Unclutterer

1. Posted by Greg - 08/07/2008

   I think the white shirts may be a bit problematic, as they show dirt, wear, and age more readily. I’d switch to dark brown chino’s and a blue shirt.

   I think a big part of the “Seth Brundle” strategy is being able to get by with fewer duplicates of the same outfit as well, to maximize storage space. As such, it can’t contain pieces that can only be worn once before washings.

2. Posted by misha - 08/07/2008

   I actually did this a year ago and have found it to be one of the greatest small changes I have ever made. My uniform consists of jeans, a white, long-sleeved, button front shirt and white sneakers. I am fortunate enough to work in a pretty casual office, so I know this uniform may not work for everyone, but I have found it to be appropriate for almost every situation I find myself in.

3. Posted by jen - 08/07/2008

   the problem with your suggested female outfit is that it too closely resembles that of a waitress. I think the key to this strategy isn’t to wear the exact thing but to wear the same color palette…say black pants/skirt and blue tshirt/blouse/sweater. or just wear all black entirely, which is much more versitle.

4. Posted by Matt - 08/07/2008

   It was my comment, so I guess I’d better reveal my wardrobe secrets!

   Various dark trousers: Black, Khaki, Charcoal grey.
   Black belt that goes with all.
   Black or brown shoes – smart but comfortable.
   Variety of long- and short-sleeved button-down shirts – white, engineer blue, restrained stripes and checks.

   There is some thought involved (brown shoes with blue shirt? the very thought!), but then I am an engineer, so mismatching is kind of expected. No jeans though.

5. Posted by robyn - 08/07/2008

   i’m sort of in process of doing this myself for work. although i’m allowing for three pairs work pants (black, grey, khaki), and six to ten button-down shirts (so maybe one in white, but that’s it), and then for colder months, i’ll make myself some knitted vests in a few colors (neutrals, though). that way every morning i can just grab any shirt and any pair of pants and they’ll match, and when it’s cold i can throw a vest or sweater over it. oh, and black heels with black athletic socks (my feet are simultaneously cold and sweaty. gross!)

   for casual, i’m not there yet. but i figure if i can pare down work clothes, casual will follow pretty quickly.

6. Posted by Shanel Yang - 08/07/2008

   That’s so funny! Never heard it called a “Seth Brundle” wardrobe before! I had pared down my work wardrobe when I was still practicing law to about 3 suits and on some days I just wore the pants with sweaters or work-quality tee-shirts in either black or white. It worked for me!

7. Posted by jane - 08/07/2008

   I’ll play, but I think your uniform for women is pretty good. For the shirt, I’d switch the color from white to french blue. It pretty much describes my work wardrobe, though I have a couple different colors for the shirts. A negative is that it is very boring, but on the positive side, it requires no thought in the morning.

8. Posted by Christopher Barnett - 08/07/2008

   I have my work wardrobe pared down to a few sets of the same outfit: black polo or long-sleeve button-down shirt, flat-front, casual khakis, black socks, black shoes, black belt. Been wearing it to work (law office…not in court much, obviously) for about a year now. (I also have a handful of suits, when the occasion arises.) At home, it’s black T-shirt (of which I have a bunch to also serve as undershirts during the week) and brown cargo shorts or blue jeans, for the most part, with some sort of black footwear.

   I tried the white shirt option for a while and can attest to the problem of wear & dirt. Black is much better, if you don’t mind looking a bit morose (in the eyes of some, I imagine).

   I completely recommend the minimalistic approach to wardrobe selection. It’s less expensive, makes laundry easier, indeed requires less “mental energy” and (if you pick strategic colors) makes stains & dirt less of a problem (black shows next to nothing).

9. Posted by Benjamin - 08/07/2008

   If a man will wear a clean pair of blue jeans, a clean button-down shirt, and a sport jacket every day, two things will happen. He will be very comfortable and appropriate in almost any social situation, and people will assume he’s a college professor–probably History or English. Neither of these are bad.

