I work in a pretty relaxed enviroment, so just as long as I'm wearing something that covers all the important parts and doesn't have foul language all over it, I'm all good. Im a huge fan of thrift stores, so much so that I'm starting to be shocked at the price of new clothes that I probably wouldn't have thought twice about a few years ago.

I really like wool: it doesn't melt, is plenty warm, looks good. I've gotten several Bannana Republic sweaters that are either cashmere or merino wool, or a blend with silk, all for just a few dollars each. Even thought they're "Dry Clean Only" I just wash in the machine on Delicate and air dry.

If it will be cold/windy/rainy then I'll add a nylon windbreaker over the top of the wool mid-layer.

Wool pants are a little bit harder to find sometimes, but I've got a few dress pair that are 100% wool and serve me well. But I usualy wear Dickies, or something similar when I'm working around the house, or doing maintenance at work (my second hat). I find the cotton/poly blend to dry fast enough, even in a light drizzle, and has good wear resistance. I haven't yet tested if the poly content causes this type of material to melt, or burn, so maybe I'll have to sacrifice a pair that doesn't fit too well anymore to the fires of science. Anyway, it is similar matterial to the 50/50 poly/cotton cold weather BDUs.

I recently picked up some 5.11 pants at a thrift store nearby. One pair of lightly used (if at all) 100% cotton canvas cargo pants, and several pairs of 100% polyester uniform pants (Class A that look like nice slacks, and Class B which add cargo pockets), brand new with tags.

The cotton canvas pants have been great in the workshop and around town here in the summer, but I'll probably shelve them when it starts to rain. The polyester pants are good to, but I melted a hole in one knee from sliding across the floor during an intense game of ping-pong. I think I'll just cut off the legs of that pair and turn them into shorts. I think these will be my winter pants, mostly because they repel a little bit of water before it starts to soak in, and even then they dry really quick.

Socks, shoes, and underwear are the only items I consistanly find myself buying at real retail establishments, or online if the price is right.

Socks are extreemly important to me, but it is the same basic principle with everything else. Wool if I can, but if I know I'll be sloging through water on a given day I'll go with nylon dress socks - thin if it's warm, thick if it's hot. Underwear too, althought I don't have any wool currently. Cotton boxers if warm and dry, or if I'll be working where there is any chance of fire. Poly boxer-briefs if it's cold/wet.

All that said, if I was working in scrubs, I'd at least have a wool pull over, a light windbreaker, and a pair of Dickies in a small bag that I could stash at work. Maybe an extra pair of socks and underwear and few personal hygene items and you'd be ready to spend a night or two on someone's couch and not look too bad on the other side.