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?

I have work tops that are about 10 years old, bought non high fashion items and they still work now. I have to go to work 4 days a week, no wfh option, but I have a selection of basics and then rotate them, black, navy grey trousers, 4 of the same dress in different colours, cardigans and various tops that work for summer and winter with added cardi or not!

I agree with a PP its more than the clothes its more about the having to go to work. Seems to be happening to all of my friends who have been wfh since 2020, more and more time needed to be in the office.

This - you acknowedge OP that you have saved loads of money over the past 3 years - now you are whinging because 'it is not fair' that the employer who pays your salary wants to see you in the office (which would be in your contract anyway).

Me too. I have tops under my dresses so can just keep on wearing them. Nobody has ever commented.

I go into the office four days a week. I have a few pairs of the same trousers from Boden in black and navy. A white shirt, a blue shirt, black and white and stripped t-shirts and a few smart blazers. It’s basically a uniform! If I have smart days (I.e in court) I have a black smart dress and a navy smart dress.

very easy - nothing in dramatic colours or patters so not memorable and I can wear on repeat. All good quality and withstand years of regular washing and dry cleaning.

Two dresses. Or two tops and 1 skirt/trousers. That's all you need. Wear the same items each week. And if it's smart casual then you can just buy really plain items (e.g. plain coloured dress) which you can then dress up or down for other occasions.

You also don't have to buy new. Charity shops and EBay/Vinted have lots of very inexpensive items and recycling clothes in this way is better for the environment.

Ultimately, I assume you took the job knowing it was office based and knowing that there's a certain dress code. If so, then yeah you're being unreasonable. If you don't want to wear office clothes, get a 100pc remote job or get a job where you can wear whatever you want.

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

Apologies for not actually answering your question, but your first statement jumped out at me. Surely businesses are only asking people to return to the office because productivity has dropped, or maybe all the staff were asked and the majority felt more days were preferable.

I assume you were fully office-based prior to lockdown and thus this is a return to what your contract stipulates.

I mostly wear the same dress that I bought in four different colours (very sad I know). I do prefer a uniform I miss the days of not having to worry about what to wear to work. But you can't really complain about having to wear reasonable clothes to work sorry that's just life

I wouldn't say that at all, productivity more than likely hasn't dropped , more likely there is some micro manager who don't feel in control unless that see people and are sitting in the office, If certain people are not pulling their weight then thats because management have not been dealing with these people, guarantee these same peoples are not pulling their weight when i office too, Being in an office doesn't not make you more productive

op you have a good basic wardrobe there, unless you are in a face to face client role i wouldn't worry too much, would rotate things. Office wear has become more casual too. If your worries about Vinted then ensure you know your measurements and ask these questions. Also look at the brands you have in your wardrobe that way you know them brands that fit. look at buying them brands

I had two tops and 3 bottoms for 5 days a week. Now I work where there's a uniform and still did it with one top and 3 bottoms. Of course my coworker donated a few tops she outgrew so now I have 4. I've never owned more tops botton combos than days I worked. Just dress them up w accessories

Check out instyle magazines website. Try have a section called one outfit 5 ways. May give you some cheap ideas.

To expand on my post above...

Find a pair of black trousers that fit really well. Buy a 2nd pair and keep buying the same when one wears out.

Tops need not be expensive. TK Maxx, M&S et cetera are good enough for most jobs.

Most of my smart jackets were charity shop buys.

Most of my work clothes budget was spent on really good, smart, comfortable shoes. Mostly John Lewis or Russell & Bromley sales.

Don't overthink it. Unless you wear way out there fashion - which I wouldn't recommend for work! - people won't actually notice what you are wearing.

I wouldn't say that at all, productivity more than likely hasn't dropped , more likely there is some micro manager who don't feel in control unless that see people and are sitting in the office, If certain people are not pulling their weight then thats because management have not been dealing with these people, guarantee these same peoples are not pulling their weight when i office too, Being in an office doesn't not make you more productive

Fair point. It's a LONG time since I've been in a shared office and an even longer time since I've worked for an ineffective manager.

