Love that polyester-cotton blend?
My first "real" job - one that I got paid for and had to pay federal and state taxes on my income - I had to wear an uniform. A red smock with a name tag. Then I leave that job to join the US Army, the mother of all uniform lovers. I still remember good ole A.R. 670-1 being thrown around in normal dinner conversation or yelled at the top of a drill sergeants lungs. Army Regulation 670-1 is for the "Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia". They're all about that. And then some.
(If I had to choose, I'd say the dress blue uniform was my favorite.)
Then I ETSed (End Term of Service) and left the Army for civilian life. I got rid of my fatigues for a classy (ha!) grey polyester-cotton blend slacks, white button up shirt and a wrap around tie. Argh. Oh, and don't forget the blue blazer. Sporty.
Yes, my security guard uniform. With a name tag and everything. It didn't really bother me, as it was kinda normal clothes compared to my last set of uniforms. But watching the Hewlett Packard employees and their other contractors I realized that you haven't made it if you have to wear an uniform.
Man was I stupid.
Of course I saw myself wearing an uniform, and the janitors, and my other two "uniformed" jobs - minimum wage low paying work. I thought if you had a job where you didn't have to wear a mandated uniform, you were lucky.
So I went to college, to get an education and a decent paying job. And I hoped I didn't have to wear an uniform or name tag again. But I do wear an uniform. Sure, it doesn't have polyester-cotton blend pants, but there is a clothing policy at work. Since I go into the "wet" areas I have to wear closed toe shoes and pants. No sandals or dresses for me. Which suits me fine, I'll stick to my classic Docs and Old Navy pants. As an office employee / engineer I have to wear a collared shirt. It doesn't need to be button up, a rugby shirt is fine.
But still, a uniform of sorts. From the lawyers and their suits, to the doctors and their scrubs, to the police and their blues, we all wear uniforms. From the President on down to the bagger at the grocery store, we all wear uniforms.
Then I realize it - the only way not to wear an uniform is to work at / from home. Like my brother who owns his own company, he works at home - so he can wear whatever he wants.
Sometimes uniforms can be practical, like a firefighter's lifesaving coat and pants and helmet. Or it can be for appearances, like a lawyers expensive suit. I don't want to be practical or dressy for appearance sake. I just want to be comfortable in my yoga pants and tee shirt and flip flops.
Wait a second - I already wore that "uniform" - I spent my last two years of college wearing that outfit.
(If I had to choose, I'd say the dress blue uniform was my favorite.)
Then I ETSed (End Term of Service) and left the Army for civilian life. I got rid of my fatigues for a classy (ha!) grey polyester-cotton blend slacks, white button up shirt and a wrap around tie. Argh. Oh, and don't forget the blue blazer. Sporty.
Yes, my security guard uniform. With a name tag and everything. It didn't really bother me, as it was kinda normal clothes compared to my last set of uniforms. But watching the Hewlett Packard employees and their other contractors I realized that you haven't made it if you have to wear an uniform.
Man was I stupid.
Of course I saw myself wearing an uniform, and the janitors, and my other two "uniformed" jobs - minimum wage low paying work. I thought if you had a job where you didn't have to wear a mandated uniform, you were lucky.
So I went to college, to get an education and a decent paying job. And I hoped I didn't have to wear an uniform or name tag again. But I do wear an uniform. Sure, it doesn't have polyester-cotton blend pants, but there is a clothing policy at work. Since I go into the "wet" areas I have to wear closed toe shoes and pants. No sandals or dresses for me. Which suits me fine, I'll stick to my classic Docs and Old Navy pants. As an office employee / engineer I have to wear a collared shirt. It doesn't need to be button up, a rugby shirt is fine.
But still, a uniform of sorts. From the lawyers and their suits, to the doctors and their scrubs, to the police and their blues, we all wear uniforms. From the President on down to the bagger at the grocery store, we all wear uniforms.
Then I realize it - the only way not to wear an uniform is to work at / from home. Like my brother who owns his own company, he works at home - so he can wear whatever he wants.
Sometimes uniforms can be practical, like a firefighter's lifesaving coat and pants and helmet. Or it can be for appearances, like a lawyers expensive suit. I don't want to be practical or dressy for appearance sake. I just want to be comfortable in my yoga pants and tee shirt and flip flops.
Wait a second - I already wore that "uniform" - I spent my last two years of college wearing that outfit.
posted by Margaret @ 10:31 PM
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