What should I wear for work?

[danceswithfools]

I have just got a new job after years of working from home and I do not have a clue what to buy to wear! Please help, I hardly ever go clothes shopping so don't even know where to look. I am in my forties, size 10/12. I need smart/casual clothes, preferably which do not require shoes with much of a heel to look nice. At the moment I wear dresses/tunics with leggings or jeans. Every. jeffing. day. Please rescue me from my style rut!
Thanks in advance.

What sort of work do you do? It will give us a clue as to how formal you need to look.

Do you know what sort of clothes your colleagues wear? How did the people who interviewed you dress?

Sorry, I meant to say that it is a lecturing job. There was a lot of Per Una when I went for interview!! That is to give you an idea of the way my colleagues will be dressing, and not how I want to dress

Will you be lecturing uni students or professionals?

Students. Until you asked, I hadn't thought about this aspect of it, but I am going to be surrounded by trendy young things, aren't I?!

They will be young and trendy with beautiful bodies

I am in my forties as well. I don't lecture to students so cannot really help. But pleeease stay away from Per Una, lurid colours and cheap fabrics!

How about trying some of the more sober items from Dorothy Perkins or Zara. I wear almost exclusively dresses as I find them more comfortable and flattering on the less exacting middle aged figure with tights and heels. I have clothes from LK Bennett, Phase 8, Boden (the sensible ones!) and Jigsaw. At my age, I have to invest in better quality clothes. The clothes are mostly in solid colours, pinstripe or one or two pieces in a formal floral print

My younger colleagues (office environment) often ask where I get my clothes!

I'm a uni lecturer. During the first couple of weeks I tend to wear a smart jacket with trousers or a skirt. Nice heels that allow me to walk with a load of paper/box of paper which you might need to lug to the first lecture of term.

Then it slops off unfortunately! I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. That's my excuse.

Seriously though I get stuff from white stuff, Hobbs, phase 8, Zara (nice jackets), some m&s... I'm 39 and a size 8.

I have worn tunic and leggings with boots too so I don't think what you currently wear is bad. Also depends on your dept. there are some dept which seem to pride themselves on the sloppy/preppy look (more sloppy = more intelligent/can't be arsed to waste time dressing up type of mentality). Other dept dress up because they tend to meet lots of 'outside' people in meetings and therefore have to look smart.

Good luck!

Thanks! Blueshoes, I am going to bear in mind the point about quality, and will look in zara and dp when I go shopping. I have no intention of looking in per una, I shudder at the thought that I might find myself in one of those frilly cardigans!
Drcrab, I get the feeling that I am in one of the less smart departments. But I feel as if I need to be smart to help my confidence levels in a new job. I will look in the shops you suggest and try to forget that you have a 2 year old but are back to a size 8

I lecture occasionally and usually wear dresses with cardigans, or with a tailored jacket if I want to look a bit more intimidating.

Most of my students dress very casually - jeans or even tracksuits - so I wouldn't worry about being outshined by them in the fashion stakes!

We have several new colleagues (yes we're hiring!) who've just joined and they wear smartish clothes. Today they wore Black knee length skirt with nice top and cardi. Another had nice striped shirt with smart trousers. My female boss wears Power suits and heels. She's already tall. The heels make her taller (and so she can stand up to her male counterparts).

I slobbed around in a printed linen knee length skirt from white stuff, with a plain fitted white t shirt from m&s, necklace and flats. With a grey cotton cardi.

I hadn't thought of white stuff, I will have a look, thanks. Think I am just realising that this is a big change for me and I know it sounds daft but I will feel better about it if I am well dressed. Even if everyone else is in jogging bottoms and/or doesn't care!

Sorry jumping in here- Academic types if you were to interview an Administrator would you mind if she just wore a smart skirt, blouse , cardi (ie not polyester black trouser suit) or owuld you prefer a jacket? I have a lovely black crepe jacket but none of my dresses fit atm.

sorry for diverting thread OP as long as you stay away from per una you will be fine!

I wouldn't mind a cardi smart skirt outfit as you described! I think though it depends on the seniority of your job. If you are interviewing for a faculty manager's job then I'd go for a jacket but if it's a junior level then cardi is fine. Having said that I think it's about dressing sensibly. I had an administrator once who was into revealing clothes, fake tan and I'm sure some Botox. Nothing wrong In theory but I think if people are talking about that rather than her abilities then it can't be right. Iykwim.

Thanks everyone. I've been looking on websites from your suggestions and there are a lot of dresses which I like. But what do I wear with them??! At home I wear leggings but at work are opaques best? I feel clueless! Orange, I am not ignoring your post, but trust me, you do not need advice from me

I'm a lecturer.

Until I took over different positions of responsibility I just used to wear jeans and a smart top (normal for most people). Once I had to go to more meetings / look what I knew what I was doing I started wearing dresses. Every damn day .

Usually with tights / boots and when it's warm with pretty flip flops.

I don't do leggings for some reason

Firstly, congrats!

Secondly - when I've lectured, I didn't change my normal clothes (vintage or handmade dresses, old jewellery, battered boots, faux fur coats [it was winter] etc.).

I wasn't 'smart' - it is impossible for me to look 'smart' - but I don't actually possess what you'd normally think of as casual clothes (jeans and T shirts), and it meant I felt comfortable and 'to mine own self true' as Polonius said (er, I taught English ).

Anyway, it was quite a good way of bonding with students who'd often humour me ask where I got my clobber etc. If you try and dress like someone who's not you, you won't feel comfortable and you won't keep it up!

Yes to opaques!

Orange - I'd go for smart but friendly so just what you describe .

Smelly a jacket's not really necessary I don't think. I've always said I don't think women should have to approximate male workwear in order to be taken seriously!

People might have different views though...

I'm a teacher, not lecturer, and usually wear dresses, maybe a belted shift, with opaques and patent or leather flats or wedges. I find this comfortable for running around, smart, but approachable.

Thanks all just a Adminsitrator post

danceswithfools you sound like you would be on the smart side where I work!! White stuff/fatface etc is probably one of the smartest outfit styles. With ref to Born2BRiiiled I have just bought some lovely patent ballet flats from Primark for a bargain £10 you should take a look they are fabulously comfy and with a bit more of a sole!

In the winter I wear my dresses with my leggings and boots as tehy are a bit warmer than opaques and no-one can tell really!

Thanks again. I've been shopping today and bought two dresses in the jigsaw sale! They are styles that I would normally wear but much better quality and I was amazed how much better they looked. Not that I can afford to shop in there often! I tried loads of stuff on in white stuff and it all looked awful on me! I really like the clothes on the hangers but I am not the right shape for them, I looked really frumpy.
Anyway, thank you s and b ladies for your support, I will be shopping some more next month and feel much more confident about it

Hurrah! Loadsaluck with the new job matey.