If you need to be smart casual for work what do you wear?

[batterylow]

I currently am able to be as scruffy as I want for work but tend to wear skinny jeans, boots then a blouse and cardigan or a vest under a jumper but all my stuff is looking old and I need to smarten up as I have a new job which requires me to be in something other than jeans some of the time.

I think I need three outfits really. Perhaps a dress , some trousers and a couple of blouses/smart tops then I also need some jumpers and cardigans. Anyone have any ideas? Or can tell me the kind of things they wear?

I am pear shaped (I think) and suit strong colours. Size 12-14and quite tall.

I hate itchy clothes and sound so fussy but really want to find some cotton knitwear while I am at it.

I'm by nature a jeans wearing scruff. At work I wear Chinos (monkee genes do nice ones), stretchy pencil skirts (Zara, hush) and the odd dress (Benetton, baukjen, em and me). Tops from gap, sweatshirts are a bit more funky than knitwear but I do wear cardies too - uniqlo does nice merino wool ones.

Ooh thanks had never heard of monkee genes and just had a google and I like the look of the navy chinos as they would feel like a safe jeans alternative. What's the sizing like (will I fit my big backside in them?!)

I think merino is non itchy? I think my one soft and non itchy jumper is a boden merino.

I wear the same size chinos as jeans and the length is good if you're tall. I think all wool can be a little itchy but merino is fine and not at all fluffy if you see what I mean.

Well done on your new job!

Thank you! Yes non fluffy is exactly what I mean, I keep buying jumpers online that I can't wear!

Oh thanks both, timely thread! I've just spent a miserable afternoon on the high street looking for work trousers that will work with safety shoes (I sometimes have to visit manufacturing areas) that aren't crotch sweat inducing nasty polyester.

I haven't heard of the monkey gene brand either, but they look promising.

I have ordered some stripey chinos from monkey gene and a blouse and patterned top plus navy cardigan from Dorothy Perkins. If none of it works I give up as am sick of paying delivery for things which I can tell the minute I see them often don't work (like the me and em trousers I just returned) its hard to see online so I will be doing an actual shop soon too.

Work trousers are really hard I agree. I am slightly worried that the ones I have ordered wont be smart enough but will keep fingers crossed!!

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the monkey genes battery. I'm a similar size to you, and would probably order a 12.

Ooh you bought some. Hope the fit is good. It is a nightmare finding trousers I agree. The high street shops I used to use just aren't quite right anymore either now I'm getting on a bit!

I ordered a 12 although there is a 31 option which would be a 13 so I would have ordered that if it had been in stock.

And thanks confused I will report back when they arrive thanks for the recommendation!

Soooo wish I had ordered the 13! I was in denial I think! In fact I should have ordered a few sizes just a in case. I love them but the 12 is so tight and I don't know how much they will give? Probably not enough.

So I don't know whether to send them back and order a thirteen. But they don't do exchanges so I would have to pay another £5 shipping plus whatever it costs to return the 12s. Can't decide, they are really lovely so maybe I should just try not to think too much about the postage?

Cigarette trousers are great for work and tick the smart casual box.

Thanks do you think I would look bad as a pear shape in them? The monkey genes ones were perfect on the legs just tight over my hips and stomach.