How much should I spend on Work Clothes?

14 comments

1. Depends on what your company and/or school demand. I wear a short-sleeve button-up, slacks, a belt, and shoes most days (though the shoes are swapped with Crocs while inside the school) and swap to a long-sleeve shirt when it’s chilly and a full suit for formal events like entrance or graduation ceremonies. My company’s policy is Japanese business casual during all work hours, and my school’s the same, so that’s what I do. I know other ALTs with either more or less strict rules for their dress codes. ESID.

2. Eikaiwa pay deserves eikaiwa suits. Just go to Aoki and grab a cheap one

3. The cheapest amount possible without them breaking too quick.

4. I teach in jeans, khakis, and polos. I’m ES JET.

5. I’m not sure if it’s just bc I live in Okinawa, but not a single teacher at my school wears suits outside of the occasional ceremonies, so maybe my advice isn’t applicable. In my case, I wear kariyushi shirts, which are basically colorful button up polos. Think a classier, less baggy version of a Hawaiian shirt. Then whatever pants I want, as long as they’re not dirty, but usually khakis. Shoes are irrelevant bc we all change into slippers when we enter the school.

6. It very much depends on your company. I know that AEON requires suits and ties every day for men, but no suits or ties during cool biz (May through end of September). I believe they recommend to have at least three sets. Spend as little as possible according to your budget.

7. JHS Jet in Fukuoka. We must wear suits. Ties and jackets through winter. Short sleeve dress shirts and suit pants during summer.
   Never jeans and polos for me sadly.
   I picked up suits from Uniqlo which I think must be pre-ordered if your 2xl and up (which I am). Not sure what size they go up to though

8. As little as possible.

9. I came to Japan with four suits from a charity shop and some dress shirts from the same charity shop and wore them every day until I could comfortably afford a couple of others. I put them into rotation. I buy one or two more and retire a few every few years. It ends up being far less expensive to dress relatively formally.

10. Assuming you’re in your home country, just shop at a retail store. Check if they have sizes that fit you properly. Have someone help measure you.
    Try to buy when they have a sale going on. I’d get 3 suits, black, gray, navy. Get extra pants for each suit incase of any accidents/tears etc.

11. Japanese people love to have a personal uniform.

    So I think 3-4 suits, (not expensive ones, just well fitting ones) and 5-6 shirts you can cycle through. Wash and wear type of life.

    They tend to wear inner t-shirts to avoid their shirts getting too worn so it has a longer life.

    Suits here are very expensive and the quality is much to be desired so get them before coming here. One of my teachers paid ￥66,000 on sale.

12. > How much should I invest for turning looks in the classroom?

    As little as possible.

    > also: Clip-on ties so good or no good?

    If you’re a 10 year old who also uses Velcro shoes then sure. Otherwise, grow up and learn how to do a basic tie knot.

13. (not an Eikaiwa worker, for the record) but even for my current office, I just buy the same black slacks that go on clearance sale at my local grocery store, that my husband buys. We’re almost the same size haha. So I spent like 2,000 yen? per pair, I have 3 pairs that I just wash and wear throughout the week.

    I brought some blouses with me (I dunno mens sizes, I was a US women’s 16-18 ish when I first came to Japan) but I also had a lot of luck finding cheap blouses online. I had my measurements so I could double check and order up sizes when needed. In the end, I had an okay time of finding bigger sized clothes either online or with stores like Uniqlo without breaking the bank! 4L is a popular “big size” clothing store chain too you could look at

14. You can get a cheap suit at GU for 6000 yen. Good enough.