Wearing the same clothes everyday?

[Amethyst]

I've noticed that since my trauma about 7 months ago I've been alternating between the same two or three outfits. I have one outfit for warm weather (a simple cotton dress) and one outfit for cold weather (an over-sized sweater and black leggings). I don't know why I gravitate toward these two particular outfits, maybe because they're comfortable and appropriate for most settings, but I wear them almost every day and I wash them once a week.

I don't get out much, so this habit has never really been an issue. I only see my friends maybe once a week and there are different people in all my classes, so nobody has called me out on it (even though they've probably noticed). I'm only trying to get our of the habit now because I recently started an internship that requires me to dress professionally five days a week. I've added a pair of black pants and a black blazer to my wardrobe, but I've already worn them together two of the four days I've been here (I've worn the same pants every day so far) and I don't want my supervisor or the other people there to think I'm disgusting.

The reason I'm posting this here is because I want to see if other people find comfort in wearing the same thing every day, or if it's just a gross habit that I've picked up... Either way I'm going shopping this weekend.

 

[Friday]

I actually do that on purpose when I start getting stressed out. Step 1 is buy multiples of the same clothes, so I don't have to think about what I'm going to wear (same trousers, same camisole, same socks, etc.)...putting all my misc. clothes away, and just working out of the multiples. & Step 2 is getting down to only having 2 sets of clothes out & in use. What I'm wearing, & what's being washed.

It's something I've thought about a lot, over the years. What I've come to realize is that the more I'm slipping into survival-mode, the more any decisions I make have to be of life-v-death import. Which makes clothes hard. Because either I have to kick them up to that level in my head >.< Or I can't see them. By removing any decision making from my life that isn't absolutely necessary? I remove a lot of stress. And I free up using the energy I'd spent trying to figure out WTF to wear, WTF dish to use, WTF can of soup to buy... For things I actually do care about. It helps keep me functional -or helps return me to being functional- to limit my choices.

 

[Never_falter2]

Why should they think you are disgusting? What is so wrong about wearing the same outfit?

My husband has a similar problem. Is it because you have trouble making choices. Maybe you want to read my post about it in the supporter sufferers symptoms area called "suffering from to many choices". There are some very helpful answers.

 

[Never_falter2]

Oh, I see. You don't wash them often enough. I did not read that before. Sorry. Why not just buy another set of the same outfit so you can wash it more often?

 

[Amethyst]

What I've come to realize is that the more I'm slipping into survival-mode, the more any decisions I make have to be of life-v-death import. Which makes clothes hard.

I never thought of it as a decision making issue, but that actually makes a lot of sense! Thank you for this insight.

Why should they think you are disgusting? What is so wrong about wearing the same outfit?

Maybe I'm just projecting how I feel about it onto them, but I am afraid that they will think I'm dirty or that I don't care about how I look, when in reality, I care a lot about my appearance and I want to impress them.

Oh, I see. You don't wash them often enough. I did not read that before. Sorry. Why not just buy another set of the same outfit so you can wash it more often?

Yeah... Washing my clothes once a week is best case scenario to be perfectly honest and I know that's not enough as it is. I just don't want them to fade or fall apart from over washing because I want to wear them as long as possible. Buying multiples of the outfit is a good idea, though people will still think I wear the same thing every day even if I don't... Maybe different colors of the same outfit though!

 

[Never_falter2]

Different colors of the same outfit sounds like a great idea.
I want to be honest with you. I hope that it does not offend you. I think you should wash your clothes or there will be the risk that people will get a negative and misguided opinion of you. Unfortunately it just is like this.

 

[Neverthesame]

I've done this for years. I own a few pairs of cargo pants, a few sweaters and shirts. All the same.

I've been called out on it a couple of times where I work.
You know what? I honestly don't give a f*ck. Lol

I'm there to do a job, not walk a runway. Honestly if someone's life is so hopelessly boring that they have nothing better to do than critique my boring ass wardrobe...

Besides, anyone that bloody shallow to obsess over what I wear to work (I understand professionalism, which I am dressed appropriately) or that it's the same colour. Pfffft!
I don't want to spend more that five minutes with them.

They probably wear ugly shoes anyways. :p

 

[J'qel]

I actually got rid of (donated what was still in good shape) a lot of my clothes because I wasn't wearing them. TBH, if I'm not going out, I spend a lot of time mostly in PJS. Partly lazy partly because it cuts down on laundry. I'm a low maintenance sort when the occasion allows.

Honestly, cutting back on *stuff* isn't a bad thing. It helps declutter, it's less laundry, which means more time for things that matter to you. It takes you away from feeling like you have to wear certain things and act certain ways and lets you be more yourself, and it adds a level of comfort armor when you're in something familiar that you like.

I might suggest adding a bonus to doing laundry, maybe some ice cream, or a bottle of wine, something that says "Yay me! I did laundry!" ...and maybe I'll even follow my own advice....I really need to do a load myself :P

 

[Astrid_Shadow]

I find comfort in only having a few outfits that I alternate between. I thought it was normal. I just find comfort in these clothes. I've never been one to try new things. Not when it comes to clothes at least.

 

[Lionheart]

I have a few T-shirts and some pull overs, a couple of nice button-down dress shirts and a pair of Khakis (sp?). I also have two pair of shoes, one pair are tennis shoes that look like black dress shoes, and a pair of regular white tennis shoes.

I inherited several pair of sweat pants and cargo pants from a friend who passed away and I bought a nice fitting pair of dress jeans.

Having said that, I tend to alternate between 2 pair of sweat pants and a couple of t-shits because they are most comfortable. Sometimes I wear them for days and days but then, I am not working as I am disabled.

I can afford to dress for comfort, which is what I prefer.

However, in a professional setting, I would try to wash my clothes at least twice per week. I would also purchase as many different outfits as I could afford, as well as couple pair of dress shoes.

If you feel your clothes are professional and comfortable then so much the better. I hope you can find a balance there.

Whatever you decide to do, I would not worry too much about what others think, I mean, they are probably more concerned about what they are wearing than what you are wearing. If you feel that you look presentable and clean, you shouldn't have to worry.

I want to add that I was in the military and I do starch my dress shirts and iron them, so I have experience in being meticulous if I need to be.

I just realized that you are female and wearing different types of clothing than me......Crap!!! I was hoping to be more helpful. Sorry.

Still, I wish you the best.

Lionheart777

 

[Amethyst]

Whatever you decide to do, I would not worry too much about what others think, I mean, they are probably more concerned about what they are wearing than what you are wearing. If you feel that you look presentable and clean, you shouldn't have to worry.

Yes, I am a girl, but I still found your advice helpful haha. You're probably right that my coworkers are more concerned with their outfits than mine, but my supervisor is always very well dressed and I'm sure he notices what we wear. He even made it a point to tell me that I was very well dressed my first day there (the first time I wore my blazer and dress pants lol).

I think I'm going to try to buy a similar set in another color to start with, then branch out to different things.

 

[Lionheart]

I am happy that my post was helpful.:happy:

That sounds like a great plan @Amethyst and I hope it goes well for you...you deserve to be well-dressed, and to look and feel good about yourself. :cool: