, a few different tops and am in 2-3 tubes a week. 1 pair of trousers is fine for 3 days unless I spill something (common). Then I just wear a different top each day. You don’t need new stuff every week.

You've got at least 4 outfits.
Why isn't that enough for 2 days a week in the office?
FWIW, I can't WFH. I have 2 pairs trousers, 3 winter jumpers, 5 summer tops.

Yes this too. I'm now in my mid/late 30s and just no idea what I'm meant to wear anymore that doesn't look dated, or makes me look dated!

I have a week’s worth of office outfits. Trousers, shirts and thin jumpers. They mostly mix and match. Currently worn with smart new trainers. When the weather gets too hot for that uniform I’ll swap to shirt dresses. I might buy one new dress and 1 pair of loafers at some point. I don’t get paid enough to not have a personal uniform for work.

My entire weather appropriate work wardrobe gets worn every week basically. Not always in exactly the same combinations.

I work 2 days a week in the office and wear what I want within reason, usually jeans and a t-shirt/jumper/hoodie.

Unless someone was wearing something I particularly liked, I wouldn't pay any attention to what other people had on and certainly wouldn't bat an eyelid at someone wearing the same things most weeks, I think you're making a big deal where it doesn't need to be one.

Really apreciate the suggestions but I don't really want to buy cheap clothes from Matalan, Tu, etc. Fast fashion that doesn't last and looks cheap, sorry.

I find Vinted tricky as I'm always somewhere between size 10 and 12. I have wide hips in proportion to the rest of me, and it's impossible to tell if something is going to actually fit over my hips and thighs! I've only ever bought 2 things from Vinted that were brands I wear that usually have consistent sizing - but neither item fit because they'd shrunk in the wash. So many people I know seem to find some excellent stuff on there though.

Yeah, I’m the same age. I think it’s the dressing like a grown up thing I struggle with. Black trousers and a smart blouse just isn’t me. I definitely spend too long worrying about these things but if I don’t look okay I feel rubbish and it affects my confidence.

It doesn’t sound like you need to buy any more work clothes? You’re just looking for stuff to moan about because you’re expected to actually go into work 4 years after Covid .

Another way to handle this is to put together 2 really bland office outfits and change up the accessories often. So you’d work on building up a little collection of silk type scarfs or costume jewelry. Those are things you can definitely buy from vinted or charity shops and not worry about them fitting.

So don't buy new stuff. Wear what you have and only replace it when worn out. Most posters have pointed out that from your opening post you have plenty of clothes for two days a week.

I retired 6 months before Covid hit, from a 5 days a week office job. One of the best things about being retired is no longer needing to buy work clothes and especially shoes.