Work Clothes -
I hate spending money on work clothes (and honestly clothes in general). I am here typing this in a pair of shorts I have had for at least three years. There is a tear down either side on my buttcheek. Yes, I still wear them like this. They're my work shorts, so who cares if they are ripped? It's fine when I get oil and metal chips on them because they're already so beat up!! The only time you'd see the tears is if I do a squat or a deadlift. This is my issue: if it still works in any way, don't replace it.
The consumer in me doesn't like to buy no-name brands. I am currently in a Carhartt tshirt (more on this in a bit), Nike ripped up shorts, and Nike socks that are stained and falling apart. I have used these clothes so much that they are practically a part of me. So it's just impossible for me to buy new shorts for work. I want nice shorts, but I don't want them to get destroyed, so I don't buy new shorts, yada yada.
Online and in person you see a lot of people wearing brands like Carhartt or Dickies. These brands are workwear, made for working men. I can safely say I use my Carhartt clothing for working. It's not construction or farming, but you take one look at any of my work wear and they're all stained with machine oil in some way or another. I've thrown sparks at these tshirts, I've been covered in steel chips, I've taken coolant showers (not by choice), you name it. They hold up very well, and for twenty bucks? I can't complain. That's one good shirt right there.
My issue with shorts is that I just don't like how work shorts look. I would love to have some ultra durable Carhartt shorts, but one: they don't even make my size, and two: I like to have a short inseam. I'm talking like 5 or 6 inches max. Let me show off my legs! I've never seen work shorts be so "short". I hate shorts going to my knees, it actually makes me want to gag. Shopping for workwear being a guy shorter than the national average is hard. I'm not stout, so I'm lucky if they even carry something in my waist size.
I really like these Columbia shorts I got. I got them on sale, but I still think they were pretty expensive for what they are. I don't dare wear them to work, I'm too scared to destroy them. Yes, I like to wear running shorts to my industrial machining job. Safety NO. 1 priority!!
For now I think I will continue to wear my ripped up shorts.