To think that my professional office clothes from the mid - 2000's still look stylish?

[Rainbunny]

I've been out of the workforce for the last couple of years but I'm preparing to re-enter my career again (law) and I've been looking at updating my work wardrobe. The funny thing is, everytime I look online at clothing websites to get ideas for office outfits, I realise that I pretty much own something that looks very similar if not identical already!

I never throw clothes away (that's a whole other thread topic in itself!) so I have my professional office/suit attire from around 2006-ish onwards... Am I fooling myself here or does anyone else think that professional work attire hasn't changed that dramatically in the last decade? It's not as though I can't buy new work clothes but seriously everytime I see something I like I realise I have something just like it already - it's just been in my wardrobe for the last 5-7 years! I'm just worried I'm fooling myself and would look out of step when current looks seem so similar to me.

This is the ultimate in trivial threads btw!!

If I bought £117 trousers I would wear them forever!

KatyBerry absolutely. My point was that if you are at a tech firm, you wouldn't ever think of wearing "suit trousers". So when a lawyer turns up wearing them, you don't analyse the cut, you just think "lawyer wear" and move on.

It isn't that you cannot wear boot cut now - it is just they are impractical in the British rainy climate and drag water up your leg By capillary action.
Once everyone realised this they went out of fashion.

I haven't clicked on the trousers, but when I see women in bootcut trousers I don't, personally, think they look very stylish. There's a bit of a "uniform" that some women at my work wear - bootcut trousers, ballet pumps, plain top, often a v-neck jumper - and while it looks smart enough, it looks really old fashioned to me. I agree with a bit of watchful waiting and seeing what others in your workplace are wearing. I have worked at the same organisation for nine years and think it's become much more casual dress-wise in that time. That's possibly down to changes in management though.

If you feel comfortable in them, then wear them! I still wear my bootcut trousers for work because I like them and I hate the look of skinny trousers. I tend to wear more dresses now, just because it's quicker dressing in the morning with a toddler to get out the door too.

I tend to buy a new pair of trousers per year for work, plus a couple of dresses, and clear out anything that doesn't fit any more plus anything showing signs of wear (usually about 8-10 years old stuff) - that gives me enough different outfits so I feel happy with what I'm wearing without spending a fortune. A few new tops each year helps too.

Why not compromise and buy a couple/few new outfits then see the lie of the land once you are there?? Xx

I am fairly clothes conscious. I know that the clothes I wore to work 10 years' ago would still be absolutely fine. Just classic office clothes that suited my shape

Who gives a shit whether a shape is "in" or "out" anyway? If your clothes are clean and fit well and presentable, that is all you need. If they also flatter your shape that is a bonus. But whether they are what some magazine has put on their AW trends list for this year....fuck that shit

Yes, this. I like clothes. I have a lot of clothes. I haven't changed shape much over the last 25 years, I'm a similar size to my mum and a friend of hers so have their cast offs, I charity shop and I dig through TKMaxx. I don't throw things out unless they're worn out. That's a lot of clothes. And I love them.

I also don't give a monkeys if something is on trend or not. Trends change every 3 months to get you to buy more stuff. I care if things go together. I work out whether I look smart on smart occasions. I think about whether or not things suit me. If someone else happens to think the shape of my trousers is "so last season darling" that's their problem not mine.

So in answer to your question OP, if it's appropriate for work and you like it, wear it.

I agree that law firms have got more casual but also there is a bit more room for individuality. I used to wear a dark suit every day but now you see far more people in dresses or with funkier jackets etc. On a sort of related topic, have you seen what Jeasica wears in Suits? Kind of what I'm getting at - she looks professional but does wear some out there stuff. Amazing wardrobe!

No what you wore mid 2000's is not suitable today. Rather than suits a smart dress and matching/toning jacket is more fashionable.
I ended up selling all my "business suits" at a car boot sale last October for a pound each!

I second the wrap dress- smart but not too smart

Jessica in Suits always looks bloody amazing. If I wore heels like that for work I'd faceplant the floor the moment I entered the building!

Don't buy a wrap dress! I have yet to see anyone that looks good in one. (Sorry PPs who like them)

Wear what you want and wear it with confidence... confidence wins over style!

I think people are far less formal than ten years ago. I also found that my figure was a different shape so much of my old office wear didn't work anymore. Dark trousers with a decent top or shirt still works and styles change less than skirts. Maybe buy a few tops to update your look as this will lift any classic items. Charity shop it if your budget is minimal.

I'm still wearing clothes that were pre-kids. And mine are full grown kids. I keep the good stuff. Isn't vintage in now?

OP I'm a bit like you too and I've still got clothes from over 10 years ago!

I don't tend to buy "fashionable" stuff so I suppose I tend to side of probably boring, but I would still wear things from a decade ago- mainly because they still fit, haven't really given much thought to whether it's suitable/fashionable now

What's a "humble brag"? is this some American import?

Your right op, office clothes are mainly remain the same. As long as you are smart and tidy, who cares. Pencil skirts, shirts, blouses, smart trousers, have always been the same, and never really honour of fashion.

Op those trousers are very nice, classic cut, very flattering if your slimish. Can't go wrong with them.

we need pics! It's brilliant that you don't throw away clothes and your feeling that they're fine is probably right. But a pic wouldn't go astray so we can see what sort of things you wear

Have been the same size & shape for over 30 years now, and I still have a couple of nice work suits and smart jersey wrap dresses from the 90s! The plane wing shoulder pads are perhaps a dead giveaway of course

Get yourself a few recent pieces as a treat, but I am sure they are fine.

Congratulations on your new job :)
When you went for your interview, how was everybody else dressed? Could you maybe ask to pop into the office before your start date - to drop off some paperwork? Or just check the arrangements for your first day? The you can get a good look around to see if your clothes fit in with everyone.
Mind you, I'm no fashion expert - I wear very loud, colourful dresses every day and currently have lilac hair!

I'm worried now! I'm certainly not fashion conscious as my wardrobe will prove.
I wear wide legged trousers for work. To me they look the best on my short size 16 figure and look smart. Am I completely wrong?