Work dresses

[NellyBluth]

I'm returning to work from maternity leave soon and I think dresses are going to be the way forward - no thinking when getting dressed in a rush in the morning!

Can anyone recommend a good place for smart work dresses for around £50? I work for a law firm so can't look too casual, though I'm not client facing. I'm not a huge fan of heels either so dresses that look good with pumps would be ideal. Also, I'm a midget (5'1) so I do struggle with length in some shops?

Any suggestions?

I'm a lawyer and banana republic is my staple for inexpensive but good quality work dresses. They're a bit above your budget going on full price BUT they have 25% discounts pretty much every week if you sign up through their website so you should be able to get some within your limit.

I'm 5'2" btw and find their standard length fine for dresses - they do petite as well but it's not available online yet.

Linea, House of Fraser's in house brand always comes good for me. And M & S have such a wide range now that you wouldn't obviously have one of theirs on, and some are very nice indeed- but stick to autograph and limited rather than the frumpy work wear. They also still do Principles in Debenhams and have some nice stuff.

I know I will get shot down by some for this but I have one or two Boden jersey dresses that are not only pull on and wear but don't need ironing. They look smart with heels, flats or boots.

I really like those jersey wrap dresses that french connection do like this - come in lots of different prints and imo look better with ballerinas than with heels. Lots to be found in the sale atm - try JL or HoF if not on FC website. Best thing - they don't need ironing or dry cleaning (2 workwear bugbears).

White Company slaes for lovely plain jersey dresses which come to about the knee on 5' 2 me and don't need ironing - wash beautifully too. They do need a cami under though.

Hmmm..just re-read bit about law firm, might not be smart enough. I teach so pretty much anything goes as long as not denim so they seem 'smart' to me, but maybe not law-firm smart.

sales

Great Plains, esp in the sale, do some that might fit the bill

I'm an ex-lawyer and bought tons of dresses from M&S which I hope to re-wear in my new job (at HMRC - so much less formal). I like the shift dresses, which are around the £35/£45 mark and are mostly machine washable so saves you on the dry cleaning. They do have some stuff, but they also have some very nice bits if you dig around a bit - the shift dresses look nice with a necklace and fancy tights, you can even get away with a cardigan (I'm a very twinset & pearls type person sorry ).

I also have a wrap dress from Isabella Oliver which is smart enough for the office (tho probably not Court to be fair). Also really comfy and washes well.

I'm a lawyer too, and I love the dresses (just hate ironing shirts - it's the one item of DH's clothes I make him do himself!)

I have 2 beautiful ones from Jigsaw (obtained in the sale) and am eyeing two from Jaeger sales:

jaeger.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1013&productid=630217C&productvarid=630217C-00200-12&refpage=Womens_Dresses&pagesize=500&productpage=1&viewall=true

jaeger.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1013&productid=630074C&productvarid=630074C-00100-12&refpage=Womens_Dresses&pagesize=500&productpage=1&viewall=true

I also have a nice M&S one, and then I have an a-line wrap style one from Zara for slightly less formal non-client days in Chambers.

Oh yes, if budget no problem Jaeger do some beautiful dresses, and if you're lucky you can get some bargains in the sales. Ditto Fenn, Wright & Manson. LK Bennett a bit Middleton now, sadly!

Ooooh yes, Jaeger - historically the preserve of middle aged ladies on cruises, I actually really like some of their stuff now (they still have a touch of the Per Una Speziale about them from time to time though). Lovely quality, generous fit (always drop a dress size in there ) and their sales are really good - excellent discounts if you hold out a bit.

Must admit I'm a bit of a convert to machine washable tho . Anything really really naice is always dry clean it seems.

I keep on looking at this on ebay even though M and S seems like a bargain I dont think too frumpy?

M&s Work Dress

Jaeger sales are always good - they do really decent discounts. Also Hobbs. Try eBay

I got a lovely LK Bennett work dress at Bicester Village (outlet) for £40 I will never look Middleton I'm afraid! , I second Hobbs as a good choice and M&S Autograph.

I have to visit client's homes and unfortunately due to the nature of my job they can be in variable condition but I am still expected to wear 'smart business' attire - one of my favourite dresses for this is one I got in Tesco for £20! It looks smart but can just go in the washing machine no problem, it's also comfy for travelling in.

I agree that dresses are definitely the workwear of choice!

sale jaeger

Thanks everyone! I think Jaeger and BR are a bit out of my price range at the moment and nothing too great in the sales, but I'll definitely keep an eye on the sales in the future as I can see they've got some great stuff. Also the wrap dresses - I've not stopped eating biscuits every day recovered from being pregnant yet and I've got the sort of shape body that wrap dresses just don't flatter if I'm carrying a little extra weight.

The M&S dresses are a bit of a revelation, though! I didn't even think to look there but I may be purchasing... And thanks to whoever mention JL, I'd forgotten to look there and the ridiculously discounted Hobbs dress that had sold out on the Hobbs site it still in JL!