AIBU to be fed up of looking for clothes online......

[Imfromhere]

I cant find what on looking for.

Live rural so need to shop online. Have got a new job (yay me!) In an office environment and it's been so long since I did that sort of job i have no "office look" clothes anymore.

Only got a small budget until I get a few pay packets under my belt and I'm looking for trouser suits etc. I just cant find anything I like the look of without spending loads. They all seem to have trousers that are skinny at the bottom when I want a cut that will sit over some smart boots (its winter soon and want to be warm).

So aibu to be totally pissed off that after 3 hours online I havent found anything yet? Also that its hard to imagine how stuff will look on me when I'm in my 40s and a size 12, not a beautiful skinny model..........

Please help me out by pointing me in the right direction before I throw my laptop out the window in annoyance.

Can you get PayPal credit? I over-order from ASOS on a regular basis using credit (interest free for 4 months on £100+ spends), try everything on and send the majority back. Then just transfer my spend onto my paypal account when finished. I order a whole range of things that I’m unsure will suit me and find that the easiest way.

Could you do something like that with your favourite shop?

I can’t help much when it comes to actually finding the right items though!

M and S and Next both have a good selection of basics. You can usually find a few styles of trouser that match a jacket. Just order loads and send back if it's no good. I feel your pain. My 13 year old has grown and changed shape and needs a whole new wardrobe but really needs to try stuff as she doesn't know what suits/ fits her yet. We are just ordering loads online and sending loads back🥴. Not ideal but it's the best way at the moment. Good luck with the new job.

3 hours?

3 hours?

Efficient online shopping takes a lifetime to master. You can't expect to find your heart's desire after a few pages of, probably, the wrong sites.

Office job, size 12 ... Should be easy enough. What actually is your budget? And where have you been looking so far?

(PayPal credit has a very poor reputation, btw.)

Do you know that people definitely wear trousers suits/suits generally in the office you're going to be working in??? I haven't worked in an environment where daily suit wearing by women was the norm for a really long time (and that includes 10 years of being a lawyer). Obviously if that's your personal preference in terms of what you like to wear then great, but if not then maybe it's worth not buying too much until you get a feel for what's the norm? If it was me I would be buying dresses, tailored trousers and naice tops/jumpers but I wouldnt be looking for matching suit jackets.
I'll beak out and mind my own business now

emsyj37 has saved me the trouble of typing exactly that.

Though I'm quite happy to keep my beak in ...

@emsyj37

Do you know that people definitely wear trousers suits/suits generally in the office you're going to be working in??? I haven't worked in an environment where daily suit wearing by women was the norm for a really long time (and that includes 10 years of being a lawyer). Obviously if that's your personal preference in terms of what you like to wear then great, but if not then maybe it's worth not buying too much until you get a feel for what's the norm? If it was me I would be buying dresses, tailored trousers and naice tops/jumpers but I wouldnt be looking for matching suit jackets. I'll beak out and mind my own business now

Totally agree with this - I haven't worn a suit for years (work in financial services). I will put a jacket over trousers/skirts/dress if I've got an important meeting or something but it's never part of a set. I have a great Oasis boyfriend blazer than goes with everything - I noticed M&S had something similar last week. When I'm office based, I tend to wear dark jeans or trousers (I like the gap ones) and a jumper or nice top depending on the weather.

I agree with emsyj37. You can’t find any nice trouser suits because nobody is wearing them.

I've got about £80 budget 😬 until I get paid so cant order a load then return because I'm skint.

The only other lady working there has been in lovely smart dresses when I've been in and looks really put together and professional. I dont do dresses........ I'm always bloody freezing in winter so my thinking is trouser suits and I can layer up underneath whilst still looking professional. Clients are in and out of the office all the time so it's not like I can just "dress up" when I've got meetings etc.

Bloody pain in the ass! I cant even remember everywhere I've looked now . Just been googling and going off there. Think its gonna have to be a couple of separate bits.

So on that note, black or gray blazer?

I agree with emsyj37. You can’t find any nice trouser suits because nobody is wearing them

I am so out of date!

I sympathise. So fed up with not being able to feel the fabric. And all that parcelling up and returning. If everyone were like me, the economy would be well and truly stuffed - because I'm not buying anything else until I can shop normally and try things on.

Ignoring your strange trouser suit aspirations (have you never heard of woollen tights?) what do you currently have in your wardrobe that might be re-purposed?

This top would be extremely versatile, and could be worn with any decent skirt or trousers you already have.

You can layer without a suit jacket!!! Please don't buy a load of 90s style polyester trouser suits!

Also, I'm in my 40s and a size 12 so same as you, I buy work clothes from Mango, Oasis, Warehouse, Asos.

Trousers. Size 12 at a pinch. Be quick!

@emsyj37

I just not very up on fashion. I'm very much a Jean's and hoodie girl and I havent been in an office environment since I was early 20s.

Thanks for all the advice. Glad I posted now 😂 me thinking I looked all smart but actually look like a 90s throw back!

So a few mix and match bits then and a versatile jacket/blazer to throw on over the top to smarten up the look?

@PersephonePromotesEquanimity
Thanks for the links

You could try an online person shopper such as stitch fix? It’s quite fun to do, although if you don’t like the stuff you would have the inconvenience of sending it back.

You can get the stuff specifically tailored to your needs / wants though. Just make sure to tell them the most accurate size possible for each item of clothing/ part of the body.

Not wool but neat.

Try Next. You can get trouser suits there along with a nice blouse to go underneath.

I would focus on getting maybe 3 outfits together that you're comfortable in, then seeing what other people wear. If you thought the lady you met looked really stylish and put together then ask where she shops? I have zero natural style and rely heavily on copying and feedback.

id be getting a few tops, trousers and a couple of cardis
if you dont have a lot of cash to start id look at the likes of matalan, new look and dorothy perkins, you could get all the basics there for your budget

@Laurendelight

Try Next. You can get trouser suits there along with a nice blouse to go underneath.

Personally, I would not do this unless you actively want to stick out like a sore thumb in your new office.

H&M are pretty good for proper trousers. You could go for a wide leg style that ends at the ankle if you want to wear boots.

This would be great with a shirt underneath or a light jacket over.

Again, thick tights!

I think you would be much better with smart trousers and a nice shirt/blouse/jumper. A full suit looks really dated.

Personally for client meetings I would wear either this or a skirt/dress with maybe a blazer over. The blazer is not necessarily needed though and I would definitely skip in the warmer part of the year.