need a work wardrobe BUT I'm dieting. Please help.

[AaDB]

I have a new job but don't start for 8 weeks. I've lost a stone and hope to lose at least one more beefier I start and at least over more. I'm 16-18 at the moment and am an apple shape with big norks. I've put on a lot of weight since redundancy but I'm getting back to normal very slowly.

I don't want to spend a lot of money for my inbetween wardrobe. I really need a very smart wardrobe but formal jackets don't suit me. I like below the knee straightish skirts and wider leg trousers.

Any ideas please?

Beefier I meant 8 weeks BEFORE I start work.

I am a lot beefier than I want to be.

Well done on losing the weight and getting a new job. Not sure what your budget is but there are a few sales on at the moment. I used to be size 16 with big norks and wore lots of work clothes from monsoon, phase eight and baukjen. Think all have good sales on at the moment and somewhere I've seen a mumsnet code for an extra 15% off baukjen on top of the sale reduction.

I've been losing weight i have bought a few bargains from eBay, if you look for 'phase eight 16 Bnwt' then I think the Bnwt stands for something like brand new with tags so you can get some unworn clothes. I've bought some worn second hand clothes too but the quality varies, some stuff has been lovely and some not so nice. Boden also have an eBay outlet store which is sometimes good for bargains. Marks and spencer have an online outlet store but I find their sizing more variable than the other brands I mentioned so that puts me off buying their clothes.

stores.ebay.co.uk/Boden

www.marksandspencer.com/Outlet/b/1625734031?ie=UTF8&intid=gnav_Outlet&pf_rd_r=1RQTKEE7M2GNAMQ6DD5S&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=42966030&pf_rd_p=257503947&pf_rd_s=global-top-8

I'd be tempted to wait until the week before you get back if you are still losing, then put together a small capsule wardrobe of neutral trousers and structured cardigans or thin v neck jumpers with some splashes of colour in the way of tops and scarves (at least you won't shrink out of scarves!). Only buy black if the colour really suits you, I think more neutral colours would be better.

Marks and Spencer's have a really, really wide range of work trousers and skirts, starting at £19, pretty much every style you can imagine. Good place to start!

Great ideas here. I'm in m&s over the weekend so I'll look at the trousers.

Great idea about neutral colours. I need to be very smart. I think I could get away with a cardigan over a smart work dress. I'm not sure v necks are smart enough but I'll have a look.

I'm also very self conscious about my enormous boobs. Smart tops sounds ace so I'll check out the Boden link. Great tip about searching for new with tags.

I was at my last place of work for 17 years. I want to start with confidence and make a good impression.

When I get to my goal weight I'm going to invest in a proper work wardrobe. I'm also going to save for a ghost dress and Vivienne Westwood something out other.

In the meantime I have some lovely Clarkes mary janes that are comfortable and I feel ace in.

Wrap dresses are your friend. I lost 2 1/2 stone and 2 dress sizes a couple of years ago and I can still get away with wearing some of my wrap dresses from my bigger days.

I'd get some dresses on ebay (theres loads of shift dresses), and some cardis to go over and you will look smart and be able to ring the changes, plus they will fit down a couple of sizes.

Charity shops are great for work clothes while you are changing shape.

Tried trousers on today and I look huge. I've been working from home and didn't realise how bad thing were.

I have two pair of M&s trousers: one black & one navy. I also found a jacket that doesn't look to bad. I need some really smart work tops.

I will look for a wrap dress.

I need to look corporate smart but not in a suit.

Damn autocorrect. Jacket doesn't look too bad. It's long sleeved and doesn't fasten.

i bought this wrap dress for work recently and love it - www.saintbustier.com/pitot-paisley-dress.html - the pattern makes it more flattering than a plain colour i think and it's from a company called Saint Bustier that specialises in clothes for women with big boobs so it's definitely good on that front :)