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Original poster

What to wear for work....?

30 replies

Mo2 · 11/04/2003 13:15

After the birth of DS2 about 8 months ago I've gone back to work, but for a new company which has a different 'dress code' to my previous place.

Basically it's "business casual", which is, of course about as helpful as all those other dress code descriptions (i.e. business smart/ smart casual/ dress down Friday etc etc).

The men tend to wear shirts with collars (proper shirts and or polo shirts) and chino-style trousers. However the range of women's clothes seems huge - rangeing from business smart (i.e. suits) to what I would call 'out for lunch with your in-laws casual' !

I feel like I want to go out and splurge on a new wardrobe for summer, but can't really decide where to pitch it, or what kind of essential items to go for? I'm in quite a senior role, so think I need to err towards the smarter end, but suits are so boring. Also I'm not much into skirts - mostly because I've got big fat feet and prefer flatter shoes to heels - just can't do kitten heels or stilleto type sandal things!

Any ideas? Combinations/ shops/ 'looks'. Have thought about the personal shopper thing too - has anyone tried them?

Help I need some inspiration!

OP posts:
soyabean · 11/04/2003 13:19

Am about to go back to work after a 4 year break and have been pondering this very question, so will read any replies with interest. Dont think I'll need suits but I do want to feel a bit professional (or try, at least) and have different things to the stuff I wear at home. Which is jeans, cords and sweatshirts...

Jaybee · 11/04/2003 13:35

Funny, we have been discussing the Personal Shopper thing at work recently - one lady swears by the one at Debenhams and another colleague made an appointment the other day and was raving about them. They took various measurements and details about how much you usually spend on clothes etc.
Personally, I tend to wear trouser suits to work, with a T-shirt type top underneath (tops don't need ironing and suit is drycleaned).
In your situation I would probably by a smart pair of navy trousers, with various matching blouse/tops, probably a smart cardigan.

BigBird · 11/04/2003 13:48

Our office dress code is the same. Basically most days I wear trousers and a top. I have 2 pairs black, 2 grey, 1 cream and a few others that I wear less often. I usually wear a long sleeve top, a white shirt or a polo neck (have 4 in diff. colours) - on some occasions, like if we've external paeople coming in, staff meetings, bosses down from HQ etc I will wear a suit or the same trousers but with a V neck T-shirt and a black jacket. Everything is machine washable and a good few pieces are non-iron !!

I'd suggest keeping it as maintenance free as possible with some navy/grey/black basics in trousers and jackets and a few coloured (red/pink/blue/white) tops, polos and shirts.

slug · 11/04/2003 13:50

Can I say that having met you I am deeply envious that you have a figure like that after ONLY 8 months.

A friend tried the personal shopper at Debenhams and thought it was awful, but then she's a size 8 with no kids and very high standards. It dosn't cost anything, so give it a go.

Meanmum · 11/04/2003 13:53

Wow, I didn't know the personal shopper at Debenham's was free. I'm heading off there for help.

Slug - you need to meet me. I'm extremely overweight still and my ds is 14 months. In fact no one in my office even knew I was pregnant until 2 months before the birth which goes to show I was overweight beforehand too.

edgarcat · 11/04/2003 14:03

Message withdrawn

Jaybee · 11/04/2003 14:03

Meanmum - may be worth ringing Debenhams first as I think you have to make an appointment.

Meanmum · 11/04/2003 14:04

Edgarcat - you're not rude. I'm trying to lose weight but I actually don't really have an issue with my weight. I've always been big, always will and have accepted that and moved on. Just thought I would let Slug know that there are some out there who manage to just increase in size!!!

edgarcat · 11/04/2003 14:06

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Mo2 · 11/04/2003 14:06

Slug - thankyou, but believe me the wobbly bits are lurking there underneath! or should that be

OP posts:
Philippat · 11/04/2003 14:09

oooh, smart casual.

Well, if you need to look contemporary and fashionable but aren't on the button, wear head-to-toe black. Very boring but very easy to get dressed in the morning (just watch your blacks match).

Find the base colour (black, brown, navy, grey) that suits you best and build a wardrobe around that.

Head-to-toe in any colour looks smarter than mixed.

Avoid t-shirt material - go for silk t-shirts or similar instead.

Avoid anything that creases a lot like linen unless it really doesn't matter if you look a bit creased by lunchtime.

If you can't do accessories (scarves, shoes, bags, jewellery) instinctively then be very very careful with anything that isn't plain and self-effacing.

