I need my wardrobe to grow up. I've just realised I've come to work dressed like a monochrome elf.

[BinksToEnlightenment]

I'm wearing grey tights with furry boots and a baggy jumper dress. I swear I didn't realise I looked like Christmas on a black and white t.v.

I think I need a new capsule wardrobe for work. I've outgrown - both in age and mass - my old clothes.

Any ideas where I can get started? I like to wear a lot of black.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

No idea but the title made me laugh

[Orangesarenottheonlyfruit]

What about Cos? they do lots of nice straight forward clothes in simple colours?

[DontmindifIdo]

I love your title! What's your dress size, height, style*, budget, office dress code?


*other than elfish.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

:o at Christmas on a black and white tv

[Zoway]

Good luck. The word capsule wont help u. get a few complete outfits in colours you like , and wear. Dont b obsessed with making each piece work with every other piece!
That is magazine talk imo

[Zoway]

Ps maybe pumps instead of boots and a belt would make you look like.... a promoted elf.!

[jennimoo]

I'm in a similar situation but on mat leave so thankfully just clothes for everyday wear I need to sort for now.

I've booked a house of colour analysis thingamy and 2h with a debenhams personal shopper! I'm terrified to be honest, but hopefully will come away with something that actually fits and suits me / my age...

[cocoleBOO]

No help, but your title and opening post made me laugh

[tomatoplantproject]

You made me chuckle! Don't know what your budget is but my work wardrobe consists of Hobbs dresses - normally bought in the sales - which wear well, look smart and grown up and can be dressed down with brogues or up with heels. They might beat the elf look!!

[BinksToEnlightenment]

I'm glad my outfit achieved something - even if it was laughter :o

I'm approaching thirty, size ten and short.

I know it's a bit magazine talk, but I really do need a whole week's worth of outfits I can bang together. I've never investigated Cos. Simple, classy shit is exactly what I'm after. I've fallen into a trap of dressing too young. Think silly animal hats and wacky pocket placements and giant children's shoes. Oh God - I think I've had a much needed epiphany about how bad my style is!

[dizhin79]

depending on ur tastes maybe venture out into the color palette, I emerged from black into gorgeous navy, maroons, dark greens! Colour is a revelation I keep an eye out for joules mega sales, they take huge lorries round uni campuses and village halls, great for smart key pieces for work but not too straight laced.

[BinksToEnlightenment]

I have ventured out of black before and, while I love colour, I always end up eschewing the bright top because I just can't handle the thought of it at 7am before caffeine.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Cos for me all the way at work. I'm often mostly in black with one really, really bright thing. And big jewellery.

[williaminajetfighter]

Try the Baukjen website - the non maternity line of Isabella Oliver. Lovely wrap dresses and really beautiful basics. You can pretty much get a full elegant capsule wardrobe there...

Www.baukjen.com

[DontmindifIdo]

My suggestion would be a few simple dresses -easy to do pattern/colour without having to think about it. Phase 8 and topshop are good for them. Isabella Oliver is very good for wrap dresses too. They tend to look grown up without being uncomfortable. Jersey dresses like this would be easy to throw on.

Hobbs are also very good for skirts and tops that are smarter. they have a sale on at the moment, I'd love this with black or grey pencil skirt or tailored trousers

For the 'everything matching' problem, why not buy black, white, grey plain thin knit jumpers, tops and skirts, then wear colour in the form of a skirt or cardie with the rest plain. Not exciting, but easy to do in the mornings. For anything knitwear, go for thin styles and fitted, jumper dresses and baggy shapes hardly ever look smart. You're thin at a size 10, don't hide your shape, and baggy jumper dresses will be adding bulk, you are not just making yourself look like an elf, you are making yourself look like a fat elf! Think thinner sleeker shapes.

I'd also smarten up the footwear, if need be, put heels in black and beige under your desk so you can change when you get there, it's amazing how much smarter you look if you have smarter shoes on with an outfit.

[DontmindifIdo]

oh, and Boden do have some nice dresses and a sale on, I like this for work - and they do have a good petite range if you need trousers.

[BinksToEnlightenment]

Thank you, Dontmind. I will check out all of your suggestions. You're right about hiding my shape. I have always historically been a lower end size eight and, while being unable to fasten my clothes doesn't help, I feel enormous when I'm really not.

I was thinking smart heels will snap it all together, too.

Shops soon then. I have jumpers, and tops. But I need trousers and skirts urgently.

I'm trying to be taken more seriously at work, also. I must look less seasonal by the end of next week!

[LadyBigtoes]

I think you can kind of "make over" your own style to be a bit classier and smarter without departing too far from your comfort zone. For example a body-skimming, black knee-length knit, jersey or wrap dress (or black with a subtle print or decoration, like a contrast colour around the collar and cuffs) would look smarter but still be comfortable. Wear with some new, non-furry knee or ankle boats (there are loads of great threads on here with links to look at for these) and tights in a grown-up, complementing colour - like plum – or even a brighter colour like burnt orange – and ta-daa, a posh worky version of your look.

I agree Cos is great for this kind of dress and they have loads of styles and versions, plus they do a lot of black and dark grey.