My former boss decided that he liked wearing a white shirt, black pants, and black shoes to work. So he started doing it every day. He bought five white shirts and a couple pairs of black pants, and he was all set. He called it his “work uniform” and he claimed that it simplified his life.
I sometimes think about my boss’s work uniform, and what a good idea it was. Now that many of us are returning to the office, we’re faced with picking out an outfit to wear to work each day, and this can sometimes be difficult and time-consuming. I often struggle with what to wear. (And I often feel exhausted and defeated when I realize that the specific shirt that I need to complete the outfit is either dirty or wrinkled.) The thought of wearing the same thing every day is kind of appealing.
Here are just a few of the benefits:
- It saves time and energy – As I mentioned, picking out work outfits takes time. If you wear the same thing every day, you don’t have to give your outfit a moment’s thought. You can use that saved time and energy on more important things (like getting a little more sleep).
- It saves money – There’s no longer any need to be a slave to the latest fashion trends or spend money on trendy new clothes. You can simply wear your work uniform every day and save your money.
- You’re guaranteed to feel confident – If you choose a work uniform that makes you feel professional and confident, you’ll feel good about the way you look every day.
- No one will notice – You might be concerned that your coworkers will think less of you if you wear the same thing every day. But that won’t be an issue. Your coworkers are preoccupied with their own lives. They most likely won’t even notice what you’re wearing.
Author Julie Kendrick suggests that you pick a uniform that you truly like and will work in variety of situations (including more formal client meetings). In addition, it’s got to be comfortable. She suggests that you ask yourself “Can I eat a huge meal wearing this outfit and still feel good?” If the answer is “yes,” then it’s probably a good choice! Finally, in order to make things easy on yourself, make sure that your work outfit is machine-washable and can be thrown in the dryer. (There’s nothing simple or easy about dry cleaning, so you should probably avoid clothes that require that kind of care.)
Now if you enjoy fashion and express your creativity through your clothing choices, then this is probably not the best approach for you to take. But for the rest of us, I think it’s a pretty good idea! If you decide to give it a try, please let us know how it went in the Comments area below!
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Kendrick, J. (2021, September 13). 4 reasons to adopt a work uniform, and how to do it. HuffPost. Retrieved from: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/work-uniform_l_6137a588e4b0df9fe27c2eac
