To be having a meltdown about having to wear a suit again

[suitandheels]

First post on here so please forgive any breaches of forum etiquette.

Currently coming to the end of a very extended spell of being able to work from home whilst I had 4 children; I will shortly have to return to the daily routine of going to the office to work.

I have to dress smartly for work and generally always wore a 'uniform' of pencil skirt and tucked in shirt with a jacket, which before children looked pretty good tbh.

I'm now having a major stress though because I spent the day yesterday trying on my old work clothes and they frankly look awful - I've now got a tummy which I didn't have before, my arse seems to have lost its shape and my legs are all lumpy. I'm currently on a diet to lose a stone or more if I can, but I just want to know what people think about whether a pencil skirt suit is still a realistic option for me now?

You need a new "uniform". Everyone - everyone - seems to wear dresses for smart work attire these days, apart from me and blokes.

Get yourself booked in for a personal shopper at Debenhams to get your eye in.

I also suggest trying spanx.

Invest in some decent shapewear. Honestly it makes such a difference.
Also dresses are your friend. I personally find 'fit and flare' (skater) shaped dresses very forgiving on the stomach and bum area. You can definitely still look tailored, particularly with some decent shoes and accessories (power handbag, good heels, nice jewellery).

How long have you got til you need to go into office? It only looks a tiny bit small.

I'm a senior lawyer and haven't worn a suit once since going back after having 3 children. Like the OP I was horrified at how I looked when trying them on after so many years.

Just wear a solid navy dress with a solid navy jacket on top.
Much better than ill fitting skirts and blouses.

Actually I think I will never wear a suit again.

IMO if you are good at your job you don't need to dress to fit in with the males. Just be comfortable and be yourself.

Thank you for all your replies.

Yes, I think some decent shapewear is a good idea as a starting point so I'll go and get some today and see how that looks.

I've never really been a dresses sort of girl but I'll give it a go. I'm hoping to lose a bit more weight so I'm hoping to be able to fit into a couple of my old skirts.

Hardly any women wear suits for work these days. City lawyers wear smart dresses and jackets. Much of it can be machine washable and not need ironing either. I can't believe I used to iron several work shirts every week. Also now I'm a 34E bra it can be hard to find shirts that don't gape, while not being baggy elsewhere.

Go and get yourself some new clothes- you deserve to feel good! The stuff you have is probably a bit outdated- a tummy skimming frock might do wonders

Dresses are definitely the way forward and H&M has always been my friend.

I carry weight roubd my stomach after a twin csection left me with the dreaded shelf. Pencil skirts are a big no no.

Time was a pin stripe skirt suit from Next did the job. But these days most colleagues wear dresses and scarves as it's less dated. Beware that towering heels seem to be in, but I stick to my dolly shoes.

Also Hobbs is your friend, OP.

www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0118-5209-9045L00&productvarid=0118-5209-9045L00-NAVY-IVORY-12&refpage=dresses

www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productid=0118-4685-9045L00&productvarid=0118-4685-9045L00-NAVY-12

I guess this is a suit...of another kind, but once you have say, a navy jacket, a black jacket and perhaps a lighter coloured one then you can mix and match them with any number of dresses.

If you wanted a skirt and top, this skirt and top might go with the same jacket:

www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0217-7625-9845L00&productvarid=0217-7625-9845L00-NAVY-IVORY-12&refpage=search/results

www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productid=0217-2471-1155T00&productvarid=0217-2471-1155T00-IVORY-M

I went back to work 6mths ago - I work with Law firms and visit many offices and meet with Senior Partners etc (legal and financial). No one seems to wear suits these days. My old wardrobe consisted of suits (Jigsaw or Hobbs mainly) with tailored shirts (Thomas Pink or Charles Tyritt) type style. It seems so different now. I was off work in the corporate world for nearly 4 years. I had also put on weight. I went to Hobbs and spent about 2 hours with someone helping me and bought a new wardrobe which consisted of 3 dresses (one a tailored shift) and a jacket which could be worn over all 3 dresses and a soft grey cardigan which could be paired up with 2 of the dresses. I also went for Navy rather than black as it’s seems more flattering. I think you’ll feel much mor confident and comfortable an clothes that fit properly. Whilst you may think you will get rid of the extra stone it may take longer than you think and there’s nothing unprofessional or scruffy looking than seeing someone in clothes that don’t fit correctly or are a bit out of style.

