As many of you know I am a fan of routine. Segmenting the mundane in your life into systems so that you have more brainspace and time for the interesting and fun stuff!
Last night on #theproject a survey of women was discussed that revealed that the average woman spends almost five months of her working life choosing what to wear. Researchers, who surveyed 2,000 women last month, found deciding what to wear for work, at weekends and for nights out mean women will spend more than an hour a week simply considering their outfits. It also emerged 45% of women find the process of deciding what to wear to work stressful thanks to fear their outfit will be inappropriate for work.
49% admitted they lie awake planning their outfit for their next day at work. An organised 54% even lay out their clothes the night before to save the last-minute panic in the morning. Fifteen per cent of those asked admitted to having had mornings where they had left the house for work, only to turn around and go home again so they could change their outfit. While one in ten have gone home at lunch to get changed because they weren’t happy with what they were wearing! Really!
Not surprisingly this survey was commissioned by a uniform production company! But having a ‘uniform’ is not as crazy as it sounds. Having a style that is yours in a way is developing your own sort suit of uniform. A weekday style and a weekend style. Not only does that make it easier to get ready in the morning – it makes shopping easier too! While I don’t have a uniform as such I am a big fan of the dress (only one thing to organise!) and I lay out my clothes for the week ahead on a Sunday so I don’t have to think about it later.
Men have been getting away with a uniform it for years in the form of a ‘suit’. Who remembers the experiment of #Karlstefanovic of #thetodayshow when he wore the same suit every day and no-one noticed!). Mashable published the widely read article on why successful people wear the same thing everyday.
In the words of #MarkZuckerberg who wears the same grey t-shirt all the time “I really want to clear my life to make it so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community,” he said.
However it seems women have more pressure to wear the style of the season. Art Director #MatildaKarl created her own uniform of white blouses and back trousers and continues to spend time justifying her choices but is enjoying the freedom and time attached to her professional wardrobe. My favourite ‘uniform’ is that of entrepreneur #SamShazzam, famous for her array of colourful beads and the occasional use of a cape!
Do you have a uniform for work?