Potential meeting at trendy London graphic designers - what to wear?!!

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What do I wear to look professional ( and therefore worth the money they are paying me for consultancy) but also contemporary and a good match for ethos of their company?

I like to look smart, and did spend my former pre children life in retail buying offices of some major players - where all the women seemed to wear black Joseph suits and white t shirts.....
But to all you bang-on-trend types out there - please tell me what will work for a small graphic design environment now

DH (who works in this field) says when he recently went to a lecture at DandAD with luminaries in the field and he said that he particularly noticed that the audience and the speakers were 'crappily dressed', so it doesn't sound like you need to worry too much.
I would go for simple with funky accessories personally.

I like t dress that Fellatio linked twice.

All those dresses are fab - I am feeling quite Lahndon already!
I suppose it's less about them being scruffy and more about me feeling confident on the day.

From trendy graphic designer partner (business, not anything else!):

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Haha! No idea.

Erm. Jeans/skirt, cool shoes, top, jacket? That way can throw jacket offs if too smart or keep on if needs to look more professional. Any good?

Know that's been said, but thought I'd post to add to chorus. I have to say that I'd go a little more formal (skirt/dress instead of jeans) for interview for HR position. Most of all, be comfortable in what you wear otherwise anything looks odd.

i think they will expect expensive consultant expert woman to be smarter dressed than they are so no jeans. unless they are cutting edge ones

cool trousers also good but hard to do if you are not skinny and over 30

i echo suggestion of smart but funky dress and heels or boots, in a good colour for you ( doesnt have to be black)

Ask yourself what would 'Mary Portas Do?'

Therein lies the answer.

look, see? She can do no wrong.

I work in a casual dress environment but (perhaps a bit unfairly) we do expect people to be more smartly dressed for interviews. Not suits (unless it's the funky version as mentioned above) but something other than jeans. Good luck by the way :)

Sorry, see it's not an interview - good luck anyway though!

Agree with the dress and funky boots. I work in a digital agency (not London though) and would wear that kind of thing for client meetings. My female bosses would do the same, plus bold jewellery.

Slightly smarter than the people who work in the office, but not 'suited and booted' I think.

hi
how old are you and what size? what do you actually like as your look - theyll hire you on your work, so 'match your work', dont look quirky for the sake of it
I work in fashion buying, tbh would go to reiss and get a dress from 1971 range, which is more reasonable than main range, or budget not stretching so far head to H&M or zara - both have good new season stuff
One of the key looks this season is 'formal' think silk (or silk look) blouses, and new shape trousers / skirts
hope that helps & meeting goes well!

oh - main thing - good grooming, treat youtrself to a good cut or blowdry, = feeling million $ = confident!

Oh crap.

I wish I had never seen that Vivienne Westwood dress.

I didn't need to know that existed.

Now I want it.

It costs £197.

I can't have it.

I hear you missismonkey about that VW dress!

On the basis of all your 'go with a dress' ideas...
I have bought a sort of purple funky knitted dress from NW3 ( Hobbs but funkier) and it look great with boots,
DS(9) said it made me look younger - so how can I argue?

I a now also going to check out all your other suggestions from Reiss to Cos as you have me on a roll now!
Look out Mary Portas

Fashionista air kisses to you all!

excellent

please link to NW3 dress so we can judge admire

have gone all embarrassed now in case you think it's awful.
Yes , I saw the 'judge' word crossed out!!
It was reduced (total bargain from £110 to £49) so I'm not sure its around anymore

ah ha, its the NW3 Whitestone dress, isnt it??? short sleeves, flared skirt, round neck, patch pockets (7th row down)

Blimey you're good!
Scary.

Love it!

ooh thanks.

sorry that may have sounded sarcastic - absolutley not meant to!

what about a cool dress by someone like Hoss Intropia? The design agencies I work with a full of very slim girls in their 20s with cool dresses.

Well op, did you get the contract? And what did you wear?

I am a director at a creative agency.

Yes, all my colleagues are super-scruffy BUT I'm one of the big cheeses and I'd really rather not be mistaken for an intern. Plus I'm a woman in business that is still dominated by men in the top ranks.

You can't go wrong with the "What would Mary Portas wear?" advice. My other suggestion would be something from All Saints. Or Anglomania. (sorry).

You can also do deconstructed tailored jackets (Paul Smith's and Anglomania's are the best, but I have cool ones from Zara too) with jeans and funky shoes.

Accessories are important. Pile 'em on, especially the chunky jewellery. And the more senior you are, the more expensive your footwear, handbag and grooming need to be.