Go to Hobbs - their clothes are great at covering up flabby midsections.

Get yourself to Uniqlo for Work wear. They do trousers in all sorts of colours / styles that you just pull up (they have elasticated waists). Sounds AWFUL but they look great and are super comfy and you can't tell they are elasticated. Also loads of tops / skirts / dresses for the office and not pricey so you can get loads at once.

X posted with Betty but the shift dress and jacket she linked to is similar style to one I bought. I then bought 2 more relaxed styles (shirt top?) style dresses. I also bought 2 pairs of shoes (navy and nude courts) and matching navy bag. Get shopping!

Go to Hobbs - their clothes are great at covering up flabby midsections.

All the women who were ten years younger than me and slender favoured Hobbs as well, FWIW. I don't work for them, btw, just think it's a good place to start.

Sounds like you just need a bigger size to make it fit better

All the female senior staff at my office wear dress and jacket. Suits are a bit outdated and frumpy to be honest and you might want to feel a bit fresher (in a style sense) when you go back, rather than dragging out the stuff you wore four babies ago.

I have a corporate job although it's not senior. Four years ago it was all skirts and blouses but now I wear a dress every day, it's so much easier and most don't need ironed. I'm not a dress wearer in general but I look a lot better at work than I used to. Give it a go.

Have a look in Jigsaw and L K Bennett they have smart dresses, jackets etc. If you are in a senior position you will need to look smart!

Spanx are not the answer: work out your needs and budget, look at some workwear blogs - there are threads in style and beauty - and shop at places in your price range.

I also used to wear pencil skirts. I've switched to trousers as they disguise post baby bulge better.

Overall I'm not keen on wearing figure hugging stuff anymore. I just don't feel like it suits me now.

I would use this as a reason to refresh my 'uniform'. Rather than feel miserable in something that used to make you feel great but now doesn't.

I work in a corporate environment and agree that it's mostly dresses with a jacket or coordinating separates. So great trousers are a good start along with some jersey/silk tops (Boden ravello seems to suit everyone) and a nice jacket. Dress wise Hobbs is fab, and the staff (particularly in the stand alone stores) are happy to help. I also like fenn Wright mansion, usually in John Lewis. When I was making a change into senior management I did a personal shopping session at John Lewis which I'd recommend over Debenhams as they seem to have more work wear.

A great bag, and a pair of comfortable heels plus tan loafers finished me off.

Remember you must be amazing at your job, you've kept it going in really tricky circumstance so however nervous you are you're going to rock it.

Agree with all the dress and jacket recommendations. M&S are good or look at outlet malls if you want to try jaeger, hobbs etc without spending a lot if you aren't sure. Dress standards have relaxed a lot and very smart suits and blouses arent really expected in a lot of places any more.

If you wear dresses you never have to think of what top to wear. Less ironing too. I never wore dresses until after babies but love them now and have had lots of compliments. This is a new you but still a great one. Stop trying to fit into old stuff. Give it to the charity shop. Could you get a personal shopper for a morning and hit those shops. New haircut and you will feel great. You are going forward now not backwards. Stop thinking about what you used to wear as that was then. Even if you had stayed in the office your style would have changed over the years. Proper size is everything. But don't buy too much as you may drop a size.

Silk costs loads and is impractical for someone with 4DC. Presumably as a single parent OP will be on a budget even with her senior job, so IMO needs washable stuff, and may not be able to afford some of the retailers mentioned.

Loads of retailers have decent workwear.

I have a tummy and look decent in fitted skirts, they just need to be the right size.

Lots of good advice on here. Don’t suffer in too tight, out of date workwear. Go get something that fits and flatters. Wearing a dress and jacket is more on trend, with less dry cleaning!