What colour opaque tights?

[Kathysclown]

I am just starting the process of trying to find a job after 8 years of being a SAHM. Tomorrow I have been invited to a conference where I am likely to meet up with recruiters, old colleagues and potential new employers. I have just tried in my old work suits (those that I hadn't gotten rid of) and none fit........

I can almost put together a suitable outfit, consisting of: brown wraparound knee length skirt, white short sleeves blouse, oatmeal v neck jumper, and grey/oatmeal check jacket. It sort of looks ok - smarter than my normal look, but not full on power suit. I have brown high healed suede boots that come to about half way up my calf (not totally flattering, but all I have right now).

I will need tights, and I will need to be warm as I will have a two hour train journey each way.

How does that all sound? Am I going to look totally mumsy and out of date, or will it do? What colour tights should I get - would black be ok?

I don't have the money to go out and buy a whole new 'work' outfit and new boots right now, unfortunately - otherwise I would!

Thoughts and advice please.........

[cavalo]

I'm thinking grey tights. I hope you have a good day tomorrow!

[SuperFlyHigh]

To be honest I'd go into town and invest in a nice outfit like this (knitted dress) with jacket (borrow jacket) then you could get any tights. Primark do nice opaques or Accessorize are doing 3 for 2 on all tights/socks. TK Maxx do great opaques which are often branded like Falke and Wolford. Your outfit sounds nice but without seeing it does sound a bit dated. You need to impress them.

shop.mango.com/GB/p0/woman/clothing/dresses/short/bow-knitted-dress?id=73045527_99&n=1&s=search

www.oasis-stores.com/gb/clothing/knitwear/embroidered-collar-swing-dress/058849.html?dwvar_058849_color=05&position=7&cgid=knitwear#prefn1=refinementcategory&prefv1=Dresses&start=7&categoryID=knitwear]]

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Dark-Red-Boxy-Dress/129611363-DarkRed?searchTerm=knitted%20dress:relevance:category:women&searchProduct=true

www.newlook.com/shop/womens/_/N-cm2?Ntt=knitted+dress&icCategory=cat10002&filtered=1

www.primark.com/en/product/burgundy-ribbed-jumper-dress,R35397146311110

with these dresses you could wear them in future and casually (knitted dresses don't date) you can also belt the Primark and New Look ones.

[Kathysclown]

Thanks ladies - off into town later and will stop by those shops to look at those dresses....... and try to get grey tights if all else fails!

[cavalo]

Good luck!

[FlopIsMyParentingGuru]

If you stick with your original outfit then I'd consider dropping the jumper if the jacket and shirt are warm enough. It might look a little smarter and I always get warm in interviews!

[SuperFlyHigh]

I agree with Flop do you have a smart cardigan or can you borrow one? H&M do nice smartish ones for approx £12.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Oh another tip especially if in nice area - charity shops! You could pick up a nice smarter jacket there. but you really want it to tie in with brown boots (they sound fine for now and it is cold!).

[Bluntness100]

What field are you working in? I'm sorry it's corporate don't wear those knit dresses for something that will amount to an interview, where something tailored, either uour current outfit with plain black tights, or invest in a shift dress and smart jacket, uou can pick them up reasonably cheaply, but tailoring is best.

[libertydoddle]

I agree with bluntness. If more corporate what you have sounds better than a knitted dress. TKMaxx have really good Calvin Klein opaques atm and the dark brown colour is very good.

If you are going to buy something new then a jacket is best thing to get as that is what people will see. Best of luck.

[SuperFlyHigh]

if it's really cold though Bluntness then a knit dress with smart jacket on top is better than freezing to death.

[SuperFlyHigh]

these two look nice for workwear but belt the Sainsbos one:-

the Tescos one would co-ordinate well with your brown boots etc I think

www.tesco.com/direct/voulez-vous-zip-detail-shift-dress/715-2901.prd

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Navy-Textured-Shift-Dress/130627101-Navy?searchTerm=work%20dress:relevance:category:women:type:Smart%20Dresses&searchProduct=true

shop.mango.com/GB/p0/woman/clothing/dresses/short/open-work-trim-dress?id=73027018_99&n=1&s=search

[Pantsalive]

Brown tights, not grey. Then people will just see one line from your skirt to your boots and it won't matter that they are calf length.

If you're not quite happy with your outfit and this is a really good chance to impress, then I would think about borrowing something or seeing if you can spot something affordable in town.

[burnishedsilver]

It's not Siberia. No one is going to freeze to death.

[SuperFlyHigh]

burnished I personally would rather be warmer but still smart rather than go to something where you are there all day and freeze to death.

[SesameSparkle]

Brown tights, for same reasons as pants.

[WooWooChooChoo]

What sort of industry do you work in? Is everyone else likely to be wearing suits or is it generally more casual?

[Kathysclown]

It is a conference from an academic institute, but the attendees will be business people not academics. I have plumped for a new, smart, fine knit jumper in pink, to go under my existing grey/brown check tailored jacket. I have stuck with the brown skirt as I couldn't find anything that flattered my slightly more curvaceous thighs, at a price I could afford. I got grey tights, as I hadn't read the comments about brown instead - but I can check Accessorize in the morning before I head off. I am hoping that the final version is kind of Jigsaw/Hobbs, which is the look that I used to have when I could afford it! Thanks for the advice everyone.......

[SuperFlyHigh]

no that sounds great!

I would personally go for these tights - just as an aside if you order online you can do a click and collect at Accessorize, also if you have time sign up for points card with them because you can use it both in Monsoon and Accessorize and they add up! Good luck for tomorrow by the way.

uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_5,acc_5.11/1962112600

[Kathysclown]

Perfect, Superfly - thanks!

[Ilikeshoeshops]

You cant go wrong with black opaques - get decent ones like M&S, Pretty Polly or posh supermarket ones.

[Pantsalive]

Sounds like a good outfit kathysclown. Smart but a little interesting rather than corporate.
Good luck. Hope it all goes well.

[Pantsalive]

I would question wearing black tights with a brown skirt and brown boots.

[MountainDweller]

I think brown tights too! I know they are not so easy to find though (not round these parts anyway).

Good luck!

[SuperFlyHigh]

Good luck!

[Pantsalive]

Just wondering how it went kathysclown. Did you do some useful networking and were you happy in your outfit?