Branded workwear not available in women's sizes

[ToBeOrNotToBee]

So my employer in all their wisdom has decided us field based people need to wear work-branded clothing when out and about.
For the last 10+ years it's been perfectly acceptable for us to wear normal smart casual with an ID badge when required.
Not any longer. We've all now been given a list of clothing we will be issued with, along with the sizes.
1x insulated jacket.
1x rain jacket.
1x fleece.
1x polo shirt.
1x gloves.
1x waterproof trousers.
1x boots
1x high viz

Now only the fleece and insulated jacket come in women's specific sizing. The rain jacket, polo shirt, gloves, high viz and waterproof trousers are unisex (read mens sizing). I've had a look at the sizing and there's absolutely no way on God's green earth will their sizing fit me. I'm 5ft4, size 14 with massive boobs, a tiny waist and short legs.
I'm not exactly in the wrong here if I refuse said unisex items am I (apart from gloves and high viz, totally see why they're unisex).

@ToBeOrNotToBee because you said yourself that the uniform can hinder or harm if it doesn’t fit - for the life of me I cannot see that happening in an office or desk based job. Even if you had a t shirt so small it became a boob tube.

Just wear it, shorten the legs sos you don’t trip over them. If you look really bad or it really is hazardous to your health then the company will have to do something. It’s easy to shorten trousers.

48 inch chest isnt a size 14?
I am confused.
What do you actually want ?

I have big boobs as I've already said.

Which is what any man would do.

You think a man wouldn’t complain about being required to wear a work uniform cut for a female body? But of course we’ll never find out because men are the default human, women can suck it up.

I sometimes have to wear branded workwear, and believe me, it’s never the men being asked to wear a size 12 pair of trousers or a t-shirt that’s nipped in at the waist. That would be ridiculous, wouldn’t it?
Fine for the women to have to wear the so-called unisex sizes though.

No they wouldn’t. They don’t even complain about the shit uniforms they do get. They just wear it until the employer says that it isn’t the right image they want to project and new uniforms get ordered for them. They don’t whine, they just prove to their employer the uniform isn’t fit for purpose.

Bet they wouldn't if they were being asked to wear women's-fit uniform
Thing is, unisex uniform isn't unisex. It's men's-fit.

lol! If men were required to wear a polo shirt that was cut for women, think one of the Bravissimo ones with a tailored waist and extra fabric on the boobs, that only ran as large as standard women's sizing, they not be happy. They'd not get it on.

If they had to wear trousers that bunched up on their thighs and were tighter around knees and calves, you think they'd not complain? And of course, be about 3 inches too short too.

And of the steel capped boots were, at best, a size too small, and far too narrow for their feet, you think they'd just suck it up?

Unisex is either cut for men only, or it includes women's sizing, based on women who have no bum, hips or boobs. It automatically isn't unisex if it's tailored for female curves!

I have actually backed out of a voluntary position (and volunteer somewhere else) because I was expected to wear a "unisex" polo cut for men: it would have been near my knees in order to cover my boobs, and we weren't supposed to tuck it in - not that I have enough extra space around my belly to tuck all the extra fabric into anyway.

DD is a civil engineer and is 5ft 4 size 14. Nothing fits her properly. They are just ordering temporary cabins for the site and they didn't even order a women's changing cabin!! Luckily someone at HQ spotted that and got it corrected.

Unisex work wear is not cut for men or women they are simply cut for the maximum use of the material available. Trousers, t shirts sweaters and jackets are all cut on a box shape. They ar cheap and mass produced. You are toaltlydides and blinkered if you think they are shakes for a hike to wear. Men definitely have the same issues over fit. Go and actually look at people wearing this stuff. It’s cheap and gets bodies covered and makes everyone look the same - a walking advertisement. Nothing more. Just the same bad cut and fit for men and women due to mass production. Men have exactly the same issues in trying to get leg length v waist measurements plus covering large bellies etc.
The only time you are going to get better tailoring if is the Company is willing to pay more such as some airlines. But that is rare.

as for complaints about footwear - men have the same issue, but then when they pay no more than £35 for a pair of safety boots no one is going to have comfortable feet. The difference comes down to men simply just get on with it and don’t complain about something that unless it truly is a safety issue isn’t going to change. uniform is made cheaply and it is boxy in shape to make it cheap it fits no one. Think of it as the company shopping at primark not marks and Spencer’s.
The op issues are easily solved. She just wants to whinge and be awkward- that isn’t going to go well in the workplace.
The positive is a tax break, not having to worry about what to wear or having to find it yourself.

I'm a civil engineer.
Story of my life!

There's a lady a called "Capability Charlotte" who has a Twitter? Account called "Women in Uncomfortable Workwear". She puts stuff on YouTube and Linkd In too. She makes good points about inclusion and indignity.

See, I think so too. It is mostly women who don’t fit into unisex clothing so we either wear badly fitting (and potentially dangerous) clothes or we buy, wear and wear out our own. I’m a slim and small women and trousers fit me because I’ve small hips. But I can’t get a top, gilet, jumper, sweatshirt, jacket or high visibility coat from the uniform list to fit on top. We have no union and it’s exhausting taking up everything directly but, well, we gotta #holdtheline

You order what you think will kinda fit.. when it arrives, you try it on, send back/return anything/everything that doesnt fit. And repeat..
You point out and document everything that is a health and safety issue.. too long trousers and sleeves, catchy belt loops, footwear that rubs etc... ad nauseum.. overheats etc. and repeat
You do NOT offer to take up hems or make any adjustments yourself! If they want you to wear a 'uniform', they provide you with one that fits and doesnt endanger you!
Have a chat with your union and HR.

Except much workwear is branded, and you can't return it. We are trying to get a few days for all the operational women at work to go to Arco and try stuff on, so we've an outside chance of ordering the right size. Arco quite happy to host a day with lots of sizes, product ranges etc available. Problem is work won't let all the women go at once, and Arco don't want to do it more than once.

Apparently Arco follow M&S sizing.
Not IME!

They need to change providers ARCO do a good range of women's, men's and maternity work wear and their delivery is fab, super fast.

Haha I know @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads and I work for the same agency but that was a well placed cross post :D

I meant return it to the line management! Cause as much PITA to management as possible and they will back down. But always on health and safety grounds, risk assessments etc.
The producers could send a selection of sizes for staff to measure/try on if they really wanted the supply contract....