New job - new *budget* work wardrobe

[Smarshian]

I’m starting my first ever office job in a couple of weeks and need a cheap basic work wardrobe. I’m trying to scope out what I already own that would work.
I have 2 questions: how many of each item do you have for work? Tops? Skirts/trousers? Dresses?
And is the attached outfit suitable workwear?
Thanks!

[Smarshian]

Or this?

[HundredMilesAnHour]

It depends on the office, and to an extent your role.

I definitely wouldn't wear outfit 1 to work. No way!

Outfit 2 is ok if you put some shoes on.

[Smarshian]

I’m going into a hr admin role.
I don’t plan to go shoeless! 😂
Ok, what about this?

[HundredMilesAnHour]

For very formal office clothes, I have a week's worth of outfits, maybe a little more. Mainly dresses and jackets. I used to have more but I've worked in less formal offices in recent years.

For less corporate dress (i.e. more start-up/business or smart casual), I can keep going for at least 3 weeks maybe longer with a different outfit each day. I have roughly 6 pairs of trousers, 6 skirts, 6 dresses and many many blouses/tops/jumpers/jackets. But a lot of what I wear to work is what I wear outside of work so it gets a lot of use,

[HundredMilesAnHour]

Outfit 3's probably the best of the bunch. I think you need a jacket though to smarten 2 and 3 up.

[Smarshian]

What kind of jacket would you recommend? The office is smart/casual from what I’ve seen. My new manager who interviewed me wore a patterned skater dress and tights during my interview.

[HundredMilesAnHour]

I'd go with something fairly classic like a black blazer. Then you can use it to dress up your current outfits or wear with jeans on a Fri (if you do dress down).

I have this and it's fab (very well made!) and gets lots of compliments. It's classic but also quite funky so good for work and play.

palonesofficial.com/collections/coats/products/tab-open-back-blazer-black

[Smarshian]

That’s lovely but definitely out of my price range! I was hoping to spend no more than £80 on everything I need for the first couple of months.
It gives me a good idea of the sort of look to go for though. Thanks!
What do you think is the minimum I can get away with buying?
So far I have 2/3 shirts, the skirt in the picture and 2 pairs of trousers.
Need a blazer, and some shoes and then maybe a couple more tops?

[TokyoSushi]

Somewhere like Sainsburys do really good reasonably priced work clothes - good luck with your new job!

[HundredMilesAnHour]

I think if you've got a week's worth of outfits, you're good to go. Just means you don't have to worry too much about washing during the week.

Might be good timing for shopping as lots of sales seem to be starting in the rush to get everyone to part with their money before Black Friday.

I actually got a nice blazer years ago from Asda. It was £14. Lasted me for quite a few years and it was washable (yes!). I used to wear it with a Prada skirt and it looked fab.

[HundredMilesAnHour]

You could wear something like this:
tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Black-One-Button-Blazer/135725981-Black?searchTerm=:newArrivals:type:Jackets&searchProduct=

[Smarshian]

Thanks for your help so far!
What do you think of these 2 for work? Figured I can wear the dress elsewhere too.

[inwood]

Primark always has perfectly acceptable blazers that will see you through for a while. I wouldn't buy much until you've been there and got a proper sense of the dress code.

Outfit 1 is a no from me, 2 and 3 are fine.

[Handsnotwands]

Wait until you start before buying anything so you can scope out how formal they are. I’ve not worn a suit or even a jacket for many years in various jobs. Workplaces have on the whole got far less formal in recent years in my experience

[WinkyisbackontheButterBeer]

Charity shops? I get a lot of my work clothes from them. Most recently an LK Bennet dress for £1.

I also like matalan for work clothes.

I would go smart to start with until you’ve worked out what level everyone else dresses at. You can always dress down but don’t want to look like you’re not bothered on day 1.

[Smarshian]

Thank you all for being so helpful! I think I’ve got a bit of a better idea now.
Exciting!

[managedmis]

Dress and blazer are fine

[HeartZone]

Ebay

[QforCucumber]

I'd say your outfits would be fine in my office we are very much a smart casual kind of place, it's a small family run chartered accountancy. No Jeans/trainers but for example today I wore black ankle boots, tights, tartan skirt, black long sleeve turtle neck and that's normal.

[Redcliff]

I agree with waiting. I worked in HR and all of those outfits would be fine for admin at pretty much all the places I have worked. I don't think you can go wrong with plain trousers and a nice top.

[HundredMilesAnHour]

I like the dress. I don't love the jacket though. There's something about the arms that looks a bit weird?

I think one decent jacket/blazer is all you need (for jackets). It's just handy to have one if you need to dress up your outfit, or have an important meeting, or have a job interview. You can get away with much more casual work clothes if you throw a blazer on top so it gives you some flexibility.

[mellicauli]

I wouldn't buy too much up front. You need to work out what kind of office you are in: some are boiling, some are freezing, some are zonal so you'd need layers.

Personally I would just have 5 outfits I likes and wear them every week.

I think outfits 2 and 3 are fine. Maybe bit of jewellery would make them a bit smarter. Outfit 1 needs a jacket. Maybe a polo neck? You probably need 1 more formal outfit which should probably be a dress with a jacket as you are HR.

[Itsabeautifuldaytosavelives123]

I'm in the same boat, always had a uniformed job, and now I have the same job but office based, more professionally dressed. I'm completely stumped as what to wear as I've never had to buy anything other than jeans and leggings . I wouldn't mind buying some better quality items, but fewer of them, and have a capsule work wardrobe. A blazer or trouser suit is too dressy for my new job, but casual clothes are a big no-no.

[Lhastingsmua]

Sorry but I don’t like any of the outfits. No one in my office would wear those. I appreciate that your office might be more casual though, but I’m not into the dungarees, leopard print or red/orange skirt.

I think if you buy anything now, just go for generic & versatile basics eg a black pencil skirt or a plain black dress and leave the brights/prints until you get a better scope for your workplace.

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

Even the HR managers in my work (large FE college) don’t wear blazers or jackets. I would definitely wait and see what the overall culture is, and if the person who interviewed you was in a skater dress it doesn’t sound too formal. Admin staff at my place wear along the lines of black trousers with blouse, top or smart jumper, dress and boots, and so on.