Gransnet forums

Style & beauty

Uniform or wear soemthing different everyday?

(58 Posts)
annab275 Sat 23-Nov-19 12:16:43

I have been reading about the idea of taking away the decision about what to wear and just wearing the same thing everyday (like Steve Jobs etc). I cannot decide what I would like to wear everyday, and have come to the conclusion that it's more fun to wear a new outfit everyday, mixing up what I already have and wearing what hasn't seen the light of day for a while. I have been getting into a rut of just wearing jeans and a jumper. What works for you?

Sara65 Sat 23-Nov-19 13:00:11

I don’t wear a uniform to work, most of the staff do, including the rest of the family, and it’s black.

I waft into work every morning, wearing lots of floaty colourful clothes, quite inappropriate really, but it makes me feel good!

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 23-Nov-19 13:07:25

I have two capsule wardrobes - one beige/brown and the blue/grey. I alternate them with different shoes as I read that you're meant to 'alternate the stresses' of your shoes.
In winter it's jeggings and long sleeved t-shirts with cardigans and in summer it's flowery dresses which I hope flatter. My figure isn't what it was and I mainly want to avoid looking like a sack of potatoes with a piece of string tied round the middle.

PamelaJ1 Sat 23-Nov-19 14:22:47

I wear a uniform. It’s designed to look professional and is practical. It makes life much easier,

I am intrigued by TV presenters. I believe they have an allowance and most of them seem to have a small capsule wardrobe. There is one young lady though who appears to have a very extensive wardrobe. Even my husband comments regularly “ I haven’t seen that one before”.
We think she wears the outfit then sends it back?

CanadianGran Sat 23-Nov-19 14:35:28

Not really uniform, but I have a weekly routine for Monday to Friday for work. My work is very casual, so I have dark pants, long sleeve T, and either vest or cardigan.
If you kept track you would find I wear the same thing on Mondays...etc.

I don't think anyone really pays too much attention, and I always look presentable. Makes the mornings easier as well.

kircubbin2000 Sat 23-Nov-19 14:55:43

Since I have put on weight I haven't worn my jeans. My uniform seems to be black or navy stretch pants topped with Breton top and cashmere v neck. Colours vary from day to day but I haven't worn any of my dressy things since I came to live here.

BradfordLass72 Sun 24-Nov-19 03:58:12

I wear whatever the weather dictates.

I have four skirts which are worn winter and summer. 2 black, 1 navy and 1 mid-blue

With them, according to the temperature, I wear a polo-neck with a jumper on top for the coldest and a petticoat underneath.

As it gets warmer, a medium weight t-shirt, blouse and waistcoat (I have 3 colourful weskits). or jersey if it's changeable and the old petticoat again.

Layering is essential because we often have cold mornings and as the day heats up, I can shed things grin

In Spring it's a t-shirt and cardi or waistcoat and off comes the petticoat smile.
In the warmest weather a very light t-shirt or, indoors, a lavalava.

I have 2 dresses which come in handy for 'best'.

The only uniform I wear is when I'm 'on duty' as a kaumatua and required to attend funerals or other official occasions.

Then it's my black skirt, cream blouse or cream polo neck depending on season and a black tunic top with the regulation multi-greens scarf, black stocking (knee-hi).

That's it.

Fortunately my weight and size has stayed the same for decades, so some of my clothing dates from then and still fits.

ladymuck Sun 24-Nov-19 07:10:10

Are we talking here about everyday clothes or work clothes? I'm retired now but I wore a uniform at work. At home, I enjoy planning what I'm going to wear the next day. I like trying out different combinations. I like pretty things and knit lots of jumpers, so my wardrobe is quite colourful.

shysal Sun 24-Nov-19 07:24:30

I have wardrobes bursting with clothes, many of which don't fit me, but for every day I wear one of 3 identical pairs of jeans and a range of 3 or 4 Joules or Boden sweatshirts (bought cheaply on Ebay), with Skecher slip-on shoes. I go for comfort since I retired, and none of them need ironing!

Ginny42 Sun 24-Nov-19 07:50:54

At first I thought you were enquiring about school uniforms and whilst I'm in favour of them as they look smart and cut out rivalry over designer clothes, I know the children are always excited on 'own clothes' days!

I'm fortunate to have a neighbour who buys bankrupt stock for her business - my wardrobes (pl) are jammed! She knows what I like and often comes with armfuls for me to try on.

I like to dress smart/casual, but have some smart coats and jackets to dress an outfit up. My uniform is the scarves I wear every day and have a wide range of fabrics and colours.

oldgimmer1 Sun 24-Nov-19 08:26:42

Lucky you Ginny!

I work in a casual office.

