£50 to spend on office-wear

[CubiksRube]

I'm going back to work in a week, after DS, and need to buy an outfit to impress on the first day. It needs to be corporate, but can have a bit of personality - I work in finance/retail.

I'm 5'10 so can't risk anything short or indeed shorts. Size 8, but busty - 28E - so can't have anything too low cut. I want to look respectable, but cool! And, um, not like a praying mantis, which I do sometimes tend towards, what with being tall and sort of flailing.

Any thoughts? Maybe a dress, or a pencil skirt/blouse? I've been trawling ASOS but haven't seen anything yet.

My ideas may be a bit odd:
This grey shirt dress from Hobbs with bright pink or green belt and opaques? (£49 in sale)

Is this Boden dress too wacky in the red (8L in the sale £38) or this one in camel which is a bit more conservative

Would you wear a wrap dress? There is this one from LK Bennett on at the moment - I wear mine with a white slip underneath to minimise vpl and risk of too much cleavage showing (32E)

Good luck

I love the Hobbs dress, I think it strikes exactly the right note! And can be dressed up to look funky, or dressed to look corporate. Lovely, and a great price

I'd wear the Boden, but think that for meetings it would be a bit too colourful. They're funky but still quite monochrome! Also, I need something I can re-wear inconspicuously ... similarly with the LK Bennett, I think people would notice if I rewore it once a week, you know?

Definitely the Hobbs, though, I really like that. I'm going into town on Monday and will see if they stock it (London, so I imagine they might, fingers crossed) but actually may just order it. Thank you chocolateteabag!

This is my favourite work outfit at the mo.

Is this belt www.marksandspencer.com/Leather-Criss-Cross-Burnished-Grecian-Belt/dp/B004J1LGOU

And this dress
www.marksandspencer.com/Sleeveless-Pleated-Neckline-Jersey-Dress/dp/B0058F2GEU?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_4&nodeId=42966030&sr=1-4&qid=1313275346&pf_rd_r=1SCWS30KW555020WY7BR&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=215485807&pf_rd_s=center-3

I know. It's M and S.
Shoot me

ooh glad you liked it - I think the curved shirt detail at the bottom is fab. Sadly I don't have the knees to wear it myself

Liking the jersey dress, but I can't do black at the moment as it shows up DS's snot trails too much (9months and going through all the colds he can find in nursery)