Bad weather and public transportation. (flat fee, to buy, professionals)

[Kaillus]

Hi again.

As I said in my previous post about the metro. I am new to public transportation. With my new job, I am also going to be new to wearing dress slacks with a shirt and tie to work. Prior 2 careers I wore jeans and even shorts to work when I was a network admin. Why did I get an accounting degree again? I am starting to wonder.

Anyways, I was wondering what other professionals do and dress when they have to take public transportation and the weather is bad, like raining and snowing?

Do you carry your dress shoes in a bag of some type?
What about your dress slacks?
Do people just wear them with long rain coats to cover them?

These might seem like stupid questions to some, but this is an entirely new experience for me, and I just don't know what the common thing to do is.

What about bags to carry work stuff?
What type is the most common and where are good places to buy them?

I am sorry that I am such a newb. Being 38 and dealing with all of this stuff for the first time is a little overwhelming. I am not as bold and adventurous as I used to be.

Again, thank you all so much for your help and consideration.

[FindingZen]

A lot of people, especially ladies, wear sneakers to work and carry their dress shoes.

You could put those shoes, your brown-bag lunch and other essentials in a messenger bag, which you can find at any luggage store and many department stores.

Carry an umbrella and you should be fine. Most if not all Metro stations have a canopy so unless the wind is blowing the rain/snow sideways, you won't get wet. If the forecast does call for windy rain, an overcoat wouldn't hurt. No need to store your slacks.

Originally Posted by Kaillus

Hi again.

As I said in my previous post about the metro. I am new to public transportation. With my new job, I am also going to be new to wearing dress slacks with a shirt and tie to work. Prior 2 careers I wore jeans and even shorts to work when I was a network admin. Why did I get an accounting degree again? I am starting to wonder.

Anyways, I was wondering what other professionals do and dress when they have to take public transportation and the weather is bad, like raining and snowing?

Do you carry your dress shoes in a bag of some type?
What about your dress slacks?
Do people just wear them with long rain coats to cover them?

These might seem like stupid questions to some, but this is an entirely new experience for me, and I just don't know what the common thing to do is.

What about bags to carry work stuff?
What type is the most common and where are good places to buy them?

I am sorry that I am such a newb. Being 38 and dealing with all of this stuff for the first time is a little overwhelming. I am not as bold and adventurous as I used to be.

Again, thank you all so much for your help and consideration.

[mlv311]

Originally Posted by Tone509

A lot of people, especially ladies, wear sneakers to work and carry their dress shoes.

You could put those shoes, your brown-bag lunch and other essentials in a messenger bag, which you can find at any luggage store and many department stores.

Carry an umbrella and you should be fine. Most if not all Metro stations have a canopy so unless the wind is blowing the rain/snow sideways, you won't get wet. If the forecast does call for windy rain, an overcoat wouldn't hurt. No need to store your slacks.

Tone509 is right--many people carry their dress shoes and wear sneakers. As the weather gets cooler, you might want to consider getting a trench coat with a removable liner if you have to wear a suit for work.

[DCguy03]

Men's Health had an article on this last year, and they had a great idea: Keep an extra set of work clothes stowed away at your office at all times. Could be a lifesaver if you end up trudging through slush on your morning commute, or especially the dreaded accidental coffee spill all over that shirt before a big meeting.

I keep handy:
-1 dress shirt, already pressed
-1 pair of dress khaki pants, pressed
-extra pair of dress shoes, the kind that will match most outfits
-pair of clean socks

I work in a pretty casual office, but one of my friend's workplaces is more formal and he also keeps a spare blue blazer and tie.

[Kaillus]

thanks this is some great advice. I wonder if I will have some place to store spare clothes.

I have flat feet and will have a 4 to 5 block walk from the metro to my building in DC, so the sneakers will come in real handy.