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Original poster

what does your semi-manual DH wear to work to look smart?

40 replies

nongnangning · 04/09/2012 10:16

My DH is the manager of a big warehouse - there's lots of manual-type work going on, lorries coming in and out etc. Although he is the boss he often needs to get down and dirty himself.

He currently wears hardwearing trousers from that workwear supplier Alexandra and a polo shirt with the company logo on it, plus steel toecaps.

But he is thinking that he would like to move up the ladder a peg, get a job at the next level up, more strategic etc.

So we were talking about that 80s saying 'dress for the job you want, not the job you have'.

DH's boss (who never has to get his hands dirty) wears a shirt and tie apparently.

But given that DH will still have to get dirty till he achieves a higher role there must be some sort of menswear halfway house he can opt for. What do other people's DH's wear to work in the same sort of situation (and where do you buy it!)?

OP posts:
fossil97 · 04/09/2012 13:35

lurking!

You might find in that situation where shirt and tie is a "badge" of management he would need to go to at least a shirt and chinos. Not in pale colours in case of dirt. Wear normal shoes and only put protective boots on when helping out on the floor.

Numberlock · 04/09/2012 13:40

Is it the case that his boss is in offices in a different part of the building to the warehouse? In which case, could he have overalls on over his work gear which he takes off when he goes into the management part of the company?

I think this is a good strategy by the way, it won't go unnoticed, also if customers/suppliers come on tours round the company. Has he also made his views known to his boss and ask what he needs to do to progress through the company and what support/training they can offer him?

Bienchen · 04/09/2012 14:02

I'd also check if the uniform is compulsory before attempting any changes.

Would overalls be the solution?

He needs to dress for the current job as long as he does it; if he applies for a more senior role he needs to dress for that at the interview, anything else may backfire imo.

Original poster
nongnangning · 04/09/2012 14:35

Thanks everyone this is all some food for thought.

Fossil - yes shirt and chinos, with chinos in a non-workwear colour might be one good option (he has some chino-y type workwear trousers at the moment but they are a kind of uniform-ish teal colour). I am just having a look at BHS online to see what they have.

Number - yes, exactly, the big boss sits upstairs in a management area, whereas my DH has a sort of box office in a corner of the warehouse. Actually that's a very good idea re overalls - he has a sort of high viz tabard thing at the moment which just goes on over his uniform-type wear. I love boiler suits [dribbles]. I will ask him what he thinks about this. They have a very big prospective client visiting soon (they told him they want to be able to eat their lunch off the floor of the warehouse) so he could start the new regime then. His boss: his boss is a reasonable guy who gives my DH quite a lot of rein, but unfortunately there is only really one way up - into that man's job, as it is a fairly small firm. So for the moment it's about getting a higher level professional qualification, looking smart, doing extra bits as they come up ... and reading the job ads.

Bienchen - my DH is in charge of the uniform. Come to think of it I might get him to bring the boiler suit catalogue home Grin But yes you are right he doesn't want to look like he's starting a revolution.

OP posts:
FunnysInLaJardin · 04/09/2012 14:37

My DH is fully manual Grin Is yours part automatic?

Numberlock · 04/09/2012 15:47

I love boiler suits [dribbles].

Like your thinking, OP, you could combine it with a nice fantasy role play when he gets home. Wink

As for the customer visit, that could be a good day for him to get involved more. Presumably they will be doing a site tour at some stage, perhaps your husband could ask to do the tour of his particular area? And join them for lunch?

Numberlock · 04/09/2012 15:56

He needs to dress for the current job as long as he does it

I disagree, Bienchen, when I'm looking round at who could have potential to progress within our organisation, their dress code is very much one of my criteria. Especially as the OP has said that elements of her husband's job are customer-facing. I've had to speak to members of staff that are in customer-facing roles about their workwear on more than one occasion, sadly.

Nothing at all wrong with him just gradually changing to more 'office' wear and letting people notice he understands the importance of appearance as part of the overall impression.

kensingtonkat · 04/09/2012 16:05

Short sleeve or rolled-up sleeve shirts? Bit smarter than polo shirts, but still practical and he can wear it tucked in, which also looks a bit smarter.

A cord or fine tweed sports jacket. The kind that vets and surveyors wear.

Original poster
nongnangning · 04/09/2012 17:31

Sorry for that hiatus. I just went to my local BHS and M&S to look at the men's clothes (amid the scrum of everyone doing their school uniform stuff). BHS was no good (or at least not in my little branch) - everything was supersized. The smallest trousers seemed to be a 36 waist. But I got a couple of things from M&S for him to try on for starters.

Funnys - LOL

Number - I think he needs to hire you as a career coach! The big client visit is Thursday apparently so I will talk to him about suggesting to the boss he tours them round/joins for lunch. Thanks - that's a really good idea.

KensingtonKat - yes, short sleeve shirts could be an option and I will have a look at some jackets.

OP posts:
Numberlock · 04/09/2012 17:43

Pleasure, op, on the clothing front how about dark hard wearing chinos, white short sleeved short then cuffs don't get filthy with a black v-necked sweater. Can add a tie on Thursday without it being too obvious.

suburban · 04/09/2012 19:24

Mine has to go between office/meetings/building sites a lot. He wears dark, smartish jeans usually Diesal with a sleeves rolled up shirt maybe from Gap and hard wearing Timberlands. I've queried the jeans before but he said it's accepted practice because it means you can muck in if necessary.

