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!!

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

Same thing as a stealth boast.

And British culture encourages it more than American, I think.

Because we're so strongly told that it's wrong to boast, we have to do so while trying to appear humble.

I expect they are probably more stylish than what most people wear to work nowadays. I see some real horror stories on a daily basis.

OP I would say the trousers look a bit outdated and the skinnier ancle slimming styles are in. I work in an office and we wear jeans and more casual attire, so not much help I'm afraid.

More like this-

www.next.co.uk/g2142s5#376409

Those next ones would look awful on me that's why I've got wide legged ones.

Lawyer here. Classic suits are just that. Courts aren't catwalks. Good luck!

The Next trousers are not "more stylish" than the J Crew ones linked above.

They are just a different choice.

Not sure if the OP is a lawyer who's in court a lot, but you have to wear a suit.

I think styles have definitely become more casual and mix and match is much more popular (London lawyer, in house at a bank in case it helps). I would say buy 2 or 3 interesting tops or blouses (as they don't tend to last as well as suits and your old ones may be more tired than you realise) and maybe one dress or one stand alone jacket that you can wear with other plain items. Then see how you feel after a couple of months. The law is certainly not a cat walk (or even Ally McBeal) but most of us like to feel comfortable and at least on a level with the majority of our colleagues so it is worth considering whether your clothes fit well in terms of your body shape and your environment.

Could you go for coffee in a Pret down the street from your office and do a bit of people watching (if you can't go and visit before starting)?

I think we've had a similar conversation before babybarrister . Are you in family law? They seem to have created their own dress code. I seem to remember it wasn't crime. There certainly used to be a rule about black/navy/charcoal grey suits. Maybe we've left the ark and it's no longer there. Would be a brave person o go into a Crown Court in a wrap dress or whatever!

I have turned up to CFC wearing red leather recently (solicitor)
I also had to do an emergency application at the RCJ one day after lunch. First and only time I did my own advocacy and did it in a black leather pencil skirt and fluro green jumper. Kept my coat on but nobodysaid anything. Blllllurgh.

There's a feature in today's T2 section of the Times on work wear - ideas for blouses, jackets etc.

How to dress for work — without looking boring

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/3f43c376-8764-11e7-9f10-c918952dd8f2

One word of warning, if you do decide to stick with your existing wardrobe check it very carefully for moth damage- the more expensive the fabric the more the little buggers love to munch it and it's not always obvious if you have an infestation. I still mourn a lovely esprit suit that was lost to moths.

I would be careful about blazers (they have changed somewhat) and three piece suits (who actually thought that they were ever a good idea on women) but otherwise it's all fairly similar in my eyes. Although I would advise on updating blouses/shirts. More Feminine designs seen back then are definitely out.