10. Posted by Sandy - 08/07/2008

    My work wardrobe is navy or khaki pants and short sleeved polo shirts in various colors in the summer. I add black pants and long sleeved polo shirts in the winter with a sweater or jacket, if needed. Pants to the left in my closet. Shirts to the right. Jackets in the back.

11. Posted by Tom Bridge - 08/07/2008

    My near-daily wardrobe is a Travelers’ Collection linen button down, with an undershirt, and in the summertime a pair of cargo shorts, or in the winter, or if I’m at a client’s office, my good pair of blue jeans. Usually with a nice belt and my brown skechers.

12. Posted by Tiffany - 08/07/2008

    I’m pondering a move like this myself. I hate thinking about clothes, shopping for clothes, replacing clothes that have worn out, etc. I went to a high school that had a uniform and pine for that kind of simplicity regularly.

13. Posted by Elspeth - 08/07/2008

    Jewelry may not be “Unclutterer” friendly, but I find that a great piece is more than enough to make my daily uniform of a pencil skirt and a button down work and play friendly. I’ve purchased a few large, very funky pieces of jewelry over the years and putting on a big necklace somehow finishes my outfit much faster than perfect hair (another time saver!)

14. Posted by Jean - 08/07/2008

    My daily clothing:
    1. J Jill knot button long sleeved cambray shirt
    (sleeves rolled up in summer if necessary)
    2. black Walmart cotton jogging pants
    (cuffs rolled up in summer if necessary)
    3. red Keen gym shoes or red Keen sandals
    4. blue socks
    5. black straw hat in summer
    knitted hat in winter
    6. quilted vest in winter
    7. purple sarong made skinny and worn around
    my neck as a scarf or flattened to sarong
    shape and used as a shawl.

15. Posted by Michelle - 08/07/2008

    When I studied abroad in college, I spent a semester wearing one of two pairs of jeans, a white v-neck t-shirt, and hiking shoes. I also brought a few long-sleeve button-down shirts for layering, and a cotton sweater for additional warmth. (I did eventually buy a jacket and winter hat as the weather got colder.) My goal had been to travel as light as possible, but the happy side effect was that it made getting dressed easy.

    Nowadays I’ve expanded my wardrobe, but I have a specific color palette (black, brown, green, with a few red pieces for drama) that ensures pretty much everything I own coordinates with everything else. I rely on shoes and accessories to give each outfit a different feel. Getting ready in the morning is so much easier!

16. Posted by Nathania Johnson - 08/07/2008

    When I worked in politics, I dressed up in suits for work. I made sure everything I bought matched two other things. Plus, women can get suits where both pants and a skirt match the jacket.

    Then I had a few blouses. I had a bunch of different mix and match options. It’s amazing how different a suit can look just by changing the blouse underneath.

    Now I freelance from home. I mostly wear jeans – and have a bunch of basic tshirts (all the same brand) of different colors.

17. Posted by Eileen - 08/07/2008

    Thank goodness my current job does not require skirts or suits. I still want to look polished, however.

    So here’s what I do …

    Pants: Docker’s flat-front women’s pants in khaki, dark blue, black, and dark brown

    Warm-weather tops: 3/4 sleeve print t-shirts (dressier, like Chico’s)

    Cool-weather tops: Long-sleeved, pull-over t-shirts and sweaters (again, well-made in a good fabric)

    Shoes: Black and brown sandals; black and brown clogs (nicely polished, sturdy but on the dressier side)

    The key, to me, is buying a top with just the right colors–prints *have* to go with all 4 pant colors, and solids *have* to be shades that would work with any pant (like aqua, or bright pink). I don’t worry about splurging on tops when they fit the requirements.

    If I have to spiff up a bit, which happens VERY rarely, I have a couple of jackets and a couple of sweaters in neutral tones.

    I leave very early for work, and I can get ready in the dark; the only thing I have to check is whether the black or the brown shoes look better.

