Shit. Help! I go back to work in a week and have NO clothes!

[WhoahThereCrazyHorse]

So, getting on for 10 months ago when I went on maternity leave I thought it was a tremendous idea to bin every item of work clothing I owned, as I had been wearing everything for years and was really scruffier than is acceptable in an office environment. I don't know at that point why I chose to ignore the fact that I am ridiculously unstylish and hate shopping with a passion - maybe I thought motherhood would change me into a completely different person, sort of a cross between Mary Portas and Gok Wan.

Now all of a sudden it's just over a week until I go back to work and I have NOTHING to wear! I've just spent 4 hours in town which was ridiculously unsuccessful.

So, I have:

Shoes

Coat

bag

Trousers, in black and grey

And that's it! So I have no tops, skirts or dresses, and couldn't see anything remotely suitable, even when I reverted to the old classics like Next and Oasis.

My style is fairly simple, I'm just looking for tops and shirts, some round-necked cardigans, that sort of thing. Can't do shift dresses as I'm v pear-shaped (12/14 on top, at least 16 bottom) and for the same reason skirts have to be knee-length and A-line. Would prefer to buy quality items that will last, and need to work on a neutral palette or blues/greens, steering clear or reds and pinks.

Can anyone help me identify some suitable garments? Pleeeease?

I will be forever in your debt.

Oh and ps where do people get good tights from these days (assuming I find any skirts/dresses and therefore have a need for tights)

Loving your style in decluttering every item of office clothing! :)

I have just gone back to work and am rapidly coming to the conclusion that the dress is queen. No coordinating, just put it on.

Try Boden and Phase Eight for dresses.

Hobbs for separates?

This dress is very versatile, Id wear spanx underneath tho : )

Also recommend Zara for blouse/tops in great simple shapes and nice colours and also Oasis here

V jealous of your bag! No-one will be looking at your clothes, too busy gazing enviously at the bag.....

How formal is work?

these (scroll down) are my standard work skirts. I get them in knee length and wear with plain long sleeved T shirts from Uniqulo, tights and black boots. But I work in education where suited and booted is not the norm.

I love the skirts slug. Do they wash ok?

I've just bought this top in this blue and a chocolate colour to wear with trousers - and there's 20% off the sale price at the moment too . They had loads of lovely tops.

M&S are brilliant for tights :)

For a cheap and cheerful way to update your look New Look are brilliant for shoes

new bag is LOVELY :)

I am assuming you saw no tops in Zara then, though I know from experience the sizes get unforgiving once you stray into the 14 category. Love the coat you got.

I have loved French Connection this season. They are expensive and have a lot of dry clean only items (that I happily wash). But they are great for simple tops that aren't blouses (I hate the gape I get with shirts). Snake print is big this season and they have some nice tops in this, or just plain silk pull on tops in all colours that are flattering and would work with the coat and the trousers you have. Please look out for 20% off codes though and look at other suppliers of FCUK if you go down this route as there have been lots out there (and they will be in sale in just over a month anyway):

Some tops that may work are:

www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Tops/72CE6/Renoir+Adventurer+Top.htm

www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Tops/72XL6/Sissy+Snake+Shirt.htm

www.frenchconnection.com/product/Woman+Collections+Tops/72XD6/Maria+One+Pocket+Top.htm

I've just gone back too and have been wearing dresses - either wrap or with a loose neckline so I can express at work easily and BF DD when I pick her up. I got a couple of lovely wool/viscose stretch ones from East. I wear the dresses with boots which I already had.

And I've just ordered a few jersey tops and a merino wool long jumper from WRAP (sale now on) - they are big on neutrals/earth tones. I'm lucky as I can wear jeans to work, so jeans and tops, plus dresses are my staples now. Just discovered Wrap and loving their style.

Tights I still get from M&S

Tkband3, they are a thick cotton with just a little stretch. The wash beautifully but require a hot iron. I generally have a rule of ironing as little as possible but I relax my principles for these.

If you live in London, you can buy them from Greenwich market.

slug I love those skirts too - what a find!

slug thanks for the skirt link, am loving the sizing wording. It has right cheered me up. Repeat after me 'I am healthy, I am healthy'

I quite fancied this top here from gap. It's quite cute and lovely and silky.

There's also 30% off gap at the moment if you quote code GAPSAVE30.