What to wear - new office job!?

[Owlsarewise]

I have been a SAHM for the last 10 years and I’m starting a new part time admin job in a small office. I need some help in buying some new office clothes. What do office workers wear nowadays? The outfits I used to wear to work either no longer fit or seem outdated. Most importantly are some comfortable shoes - flats preferably! Then I’m thinking smart trousers and nice tops, maybe a skirt or two. All on a reasonable budget and with spring/summer vibes. Where do I look? Any recommendations?

Following as moving jobs and think I'll need more office clothes. But trying not to go too mad until I see what everyone else is wearing...

Have you seen what everyone else wears? In my experience office wear is mostly casual, jeans, tops, jumpers, clean trainers or boots. The same sort of thing I would wear any other day. Nothing see-through or low-cut or strappy, but otherwise quite casual.

Well they were smarter than that for my interview and they have clients coming in for meetings so not sure jeans and trainers would be acceptable!

I wouldn't buy too much until you see what others wear day to day. In my interview for my current job they were wearing smart office wear. I went out and bought lots of similar. Once I started I found that it was very casual, smart only worn for things like doing an interview. The majority of people are in jeans etc.
Maybe buy a couple of things that can be mixed and matched and see if you need more once you start.

I wear dresses OP. Lots of them wouldn’t look out of place on a weekend but can be dressed up with a blazer or dressed down by pairing them with trainers. Usually opt for in between though with ballet flats or loafers.

I am also returning to an office job soon - I have found TU clothing a good place to start for a few basics.

Good luck to you!

Can you ask what the dress code is? I've had 6 different office jobs and worn jeans and trainers in every single one.

My workplace is a funny mix of very smart and very casual. Most men in management roles wear shirt and tie with a more casual jacket, women wear suits, very occasionally dresses, normally trousers with a slightly smarter top. The admin staff wear absolutely whatever they want - one lad is a biker, wears black t-shirts, black jeans , bike boots, leather jacket etc.

If you're not sure, play it safe. Black trousers, smartish but comfortable top top (i wear a lot of jersey!), black comfy brogues or loafers. You'll look appropriate for work and you can adapt your style as you get more settled. Best of luck!!

In my office jeans and trainers is the norm for most although we aren't customer facing and most wear a slightly smarter top half. Businesswear rarely makes an appearance other than those that enjoy wearing it.

In a new role I would go for Clarks Hamble Oaks Brogues (my go to work shoe for years), Uniqlo Ezy trousers and a shirt with a cardigan / fine knit over it. Fairly bland but comfortable and you can gauge the culture of the office.

What you feel good and confident in. Dress and little jacket looks professional but not overdone

I left about a year ago now but for my last office job I had a 'work wardrobe' of 3x wide leg trousers, 5x silky type shirts/blouses, 2 trench coats, all in neutral colours (black, white, cream, bit of blue). Couple of wrap dresses (patterned) and then kitten heels or ballet flats. Everything from M&S or next. Worked really well for me and very easy in the morning to just grab matching separates or chuck on a dress. Other women wore mainly dresses and men wore shirts and trousers, occasionally a tie.

I wear a lot of loose dresses, or trousers and a nice top. Florals are in at the mo, rather than bodycon.

I would not rely on it being casual dress code. It will very much depend on the company. I've worked in offices with a casual dress code, but I've also worked in ones with a smart/smart casual dress code because we were client facing, in the office full time rather than hybrid, and the bosses were quite old school in their approach.

You're probably best to double-check with them. But the times where I wasn't sure (I never fully trusted people's definition of "casual"), I tended to go with a nice top or blouse with trousers and smart shoes. Better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed as far as I'm concerned.

I used to shop at Next and Debenhams when I needed smarter stuff back in the day, but it's been years and I know nothing about fashion, so don't listen to me!

My office is so casual since Covid, most people wear casual clothes unless they’ve got an important meeting. It’s pretty much anything goes, although I don’t personally wear jeans or trainers to work.

Just buy a black skirt / trousers and mix and match your blouses with them

Depends on industry and company. Where I work pretty much anything goes so that’s no help.

i wear dresses with boots in the winter, some skirts. Occasional I will wear boot cut trousers and a top but prefer dresses.

in the summer more summery dresses and sandals

I would play it safe. I've always worked in offices with a smart casual dress code. That has meant no jeans, no trainers, no leggings but you don't have to wear suit's, shirts and ties. I would go for loafers (ballet flats are uncomfortable to wear all day) couple of pairs of black trousers with a selection of tops. You can build from there.

A black skirt or trousers and a couple of tops is fine. A couple of work dresses. Sorted.

Thanks. Any tips on comfy flat shoes that are smartish. I’ll be walking to work from station

I find Clarks Hamble Oak brogues very comfortable, occasionally they go down to £17.50 on Amazon instead of the normal £65

I get a lot of clothing from M&S. They do great wide leg trousers pull on with high lycea content ( minimal ironing) I've got in check, navy and black teamed with white/ black shirt and cardigans for non meeting days a short blazer for others. Pencil skirt also from M&S with shirt / tights/ loafers. I usually wear NB trainers with trousers as comfy and can walk to/ from meetings.
A good black/ navy office dress knee length is always useful, a long white/blue shirt ( next do good ones) with leggings type trousers and ankle boots is a good outfit. For 5 days I have 10 mix match choices, it takes a lot of the hassle out of deciding what to wear. Along with trousers I have a black small cardigan and a camel cashemere one which looks great with navy and black.
I also have a suit which is also from MS (I don't work there honestly! Its just there clothes fit me betterthanother places) It's tiny black and white checks and I use when I have bigger meetings in town. My colleague dresses very similar even though she's 25 years younger, she also has a camel trench (I'm too short) this finishes her outfits really well. You don't need to spend a lot, the trousers I bought are £17 each.. the blouses are from Sainsburys TU around 10£15 each. Go for Cotton as its more comfortable on skin (I get hot synthetic fabric feels icky )
A lot of women still wear long floaty type dress with trainers and a blazer in my industry but that doesn't suit me. I hope you find this information helpful.. good luck in your new job. 😊

I just bought a whole new work wardrobe (going back after maternity).
m&s has some great trousers in at the min! I bought a few wide leg ones, in grey, black and camel, and some back and white short and long sleeve bodysuits to go under (fitted t shirt type). Dress up by adding a blazer or down by adding a cardigan.
I wear loafers or white trainers if I have no client meetings.