Coworker calls out colleague for wearing the same outfit every day: 'She's mentally still stuck in middle school'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 11, 2026 2:30 PM EDT

Is it wrong to wear the same thing to work every day?

Some people value simplicity in their lives. If they can automate something, they will. There are lots of ways to do this in your day-to-day life. Maybe you have a go-to breakfast that you eat every day during the week. You don't change it up, and it's one less decision you have to make in the course of a day. Maybe you have a specific schedule that you keep for exercising. You know if you deviate from it, everything will fall apart, and you'll be completely thrown off of your rhythm. Sometimes it's easier just to make a decision in advance, so you simplify your life in the moment. Another great way to do this is through your choice of wardrobe. Sometimes, when you wake up in the morning, the last thing you want to do is pick out an outfit. You're feeling uninspired, and like you don't own anything that you want to wear. But you know that certain things just look good on you. You can't usually go wrong with a button-down and jeans. If you choose to wear this every day of your life, then that's one less decision you have to make in the morning. Plus it gives you an air of eccentricity. Some of our most ingenious leaders have done this. It certainly isn't something that you have to make fun of somebody for.

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  • Two female coworkers address each other outside of the workplace
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Subjects are models representing story
    Two female coworkers address each other outside of the workplace

  • My coworker called me out for wearing the same clothes.

    I'm really not a fashionable person, and honestly, I don't care that much about outfits. I have a few clothes that I like, so I repeat them when I go to work. They're clean, so I don't really see what the problem is. But one of my coworkers decided to call me out about it.
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • She said, "You're wearing that again?" and pointed out that I always wear the same clothes. What annoyed me the most wasn't even the comment itself. There were a lot of people around when she said it, and some of them started laughing.
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • I was honestly embarrassed. Like, why do you have to point it out in front of everyone? If you noticed that I repeat my clothes, fine, but why turn it into a joke and make everyone else laugh about it? | don't think there's anything wrong with repeating clothes, especially when they're clean. Not everyone has the money, time, or interest to wear a completely different outfit every single day.
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • I just wish people would mind their own business sometimes.
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  •  It's generally a good rule of thumb to never make somebody feel bad about their appearance. It can be a sensitive subject, and you wouldn't want to ruin anybody's day over something that they don't have a lot of control over. This is especially true in the workplace. We should all refrain from commenting on each other's appearances unless it's in a positive manner. Even then, you have to be careful. But the coworker in the story was ignoring all of those rules and had something else in mind. Keep scrolling to see what happened here and how this coworker felt.

  • SamRhage Next time give her your condolences that she's mentally still stuck in middle school.
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • StillARockstar5 One of my colleagues loves. clothes. She has wardrobes full of incredible outfits. She wears the same ten outfits to work because she doesn't want to wear her nice clothes at work. I generally wear the same four dresses every week for work because it's work and I don't have a uniform so I wear what's comfortable. Your colleague is a
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • Two coworkers walk down the hallway together
    via A. C. For Unsplash+

    The people in this photo are models

    Two coworkers walk down the hallway together

  • Eats AlotOfBread When I find something I like, and I can afford it, I buy multiples of it because I know from experience | won't find that same fit and cuteness for years to come. If someone has a problem with it, I assume they're offering to buy me something nice. Right? No? Oh! Then maybe they shouldn't say anything useless.
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • dreamponies I repeat clothes a lot. I have things that I feel comfortable in and don't really like shopping, so it's easy just to grab something I already know works. Your co- workers are mean for laughing. Unless you are wearing the same thing for several days without washing and stinking up the office, I really can't see the problem.
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • Electrical-Hat-8686 My Nan had a great response to this kind of rode observation. She'd say "it's clean and well paid for"
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  • soyeah_87 I wear the same 5 outfits on rotation each week. I'm at work to work, not as a fashion show. Your coworker is giving "peaked in high school" vibes and it's frankly pathetic.
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  • Ikeamademedoit I have been wearing the same all black skirt, cami top and jacket for about 6yrs now - | have a couple of cami tops and wash during the week. I just consider it as my uniform as I putting no thought into my work clothing. Im sorry someone made you feel bad about it but if it happens again you can always complain to HR about the bu ying
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • Present_Ad9861 As long as your clothes are clean it's totally fine. Some people don't have anything interesting going on in their lives and that's why they talk about others. Shame on them, not on you! Ps. Yay for not falling for the fastfashion-industry!
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • the_sharpe Don't take it to heart. Deep down she is simply resentful over the active effort she makes and money spent in order to achieve the hopeful impression of others based on her own insecurities. Continue as you are and if she ever brings it up again, remind her of that. That will shut her up.
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • sir_lucealot It's perfectly normal to have a nice work wardrobe and to repeat clothes. That this a focus for her is more a reflection on her. If she says anything again say something like "I'm glad that you have the time to notice what others are wearing- I'm too busy doing my job to care. Maybe I need some tips from you on time management."
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  • , go for If you were being a b "well I wear what suits me" then look her up and down head to toe and smile.
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  • LostinLies1 I have a personal uniform. I wear jeans and a white button down all the time. I have about five white button downs. It makes my life so much easier. When Halloween came around last year my entire team dressed in white shirts and jeans with chuck taylors and came as me.
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • DeeBreeezy83 Should have said, "Your obsession with my clothing is really, really weird. Are you okay??"
    via Regular_Knowledge205
  • daedelius Bloke here, you could just double down on it. When you need new stuff buy multiples of them as suggested and wear the exact same stuff every day. I taught with a bloke who bought 4 sports jackets (like an informal suit) and wore them for the next 40 years, bringing a new one out when they wore out.
    via Regular_Knowledge205

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workplace-stories work drama outift drama coworkers colleague coworker drama workplace
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