How much do you spend on work clothes?

I hope you keep your forthcoming wages safely in your own bank account OP.

I used to spend a lot on work clothes, I don’t any more.

M&S trousers, or similar comfortable in colours that work for you
jumpers for colder days
t-shirts or shirts (non iron) for warmer ones
flat shoes eg loafers
underwear that fits well, socks etc
supermarkets have some good stuff, but I’m tall so it doesn’t usually fit me
don’t forget you’ll need a bag, maybe lunch box / water bottle / flask

keep colours compatible so you can mix and match and swop in / out

I’d want £500 to build a wardrobe, and probably some more in a few months when I know what is working for me.

He keeps his bank account separate, transfers his wife an amount of money that barely covered the minimum bills she needs to pay for while he’s away and she’s looking after his children. Then begrudges her spending on a few clothes for a new job when she doesn’t have enough appropriate items for the workplace.
It’s controlling.

In your entire SAHM life you’ve never had disposable income for clothes and haircuts and socialising and fun?

At all?

Maybe I’ve misunderstood, @TheJuryIsOut?

From op: "He seems to really be begrudging me buying new clothes and is wanting me to spend as little as possible."
She wants clothes. He's being horrible about it and making her feel guilty

I like shopping for work clothes (teacher). Definitely have separate work clothes. A work “uniform” is helpful. Black trousers, tops and loafers is standard. Other support staff wear tunic dresses and tights
trousers I wear twice man’s skirts and dresses once.
If I was starting out I’d get it all from Vinted.

2 trouser - one wide and one slim
4 tops- two fitted, two loose
2 shirt dresses/ tunic dresses
1 midi skirt
1 loafers
1 cardigan
1 belt
1 playing coat warm and waterproof with a hood
Back pack

can get this cheap in Vinted but invest a little more premium brands and they will last longer.

if this is too much a stretch, start with two trousers and 5 tops. That will do for a week.

make sure the tops are modestly high and that tunics do not show pants when leaning over or reaching up to write on board etc
pro tip when cleaning a board rub up and down not side to side.

Is it maybe just a family that isn't very interested in clothes rather than the DH being horrible.

I get my work clothes from Vinted so tend to spend about a tenner on them.
However your dh sounds horrible.

That’s not having no access to money.

Next and M&S are probably best, I would probably also look in the clearance section of both, especially Next

I am a secondary teacher and I would say £300 to get started with a basic, inexpensive working wardrobe.

Recently, I have bought some stretch trousers from Halara. They have been brilliant, one black, one navy blue and a checked woollen pair got me through winter with a few tops and a shirt. I like knitted sleeveless jumpers over tops too when it’s really cold. A skirt and a dress.

To be clear, I’m well aware that supermarkets do an excellent job of providing fashionable clothes at accessible price points. But that can’t be what the OP dreamed of on her wedding day, or when she was sitting up at night with each of her four children.

If you're working in a school, you need to be comfortable too. Please don't spend loads on clothes - they always get covered in paint etc if you'll be in primary 😊

This is truly the dream, no?

Marry a well paid man. Who is rarely at home. So you will bring up four children mostly by yourself.

Your reward?

A supermarket wardrobe.

(And the realisation that your years and years of domestic slog mean absolutely nothing to the prince you married.)

Has he always been financially controlling?

I’m another vinted addict here. I dress in Reiss, Nobody’s Child, Mint Velvet. I spent about £600 last year, for both work and home, but that’s replaced my entire wardrobe as I’ve also been on Mounjaro. I’ll often be wearing Reiss dress, Dune boots, agent provocateur undies, and my outfits rarely cost more than £40 top to toe.

I’d probably buy new if my husband was on a six figure salary rather than a caretaker at Aldi, though!

Skechers have started doing footwear that look like proper shoes so I’d start there. If you’re in a school
you'll be on your feet a lot so need to be comfy. I got a pair recently with a strap across that I think was £50. As someone else said M&S do jersey trousers that are brilliant for working in schools and you could probably get a couple of patterned t shirts from there too. I like jersey dresses for school as they’re soft and comfy and easy to move in. Depending on the age group you’re working with you may need a new outfit everyday (I’m early years and wouldn’t wear anything again without washing as I get covered in all sorts!) So 5 outfits would be ideal unless you know you’ll have time to wash and dry during the week to rewear.
So I’d start with 5 complete outfits and then once you get your first pay packet add a few more bits for variety. Can you make underwear last until you get paid then buy new?
PS DH sounds like an arse!!

Sainsburys TU range is good and reasonably priced.

He seems to really be begrudging me buying new clothes and is wanting me to spend as little as possible.

It sounds like this is a man who doesn’t value you so it’s probably good you’re going to gain some financial independence!
There’s no amount that anyone “should” spend on work clothes. If you haven’t been in work and dress very casually normally then you’re obviously starting from scratch.

Agree that the issue is your DH objecting to you spending money on yourself that's the issue here. How much other people with different needs, budgets and priorities spend isn't helpful.

Even if you were in crippling debt, it would be reasonable to spend at least a couple of hundred pounds getting yourself set up (figure plucked out of the air, it could be more). You might get lucky on Vinted but obviously it can't be relied upon but M&S is good for plain black trousers, knitwear, dresses and tops.

Presumably you working again mrans the household disposable income will increase so you can afford to spend more as a family as well as saving more, or paying off debt, depending on priorities?

How would it go if you told him 'you need some decent new clothes for your new job so are going to enjoy buying them'? Would he realise he's being an arse or is this indicative of worse controlling or abusive behaviour?

Vinted!! Absolutely love vinted and get the vast majority of my work clothes there (smart dresses, tailored trousers, blouses etc - LK Bennett, J Conran, Next Next Next, Oasis) for about £10-£15 per item.

As to your husband's attitude - only you know the ins and outs of the finances, but on the limited info provided he is being an ass.