Be careful of big woolly cardigans, they tend to give a librarian feel.

Always have a jacket on hand in case you want to smarten up quickly.

Don't wear anything that needs drycleaning when you say goodbye to your small children. And take this stuff off the second you come in the door to say hello to your children.

Meanmum · 11/04/2003 14:11

Phillipat - are you Trudy and Suzanna? Your advice is amazing.

SamboM · 11/04/2003 14:24

Linea do lovely work clothes, I buy all my work suits etc from there. It's part of House of Fraser.

Philippat · 11/04/2003 14:25

Oh god, you're right it did sound a bit Trinny and Suzanna, didn't it? (actually quite flattered by the comparison, though). Sorry to anyone who hates T&S.

No, just many years of experience in the art world where a) you get paid badly so can't afford designer clothes but b) everyone notices what each other wears and comments on it while c) you're supposed to express your personality through your clothes. Plus we are the original smart casual profession.

Meanmum · 11/04/2003 14:55

It was meant as a compliment. I like them too.

soyabean · 11/04/2003 15:05

Phillipat Your advice was useful! Esp about sticking to one colour. I think thats what i should do. I have a neighbour who I always see going off to work head to toe in balck, and she looks great. saves all her light and bright stuff for days off and w/e. It wd be a bit like school uniform, save worry in the morning. Am planning a shopping trip tomorrow so will see how that goes. I never know what kind of smart trousers to buy. Really I just like jeans, anything baggy looks horrible on me. I'll have to try some new styles on and see, I guess.

sykes · 11/04/2003 15:15

I think bootleg trousers are incredibly flattering - particularly hipsters, as long as not ridiculously low cut. That's my one and only fasion tip and it's probably not a v good one as I think three quarter length trousers are in and awful skinny trousers.

carriemac · 11/04/2003 18:06

house of fraser personal shopper v good and also free

spacemonkey · 11/04/2003 18:46

Gap do a lot of really nice "business casual" stuff. You can't really go wrong with black or grey trousers and a range of shirts (white, black, pinstripe) and/or some classic black or neutral jumpers (I favour gap polo necks). As phillipat says it's really easy to smarten this sort of outfit up with a smart jacket. I am a total black addict and although I KNOW it's boring, it is safely stylish!

grommit · 11/04/2003 18:57

I have 2 really nice black Jigsaw trouser suits and just wear these every day with shirt or top - a bit like a uniform I suppose but at least I don't have to thing about what to wear in the mornings!

soyabean · 13/04/2003 20:49

Oh dear, went shopping ysterday, mainly for some plain black trousers for wnew job, but totally unsuccessful. Tried on about 8 pairs but they were all either too slinky, too baggy or too low cut. So low cut that there were great bulges over the top, not a pretty sight. Sigh, will have to try again, but I did do the rounds: M&S, Hennes, Uniqlo etc. Also was looking for plain black or white tshorts/tops with 3/4 or elbow length sleeves and didnt even have any luck with that. Does anyone know anywhere that does t shirts with elbow length sleeves? I dont like showing my upper arms but am a bit bored of 3/4.

layla · 14/04/2003 16:06

Boden have an elbow length t shirt,crochet trimmed for 29 pounds.

Lara2 · 14/04/2003 19:47

I am so glad I'm a teacher in a school with a pretty relaxed dress code! I get up and put on virtually what I feel like wearing - barr jeans. I couldn't bear the thought of having to go through the agonies of office dress codes!!

jac34 · 14/04/2003 20:13

For years now, in the winter I've worn M&S long sleeved t-shirts. They wash really well and seem not to need ironing.
I have a variety of colours, and wear them with black trousers, in the past few years they have been about £14. I imagine they would look fine uner a trouser suit as well. I usually just swap to short sleeves for the summer.
I wear a white coat or tunic in work, and find them a good thickness for underneath these.

soyabean · 14/04/2003 20:45

Thanks layla.I did see that Boden T and quite like it but I'm not sure about the crochet bit. Do like the shape though. Jac I am planning another trip to M and S as I cant believe they dont have what I want!lara2 I probably dont even have to be particularly smart for my new job but I want to feel a bit different from when I'm at home, ie clean and tidy at the very least. I do think that having something new and smartish might give me a bit more confidence, well I hope so. The teachers at my kids' primary school are incredibly funky and gorgeous, us parents look like a real bunch of elderly scruffs in comparison....