Capsule workwear wardrobe

[LoopyLoopsPussInBoots]

Could you help me please? I am torn between two (very different) jobs, and will need new clothes for either (babies since working). I know I should wait until I've made my decision but am getting carried away...

I am now a size 12, 5'6". Naturally a 10, so might go back down. Fairly wide hips.
I don't like anything above the knee, and like to wear heels (have lots, no more needed). Both jobs are teaching, so nothing revealing or tricky to wear.

Job 1 - in a hot, Muslim country. Air con inside

Job 2 - UK, more senior role (so smarter)

Any thoughts? :)

Oooooooohhhhh, that sounds fun!

Good tights from Tabio. Pricy, but they last years.

HOW much for tights?!!

part of me wants to faint at the price of those tights, and part of me already has a shopping basket with four different (and AWESOME!) warm pairs in...

Darn you, Tethers! (and congrats, yay! Baby! Yay! I want another...)
[shakes fist but with soppy look on face ]

I'd want gold for that amount. My £500 won't go far...

Blackcurrant, which shops do you usually use?

Yay congrats on taking the HoF job thanks to my advice ! You won't regret it, and working abroad will always be an option for the future with your newly fab cv.

I'm a senior teacher and personally don't feel very comfortable in suit type clothing - I tend to wear Hobbs type dresses, tunic dresses with thick tights and statement jewellery in winter, or floatier dresses with heels and jewellery in the summer. I also like simple black or navy ponte dresses with a scarf. I have a couple of smart jackets to wear over dresses for important meetings or evening events.

Good luck and happy shopping

Also congrats Tethers on your pg!

I wear dresses to work. I wear them with tights and a plain long sleeved top or a blouse under in winter and without in the summer. So much easier than separates.

My favourite dresses are from Zara, and I have some great ones that I bought in TK Maxx.

I have just bought about a million of the primark £3.50 long sleeved tops in loads of colours (have a berry co,lured one on atm). They are fab value for money, can totally recommend them.

I am in the USA and so I am not sure how helpful this is, but for good tailoring, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor, for good cardigans J.Crew (and the other two shops), sometimes Talbots, and H&M and Old Navy and often Uniqulo for cheaper tops, though Uniqluo is the best quality of them.

I love Hobbes, too - and always check out the sales when I'm at Mum's house.
But god I can't get over the prices of stuff in the UK now when I look. If I spend $190 on something like a pair of tailored trousers or a pencil skirt It's gorgeous wool and will last me forever. It seems like almost everything tailored in England, however nasty the fabric, is a hundred quid... ugh.

Thanks for congrats

I can see I've blown the contract by mentioning the tights In my defence, I have pairs from there which I bought TEN YEARS ago and are still going strong.

yeah yeah, so you say.... gosh they are pretty though.

Inspired by that site, I have got some pretty and thick and 'control top' tights from Target yesterday. Target is like woolies - that's about my tights-purchasing mileu! And I think they will keep the bebe-belly in nicely under my lovely new dress, so all is well. :)