18. Posted by Mary Sue - 08/07/2008

    I have something similar; I own four pairs of black slacks, one pair of charcoal grey slacks, and two pairs of jeans. I own seven appropriate-for-work blouses that all go with black or grey or blue. Casual Friday I put on the pair of jeans I haven’t been wearing all week after work. I own four dresses which I can rotate into my work wardrobe, but I prefer wearing them on weekends.

    I have seven blouses because then I’m not liable to wear the same shirt on the same day of the next week.

    Oh, all my shoes (I have five pair) are black.

19. Posted by Jeri Dansky - 08/07/2008

    Another problem with the “uniform” you’ve picked is that many people don’t look good in a white shirt and black slacks. I’m one of them – the black slacks are fine, but the white shirt is most definitely NOT my color.

    And, of course, the ideal “uniform” also depends on the type of work you do. As a professional organizer, there’s no way I’m wearing a dress shirt. I’m better off with a nice short-sleeved t-shirt or knit top under a jacket of some sort; the jacket can come off once we begin working.

    I had a recent blog post on this same general subject, so if you’d like to read more, head to http://jdorganizer.blogspot.co.....hing.html/.

20. Posted by Geoffrey - 08/07/2008

    I have a coworker who, as far as I know, has worn a white polo shirt and jean shorts every day to work for the past eight years. Reminds me of Fonzie’s closet.

21. Posted by Julie - 08/07/2008

    Am I the only one blessed with (hindered by?) moods? I can try on something in the morning and have the color be all “wrong” even though last week it was perfect. For that reason alone, I’d be hard pressed to stick to a uniform. I’d be like “Eeuww!!” Although the time and trouble is annoying in the mornings, I enjoy the energy the different colors and style provide during the day.

    But my father’s thinking was more like yours. He owned six of each: slacks, dress shirts, sport jackets, and ties, and had three pairs of shoes. He’d line them up in sets in his closet and just grab the next “uniform” in line. This relieved him from thinking about it and avoided “every Monday is …”

22. Posted by DarthBob - 08/07/2008

    Rather than have a ‘uniform’, simply make certain that every shirt goes with every pair of slacks. You’ve got the variety without the headache…

23. Posted by WineWench - 08/07/2008

    I read recently that actress Jamie Lee Curtis has gone to a strictly black and white wardrobe. I think this is fabulous and hope to do the same some day. How easy would it be to only buy clothes in two colors? Everything you own would go with anything in your closet!

24. Posted by Courtney - 08/07/2008

    Part of my personal branding is that I wear green shoes all the time. It started innocently enough when I realized I had more green shoes than not. Now I *only* have green shoes, and since I am a grad student/work in academia, this presents no problem. All my accessories coordinate with my green shoes, and it’s pretty easy to shop for clothes knowing they’ll have to match the shoes!

    I’m interested in putting together a more consistent “teaching” uniform, so that despite my wacky footwear obsession, I still look like an authority figure in my classroom. So far I rotate 1 pair black pants, 1 pair khaki pants, 1 pair brown pants with several blouses (mostly white, but some colorful–read green–ones as well). Mostly I have trouble accessorizing–I know a little tasteful jewelery would make me look more professional, but I can never remember to wear it!

25. Posted by kristy - 08/07/2008

    I am a zombie in the morning, so I try to keep my getting ready routine simple. I cannot be trusted to pick out a clean, stain-free, matching outfit first thing in the morning, so most everything I need to do to get ready for work is taken care of ahead of time. I drink iced coffee, which I brew and sweeten and bottle ahead of time. My lunch is packed, and my clothes are picked out, too. Practically all I have to do in the morning is brush my teeth and kiss my family goodbye.

    Not every single shirt I own goes with every skirt or pair of pants, but generally, I buy solid color shirts (I like polos and 3/4 sleeve button-down shirts) and basic bottoms (white, grey, and black knee-length skirts, khaki or black slacks, multi-colored plaid dress-capri pants (each pair has 3-4 colors in the pattern and matches several tops). Most of everything goes with everything else and I pick out five complete outfits (including shoes and underthings) on Sunday night after I finish laundry. I think about whether I have meetings during the week and how many times I will need to be more dressed up than normal. If I have to travel long distances by car or walk somewhere downtown (far from parking), I consider matching comfortable shoes. It works out well for me. I am able to get out the door within 1/2 an hour of waking up.