I completely get your frustration, it pained me to buy work clothes again to go back to the office. I'd happily wear the same thing every week if there wasn't always women commenting on what other people wear, "oh Sandra's wearing that suit again, she's always wearing that".
I find sizing too inconsistent to find much use on Vinted, ordered a few things that didn't fit me and have wasted that money.
I've bought a couple of suits, a couple of pairs of trousers, a few blouses, a couple of smart jumpers/cardigans, and I just mix and match. I wear the same heels to work everyday more or less.

I find sizing too inconsistent to find much use on Vinted, ordered a few things that didn't fit me and have wasted that money.

I find the best way with Vinted is to buy things similar to what you already have, eg if you know the Next linen summer dresses fit you in a 14, buy one or two of those in different colours. If you know you buy M+S Ivy jeans in a 12, get a pair in black. If you’re unsure about sizing-ask the seller for the measurements then you can compare it to something similar you already own.

This is what I did, I've got trousers from Next in a size 10 that fit, bought similar shaped trousers from Next in a 10 on vinted and they didn't fit.
I had to rebuy work clothes from scratch so didn't have a lot to compare it with unfortunately.
I've found vinted sellers don't want to measure things too, I've had a few people just ignore me and others say they don't know/don't have a tape measure /"it's £10, buy it and sell it on if it doesn't fit". I wasted about £40 on vinted (including the fees and postage) before giving up and just going to shop in person.

I can wear jeans to work, so I just buy the odd smart top and wear them on repeat.

I don't think anyone will notice if you wear the same few tops. And even if they do, fast fashion isn't ethical and it's much better to wear the same thing over and over :)

I get most of my clothes from eBay although if I am buying a smarter top for work I do tend to buy it new, as every time I buy a smarter top from eBay I end up not liking it!

I leave a pair of boots in the office and wear trainers to get there.

I worked with someone once who had 2 tops and two.pairs of trousers which she wore in rotation every day for 7 years. She wore the same jacket every day. She was part time so presumably washed them/ had the jacket dry cleaned on her days not working.

At an 'away day' she wore one of the same tops but with jeans.

Work 5 days. Have 5 things on repeat. Wish I could have 1 day at home. I'm overweight so there isn't as much choice. When I was smaller 2 suits and different tops. What is everyone else wearing

You’re only going in 2 days a week, sounds like you’ve got plenty of clothes. 2 days is hardly a big deal. If you don’t like it find a fully remote position (if there’s many still about).

Yes and I’m sure people will say that of course they’re much more productive and it’s just bad management, but given it’s so many companies and organisations in so many different industries/sectors moving towards more in-person time again…they can’t all be staffed by micro managers.

I'm in 1-2 days a week. I've just switched to dresses. I bought 3 last year first purchases since covid in sales about £20-30 for £70rrp dresses. I also have suit trousers and 2 good shirts that still fit from prepregnancy. I wear the same outfit for 2 or 3 weeks. I also bought some new shoes that can be worn equally with dresses and trousers. I don't think I should have to buy more for the foreseeable. I have a few other old dresses which also are ok for work but I mostly use the new ones mostly as they have pockets! (Yay!)
I have separate clothes for the lab.

Surely if it only 2 days there is plenty of time to wash what you have got in between.

Why can’t you wear the same outfit both days each week? I literally wear the same clothes Monday-Friday.

Surely it's an opportunity to wear the work stuff so it's not languishing in the wardrobe unworn and wasted

I wear the same outfits over and over and have done for about a year.

I'm a teacher though, I dress as casually as I can get away with and I don't care if my clothes are a bit old and rubbish tbh.

I do browse the charity shops occasionally and might get a top or trousers but haven't done for ages. Or I check out Asda sale when it's on. I really begrudge buying work clothes which is weird as I spend most of my time there!

I have 1 day in the office - have 1 black skirt that I wear - its maxi and chiffon - team with polo jumper in winter and chiffon long blouse with cami underneath for the summer! Sorry you are having to go in the office again - glad I only have 1 day!