‘I have had some of my clothes for a decade, and they are still in great shape’ I always wear Issey Miyake tunic dresses and shawls, in various colours, with leggings and boots in winter, secured with three vintage Bakelite brooches. I have been wearing this uniform for about 10 years. After I gained weight, I couldn’t find anything that looked good and was in my size. I discovered the Japanese designer on eBay, where I also discovered vintage handbags and briefcases, and Bakelite jewellery, to accessorise with. All of these items are reasonably priced on the secondhand market, and I like the sustainability: I have had some pieces for a decade, and they are still in great shape. It’s fun to have someone drive by and say: “I love your clothes!” That gives me a kick. I don’t have to spend a lot of money on clothes any more, and it takes me five minutes to get dressed. I know which clothes fit and look good, and being dressed in beautiful clothing helps to combat ageism and fat shaming. Leslie Dollen, retired, Minnesota ‘This is my streetwear, my formal attire – I even wear it on holiday’ When I was ordained in 2014, I donated all my clothes to charity. I now have a wardrobe made up of five pairs of black trousers, one pair of black shorts, 10 black clerical shirts and three black cassocks. I wear them every day, regardless of whether I am in church or not. It is my streetwear, my formal attire, my going-out clothes. I even wear them on holiday. Black is the traditional colour of the priest, showing that he has died to himself and the world in order to serve something else. Not having other clothing is because this is not a job but a lifestyle. I don’t just put it on when I am “working”; I live in it. This saves me a huge amount of time in the morning, black is never a bad choice and coupled with a clerical collar it makes complete sense. Sam McNally-Cross, Anglican priest, London ‘I have been wearing this look for 20 years’ I always wear the same thing: an Old Town (local maker) jacket with a Tootal scarf, a dark polo shirt (long-sleeved wool in winter and short-sleeved cotton in summer), Levi’s and Dr Martens shoes or boots. I have been wearing this for many years, and it started when I moved to Norfolk from London 20 years ago. I wanted to wear clothes that didn’t look scrunched up when they came out of a bag (I work away from home much of the time). I have also come to realise that I don’t like wearing “hard” cotton shirts as I find them too confining, so my look is very comfortable. As I work in a business where people generally dress casually, I don’t change my look between work and home. Not having to think about clothes saves time. The only time it changes is when the weather is warm, and I put on shorts. Peter Miller, film and TV line producer, Norfolk ‘I always know how my outfit will look, and that it will be comfortable’ I always wear a black cotton T-shirt, black stretch boxers and black socks (all from Punto Blanco), with black straight twill pants (Amazon Essentials), black sneakers (Tarmak Protect 100 by Decathlon), and a black hoodie or black windbreaker (both Domyos by Decathlon). I’ve been using the T-shirt-boxers-socks combination since 2014. I bought 15 pieces of each so I can cycle through two full weeks. I chose black because I don’t want to project any unwanted message with a stamp or logo. It’s peak normcore, but I add a subtle hint of a different colour in the sleeve of each T-shirt, so it’s cool when people realise it’s not actually the very same T-shirt every day. I always know how my outfit will look, and I’m sure it will be comfortable – perfect! If I need a replacement, I know what to order. I also wear the same model of pyjamas every night. Miguel Olaya, data manager, Colombia ‘My look was never forced or planned – it just naturally developed’ My signature style is wearing all black with a touch of colour on my eyewear and very minimal accessories, such as my Swatch wristwatch and scarves. Black is always the new black and my look consists of layering oversized T-shirts, jackets, leggings and shorts with black or colourful Birkenstocks. This has been my signature style since the beginning of the millennium; it was never forced or planned, but something that just naturally developed. The main advantages are the efficiency of wearing the same thing every day, but also the confidence this look gives me. Costas Mantzalos, artist and academic, Cyprus ‘I only need one pair of shoes and one pair of earrings’ For work, I wear a white button-up shirt, black cardigan and black or grey pants. For casual, I wear that with jeans. I started doing this about 10 years ago. It is simple, flattering and looks professional. I’m financially conservative, and it saves money to need only one pair of black shoes and one pair of silver-hoop earrings as my accessories. I’m also really bad at figuring out what looks good together, and the thought of putting together “outfits” stresses me. Katie Tice, accounting professor, Illinois ‘It is a challenge to wear the same jacket in different ways’ I love to wear black. My closet is full of black stuff, including shoes and accessories. Some days, I feel as if black helps me to be hidden away. I have been wearing all-black for years – so I know anything I buy is an investment that I will wear for a long time. I like to wear a base layer and then play with interesting textures and shades. It makes me happy in the morning that I am not having to bother with colour-matching. It is always a challenge to wear the same jacket in different ways during the day and when going out in the evenings. Elena Parouti, architect, Cyprus