26. Posted by Carolyn - 08/07/2008

    The problem I have with the proposed wardrobe choices is that very few people work in such a formal environment these days (as evidenced by the typical wardrobe found in the comments). Most people could probably get by with half-a-dozen pairs of khakis or similar pants, and either polo shirts or dressy t-shirts. Comfortable, neutral shoes and 10 pairs of socks to match the pants complete this. Add sweaters if you live somewhere with climate changes.

    I wear this type of outfit to work every day (manufacturing engineer in a plant, it can get dirty) and it’s appropriate whether I’m working with our production people or meeting with vice presidents.

    I’ve done skirts, and they are a lot of work for work. Hose, shoes that don’t blister, hem length, bending over, etc. etc. Pants are so much easier.

27. Posted by Ksenia in Canada - 08/07/2008

    Your suggestion of a female uniform just screams “uniform” to me. I have rarely seen a woman other than a waitress or other type of service professional wear an outfit of this type.

28. Posted by Tania - 08/07/2008

    I’m just not this put out by picking an outfit. LOL! These posts are really interesting to me. I guess I just can’t fully relate. I keep my clothes clean, pressed and ready to go so then I can go by whim, pick out what I feel like wearing depending on the occasion, put it on and walk out the door. And I work in an industry where appearance TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY matters (you could say I work in the Appearance Industry). Yet and still I don’t need to meditate over my outfit. Interesting…. Maybe it’s a fundamental issue of knowing how to construct a good wardrobe? Hmmmm…

29. Posted by Harris - 08/07/2008

    Clothes are so overrated. I stick with jeans, black or khaki pants, mostly black tops (t-shirts and sweaters), a dressy white blouse and a black skirt. For shoes, I have black sandals and black flats. I wear either diamond or pearl earrings. I can be super casual or fairly dressy. It’s simple, classic and so easy. I can’t be a slave to “fashion”, I have too much living to do!
    When I want to go crazy….I wear a red top and red shoes!!

30. Posted by Robin M. - 08/08/2008

    I have a couple of below the knee skirts, one blue, one brown, and a half dozen Land’s End fine gauge cotton twinsets in different colors. This is what I wear most of the time. It works in almost any context (besides heavy manual labor) and almost every day in my coastal climate.

31. Posted by Alex Fayle - 08/08/2008

    Because I don’t work in an office and have virtual clients only, my Seth Brundle wardrobe would consist of
    * 7 pairs of underwear
    * 7 pairs of black socks
    * 2 pairs of jeans and
    * 7 t-shirts (of various colours and styles),
    * with a grey cardigan and puffy vest for winter, and
    * black shoes/black belt.

32. Posted by Rebecca - 08/08/2008

    See, just because you have a uniform doesn’t mean it has to be colorless or bleah.

    I have several black skirts, just below the knee. I wear them with a variety of different colored short-sleeve light-weight sweaters and black wedges. Because they are all the same styles, I get to ensure that the fit is always good, but the color makes it look original and fresh each time.

33. Posted by Angell - 08/08/2008

    I only buy black socks, makes it a lot easier to pair them up at wash time – other than that, this is a hideous idea!

    Don’t get me wrong, I love an uncluttered lifestyle and live quite simply – but the idea of looking the same day after day after day – I would go mad…

    As Sailor Ripley says about his jacket in Wild At Heart “it’s a symbol of my individuality, and my belief… in personal freedom.”

    That’s how I feel about my clothes. I don’t have a huge amount of them – but their variety allows me to express and reflect on how I feel that day. When I get up I ask myself “What do I want to wear today – what would make me feel good” and I dress appropriately.

    The day I start wearing the same clothes forever is the day they lie me down in a coffin.

34. Posted by Megan - 08/08/2008

    To me, the funniest thing about this post is Erin’s apology about the abnormal schedule. Erin — are there blogosphere rules somewhere dictating when you will post? Shall we start a demerit system in case you get off track? Perhaps a banana slicer will be sent to your home each time you mess up?