Good luck to your DH.

Original poster
nongnangning · 04/09/2012 21:10

So DH just read all this (looking interested at the boiler suit comments). He has decided to try the dark chinos/dark trousers and short sleeve shirt combo, with tie kept in a desk drawer, also thinking that he might look at some (conservative) stripy shirts or something like that to add a bit of interest. There is a shirt outlet store near us so we made a date to go and visit. He said 'wow amazing so many people tried to help, that's great'. Thanks everyone!!

OP posts:
Numberlock · 05/09/2012 09:02

Keep us posted how it goes, nong, especially the customer meeting tomorrow.

(Is there a boiler suit outlet store near you to? Wink)

girlsofsummer · 05/09/2012 14:12

Yes yes yes - dress for the job he wants!

My DH wears smart trousers (stylish ones, narrow is in at moment), a slim fitting nice shirt and a blazer ANY day he has to meet people who are non-manual workers. He looks great.

When he really has to muck in he wears jeans and steelcaps but would prefer to bring them in his bag.

He is creative so doesnt wear a tie. He looks stylish and cool.

girlsofsummer · 05/09/2012 14:14

short sleeve shirt - ONLY in summer and not for a meeting. Make sure it is a cool one and not a nerdy one. Keep a blazer at work (eg, tweed or navy one) it will make even jeans and an open neck shirt look smarter if he suddenly needs to speak to someone.

girlsofsummer · 05/09/2012 14:16

if he is a small size waist (eg 32. 34) this is an easy job - go to Zara, sales at Reiss, TK Maxx, try the discount designer websites.

I bought some of his favourite stuff vintage, second hand.

Original poster
nongnangning · 05/09/2012 14:27

Thanks Girls - this is very helpful. I have never in my life bought any menswear bar the occasional gift so I was standing on Oxford Street a bit earlier scratching my head about where to go apart from M&S and BHS.

Number - after DH read the thread last night we had a long discussion. So I will report back later in the week after the client show-round.

OP posts:
girlsofsummer · 05/09/2012 14:42

it makes a huge difference to people's perception. He will probably find once he starts dressing smarter he is asked to do manual work less often.

Obviously he will always need to have steel caps with him at the warehouse.

PigletJohn · 05/09/2012 14:54

a boiler suit is not smart

a tabard is very low-status

anything with the company name on it is demeaning.

I recommend he keeps a jacket in his cube that he wears when away from dirty work, and several clean shirts so that he never looks grubby. He can wear gloves out on the floor when handling stuff. He is not one of the boys.

You can get smart safety shoes that can be polished. I imagine steel toes will be a warehouse requirement. If the warehouse is dirty, he can keep a rag and one of those roll-on shoe polish things. Blacl leather shoes are smart. Colours and trainers are not. Socks must match either shoe colour or trouser colour, and be plain.

Dark trousers do not show dirt much, chinos do.

You can't wear a tie with a polo shirt. Look out for short-sleeved polycotton shirts in the same colour so he can fit in on the floor, but look OK elsewhere. Don't start wearing a tie in the warehouse yet, but wear one at meetings, with the tie. Ties can be plain. Never have a tie with a cartoon character or nude on it. Watch should be small, plain. Not plastic, not knobby.

If his work trousers are obviously workmans trousers, look out for some that are a similar colour and shape, but would not look out of place in the office. This will not be difficult if they are navy blue or black. Synthetic fabrics do not look good. He must not be seen in dirty, torn or patched clothes. He must not smell sweaty. Regular good haircuts, properly shaved. If he has tattoos, cover them up. If he has pierced ears or other facial features, he should not wear rings in them.

Yes, I have had a warehouse.

Numberlock · 05/09/2012 15:08

Number - after DH read the thread last night we had a long discussion. So I will report back later in the week after the client show-round.

Can't wait, OP!

Original poster
nongnangning · 06/09/2012 11:03

OK, so DH got home last night and reported that the big client had called to postpone the show-round today. But never mind, as his stylish new look is gonna take a while it seems. I bought a selection of trousers from M&S for him to try but they are all rejects (although he liked the ties and socks!). I am going to try Reiss and Zara next as Girls suggests.

Thanks PigletJohn, I can tell you know what you are talking about! He doesn't have any tattoos to conceal ... although maybe he should get one Grin only joking ... You will be glad to know the ties I chose are all discreet, with little spots on at the most (no naked women LOL)

OP posts:
Numberlock · 06/09/2012 11:06

Oh bugger! Oh well, that's not unusual, nong, hopefully it will soon get re-scheduled or other clients will be visiting in the near future.

Do they have monthly management meetings in his company that his boss attends?

Original poster
nongnangning · 07/09/2012 12:48

Do they have monthly management meetings in his company that his boss attends?

Yes. My DH supplies various reports to his boss ahead of this meeting.

OP posts:
Numberlock · 07/09/2012 12:51

Just another thought, he could ask his boss if he could attend that particular part of the meeting to present the reports himself.

Original poster
nongnangning · 07/09/2012 14:42

That's a very good thought and I will suggest it to him. I am pretty certain his boss will decline this offer - it's not that sort of forward-thinking and proactive firm - but worth a try. Thanks Number

OP posts: