I have a job!Now I need clothes.

[carryon]

3 years as a SAHM and now I have a job!!!!! 3 days a week in a professional job. Suits would be too much so I am thinking proesssional and smart with a creative flair.

I need to buy everything.It has to be high street budget to mid range.I am thinking Primark to Oasis as a price range.

As it's only 3 days I don't need masses of stuff. Just a basic wardrobe to keep me going.I will need to walk part of the way and don't do heels anyway.

Here is my list of what I think will do it to tide me over till summer when the wheather warms:

Spring coat (maybe a mac preferable black)
Bag
Two pairs of shoes (don't want to be seen wearing the same pair all the time - prepared to pay more for shoes but not deigner prices)
Pencil skirt (suits me best)
Trousers
Dress
3/4 tops that can interchange with skirt/trousers
Accessories

Colours:I am blonde with green eyes and have been told I am a summer person.

Shape:Bit lardy after 3 years eating biscuits.I am hoping to lose weight though. Currently a size 12 - typical apple so a tyre round the middle but OK legs biggish knorks (D cup)

I am so excited.I will have to shop online so if any of you have any suggestions to meet the above requirements or anything to add/say about the list then please fire away.

Congrats!

For work i live in M&S court shoes- they have a fab range and are excellent value. I got some pink ones from there to go with my black/grey dresses and get lots of compliments when i wear them.

Next is a good option for trousers and pencil skirts. M&S larger stores have a good workwear range. It depends how fashionable you want to be- play it safe for work hence M&S/Next.

Do keep a look out in places like Primark/Tesco/Matalan though for nice pencil shape dresses- they are £20 and under and although may not last ages the price means you can keep ringing the changes.

Thank you, I will check out the M and S shoes later when the DCs are in bed.I have fantasies of turning up being stylish and fashionable but in reality ahve a tendency to look a bit frumpy so want to avoid this. I guess basics from Next and M and S and tops etc from more stylish places.

oh come on stylish ones.

m and s

Try Mango, Warehouse, Uniqlo (online), there's a mid-season sale on in Joules at the moment too. I'd buy
2 pairs of trousers
1 skirt
3 tops
Scarf
Jewellery
2 pairs of shoes
Bag
Coat

Keep the colour palette the same so you can interchange.

Thank you for the tip about colour pallete.

What about a dress like this one I recently bought a couple of dresses and Im a convert. No worrying about matching things up and you just feel very together in a dress. A nice statement cuff or necklace and you're sorted

Yes I like that. Thank you. I just started a new thread as I wasnt getting many replies

Agree about Next being dull but tbh its ideal for workwear, anywhere else is much more expensive and I for one would rather spend my £££ on out of work wear!

Get yourself a nice dress, pencil skirt and black wide leg trousers, then add a few nice blouses, this one is nice on

I've recently got loads of reasonably priced work clothes from Banana Republic. I like their black pencil skirts and some of the tops. Also mix it up with a few silk tops, I wear mainly LK Bennett courts but I think they no longer sell my favourites (shilo courts in black) which are so comfy- if you don't do heels maybe some nice smart ballet pumps?

Do you have an overall budget range for the whole shopping spree?

Personally I hate Next, I just think it's overpriced really and nicer versions of the same can be found in other high street stores like H&M, Zara, Oasis.. but yes BR are my favourite at the moment for work basics

However some things from next are OK. Ditto M&S- have seen some nice black shift dresses in there. Will link when I have time if that's OK congrats on the job!

I'd buy

2 pencil skirts
black top
white top/cream top
light/aqua/mint green top
other colour top
basic cardigan
black bag
lighter coloured bag, maybe tan leather-smart
some trousers that are straight leg and flattering and the right length
a shirt?
black mac from banana republic
or a nice blazer
bloch ballerinas (a couple pairs if I had unlimited funds)
magic tights from M&S
one pair of mid heel round/almond toe courts if you don't do heels- try some on

and yy I agree dresses are fantastic, smart and elegant

oooooor, could you start with some favourites and mix it with tops you already own, and then every month buy a few more nice things? I like to have monthly er.. incentives.. to encourage me to get up in the mornings!

thanks all. great ideas. I am going to check out BR and gap as they have just emailed me with a 25% discount. I don't have a budget in mind. I just need to gte me enough stuff to tide me over until the money starts coming in. Very excited about that last bit after 3 years of living on a shoe string.

OK. Had a quick lok at BR. Fab stuff. Willgo back later when DS is in bed. Thank you all!