    I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’ll accept new posts anytime you wish to share them.

35. Posted by Katie - 08/08/2008

    I solve this problem by only having outfits, never separates. (I don’t know why “They” always recommend buying clothing you can mix and match. What a hassle first thing in the morning!) For my work clothes (professional office attire) I have all kinds of skirts and slacks, but only one top that goes with each. I hang them together on those shirt/slacks hangers, so one outfit per hanger. When the seasons change, I change out the complete outfits, or perhaps swap in seasonal tops. So I can still have a very diverse look, but no thought is required in the AM.

36. Posted by Meags - 08/08/2008

    As one who is required to wear a uniform every day (white button up blouse with collar, grey slacks, navy blazer, black or navy dress pumps) I say DON’T DO IT! Sure, getting dressed in the morning is easy but I always feel so blah at work. I believe women especially derive some confidence from their outfit when they know they look nice that day, and it’s easier to get sloppy when you wear the same old thing day after day. Plus, unless you have a dozen identical pants and several dozen identical shirts, you are going to be doing laundry every 3 days. I’m switching jobs in a week and I couldn’t be happier!

37. Posted by Tiffany - 08/08/2008

    @Tania I think it’s less an issue of not KNOWING how to construct a good wardrobe, but instead it’s not CARING. Everyone has their own interests, hobbies, priorities, etc. For some people, style and personal appearance is an area they’re interested in. That’s 100% fine, and those are people who enjoy selecting clothes, putting clothes together in outfits, and who have no problem spending money on clothes, because that’s an area of interest and priority for them. Some of us, on the other hand, just don’t have any interest in it and find wardrobe maintenance to be a chore. Some of us work in industries where it’s pointless or prohibitive to wear nice clothes (like in a manufacturing type job, or IT, where you’re constantly crawling around in dusty ol’ server rooms and stuff), and some of us just don’t see it as a priority. I don’t like to cheap out on my clothes, because quality clothes fit better and last longer, but I don’t really want to invest in a large wardrobe either, because that’s money I could be spending on the hobbies and priorities I care about. Besides, I work in the Internet industry, home of casual offices with foosball tables. If I suddenly start wearing nicer clothes, my coworkers think I’m going on an interview.

38. Posted by Erin Doland - 08/08/2008

    @Megan — It’s not that it posted in the afternoon, it’s that it posted in the past. Somehow the date was set to August 6th, but I posted it on the afternoon of the 7th. So, if you look at the homepage, the article referenced in the first sentence of this post hasn’t yet happened

39. Posted by ottan - 08/08/2008

    I used to have a neighbor who had a strict uniform — a closet of 7 black suits, white dress shirts and white ties for work (he was a law professor). For the weekends, he wore crisp blue button down shirts, khaki trousers and beige steel-toed boots. It was kind of amusing, but he always looked sharp and appropriate.

    I have occasionally thought about creating a uniform for myself, but I like clothes too much. Still, I think if I were to do it, I’d try to make it more of a “statement” or a “signature” uniform. Some icons were known for trademark glasses, some for constant red lipstick, others for black turtlenecks. It looks more deliberate and polished than a wardrobe stocked with generic, polo shirts.

40. Posted by ottan - 08/08/2008

    Oops — I meant black ties. White ones would be interesting…

41. Posted by Matt - 08/08/2008

    @Erin, sorry, it’s my fault for commenting on stuff in the future

42. Posted by Joelle - 08/08/2008

    I work in a business-casual office, in a fairly nice building. Some people wear suits (upper mgmt), so a true uniform, I could not do. But what I have is almost that.

    So here’s my list:
    3 pairs of slacks, rotating colors between brown, black and charcoal.
    3 blouses, white, green, blue
    3 sweaters, red, khaki, black
    1 blazer for meetings
    Black shoes for winter
    Black wedge sandals for summer

    No one has ever noticed that I routinely wear the same thing each week, layering in the winter (both blouse and sweater at the same time). Everything goes with everything else. An assortment of scarves (about 5) and some nice jewelery pieces keeps the entire ensemble looking fresh and new with each season.

