How can I look nice for work with very little money?

[Jemster]

Hi
I work part time 5 mornings a week but going into autumn/winter I have nothing that fits me or looks nice. Last A/W I was on maternity leave and now I can't fit in to my pre-baby work clothes.

Problem is I have very little money for clothes as things are so tight financially. But I literally have nothing suitable that fits for work so I'm going to have to buy a few things.

I have a £25.00 new look voucher & £80.00 for Debenhams which I was going to use to buy some boots. I guess my best bet is Primark isn't it but I guess I'm worried I will look rubbish compared to my trendy (young!) work colleagues.

Please could anyone help as I'm sick of having nothing to wear for work and it's knocking my confidence.
I am 38, 5'3" with curvy size 12-14 figure. Thanks

Treat yourself to the boots.

Places like primark have some great accessories like scarves and jewellery. If you buy a few plain tops from somewhere like h & m you can mix and match with the accessories.

Also don't forget about grooming - nails, eyebrows, hair. Keep it nice and simple and build it up from there's

Am in similar boat with only a temp job too so can't afford to be buying an expensive work wardrobe. I got a pretty good basic selection of work clothes from Matalan which included trousers, several tops and a few cardis to see me through… I was also lucky at Next Clearance if you have one of those near? Got work trousers and a skirt for £5 each.

Probably worth getting good shoes/boots though as nothing worse than sore feet by the end of the day!

Agree accessories can help - scarves and necklaces can make a basic outfit look so much better!

Sainsburys and Tesco also worth a try?

How about dresses and boots?
I've got several dresses from tesco. m.clothingattesco.com/tesco/product/detail.do?categoryId=2700866&itemId=br321097 dependant on length with a boyfriend Cardigan?

How smart do you need to be? I'd spend the money on well fitting trousers and spend less on tops.

Depending on where you live - charity shops. I've done really well for jackets and skirts for work ( tend to go for wool fabrics)

I was in the same situation last winter. I found H&M and Sainsbury's to be nicer for work clothes on a budget than Primark. Treat your self to the Debenham boots though! Mix in a few eBay and charity shop finds. For tops, Primark stretchy long sleeved Ts are hard to beat at £3 ish.

Thanks everyone. Gindrinker I actually tried that tescos dress and loved the fit but I wasn't sure about the sleeves and what to wear with it. I might go back for it though as it really fit me nicely. I do like Sainsburys stuff too but haven't looked in a while.

Do you think I should try and aim for complete 5 outfits, ideally I suppose try and get things that mix and match. Mornings are so stressful trying to put something together whilst being followed everywhere by 18 month old!!

With a toddler ( mine is nearly 2) I' d go for seperates, so I can change buts which get sticky! I' d go for 5 tops and three bottoms.

Try eBay, if there is a particular make or style you like. I got a seemingly never worn Jaeger black work jacket for about £25, really smartness up my otherwise pitifully cheap workwear.

Don't underestimate TKMaxx, they have lots of "grown up" stuff in for autumn and it is heavily discounted.

Just bought some work trousers from Asda, was going to splash out and get expensive ones but these ones fitted the best and were 6 quid! Look really smart too.

I'd save the voucher. George at asda had lovely riding boots.

eBay can be good for work items. Next has good basics.

Also see what you have at home. If you have eg basic trousers, tops etc then they can be dressed up or down.

Depends on your work style office style if they're smart etc

Just a little tip, I know how hard it is in the morning with a toddler in toe, get your clothes, underwear and accessories out the night before. Makes mornings so much easier. I also get ds clothes out ready too.

H&m is good for work things at affordable prices, new look good for patent court shoes with a nice size heel, I have them in black and nude, good with trousers and skirts.

I would aim for 3 different bottoms and 7 tops so you're not always wearing the same thing week in week out. Then wear different scarves for different looks. Good luck!

My office is smart but not overly so, so don't have to wear suits. There are a couple of new ladies in my team who always look gorgeous with different outfits every day. I'm sure it helps that they are younger and without dc! I feel so frumpy next to them as well as just fed up with all the old tat I have to wear. I feel like binning all the tat and starting again building up my wardrobe gradually, but I really am on limited funds.

I have sold a few bits on ebay but am worried to buy clothes off there in case they don't fit and I waste my money. My body shape is all over the place right now.

Have you considered dresses?

I began wearing dresses as my main workwear on going back to work - no need to coordinate, plus you can probably buy a dress for less than you need to spend on a coordinating top and bottom. I have now stopped buying skirts altogether as I just look at a skirt and think, '...if only it had a top half....'

Also, once you put on dress + boots, you are dressed! Add a necklace if you must, but you are basically ready to go!

In the mornings, just put an apron over your dress while you are doing messy things with toddler.

Oh, and think about ebay - sell some of your old clothes and build up a bit of paypal to buy some more on ebay.

whoops - ok, try ebay once you have a clear idea of your new size.

George at asda keeps me going in work clothes. I have very little to spend on clothes and their prices are brilliant.

I use eBay to buy brand I know so safer re sizing. you can always resell.

Charity shops are fab for work clothes - skirts, shirts and tailored trousers.

I would say 80% of what I wear at work is from BHF and Cancer Research.

Sainsburys is your friend!

I'm going back to work soon, bigger than I was when I left. I've been buying a few bits in the run up.

I got a gorgeous, long line smoky grey chiffon blouse from there for £18. It's really flattering. I also got some lovely quality trousers too. I'm going to keep going until I have my whole wardrobe sorted!

YY to dresses- they make you feel smarter and they are much easier than co-ordinating jackets, tops and trousers.

H&M do some nice shift dresses, they also have nice jackets- not cropped but shorter than a conventional suit jacket. You'll get lots of H&M stuff on eBay too making it even cheaper.

A good pair of boots would be an investment- how about smart, flat knee high boots? Solves the shoe issue and look great with maxi dresses.

I think use the new look voucher to get a nice cardigan for over your dresses, you'll prob have enough left for a scarf/some jewellery/opaque tights.

Then use your debenhams voucher for boots.

Spent a few quid on eBay/charity shops on some dresses. There's loads of H&M stuff in our local charity shops and if they have fitting rooms it's better than an eBay mistake.

Great with dresses ahem.

No bloody idea where the maxi bit came from?!

Thank you. So will flat long boots look ok with work dresses, does it depend on the style of dress?
I have been looking in charity shops more but am yet to be lucky. Might see if I can have a quick look today.

I' agree withother posters. Splash out on some boots you love. Supermarkets are GREAT for cheap and cheerful work wear. I love Tesco! Asda and Sainsburys also good. Primark and H&M for accessories. New Look has the odd cheap and nice jacket, I seem to remember.

Good luck!