Work clothes I DON'T HAVE TO IRON!!!

[Coastalwalks]

Hi all,

Starting work as a trainee solicitor in August. I cycle to work every day and have panniers to put all my stuff in. My old office was fantastic - showers and a mini iron (though all the women from the neighbouring management consultancy hogged the GHDs and iron all morning, every morning).

Not sure if there is an iron at my new place and anyway I absolutely HATE ironing!! So please tell me what SMART clothes won't get really creased and crumpled in my bag and need an immediate iron! IDEALLY, clothes that I can wash and then dry crumple-free on a rack. My plan was to keep all my jackets and shoes in a locker in the office, cycle in wearing cycling gear with my outfit in a bag.

In my experience, dresses in that heavy viscose / polyester fabric don't really need ironing, so I was thinking of getting a couple - maybe like this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135165685972?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3Dda8dd367e03149529cd461bb0e4466c5%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D8%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D235670616633%26itm%3D135165685972%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2351460%26brand%3DHobbs&_trksid=p2351460.c100667.m2042&edge=1

For context I am 5'11 and a size 12. I have slightly fat upper arms, so prefer not to wear sleeveless things. I like to wear black, green, navy, and red (though naturally not all at once as I would look mad.) I already have lots of black dresses from Cos, though sometimes I think they make me look like an undertaker.

Thanks all !

Cefinin's entire USP was business wear that doesn't require ironing that you can easily travel with. I think they closed down but I'm sure you can find some secondhand.

Uniqlo also has some non iron clothing, mostly men's shirts but some other bits too.

A travel steamer might also be a useful investment, they're not super expensive and it takes very little time compared to ironing.

@botemp thank you that is SO useful !!!

I think if you have to cycle you need to either keep clothes at work or buy yourself a work iron.
Some jobs you will get away with un-ironed polyester stuff (I do sometimes) but a solicitor isn’t one of those jobs.

Sorry I've spotted a typo, it's Cefinn and apparently they're still in business, it got sold and I somehow remembered that as bankruptcy 🤦

Can you not just buy another mini iron and do what you are used to doing at your previous workplace?

That's what I was going to suggest.

But OP has quite clearly she said she hates ironing and the only thing worse than ironing is ironing with a travel iron.

Get a hand held steamer!

Then she needs to keep clothes at work or get the bus/train.
She won’t ever look smart in clothes that have been stuffed in panniers.

Given that OP is smart enough to be a trainee solicitor I’m sure she’s also smart enough to carefully fold and roll her outfits (maybe inside a microfibre type towel) rather than just stuff them in panniers.
I find using spray starch when I iron helps things stay crisp longer, perhaps doing that at home, plus a careful fold/roll would keep things neat enough.

Honestly, she knows she looks like shit in creased clothes otherwise she wouldn’t be asking.
Clothes need ironing - despite what the I don’t iron brigade think.

Ponte dresses are what you’re after, that thick jersey fabric that is cut and tailored rather than just stretchy. Boden do a lot of it and so does Me&Em (£££ but good sale discounts). Probably lots of other places too but it does need to be decent quality to wear well.

I find tailored wool or wool mix dresses or trousers tend not to crease if rolled or folded for a short time.

Summer wear is trickier. Cotton/linen shift dress or trousers and a silky top are right for the weather but these will crease. Best bring a few days’ worth of outfits to the office and leave them to hang somewhere to get rid of the creases.

A small steamer might be a worthwhile investment - easier than ironing and will get rid of the low level of creasing caused by panniers.

Linen mix, put on hangers to dry and roll rather than fold.

You might think about keeping some clothes at work.

I'd stick with a few mix and match outfits and arrange a dry clean pick up drop off service and keep my work clothes there

Won't be as expensive as you think

My whole work wardrobe was jersey/ponte dresses. No ironing, and so easy in the morning - dress, tights, outfit done.

I now send my clothes out for ironing - absolute life goal, it's lovely once a week when the ironing comes back done.

What's a ponte dress? I've just googled and they seem to be all fabrics and styles

It's an expensive option, but could you arrange for a laundry collection and delivery to your office?

Ponte is a type of knit fabric which is fairly firm and only a little bit stretchy. And doesn't need ironing.

thank you @botemp I UNREPENTANTLY hate ironing and am not good at it ! TBH rarely ironed things in old workplaces - found waiting around in my underwear and towel to use the iron very embarrassing !

@AnnaMagnani and @minipie thank you that is so useful - do you mean things like this? https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/laura-jersey-midi-shirt-dress-green-tambourine-arc-geo/sty-d0764-bgr

Thanks all for your useful feedback :)

PS @ThatSnappyPlumBear I absolutely would NOT look 'like shit' in unironed clothes... I think it is great that the 'don't iron brigade' refuse to spend their life slaving over the ironing board!

Buy some Crease Release. Blew my mind on our last holiday. Few sprays, pull and bang creases drop out 😳 bargain for £2.99 a botttle and smells lovely

@MamaBanana12 THANK you !!!!

@Coastalwalks yes that kind of thing. That one might look better ironed but if you dry them on a hanger that helps as well.

OP that Boden one you’ve linked to is a thinner jersey, not ponte, but I think it would work fine for the office especially with smart shoes and jewellery.

By ponte dress I meant something like this www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/sabrina-ponte-dress-navy/sty-d0784-navy or this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/196346693417 - you can see the fabric is a bit thicker and stiffer, so the styles can be more tailored. They tend to look more polished than thinner jersey dresses.