43. Posted by Tania - 08/08/2008

    Hey Tiffany – I agree that it’s not a priority for everyone. It’s not really a priority for me, personally, although my profession dictates that I look nice. What I’m saying is that a well constructed /well-maintained wardrobe of any measure (high end, low end, corporate, casual, etc.) eliminates the need for “uniform” thinking because pretty much anything you pull out will be clean, in good condition, fit and go well together. Trust me, this is the ONLY way I could do it. LOLOL! Like I said, I do not have time – or interest – to meditate on my daily outfit. Nor do I have time or interest to try 50 things on, etc. When it comes to getting dressed I’m as “hit it and quit it” as they come! LOL

44. Posted by DM - 08/08/2008

    I work in an office and I have adopted a daily style instead of a daily uniform. My style, year round, consists of

    Fun skirt + Shirt + Cardigan or Blazer

    On dressier days, I wear a dress shirt, blazer and heels. On casual days, I wear a t-shirt, cardigan, and flats. The skirts can all be dressed up or down.

    I own one black blazer and one black cardigan that go with everything. Ditto for one pair of black flats and one great pair of black heels. It’s easy to get dressed in the morning, I just follow the formula.

45. Posted by Erika - 08/08/2008

    My weight fluctuates way too much to wear the same things for extended periods of time. I do have a favourite belt though, that has holes right around so I can pretty much wear the same pants, no matter the size, and it’s just the tops that need to change with me.

46. Posted by Jenny - 08/09/2008

    I work in a school office. The students don’t wear uniforms, but on Fridays & field trips they wear khaki pants & royal blue school polo shirts. As an overweight person who finds it incredibly frustrating & demoralizing to shop for clothes (and whose selection is fairly limited due to my size), last school year I decided to wear khaki pants & a school polo shirt to work every day (with a long-sleeve polo shirt for colder weather).

    I felt nervous about doing it, but for the entire school year I didn’t get a single comment (I’m sure people notice what I wear far less that I think they do!). In fact, one teacher didn’t notice at all because in the spring, she wanted the staff to wear their school shirts for some event (during the school day), but forgot to remind us. That day she looked at me and said, “Oh good, you remembered to wear your shirt!”

    I have two pairs of khaki pants & four polo shirts, so I can go four work days without doing laundry. The only thing I don’t like is that this outfit isn’t the most flattering thing I’ve ever worn, but as I would never have the guts to just pick a regular outfit as my “uniform” to wear every day, I have to go with what the school picked out.

47. Posted by Dusty - 08/10/2008

    This is just my thing. Several years ago I noticed that although I had a wide variety of clothes, I wore the same two or three dresses till they wore out. Getting smart, I bought five identical dresses (in steel blue). These will last several years. At that time I will either buy or have made for me, five more identical dresses. (The clothes I didn’t ever bother to wear went to charity.) Our weather here doesn’t vary much, but if it does get cold, I drop a denim duster over the blue dress. I make jewelry, so naturally I wear my own creations. I have high quality loafers in cordovan and in black. Mostly, I’m so focused on what I’m doing that I don’t care much what I’m wearing, as long as it doesn’t distract me or others. Like, no picture hats or six-foot mufflers or charm bracelets. Good driving gloves, a dependable hairstyle, and a small tote complete my “wardrobe.”

48. Posted by JefferyK - 08/10/2008

    I could do a blue dress shirt, blue preshrunk 501s, black shoes and black belt easy. Actually, my current wardrobe is close to being that simple.

49. Posted by Monica Ricci - 08/10/2008

    Erin, what an interesting post and the comments are even moreso! When I travel, I definitely do the uniform thing, because it makes for lighter packing. At home, I could never do a uniform for work. I would be just way too uninspired. I think as I have turned into a “girl” in my old age, I am actually enjoying being fashionable and having fun with my wardrobe. (Ten years ago, I would have never thought I’d see myself write that!)

