For the past two years, I’ve worn the same work uniform every weekday, five days a week, without fail. Polo shirt, chino pants, and my black oxfords. It’s not flashy but it works. I show up, get it done, move on. I try not to keep my wardrobe too complicated because like the Steve Jobs, I believe in ego depletion, and if I spend my mornings deciding what to wear, that’s brainpower I’m not using where it really counts. Plus, it saves time. No standing around wondering what matches with what I just get dressed and go.
My wife says my style is a little too dull for my workplace, but I’ve read the employee manual and it clearly states that all employees must dress in accordance with their role. I’m not sure if that was meant to be taken literally, but as far as I can tell, my attire fits the guidelines just dully fine.
But this morning, I stepped out of bed and the air hit different. It wasn’t just “cool,” it was that first real taste of fall. The kind that makes your windows fog up and your coffee feel like a survival tool. You know the type where the morning sky’s still a little grey out, wind’s got a bite of frost to it, and suddenly your closet feels more like a toolbox than a runway.
So I reached past the usual polos and grabbed the red-and-black flannel hanging in the back of my closet. Buttoned it up, looked in the mirror, and thought, “That's warm and comfy."
No game plan, no outfit inspirations, just sleeves and a bit of lumberjack energy.
Just as I was packing up for my commute, my wife, half-awake in the hallway, paused, did a double take, and asked, “That’s what you’re wearing today!?” I chuckled on my way out the door, explaining to her that it’s been colder than usual.
I arrived to work with time to spare but before I could even get to the coffee machine the comments started rolling in:
“Hey, I really like your shirt.”
“What's with the shirt? You having lunch with someone today?”
Apparently, all it takes to become office famous is sleeves and a fresh new pattern. Before I knew it, everyone was asking for my opinion on reports, seeking my guidance on future projects. Somehow, the world flipped upside down and suddenly, I was on top.
I've now come to call this "The Flannel Phenomenon." Slip it on and boom, you’re not just cozy, you’re the one calling the shots. It's like one part Kevin Nguyen meme, one part executive vibes and somehow it works!
The craziest part is, I’m not reinventing myself here. I still believe in the Steve Job ideology of save the brainpower for bigger decisions. That's why my polo rotation still exists. Uniform over chaos. Function over flair.
But adding the flannel every now and then? It’s almost like a a cheat code. It’s the one time the outfit "does" the work for you. Cozy warm, 100% brain juice, and enough fall swagger for your manager to approve your PTO request.