# Ladies, does anyone else plan and lay out their work clothes for a week ahead? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 3, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964 "2013-11-03T04:36:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/21 "2013-11-04T03:47:46Z")
Thanks all, from now on I am simply very organized she says to him They’re not actually laid out; they’re in a part of the closet I have set aside for this purpose after too many mornings wasting time lookin for the grey sweater or the black heels, whatever. And acually, I don’t line them up by day of the week or anything, just a number, usually more than 5, of choices that are actually matching to an extent, and complete, so if something comes up, like a meeting, there’s something appropriate there, ready to grab. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/22 "2013-11-04T04:42:49Z")
I’m in a very senior position at my company, so I plan my clothing, makeup, and jewelry typically a few days before. I don’t plan for the whole week at once because I don’t know my precise schedule - am I meeting a client, having lunch with a company head/CEO, or will it be just business as usual? Only my best friend at work also lays out her clothes that I know of. Most other women seem to grab things almost at random, meaning when we’re meeting some big-time whale of a client I’m in a sharp pinstripe skirt-suit and heels, and they’re in faded Dockers and a Wal-Mart top with _tennis shoes_. At my company, like many high-end client-facing ones, clothing matters. I’m stunned that co-workers who have been there 10,20, even 30 years don’t get that, or just don’t care. When I presented as a guy I wore a suit and tie to work every day, while my co-workers dressed down as much as possible without breaking the dress code - or just broke it anyhow. It’s 10 times as important now I’m a girl. The difference in how you are treated by the upper management and clients is clear and visible. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/23 "2013-11-04T05:06:37Z")
I’m a man, but I do this as well. Rarely a full week, usually just the next day or three. This is fairly recent to me, but the change was that now I have to dress like an adult at my job ;). Which means wearing clothes that need to be ironed. I’m absolutely terrible at mornings, there’s no chance I could possibly pull of my normal shower/shaving routine **plus** ironing, so every outfit has to be ready the night before at the very latest. …and I travel a lot now, so ironing everything once it comes out of the wash isn’t really an option. Everything gets wrinkled in a suitcase, no matter how well you pack it. Even when I try, I still end up ironing everything again in my hotel room the night before I need to wear it. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/24 "2013-11-04T08:22:38Z")
I wear a uniform to work. I love that I don’t have to think about what to wear every day. I have a hard enough time on my days off deciding what to wear. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/25 "2013-11-04T14:51:45Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > …They’re not actually laid out; they’re in a part of the closet … Oh! OK I was going to accuse you of sneak bragging as I could only imagine a very large space would be needed to lay out a whole week’s worth of clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Whitney\_Harper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@Whitney\_Harper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whitney_Harper)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/26 "2013-11-04T15:02:37Z")
The only time I plan what I will wear a day or a week before will be if I have an important appointment or something, that usually involves dressing up more. But, no I do not plan what I will wear usually. It is good that you do plan ahead, as it is more efficient, and less worry about what to wear, since you get up very early. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/27 "2013-11-04T15:07:26Z")
I guess I’m just a slob. I get up in the morning and pick out whatever’s clean and doesn’t need ironing. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/28 "2013-11-04T19:15:13Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > I do. I get up at 3:30, an hour drive to the gym and a 10 minute drive after my workout to the office. I don’t have the brain power at that time of the morning to put together an outfit, so it’s all preplanned-grab and go. > > My BF seems to think this means I am OCD or have an OCD or whatever. > > Anyone else? I do if I have something specific I need/want to wear the next day. Usually I kind of know in the back of my mind what I’m going to be wearing. Tuesdays, in particular; I have a meeting on Tuesday nights that usually runs late, and since I know I’m going to be wallowing around on the floor with the leader’s Schnauzer, it’s always something more comfortable than dressy. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/29 "2013-11-04T19:23:52Z")
Kind of. I don’t necessarily “lay them out” but I do have outfits planned for most, or all, of the upcoming workweek. I’m not OCD but I am SO not a morning person, so I pretty much have to do this in order to be presentable. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/30 "2013-11-04T19:30:31Z")