    I do a lot of speaking and appearances, so that’s another reason to keep my outfits changing and interesting. I don’t want to show up in every picture wearing the same thing every time.

    I will say, however, that when I’m not working, my casual clothing leans toward being a uniform of jeans and a brightly colored v-neck fitted tee. Fun post Erin!

    ~Monica

50. Posted by Pat - 08/10/2008

    I’m with Monica that this tip is great for travel. I recently went on a weeklong trip in advance of a move and my wardrobe consisted of:

    A few green shirts and an equal number of black pants
    A few black shirts and an equal number of green pants
    Black socks, underwear, shoes, and jacket
    Green and black pajamas

    There was pretty much no trouble with overpacking or finding out towards the end of the week that my only clean clothes are khaki shirts and khaki pants. (Which happens sometimes.)

    Also, it makes doing mid-trip laundry a breeze — exactly two loads and everything is clean!

51. Posted by Columbia - 08/10/2008

    Thought someone would mention Dean Kamen. When the segway was still called “Ginger”, he was getting lots of press and doing interviews. Interesting guy — owns an island with it’s own currency, for which there is one printed note… Yeah. Anyway, he holds the world record for the longest uninterrupted period of wearing denim.

    From a BBC Article: “No matter what the occasion, he wears the same outfit: blue jeans, denim work shirt and a pair of Timberland boots.”

52. Posted by Kat - 08/12/2008

    For women, dresses are the easiest items to own. You pick out one thing and throw it on. Add shoes, ready to go.

    I think women wearing black pants and white tops would be too uniform and so boring. Plus why do women have to dress like men? Why wouldn’t you suggest something more femnine?

53. Posted by Sasha - 08/14/2008

    My husband does this, and it wasn’t even intentional.

    Most of the year he wears:

    - 7 black tshirts
    - 2 black jeans
    - 3 black thing that is like a cross between an over-shirt and a jacket
    - black/reddish leather shoes
    - converse sneakers
    - a spring and fall jacket
    - winter coat and hat

    And for the summer he has:

    - some grey tshirts
    - a few white tshirts
    - khaki shorts
    - cargo pants
    - sandals

    That’s it. And with his “most of the year” wardrobe, he always looks great. His summer wardrobe doesn’t suit him quite as well, especially white tshirts don’t suit him, but at least he keeps cool.

    Meanwhile while traveling this summer I discovered that, at least for warm season weather, I also have a simple core wardrobe. It’s not full of the same pieces, but everything goes with everything else and there’s a certain beneficial monotony to the look–yet it’s still flexible. It was something like:

    - several tank tops in pleasant colors (sage green, rusty orange-red, black, brown) two of which are empire waisted
    - two capri length pants; one brown & made of a outdoorsy material, the other navy blue and satiny
    - one pair of jeans
    - one pair of semi-formal pants
    - very light brown sweater
    - a wraparound skirt, navy blue
    - warmer sweater
    - wind blocking sweatshirt
    - sandals
    - day hiking shoes

    I’m not 100% sure if that was it. Even though I have more clothes, I realized that I could go with just these for probably six months of the year. I decluttered my closet once I got home–not completely, but substantially.

54. Posted by Erica - 08/16/2008

    This is such an exciting idea! To me this is a better solution than figuring out each morning (or the night before) which outfit to wear, or doing the same thing ‘on mass’ once a week. I think I have roughly three outfits that I rotate and a couple of novelty tops for different occassions (or so I don’t look like I keep wearing the same thing). One load of washing once a week – fantastic!

    Thanks so much for all the wonderful ideas, I’ll definitely be putting this into an actual process for me.

55. Posted by cécile - 08/18/2008

    This is true. Six black trousers, 12 black tees, and numerous different Chinese, Eileen Fisher, simple cut jackets. Black flats. That’s it. Voila! My uniform. Good jewelry sometimes all silver or white gold, sometimes yellow gold. That is all.

