Where do you shop if you are early 30s and have to look smart for work?

[felicityscully]

Early 30s and have to look smart for work.

Reiss and Whistles = stylish but too expensive and everything dry clean only or hand wash which is not practical

Lots of other high street shops seem too tatty for work, or the skirts are so short (I'm quite tall). Ok for nightclubs but not for work.

M&S = prices ok and like fact clothes can be machine washed and stock lots of smart work type clothes. But is it a bit frumpy for early 30s?

I want to look super smart, yet stylish and sexy, not frumpy!

I noticed some nice workwear in Mango recently, shift dresses and smart trousers, maybe worth a look?

I really like Banana Republic but then again I am not early forties . However, their clothes aren't mumsy and do fit well.

Sorry that should have said I AM early forties .

Hobbes and Jigsaw - both on the expensive side but, depending on your shape, Hobbes suits are fab, classic and long-lasting, so years of wear, not a season's.

It's Hobbs without the e isn't it.

People Tree are variable season to season but sometimes good for basic work trousers, skirts and shirts.

Whistles in the sale is good! That's the only time I buy from them and the things I have from there are all really distinctive.

Ah, the eternal dilemma. Very difficult isn't it? I'm 40 but have the same aim and the same shops above my station. Love Whistles, Reiss, Hobbs and some Jaeger but so expensive. I've had some success with Cos which has some lovely dresses at reasonable prices. M&S seems to have gone downhill a bit recently but some of the Autograph things are nice. Will watch this with interest.

I've found some nice stuff at Phase Eight and Hobbs NW3

I'm 35 and my core work wardrobe consists of a couple of Austin Reed suits (one trouser and one skirt) plus some shift dresses and jackets from LK Bennett. I've also got some suprisingly good dresses from Dorothy Perkins which wash really well and don't need much ironing. I get my Austin Reed and LK Bennett things from their outlet stores or in the sales. Hobbs usually have some good discounts as well.

Wallis is good.

The Hobbs outlet bit often has some great reductions on jackets and I've got a couple from there. They are dry clean only though, which is a bit of a pain.

I tend to wear a jacket over a plain top and pencil skirt, or over a plain jersey dress from The White Company, rather than full on suits. I've got one skirt suit from M&S which is actually really not bad - it's got a v fitted corset style jacket and a pencil skirt with a little pleat detail at the back.

Very nice if you are size 12 or below

Bargain cropped one if you can get away with double breasted

1940s vibe

Depends what you mean my smart, suit smart or just smart?

I think Zara and Mango have great smart stuff for work.

Oh yes and Dorothy Perkins

Zara and cos.

I'm early 30s and I get most of my work clothes from Zara with odd bits from H&M. Zara is great for basics and their clothes ranges are quite co-ordinated so it all goes with each other.

I absolutely love Gap work trousers - they have some called 'perfect trousers' and they are ! They fit well (and have an assortment of fits for different shapes) and machine washable

This season they also have some nice jackets as well. Buy before Sunday for 30% off with their VIP code...

Phase eight great for work dresses. Always shop the sales. Fenn wright Manson in the sale. Episode and planet for bits, again in the sales. Got a lovely dress from Mary Portas at house of Fraser. You guessed it. Sale.

I buy mostly online as you get better range of sizes and just send back what doesn't work. I look for classic cuts and fabrics which I think look more professional. I'm a lawyer so tend to the conservative for work though.

I like Hobbs and M&S - I'm also a big fan of online shopping too

I got a really good pair of smart trousers and tops from h&m