Debating wearing 'good' clothes for uniform at work - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Debating wearing 'good' clothes for uniform at work

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I have a few pair of jeans that are for my work uniform that I don't really wear outside of work and I have the rest of my stuff that I really like that I'm afraid to ruin at work. Problem is, some of the work only clothing isn't as flattering as my 'regular' clothes.
Not sure what to do about this. For instance, tonight I'm thinking I might wear my J Brand black skinnies since I am downstairs. The kitchen is upstairs and all your clothing ends up smelling like food when you work upstairs. But then, I did spill some soda syrup on my jeans just this weekend changing the diet box during a rush . . . I would hate to stain my 'good' stuff.
I feel like I'm wearing sub-par stuff meanwhile I have a closet full of flattering things that are being worn maybe once a month at best. Do I risk ruining my stuff, but at least get the joy of actually wearing it, or do I go the route of trying to upgrade my workwear capsule?
Add to that, I will be starting my 2nd job this spring and likely working 6 days a week . . . what would you do?

yay - integrate your 'regular' clothes into your uniform. Might as well get to wear your stuff!

nay - don't risk ruining your clothes. Buy another pair of 2 of work pants that fit/flatter more than what you currently use.

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Wear your regular clothes to work! I know there is a risk of wrecking them in your job, but on the other hand, there's a performance element to your job too. Also, if you don't wear them to work, you will end up hoarding them until you reach a point where they're still in great shape but have started to look dated. Also, this way if you go out after work or do errands on the way to work, you'll be happy with what you look.

Is the second job also in the restaurant industry?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Cinnamon, the second job is also bartending and foodserving, at a golf course. It is a more limited uniform, though. No jeans. Khakis or black bottoms, golf shirts. I would not be wearing my regular clothes there so much as at the Pub job.
You have a good point about my 'good' stuff just sitting pristine on shelves until it becomes dated . . .
Perhaps I can start by wearing the better stuff on downstairs shifts. I usually have 2 up and 2 down each week. Yesterday I wore my Levi's that don't fit so well and found they were sliding down, giving me muffin top and pancake butt at the same time. Yuck. The stained jeans are my kinda dated Miss Me fleur de lis pocket ones. Hopefully it comes out, as they fit well for work, if are not exactly the most cutting fashion out there.

Kalli

Be on Team Wear! If you wear out your jeans, you can refresh your wardrobe with new additions and perhaps new shapes!

On that note, Oxyclean is much better than most other things I've used on cottons and synthetics and doesn't seem to fade darks as much.

AJ

Veteran

Oh that's a tough one. Premium denim is so expensive. I vote buying flattering pants just for work AND going out more to wear your nicer stuff. : )

(I avoided my exclamation points just for you, Mo.) : P

harmonica

Veteran

I'm on team wear, but not your very, very premium clothes. Is it an option to buy work wear that you like, but are not too expensive?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, don't go changing for me. I can live with my own idiosyncrasies. Exclaim away. Hee hee.
I might have to integrate my 'mid range' things and leave the few much nicer items for just going out. I love the plan to just go out more to wear my stuff!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I guess my J Brands, Camerons, Free People cords, etc would be acceptable mid range items at around $50 - $60 range. Perhaps buying one more jean just for work in a flattering, modern cut would still be a good idea. I know those Levi's need to be yard work, painting, etc capsule - they do not fit well

rachylou

Veteran

Here is my Marc Jacobs top, worn to the bakery yesterday

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Carole

Veteran

Are big aprons an option?:)

bj1111

Veteran

yay...although this was really hard for me because i dropped some sauce on my suede top when i vowed not to wear it to just any old thing and i wore it shopping and to a quick lunch.

compromise you've reached to wear midpriced jeans is a good one. you must look good as much of the time as possible. even at smelly drippy work.

DonnaF

Veteran

At the very least, wear your better jeans on days when you need/want to feel more fab but aren't feeling clumsy.

K. Period.

Veteran

I think I'm the one Nay, but I've got a qualifier to explain myself!!!

You left a good "out" for me with the "buy better work items." I think you should do a little of both.

First, wear your premium stuff that is feeling less fresh and interesting to you. If you don't wear it, you'll give it away out of boredom and lack of love, so better to wear it than not.

Second, replace your so-so work dedicated items with better, but not premium quality items. I've had two kids in the last five years. I've learned from experience that if you are going to find any joy in your clothes, you need something that isn't just disposable but isn't super premium either, even if you run the risk of damaging what you are wearing. I found that buying items at the Gap price point level let me have things that I enjoyed enough to wear, but didn't dislike as they got worn. Old Navy level items were a cheap fix, but they got too junky too fast. They never made me feel good wearing them.

Third, definitely wear your better items on your downstairs days when you are unlikely to ruin them. We take a chance we are going to ruin an item every time we wear it. (I work at a desk, but I just spilled soup on my brand new white silk blouse, for example.) You don't want to be so protective that you never get the joy of wearing it though. So, wearing on safer days is a good compromise.

Anonymous

I vote for another pair of the vigoss boyfriend jeans!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thank you all. It's funny, I've always had the 'save' mentality with my clothes and I think it just dribbled over into my work life, too, without me knowing it.
Rachy, thanks for that!
Mtgirl, I'd *love* to wear the Vigoss to work but the distressing is too much. No holes is part of the code, and although they are 'almost' holes, I feel it's not in the spirit of the uniform. I, do, however, enjoy wearing my TR Cameron's I got second hand at a price point that puts them in the mid range for me.
Carole, I can wear an apron, but it can get in the way behind the bar, bending and stooping into coolers and such. It's more appropriate for foodserving shifts on the floor, standing at tables.

The next issue is more fashion forward footwear that's 8 hour appropriate. The Dansko Veda's have been a lifesaver but I still need a dark flat bootie or some other option to rotate them with.
And, yes, I think one new pair of dedicated work pants that fit great are in order

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I'm going to split right down the middle on this: Do both. Wear and buy. Take one pair of jeans that you think you can live with staining, AND buy yourself some work clothes you love

I'd also say, shop your local vintage/consignment! If you can locate a Goodwill in a more affluent neighborhood in your area, you might find something for cheap that you love, that you can live with possibly ruining.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

This is a tough one Mo - I am usually on Team Wear but in this instance, I think I'd suggest buying another 1-2 pairs of more flattering trousers/jeans for work and keeping your premium denim for play - it's impossible to keep things unstained when working in the food industry and I would hate to see you end up ruining a $200 pair of jeans with a stain that can't be removed.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I'm on the same page---I have some days at work where I can wear my best outfits. Then there are others when I know I will be messy & I have to have some items I can wear at work that I can get dirty, and not be sad over---I recently ruined a fav cardigan with chemical stains that was not fab

I often thirft/ebay for the items that I will let get the hard wear
then there is the 3rd category of "out in the yard/house/painting/anything goes"!

Anonymous

I have worked in the food industry, It is messy. I would not wear my good clothes.