    Cécile

56. Posted by Marshall - 08/20/2008

    I once owned 10 pairs of LL Bean khakis: 5 with cuffs, 5 without; 5 with pleats, 5 without.

    I wore Brooks Brothers blue button down shirts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and Brooks Brothers pink button down shirts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And a navy blue blazer.

    Liberating

57. Posted by HistoricStitcher - 08/21/2008

    I’ve gotten out of this habit, but I used to have a uniform that I wore every day:
    -black or white fitted T-shirt,
    -jeans or khakis,
    -khaki jacket or black blazer, if needed,
    -season-appropriate shoes

    I would add a color accent piece here and there in whatever the “it” color was that season. A few silk scarves and that was it.

    I’ve noteiced that recently, though, those “accent pieces” have accumulated and the black pieces have worn out or faded, and I’ve not replaced them. This article was exactly what I need to give me that kick in the pants to sort through and re-uniform-ize! It really is easier than digging through the accumulated random clothes in my dresser.

58. Posted by P - 08/22/2008

    I ONLY buy black slim socks and black comfortable undies, all in the same size.

    (Of course, I have a few prettier undies in the back of the drawer for wooing my hubby, but these aren’t worn out of the house).

    Anyway, I never have to worry about matching socks or finding the ‘comfortable’ undies. I don’t have to pick thru a drawer of uncomfortable ones with worn out elastic to find the ‘good’ ones. (Ladies, you know what I mean!) This used to be me, until I finally thought how silly this was, and got rid of all my undies and started over with large, black undies.

    I can’t stand the idea of a ‘uniform,’ but I will attest to the sock/undies idea! Saves my tired morning self from the headache of finding these things in the darkened room.

59. Posted by cerrissa - 09/04/2008

    i have a friend that did the uniform thing. His was black t-shirts, black jeans or shorts, black socks, and black tennis shoes. He had a nice black button up shirt for more formal events and a black sweatshirt for colder days. He decided on black because he was working outside a lot, so, it wouldn’t show stains. He also personalized his uniform by silk screening a small design of his own on all the shirts. not exactly an office wardrobe, but it worked for his lifestyle.

60. Posted by christine - 07/29/2009

    I have actually developed a basic uniform (for work). Since my office is blazingly hot in the winter and basically refrigerated in the summer, it requires a bit of flexibility, but basically goes something like:

    + high-collared cap-sleeved sleeveless/sheath top
    + pencil skirt
    + sweater (v neck or cardigan; sometimes I’ll layer a cardi over a v-neck sweater in winter, which looks adorable)

    I do have a weakness for super-cute, brightly-colored, high-heeled shoes.

    Of course, the easiest and least cluttersome possible outfit is always a dress: it takes 2 seconds to put on, and always looks polished and put-together.

61. Posted by Paul - 08/10/2009

    “Male — Dress khakis, white button dress shirt, brown or black leather shoes with coordinating belt.”

    I did exactly this for about 10 years (until I got married and my wife made me stop). Worked in NYC in nearly all seasons (a light v-neck sweater in my bag covered cold months) and circumstances (even the beach). I really miss the simplicity and cost-savings of a uniform.

62. Posted by Susan V. - 08/10/2009

    I used to have a whole collection of bright-color vintage dresses from the 50s that made my morning dressing very entertaining and I wore to work- used to get lots of compliments and even a vintage dress from a boss!-until I spent a year traveling and basically wearing jeans/khaki pants, solid color t-shirts, comfortable walking shoes and always carrying a black water-proof jacket that had a removable lining.

    When I came back from my trip I sold most of my dresses, and spend several months in my “new uniform,” but now I’m going back to the vintage dresses again. Wearing bright colors is simply in my blood! And it not only brightens my day but also that of many black wardrobe-obsessed New Yorkers!

63. Posted by brian - 02/06/2010

    I do this – I have several pairs of khakis, and wear either a blue or white dress shir to work every day. I wear different colored ties. I keep a few suits at work to change into when needed. For weekends – jeans and grey t-shirts. It’s simple, but it’s what I’m comfortable with.

Subscribe to this entry's comments

Post a comment