Please help me put together a work wardrobe

[TerrorAustralis]

I've been working at home for almost 4 years, and in about a month I'm going back to a full time office-based job. I want to put together a kind of capsule wardrobe, that would give me about 10 outfits.

Currently I've only got a few things that I can wear. (2 x pencil skirts, 2 x tops, 1 sheath dress, 1 fit & flare dress that I wear with a belt). I don't love the tops, but can put up with them. I have 2 pairs of trousers, but the cut seems quite dated as they're slightly wide leg. I could potentially have them altered to a more up-to-date leg shape.

I also need at least 2 pairs of shoes. I can't handle stilettos, they need to be comfortable.

Things that I need to work with:

• early 40s
  
• hourglass figure (massive boobs), size 14
  
• 5'3"
  
• living in South-East Asia, so it's hot and humid all the time
  

With the above in mind, I need structured/tailored pieces, no high necks and no thick fabrics. But I've got no idea what's current in the world of workwear. And the shops I've been to all have high-necked, loose waisted pieces that would make me look like a sack of fat.

Please help!

[Rioja123]

Wrap dresses?

[mrsmortis]

How heavily is aircon used in your office? When i was in the US the main issue was that they cooled the office to 18 degrees (C obviously). It would be 38 in the shade outside and 18 at my desk. That needs a very different strategy when it comes to dressing.

Could you have shirts made to fit? All my issues with shirts are down to the fact that if they fit across the boobs, they don't fit at the waist and vice versa. If you can have some made to fit that won't be an issue. I don't think a well made shirt will ever be out of fashion.

[TerrorAustralis]

Rioja (you have good taste in wine) the problem with wrap dresses is that they usually don't fit across my boobs (32G) , so I would need to wear a camisole or something underneath and I'm not a big fan of that look.

mrsmortis tailored shirts are definitely an option, and I think I will get some made. I'm just not sure what style to go for (I'm seriously out of the loop in office fashions).

One of the problems is I have no idea what the aircon is going to be like. My interview was in a different office to where I will be working. When I worked in an office here before, my corner was positively Arctic, but other parts of the same office were fairly warm. That said, I'm still going to have to walk to and from the train station in 99% humidity, which is enough to make me sweat buckets even if I was naked.

[Rioja123]

I'm a 32E and find a wrap dress the most flattering thing. I find the ones by closet on asos very well cut, not too low and I don't need to wear a camisole underneath.

[TerrorAustralis]

I just had a look at Closet on Asos. There are a few that might work. Without trying on, it's a bit hard to know if they will sit at that just right spot. Not so high that my chest looks like one giant boob, and not so low that I'm showing a work-inappropriate amount of cleavage.

[Rioja123]

Good luck! At least it's free to return!

[CarrieWatermelon]

Don't buy everything before you start!

Have enough outfits to get you through the first couple of weeks, until you get to grips with the practicalities of your working day and see what the office style is.

[RedMetamorphosis]

When I lived in Singapore, Zalora was my BFF. Not sure where you'd based but I know it has an online presence in most SEA countries.

90% of my work wardrobe was from there. A lot of the UK brands, quick and free delivery and easy returns. ASOS is great but costs a fortune to return.

Next Direct is also great this time of year as the dresses are more natural fabrics and unlined. Again, free delivery and only takes 3-4 days.

[Gillybobs]

Can you order from marks and Spencer? Their cotton rich 7/8 th trousers are brilliant, i have navy and black. They also do quite a lot of cotton blouses too which is hard to find in mid priced workwear now i find (all polyester or viscose)

[TerrorAustralis]

Carrie thanks for the tip. I had been thinking it would be better to be organised before I start and have no time. But I think you're probably right.

Red Zalora is here. I will have a look at what they've got. Sizing might be an issue though, as I'm much bigger and bustier than the average Asian woman.

Gilly M&S don't deliver here, but there are M&S shops (with a limited range and eye-watering markup on UK prices). I'll see if they've got those trousers. I haven't noticed any cotton blouses when I've walked through recently. I'm thinking of having some silk blouses tailored though.

[RedMetamorphosis]

I was a UK 12/14 with 32H boobs while living there - always managed to find a fair bit especially when looking at the UK brands.

I find Mango quite flattering for curvy figures, especially on the top half. Most of my work tops were from there.

[TerrorAustralis]

I'll have a closer look, thanks. I will probably be passing by a Mango shop this week, so will try to look and try in there too.