Blue Collar Uniforms

[Skippy722]

It depends. They were optional at the last place I worked at, simple blue cotton pants and blue cotton shirt in your choice of long or short sleeve. Had them because that place was nasty and I was sick of ruining my own clothing. Now I wear blue jeans and t shirts, but you can eat off the floor of this shop.

If they’re mandatory but they’re going to pay for cleaning I wouldn’t mind.

 

[Donald]

My work uniform is sweatpants and a Carhart shirt. I work in my WFH office. But my Neopolitan Mastiff gets my sweatpants dirty from him wiping his mouth on my pants. The sweatpants get washed when my wife feels they are too gross to wear any more.

 

[PimTac]

Long ago service station uniforms were made from 100% polyester and were poorly fitted. I had to wear them as that was dictated by contract of the station owner. They too smelled from harsh laundering, and I am not sure what they used to clean them. I could not wait to get them off at the end of my shift.

Fels Naptha.

 

[clinebarger]

I wore uniforms for years from (Cintas, Uni1st, Aramark etc).....Terrible fit & the stunk like naptha after getting laundered, My favorite is finding drill shavings the hard way, Of coarse Red Rags were worse for shavings, But I've encountered them in pockets as well.
The topping on the cake is the employer deducting the cost of the uniforms out of my pay!

I wear Dickies Flex work shirts & Duluth Trading Flex Fire Hose pants.....Lot better quality.

 

[Chris142]

The clothes I wear that are supplied by my employer are cold in winter and hot in summer

 

[Creekside]

I have always turned wrenches or worked in the transportation sector and don't mind the uniforms. I can't speak for other industries. I used to wear the Dickies classic mechanic pants until my current job where we are required to wear Arc Rated clothing. This is supplied PPE by my employer at no cost and replaced at the first sign of wear or damage no questions asked. I am currently in Wrangler FR jeans and Bulwark FR high visibility shirts. I specifically request high-vis as most everything I do is at night.

I also prefer coveralls when working so I provide my own and order them with stripes. By throwing a hoodie on underneath I'm good to mid-20s comfortably. I buy AR coveralls so I'm covered when working in electrical panels. You can also add the calorie rating of your different layers of clothes so these essentially double my protection when worn over my company supplied clothes. These are what I order:

For our farm/dump truck service I had a bunch of these high-vis shirts embroidered with our farm name and my name. Nothing I do really requires it but when I'm out and about in the semi or out of the truck in the quarries I feel better. Incredibly comfortable and the dark lower hides nearly any stain. They still look almost as good as when I bought them.

 

[Delta]

My work supplies the uniforms and launders them from Cintas. The pants and long sleeve shirt are CATII arc flash due to the nature of my work. However, the Carhartt brand is pretty darn comfy. However, if I get any kind of spill on them, their washing technique does not really get them out. I'll thrown on a "clean" pair and look dirtier than the day before pants...

 

[Donald]

I remember the uniforms for the Hess gas station attendants. While shirt and pants. At least in warm weather. Several decades ago in NJ.

 

[Dave Hess]

The clothes I wear that are supplied by my employer are cold in winter and hot in summer

If special clothing, PPE, safety shoes, safety glasses, Noise reducing earmuffs, etc…. are needed for work most employers ***should*** provide that to employees or give them a reimbursement to purchase it.

 

[repairman54]

I remember the uniforms for the Hess gas station attendants. While shirt and pants. At least in warm weather. Several decades ago in NJ.

When I was a Hess pump jockey in '72 we had white coveralls.

 

[repairman54]

At work in my previous life, they supplied the uniforms, you washed your own. Many different suppliers over the years with the shift to 100% poly in the later years with heavier weights so they lasted longer. Shirts hot in summer and scratchy was the biggest issue. At least self washing you could pour in the fabric softener.

 

[Chris142]

If special clothing, PPE, safety shoes, safety glasses, Noise reducing earmuffs, etc…. are needed for work most employers ***should*** provide that to employees or give them a reimbursement to purchase it.

They just have a company bring me uniforms

 

[y_p_w]

What is a blue collar uniform?

I’m thinking blue chambray shirt, striped overalls, striped hat, and a red bandana.

 

[Donald]

When I was a Hess pump jockey in '72 we had white coveralls.

It could have been white coveralls. I just know the top and bottom were white.

 

[chrlsful]

asa kid I didnt mind it. Today I would. Wanna do it my way.
"...100% polyester and were poorly fitted. I had to wear them as that was dictated by contract of the station owner. They too smelled from harsh laundering..."
by mid day things were better in smell but by then I hada respiratory attack, cleared it up w/a 3rd cigarette & went onto lunch. The plastic clothing stopped bothering when I was so tired I'd forgotten, the sweat had compensated or I'd made it to the bar w/buds to after wrk beers'n shots, pool or darts. None of these things R prt of my lifestyle now'n buy 100% cotton 'mechanic's blue' short or long sleeve shirts, sweat shirt, blk dungarees. I have a set of the pants for wrk ( 3, 4) & keep another set (1 or 2) out of the shop forever. The latter I use w/some kinda 'button shirt' that also never sees the shop. I do some welding & the cotton has never caught fire. Asa kid the poly DID w/a carb back fire and was not a pretty sight.