On review, is it OCD that I nickname my outfits? 😃 The pink textured sweater set, light brown pants and coordinating shoes are “pinky”. The blue print jacket, blue dress pants (and one of perhaps three different dress shoes that all coordinate depending on the weather) is “old blue”. An empire waist shirt with various coordinating shrugs is “that Scarlett thing” (since my daughter picked it out. Maybe not OCD, maybe just goofy. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/31 "2013-11-04T20:15:07Z")
I may be even worse. I put together outfits on the hangars as I take them out of the dryer. The hangars are on the doorway across from the dryer, and I assemble top, pants, underthings, all together as each load comes out. Then they go to the closet in a set. (Except socks, which tend to fall off the hangars.) It still can’t be said that I plan outfits though, because my eyes are barely open as I grope for a hangar and obediently don whatever garments it contains. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/32 "2013-11-04T20:26:56Z")
Wait, what, you get up AT 3.30 IN THE FREAKING MORNING? How late are you home from work? Please tell me you are on a night/early morning shift. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/33 "2013-11-04T20:38:46Z")
Meh, I’m up at 4:00. It’s the only time I can get anything done around the house. Of course, I’m also asleep by 9:30. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/34 "2013-11-04T21:11:57Z")
I usually figure out what I’m going to wear in the last moments of consciousness as I lay in bed at night. It’s not like I have an infinite number of outfits to confuse me! The closet is organized with all like items hanging together, so nothing’s hard to find. Also, I put on the same pair of flat shoes to drive to work every day. I keep all my high heeled shoes in the trunk and change into them when I get there. It’s my personal homage to Mr. Rogers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/35 "2013-11-04T22:01:44Z")
I am a complete disaster in the morning. Every night, I do as much as is humanly possible so I don’t have to in the morning. I set out my clothes, make my lunch, set out my tea and fill the kettle and put my purse and shoes by the door. I also make the kids set out their clothes, get everything into their backpacks and put them by the door, make their lunches and set out most of the items for breakfast (dishes, cereal, bananas). I don’t think it’s OCD (though I can’t go to bed until I’ve done all that), it’s just defensive. My poor children. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/36 "2013-11-05T02:40:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Wait, what, you get up AT 3.30 IN THE FREAKING MORNING? > > How late are you home from work? Please tell me you are on a night/early morning shift. The company I work for moved my office an hour from my home, after 20 years of working for them. I am a short timer, so I stayed. I hit the gym about 4:45, get to work about 6-ish, I am off at 3:30 and then it’s the hours drive in reverse. Yes, it sucks. I am glad to see there’re others who do this or sort of. Honestly, I am in my gym clothes and out of the house in under 1/2 hour, which includes feeding cats, whining, brushing teeth, whining, putting my pre-packed lunch in my bag, whining, etc. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/37 "2013-11-05T11:02:15Z")
decisions, decisions, that’s why i have an all black wardrobe for work. lots of scarves jewelry. sure it looks like a witches covenant on washing day but looks always professional and i can sleep in. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/38 "2013-11-05T12:27:41Z")
when i was working in the middle east i used to wake up at prayer call. 4am. no way would i do it now. ---
**Author:** ![Welz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/4bbf92/32.png) [@Welz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welz)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/39 "2013-11-05T12:59:35Z")
I also decide what to wear the moment just before I fall asleep. But there isn’t much to choose from: I have one type of casual dress in maybe five colours and another more formal dress in four. Now that the weather is getting colder, I also need to pick a cardigan, but as with the dresses: same model, in blue, black, grey and brown, easy to coordinate with my dress. When deciding on a casual dress, I only need to think about what shoes to wear: one type of boot looks good with legwarmers, for the other I only need stockings. When wearing a more fancy outfit, I usually decide on wearing my comfy ballerina shoes. If I need to be more formal at work, I’ve got an extra pair of heels under my desk. I wear a comfy, wool lined hoody as jacket when casual. My trenchcoat when dressed up. I always wear a scarf to hide my tattoo and I’ve got scarves in many different colours and patterns, but I usually just grab a random one while on my way out. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964/40 "2013-11-05T13:04:09Z")
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