I like clothes but I am not a skirt or dress person.

In the summer I wear brogues/ dark jeans/blazer/ vest tops as a capsule; in the winter it's shirts/dark jeans and boots. I also have a couple of fine-knit polo necks.

I have some scarves and a "statement" coat for winter.

The effect is spoilt by the bloody lanyard though. How the heck do you make a lanyard look stylish?

BradfordLass72 Sun 24-Nov-19 08:32:54

How the heck do you make a lanyard look stylish?

Loop it to a breast pocket so the ID tag is held by a nice, gold pin.

Change the style of lanyard to a matching ribbon or fine rope chain - after all, the ID is the only important thing.

ExperiencedNotOld Sun 24-Nov-19 08:38:29

I wear dresses to work. I’ve a couple of dozen and find one to suit my mood and the days diary. I buy many from JD Williams clearance for diddly squat. I’ve also a selection of jackets to go over the top. Being smarter than many whilst working in rather thrusting environment gives an edge. Our of work I wear more casual dresses in summer and leggings and plain tunic tops in winter.

oldgimmer1 Sun 24-Nov-19 08:39:08

Hadn't thought of a ribbon! I'll try that.

dragonfly46 Sun 24-Nov-19 08:40:39

I have a multi- coloured glittery lanyard my DD bought me when we went on a cruise!

oldgimmer1 Sun 24-Nov-19 08:47:26

Some lovely lanyards online - including a Mulberry one for £90. smile

Theoddbird Sun 24-Nov-19 10:10:31

My favourite thing to wear at home and doing stuff like cutting wood etc are baggy heavy cotton dungarees. I have four pairs. Love them...so comfortable. I don't have jeans...horrible things.

nipsmum Sun 24-Nov-19 10:24:14

I spent more the 40 years as a nurse so the question didn't arise what do I wear today. Now I'm retired it depends how warm or cold it is, then I wear trousers and tops, and for housework an apron .

annab275 Sun 24-Nov-19 10:24:30

it's really interesting to read your answers! I was talking about uniform in the broadest sense i.e an outfit that you wear everyday, like skirt and top for example. Or wearing navy all the time. Whatever makes choosing in the morning very simple. I have really tried to do this and get bored, so I am wearing something different every day - I have a wardrobe of clothes many of which I never wear, so I am trying to ring the changes a little. Now that I have the time, it is fun to put together a different outfit complete with appropriate scarf, jewellery etc even though sometimes I don't leave the house. It was too easy to not bother - now I am bothering and feel so much better for the effort. A good half of my clothes are from charity shops. By the way, @BradfordLass72, what is a lavalava??

RosesAreRed21 Sun 24-Nov-19 10:26:25

Ive had jobs where i have had to wear uniforms and others where I havent and I would much rather wear my own clothes.

Riggie Sun 24-Nov-19 10:34:41

We had corporate lanyards which didnt look stylish with anything!! They were considered a security item too. I was a term time only worker and they were first issued when I wasn't there. Typically they hadn't bothered ordering me one and when I got back they just fished a rattyone out that someone who had left had handed in. Euww. (And I knew whose it had been so no way was I wearing it until it had a good wash!)

Juicylucy Sun 24-Nov-19 10:37:48

I don’t wear a uniform to work. But your explanation of what you meant, is a rut I got into, wearing same sort of things black trousers and top to work everyday. My daughter suggested I get my cloths out the night before and that works for me, as I have more time in the evening to decide to wear something different.

Kim19 Sun 24-Nov-19 10:38:15

Uniform would have been my choice every time. The daily chore of selecting something, smart, cheerful, trendy and different was an addititional start that I could well have managed without. When I tried preselection the night before, I invariably changed my mind. Indecision is not only a bore but a total frustration (at oneself, of course!!).

M0nica Sun 24-Nov-19 10:42:47

I fall between two stools, I tend to assemble an outfit, complete with shoes and hang it in the wardrobe beside 5 or 6 similar outfits and I just take them out in order and wear them for two days before hanging them back in the wardrobe at the end of the row. Order is not invariable as I do swap outfit s around if the outfit of the day is not appropriate to the activities of the day.

But by doing things this way I get the best of both worlds. I wear a wide variety of clothes, not just the same old, same old every day, but by just taking complete outfits out of the wardrobe in order, I do not have to waste time thinking and worrying about what to wear each day.

It also has the advantage that I do not buy clothes unless I need them and do not have the wardrobes of clothes that many speak of owning.

Chestnut Sun 24-Nov-19 10:43:12

I don't understand the question. If your work requires a uniform then you wear a uniform. If it doesn't then you wear the clothing appropriate for the type of work you're doing. And if you don't work you wear whatever you like!