25 year old formal workwear - where to buy?

[UnIucky]

Hi all,

DD is starting a new job in a couple of weeks. Her current job is very informal but her new job is very formal - a TV news studio. She isn’t into fashion at all and is struggling to find suitable things to wear. I’d normally go to Hobbs, Jaegar, Whistles etc but it seems too old for her.

Any brands you could recommend?

TIA!

Cos or The Fold are fab for work wear but not cheap. Might be worth scouring eBay/vinted though?

Zara? They do suits and formal type trousers and jackets and shirts, skirts. Aimed more at the younger market? Quality won’t be as good as Hobbs, etc but will be cheaper.

I know this world. Which newsroom and what is her actual role?

Thank you both, I’ll pass those recommendations on to her!

This is why Mumsnet is great! She is going to be an assistant producer for a news/current affairs show (specifying it would be very outing but it’s named after the presenter).

The Fold is dress porn for me - makes me wish I had the sort of job where I could wear these clothes but I would get some odd looks if I turned up at my university department dressed like this! I send links to my two adult daughters all the time when I spot something they'd like!

https://thefoldlondon.com/product/palmerston-dress-jewel-green-sculpt-stretch-crepe/

Agree with The Fold but it’s expensive. I’d also take a look at Reiss.

God I love green 😂 This is beautiful!
https://thefoldlondon.com/product/abbeville-jacket-acer-green-wool-blend/

Next is her best bet initially, order online for better choice but larger branches carry it

I hadn’t heard of The Fold but their stuff does look lovely @Mytholmroyd! I wonder if she could find them on Vinted or eBay.

@nc14 I am a big fan of Reiss. It is always great quality. Thanks!

@gotomomo Thanks, I’ll tell her to have a look on their website.

Yes always had a good rep for tailoring and good fabrics I agree and not outrageous price

What do you mean by 'old'? Formal wear tends to be more structured. Hence the ageing. In fact, if she's not into fashion she should stick to the basics rather than trying to look 'young' and risk getting it wrong,
I like ASOS's range of workwear, Mango, River Island. Next is good too, but like ASOS it also has a range of brands.

I do tend to come across nice clothes trawling through random brands so I wouldn't recommend a 'workwear' brand per se but & Other Stories is good I find.

Nice job! Congratulations to your daughter.

Studio day (and shoots with MPs, Ministers, CEOs and the like) a suit. I’d go Massimo Duti - stylish, not too expensive and better quality than Zara. Look more expensive than they are.

Office? Will be causal. I’ve worked on BBC News and GMTV and a former daily politics discussion show and this was standard.

My dd got a lot of smart but not formal stuff from Mango when she had a business casual brief.
Tailored trousers and blouses etc.

A few silk shirts in bold colours would be useful.

Next and Zara are good for a capsule wardrobe

Also look at &Other Stories and Arket.

I also add it worth only having a couple of things initially so she can work out what is really needed, here (regional news) I was there the other day and most women were in seasalt dresses.

My daughter wears a suit from Next for office business wear. Seems to be lasting pretty well with an excellent range of sizes and lengths, and a really reasonable price. Would mixing it up with a more expensive/fancy top be an option?

Is she sure it’s very formal? I’ve also worked in this world and for the back of house roles it really wasn’t. I’ve been in the gallery for shows like Peston, The Agenda and Channel 4 News and it was business casual rather than suits even in the senior roles.

In her shoes I’d buy a couple of items which could be dressed up or down and wear them on the first few days to see what the vibe is before splashing out on a whole wardrobe of overly formal stuff just in case that’s not what’s needed. Maybe some wide leg trousers or cigarette pants with a nice shirt and a blazer?