A few weeks ago the membership staff at the YMCA received fleece tops to wear during the cooler fall and winter months. It’s been great to see how all of us wearing these incredibly soft periwinkle tops look like a solid unit, here to serve members, easily identifiable as staff and unified in our mission. Many members have commented on how nice the entire staff looks and how the professional, uniformed look adds yet another dimension to staff professionalism. What I never counted on were the fringe benefits of dressing like my colleagues.

Like most of us who have to get up and work for a living, the biggest issue in the early morning is what to wear to the office. Changing shirts, ties, and sports jackets regularly until I’m satisfied (never, really) with the day’s wardrobe is an ongoing challenge. Fretting over bent collars, missing shirt buttons and other annoyances (and the list grows as I get older) have become part of my morning repertoire. Since getting my beautiful fleece top, with the Y STAFF logo emblazoned on the front and YMCA of Montclair on the sleeve, I have eliminated a slew of issues that have grown into my own personal OCD campaign.

No longer do I care if my shirt and pants match. I don’t worry about collars that are bent by the dry cleaners. And sports jackets and ties have gone by the wayside. All I do is slip on my fleece top and everything wrong with my world beneath the fleece is a non-issue. Missing the third button on my blue shirt has been my secret—until now. That coffee stain near the left hand shirt pocket is irrelevant. My fleece top is more than just a uniform that I love to wear and it’s better and less costly than a personal wardrobe consultant. 

Knowing I can wear any shirt and just throw my fleece on top of it has given me an additional 20 minutes in the morning that I never knew existed. I’ve begun running on a treadmill with that extra time. I feel better, have more energy, and even eliminated an extra cup of java in the morning because the endorphins released by my running has filled that void. I’ve been running for a few weeks now and can really feel the difference it’s made, and it’s all because of the fleece. Who knew?

Based on the groundbreaking findings that show a direct correlation between fleece, extra morning time and running, I am seeking funding for some related studies. What would be the effect on staff satisfaction if we all wore “onesies” to work? What about suit pants with footsies? Imagine the savings on footwear and how comforting it would feel all day long.

Some of us were built for fashion and others for comfort. You can keep your Kenneth Cole, DKNY or whatever designer wear makes you happy and allows you to feel good about yourself. I’m investing my time and money to create a line of Osh Kosh garb for the office, and I know there are others out there who would wear their best flannel PJ’s to the office if they could.