For some people, work means wearing a uniform, one that is often chosen for you, and you just need to pick your size. In many cases, this can be easier as you know what you are going to wear, so it makes a choice easier. However, if you don’t have to wear a uniform, then you need to think about suitable clothing for your job. When it comes to choosing the right clothing, there are a few things you need to consider.
The Type of Job You Do
Before you choose what clothing you need, you should think about the type of job you do. For example, if you are working outside in all types of weather, you need to make sure that your clothes are suitable for the conditions. For any type of office job, one of the main things to consider is appearance. Many companies still have a dress code that requires you to wear certain colors or type of clothing. It isn’t quite a uniform policy, but it makes things slightly easier than just choosing anything. For those people working outside of the office, there may be other reasons you need to wear certain types of clothing.
Dress Code
When you are choosing work clothes, you need to be mindful of the dress code for your employer. They may have certain stipulations that you need to know about such as no hoodies or no short trousers. For the most part, as long as you are wearing something sensible and clean, you should be ok, though if you are unsure, it is best to speak to your employer before you wear it to work. The same might apply to jewelry and tattoos; your employer might not allow certain jewelry, or allow any tattoos on display if working with the public. It might mean ensuring you are wearing a long sleeve shirt or removing jewelry before you start your shift.
Materials
Certain materials are better for a working environment than others; for example, if you are working in hot conditions, then you need a material that is light and breathable. You can go for something like cotton, though this isn’t always the best idea if you are sweating a lot. That is because cotton will soak up the sweat but takes a while to dry out. It means that you will have the cold cotton on your skin which can lead to irritation. For hot working conditions, something like a synthetic material can be better because it allows the heat from your body to escape while allowing the air to flow and cool you down. For those working outside or in colder conditions, you need to think about wearing layers of clothing, so you can add or take off a layer to regulate your temperature.
Protection
If your company requires you to wear clothes for cleanliness or protection, such as Blue Sky scrub caps in a medical environment, then they should normally provide them for you. However, there may be some companies that will ask you to buy the clothing, and they will reimburse you. If that’s the case, then you need to be guided by your employer’s requirements and the type of clothing you need. For example, you may need to have boots that are fitted with a steel toe cap as well as a reinforced sole. That means you need to buy boots with that type of protection or you won’t be able to work in that environment.
Designer Clothing
Some designer clothing might not be acceptable to your employers. Any clothing with brand names or a pattern might not be allowed, especially if you are working with customers. For this reason, you should always check beforehand that nothing you are wearing could cause offense or be overtly branded. Another reason you wouldn’t want to wear any designer clothing is that you might get it damaged or marked, especially if you are working in an industrial setting or somewhere that isn’t office based. You should also be careful about wearing t-shirts under your work shirt as you might be able to see a logo or pattern on it.
Size of Clothing
If you are working in an environment that uses machinery, then you need to make sure that you don’t wear anything too baggy that could potentially get caught. As with other clothing, your employer may have this as part of their dress code, so you need to read that beforehand. It might also stipulate how you should wear your hair for the same reason.
Where to Buy Your Clothing
Before you go out and look for suitable clothing, you should check with your employer to see if they have any deals with local companies. Many companies have money off agreements that they pass onto their workers, especially for protective clothing. However, these companies might also have hard-wearing clothing that you can buy at a cheaper rate. If you are buying from a store, then you need to weight up the cost against how much ware you will be getting from the clothes. If you work in a harsh environment, then you need something cheap but durable, so it doesn’t cost a lot to replace. In an office environment, you don’t need to worry so much about the wear as you will be inside.
Try Not to Worry About What Others Think
One of the reasons having the uniform can be a good idea is that some people can become overly self-conscious about what they are wearing. The perceived pressure to look good or not wear clothing that’s dated is something that can often happen, particularly in an office. You should be wearing something that is comfortable that you can easily wear all day. As long as it’s clean and conforms to the dress code, that is all that should matter.
Picking your own clothing for work can be a confusing process, just remember to buy what you think will be sensible and protective.