work clothes

[k.monster]

So my bosses told me that they have decided they want the person in my position to start dressing a lot more professionally. (I don't really, the person that had the job before me didn't, this is entirely a new thing). At first I was totally bummed because I don't really want to spend money on new work clothes when there are so many things I want for fun. But here's the kicker - they're going to give me money to buy these clothes!! So it's shopping on them. How awesome is that???

[LakeJay]

What can I say but "wow"? Have fun shopping...did they give you a "Dress code"?

[lilyflower]

They're giving you money for it? Woo! Time to hit the mall!

[shinyleaf]

That is so fantastic!! Did they tell you which stores to purchase from or anything ridiculous like that? That would be a bit of a let-down if they said you could only buy from some old lady store or something.

[Kitty]

I would kind of take it personally if my bosses told me that...but, hey, new wardrobe is always good!!

How much do you get?!

[shimmer728]

Awesome!

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[tina1979]

Thats cool! I wish my job would do that...wardrobe on them, I wouldn't care what they wanted me to wear. :D

[samender]

That is awesome. I dont dress up much here but am not required to and honestly I can say money is part of the reason.

[wordsmith]

I would ONLY get a new work wardrobe if they offered to pay for it, myself. I asked about dress code when I was hired, and if they up and changed it, I'd make a point of that.

[k.monster]

I get to go anywhere I want - they're giving me about 250 to start with. They want me to wear a lot of blazers and things that I wouldn't normally buy for myself. I'm probably going to check out Nordstroms rack and some of the outlet malls around here.
It's super cool they're doing this - like tina, I don't really care what they want me to wear as long as they're willing to pay for it.

[Cole]

Rock on. I'd be pissed if an employer just expected me to go blow a bunch of money on new clothes, no matter how I was supposed to dress. Sounds like they're treating you well!

[k.monster]

I think it's going to be a delicate mix of the two. I'm probably just going to get a lot of dark pants, skirts, and shirts that I can mix and match. I'm just glad I don't have to spend any of my hard earned money on work clothes :)

[pisces2473]

That's awesome...but are they gonna give you an allowance for dry cleaning, too?

[k.monster]

hmmm ... I hadn't thought about that - I probably won't get a whole lot of "dry clean" only stuff

[Kitty]

Only 250??? What the hell? that's supposed to buy a new wardrobe?!?

[pisces2473]

I know some people who would do fine with that much.

[Kitty]

Well, good for them..but that doesn't sound like enough to me. A suit alone costs more than that.

[lilyflower]

Well, good for them..but that doesn't sound like enough to me. A suit alone costs more than that.

A nice one at least, and it seems that's going to be the goal is to dress in nicer stuff? $250 sounds like maybe a blazer and a skirt unless you hit some really really awesome sales.

[Kitty]

I take it back..I just looked at how much a blazer is at wal-mart and its like $20. Holy crap, thats cheap.

[pisces2473]

True, on the suits...but I don't think she's going to have to wear suits, from what she's described.

K.monster--if you hit the sales and outlets or something, I'm sure you'll pick up a few basic pieces. You've probably got some clothes already at home which you can wear, right?

[lilyflower]

I take it back..I just looked at how much a blazer is at wal-mart and its like $20. Holy crap, thats cheap.

That IS cheap, what the hell is it made of? (Besides being made by children in sweatshops)

[Kitty]

A nice one at least, and it seems that's going to be the goal is to dress in nicer stuff? $250 sounds like maybe a blazer and a skirt unless you hit some really really awesome sales.

Yeah, if you've buying quality stuff, a suit jacket alone is $200. It lasts forever though - and if you buy something timeless, its worth the investment.

But, if we are just talking cheap stuff - its more doable than I realized.

[pisces2473]

That IS cheap, what the hell is it made of? (Besides being made by children in sweatshops)
LOLOLOL!!!!

I mean, if my employers were going to tell me to dress nicer, I would just buy cheap crap and treat it like a uniform. I'd rather have my awesome clothes (of MY choosing) be for going out! :) But that's just me. I'm not saying K. should wear sacks or ill-fitting gross clothes or anything.

[lilyflower]

Yeah, if you've buying quality stuff, a suit jacket alone is $200. It lasts forever though - and if you buy something timeless, its worth the investment.

But, if we are just talking cheap stuff - its more doable than I realized.

Hmm, very true. I tend to think of nice blazers that can be worn for years with anything when someone mentions a blazer.

[Kitty]

When I first started working I sank so much into buying a professional wardrobe. Before that I had super trendy going-out clothes and then I wore hoodies and jeans to school. I had NO work clothes. It really does suck that when you take a corporate/professional job you have to spend such a big chunk of money just to dress the part. And I continue to spend money all the time on clothes I wouldn't normally buy - but that I need for work.

[pisces2473]

Both of my post-college jobs had very casual environments, you could dress up if you wanted, but you didn't have to. At my new job, I don't wear jeans as much as I did at my old job, but it's not that we can't. I haven't had to buy a suit to wear to work, just for interviews and stuff. Most of my clothes can be worn to work or going out or most anywhere else.

BUT if they suddenly up and changed the dress code on me, I'd be asking for some compensation.

[lilyflower]

LOLOLOL!!!!

I mean, if my employers were going to tell me to dress nicer, I would just buy cheap crap and treat it like a uniform. I'd rather have my awesome clothes (of MY choosing) be for going out! :) But that's just me. I'm not saying K. should wear sacks or ill-fitting gross clothes or anything.

LOL, I guess. I also don't fully grasp this I think because I work in an environment where my jeans and a t-shirt are fine to wear to work. (I work in a lab and have no contact with the public whatsoever.) I have some nicer work clothes from my last job but I stopped buying "business casual" when I got my current job. I buy things now that I actually like and wear them to work or out or whatever. I realize though that a lot of people don't have this luxury.

I mean, for example this is what I wore to work today: a pair of jeans with an embroidered butterfly on the back pocket, an oatmeal colored short sleeve ribbed top and a pair of kangaroos sneaker clogs.

[Bugsey34]

Yay that's so cool! On only $250 though I would hit Target, the Isaac Mizrahi stuff is awesome, I just got this cute plaid dress. It needs to be altered, but it was only like $25, so who cares????? Normally my favorite work clothes place is Zara.

[pisces2473]

Today I wore a pair of black capris with embroidery (flowers) and ribbons sewn from the midcalf to the ankle, a black tank, and a turquoise 3/4 length button down shirt with it open and the sleeves rolled up. That would be pretty dressy for my old job, when I was working with dusty books, but average for my new job.

[lilyflower]

Today I wore a pair of black capris with embroidery (flowers) and ribbons sewn from the midcalf to the ankle, a black tank, and a turquoise 3/4 length button down shirt with it open and the sleeves rolled up. That would be pretty dressy for my old job, when I was working with dusty books, but average for my new job.

Sounds pretty, Jen! I tend not to dress up too much for the comfort factor, I'm usually working with some bodily fluid and running up and down stairs all day. I've seen people working in the lab in skirts and heels but for me, I just can't do it.

[pisces2473]

When it's really hot, I wear linen pants and a baggy short sleeved shirt...and then I think I'm scrubbing it.