# Do you keep 'emergency' clothes at work? What, specifically, do you have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755 "2016-12-03T18:08:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TheSeaOtter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@TheSeaOtter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSeaOtter)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/41 "2016-12-05T19:30:00Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Had a coworker who came to work in both a skirt and pants at the same time. Didn’t see it but it was office lore for a while. It was clear from the ensemble that it was an accident. One of my former coworkers arrived at his job interview with his sweater backwards and inside out, with the tag sticking out under his chin. On topic: These days, I just have a spare raincoat, in case I forget to check whether it will be raining when I head home. Two jobs ago, though, I was at a stereotypical tech startup, which sometimes meant working through the night to meet arbitrary release deadlines. Back then, I had a full set of clothes at work, so that I could change them in lieu of actually going home. I’m glad I don’t do that anymore. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/42 "2016-12-05T19:45:24Z")
I keep a sweater at my desk for when our super-fancy climate control system freezes us out. The temperature at my desk has gone from 69.6° at 8am to 74.1° now (2:45pm)\*. I was glad to have that sweater this morning. - All temperatures are in Fahrenheit; all times are EST. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/43 "2016-12-06T08:38:52Z")
I work at home, so arguably the answer is “no” or “yeah, everything”. Back when I did work at an office: most recently it was business casual so at most I might keep a sweater there. Before that, when it was professional attire, I (like most of my female colleagues) always had a pile of dress shoes under my desk - as we’d commute to the office via Metro wearing sneakers, then immediately change. Beyond that, no emergency clothing. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/44 "2016-12-06T16:11:44Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I keep a sweater at my desk for when our super-fancy climate control system freezes us out. The temperature at my desk has gone from 69.6° at 8am to 74.1° now (2:45pm)\*. I was glad to have that sweater this morning. > > - All temperatures are in Fahrenheit; all times are EST. ## Did you wear the sweater at 69F or all day? I used to keep a spare pair of nylons. Note I don’t need to wear those, so I don’t keep any spare clothes at work. But my work-shoes live in my desk, and I keep an umbrella, emergency feminine hygiene, and some emergency drugs (aspirin, etc.) In my desk. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/45 "2016-12-07T02:31:13Z")
I keep a sweater on my chair and a pair of black flats under my desk for days when Morning Me is a bit too optimistic about the heels I choose vs. how much walking ill be doing that day. I kept a spare pair of panties for a long time, for emergency purposes. Ohhhhh, I just jinxed myself. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/46 "2016-12-08T00:33:40Z")
Just a cardigan, because it’s often too cold in our office. Also, I have four umbrellas and a pair of flip flops in my desk/car because: Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/47 "2016-12-08T09:05:02Z")
Formal meetings are very occasional, but also unpredictable, so I keep a suit jacket in the closet and a tie in my desk. A pair of dress shoes under the desk to wear during work so I can commute in comfortable shoes and not have my nice shoes be ruined by the time the rainy season is done (also so I can bike to work and not have to spend the day walking around in cleats). ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/48 "2016-12-08T09:52:30Z")
As a chef, I show up to work in a T-shirt + my “work pants” (basically black cargo pants) and my non-slip kitchen shoes. My chef jacket is provided by a linen company, so there are eleven of them hanging on the rack in the locker room. So I get to work and put on a chef jacket. If it gets too dirty and I have to carve meat on a buffet line, I just throw it into the linen bag and put on a clean one. Pants? If for some reason I shart myself, erm, well, thank Og I live only three blocks away and I can run home and change. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/49 "2016-12-08T11:40:33Z")
In my car, not my office, I always have a long-sleeved black tee, a change of undies and socks, and a pair of light drawstring trousers (specifically a gray pair of [these](http://skaclothing.co.za/product/striped-pants/)) ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/50 "2016-12-08T16:30:44Z")
In my truck I have safety boots, reflective vest, safety glasses, gloves and a hard hat in my truck for service calls to job sites. I have insulated coveralls and a warm jacket for cold days. I also keep a complete set of regular work clothes for nasty days. I did an Ansul system repair at a Chinese restaurant once. By the end of the job I was so greasy and dirty that I climbed into the back of my van and changed from the skin out. I dropped the clothes I was wearing into their dumpster before driving away. I was also worried about the cockroach population that could have migrated to my house. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/51 "2016-12-08T16:50:50Z")
Spare undies always in my purse in case of Butt Explosions (one of the joys of chemo) I also have a drawerful of scarves in my desk, because I don’t have a place for them at home and this way if I get cold I have one to coordinate with any outfit. Also to loan out to my co-workers as needed. In the drawer above this I have my stash - extra headache meds, tea, and plastic forks and spoons. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/52 "2016-12-08T16:50:53Z")
I keep a suit, a set of gym clothes, a hazmat suit and mask (I have no idea why), extra socks and underwear, sneakers, shoes, pullover, and a blazer. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755/53 "2016-12-09T03:58:04Z")
I used to have (until last year) a skirt, jacket, silk blouse, bra and hose in my office closet. All that remains now is extra hose, because no one wants to look at a (really) old lady’s bare legs and I refuse to have runs. Since then I’ve been known to wear stretch pants and a sweater to work; after 44 years of federal service, if I get called to the front office, I don’t care, fuck the dress code. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-keep-emergency-clothes-at-work-what-specifically-do-you-have/773755.md?page=2)