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Ask Lela: Wardrobe For Those Who Wear Uniforms To Work

June 7, 2019 · In: Organize

Here’s how to build a classic wardrobe if you wear a uniform to work, so getting dressed on weekends is quick and easy.

Ask Lela Burris

“Hi Lela, I work as a nurse 5 days a week for long shifts, so when I get home, I immediately change into my lounge clothes. The only time I wear my ‘nice’ clothes are on my days off, but only if I go out somewhere. I read your post about clothing items to stop buying this year and I realized that I have a closet full of stuff I never/can’t wear. What clothes do you suggest I keep in my closet when I rarely get to wear my wardrobe?”

        -Jennifer

What To Keep In Your Closet When You Work In A Uniform

First of all, I’m so proud of you, Jennifer. You acknowledged that you have a bunch of clothes in your closet that you never wear. That is such a huge step in the right direction, and definitely a motivator to be more intentional with your wardrobe. The hard truth is, those who wear uniforms to work really don’t need the same amount of clothes as those who don’t. Sure, you may love to shop for clothes, and you may love having options, but sometimes having too many options is more of a problem than a blessing. Here’s why.

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Why You Don’t Need A Huge Wardrobe

The thing about having a large clothing collection is that it makes getting ready in the mornings harder. Imagine you’re at Baskin Robbins. They have 31 flavors of ice cream to choose from. You may spend 5 straight minutes trying to decide which flavor you want, and you may try at least 3 different samples before you make your choice. Then you spend the whole time you’re eating the ice cream wondering if maybe you should have went with a different option. FOMO is real!

Now imagine you’re at a local ice cream shop that only has chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream. But those three flavors are made with high quality, locally sourced, fresh dairy. The chocolate is made with imported Swiss chocolate, and the strawberries and vanilla beans are picked straight from a garden outside the shop. You’ll immediately choose your favorite classic flavor and enjoy the extra-special nature of the quality you’re getting.

See what I did there? You can have a closet full of cheap stuff you bought on the clearance rack, or random colors and patterns that take time and effort to put together into a cohesive outfit, OR you can have some really good quality basics that you’ll never get tired of. When you don’t get to rotate through your wardrobe quickly due to a weekly work uniform, you only need the “classics” in your closet for weekends.

small wardrobe tips for working moms

What Are The Basic Closet Staples?

First, choose a color palette and stick with it. A rack full of random colors makes it harder to mix and match your outfits, leaving you obligated to have more clothes on hand. If you stick with a color palette of only neutrals and a 2-3 other colors you like, you’ll not only be able to make more outfit combinations, but you’ll also start to build your own personal ‘brand.’ You’ll appear more put-together and in control of your life, and getting ready in the morning will be a breeze because everything goes with everything!

Classic Neutrals

  • Black
  • White
  • Grey
  • Khaki/Beige/Tan/Brown

Modern Neutrals

  • Navy
  • Olive Green
  • Burgundy
  • Mauve/Blush
wardrobe tips for moms who wear uniforms to work

Detox Your Closet With This Method

Join the Organized-ish Purge-A-Thon! I’ll send you a free prep guide and five daily decluttering prompts, so you’ll know exactly what to do to get rid of extra house junk. We’ll cover the closet, of course, but once you see how this method works, you’ll want to apply it to other spaces too. Sign up here, and I’ll send you the prep guide right away.

Want me to tackle the Purge-A-Thon alongside you? Watch highlights from all five days on Instagram.

Read More:

Why You Can’t Find Anything To Wear In Your Closet

10 Clothing Items You Need To Stop Buying

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By: Lela Burris · In: Organize · Tagged: closet, clothes, clothing, uniform, wardrobe, working mom

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. geniusuniforms says

    May 27, 2020 at 9:06 am

    Thanks for writing this quick, effective and amazing guide to upgrade wardrobes. This article is so interesting. Please share more articles like this.

    Reply
    • Brad - Admin says

      May 27, 2020 at 9:43 am

      Thank you so much! We’re glad to help in a sort of gray area when it comes to organizing closets, and we’ll definitely share more tips like those in the future.

      Reply
  2. Mike Wright says

    June 21, 2019 at 7:19 am

    I also think we don’t need a big wardrobe, I believe smart wardrobe is the way to go… I noted your tips definitely would apply soon!

    Reply
    • Lela Burris says

      June 27, 2019 at 10:09 pm

      So glad that was helpful for you! You’re so right and you worded it perfectly, smart wardrobe really is the way to go!

      Reply

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Wait for the last one… 🤩 Sherry @younghousel Wait for the last one… 🤩
Sherry @younghouselove downsized quite a bit a few years ago and it proving that you CAN be organized in a small home with kids and pets. Didn’t she do an amazing job with all these spaces?
Pretty sure she was being modest with her grade prediction because I’d give her a definite A!
Which organized space of hers is your favorite? I’m in LOVE with her laundry closet! 🥰
She buys most of her organizers from Amazon and Ikea and you can tour her whole house on her blog, YouTube, and IG Story highlights. Sherry is one of my BFFs so if you aren’t already following her, do it now! Her Story content is the most entertaining part of my day. 🙌🏼
Do you pack minimally or overpack when you travel? Do you pack minimally or overpack when you travel?
I used to be that person that packed WAY more than I needed and was always overwhelmed with a messy suitcase halfway through my trip. When I started downsizing the clothes I packed to just what I needed, I spent less time picking out what to wear and cleaning up messy piles, and more time enjoying my trips.
But I’ll admit, if I could bring my whole sneaker collection with me so I’d have all the options, I totally would. 😂😂
#packwithme #packingtips #vacationplanning #monostravelcompanion #minimalistpacking
Have you tried this yet? I did not expect it to wo Have you tried this yet? I did not expect it to work this well the first time I did it but now I’ll never dust baseboards any other way.
It also works well on door panels, picture frame moulding, chair rails, and even gets those hairs off back of the toilet that tend to stick and slide around when cleaning. 🙌🏼
#cleaningmotivation #cleaninghacks #cleaningtips
Do you have a command center in your house? If you Do you have a command center in your house? If you’ve been planning on adding one, here are three tips for customizing it so it works for you:
1. Add a calendar so the whole family is on the same page about what’s going on that month.
2. Decide what needs to be stored in your command center and add storage based on those needs. Don’t worry about what other people use or keep in their own command center because we all live different lives and need different things.
3. Don’t try to make your family change their habits. If they’re used to dropping keys on the counter, a hook may not work for them. Instead, give them a bowl or tray to drop keys in. And if they’re used to sticking reminders on the fridge, add a bulletin or magnet board so they can put them there. Work *with* your family’s habits, not against them.
See the full project and get more command center setup tips in my newest YouTube video. All the product sources I used here are saved in the description of that video too. 🙌🏼
#commandcenter #organizationideas #homeorganization

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