What to Wear Over Dresses

[hamptoncourt]

I am trying to wear more dresses since I keep buying them and then they just hang in my wardrobe for years but I don't know what to wear over them.

The floaty ones look fine with a cardi, but I have quite a few bodycon dresses that seem to look odd with a cardi. I have tried wearing a blazer over them but that didn't look quite right either.

I really want to wear one to an important meeting tomorrow but so far the only thing that looks "right" to me is my black leather jacket and that cannot possibly be right can it?

I am not very good with style and stuff, so I would appreciate any advice.

A slightly cropped jacket?

Yes maybe I need a skimpier jacket rather than a blazer. I don't think I have any though and the meeting with a total bitch is tomorrow.

I will go and have another look and see what I can find, thanks so much for replying.

I am interested too.
I have bodycon dress I wear with a fabby cheap black cropped jersey jacket from primark.
My most versatile wardrobe item! (Getting bobbled on handbag shoulder so need a new cheap smart alternative)

Have you got a cropped cardigan?

A fitted cardigan and a nice scarf

And a thin waist belt

No good for tomorrow but have a look at some of the fabric biker jackets that are around - they look really good with fitted dresses and pencil skirts, and some of them are smart enough to be work appropriate.

You lot are geniuses!! Raided DD 16 wardrobe (she is away or I wouldn't dare) and found a cropped jacket.

Thank you!!!

Now I just have to work out how to deal with bitchyworkwoman I have to deal with at the meeting

What's the meeting about and what is your role in it?

I manage a team of people providing a service. The woman I am meeting is a newly appointed manager of a client company. So far she has been very antagonistic ( not just to me, I have contacts ) by email, downright rude and nasty actually, so I am not looking forward to meeting her.

It's not you is it 46 gulps!!

Lol no!
Just focus on what she wants to achieve and how you deliver it.
Not what you see as the service but what she would see as the benefit. !

And some concrete example of another preferably known or local company you helped. Eg brians snail increased sales of toothpaste by 20% in 3 months after using our service. (?)

What colour dress?
I used to work with a woman into colour stuff. She used to say no one could argue with you when you wore pink. And you only needed a little pink, like a detail or a scarf. Pink doesn't scream power tho, does it ? Strong contrast, black and white, makes you unapproachable. Apparently. Really I haven't a clue. Don't know why I'm posting

Thanks 46 I will keep telling myself it's her, not me, and focus on the good stuff.

Be really, really polite and nice to her. Almost being a bit gushy whilst keeping it professional. Then if she is rude or antagonistic back she will just look like a total bitch.

Thanks first to be honest that is where we are at now. I am really really polite and nice to her and she is coming across to everyone as a total bitch. Even her own staff have contacted me about what a cow she is.
Her predecessor was luffly! Hopefully she won't last long.

Don't agree about being gushy.
Its you selling yourself as the straight talking expert. The one who will give her the 'afters' ie the sweet smelling breath after using the toothpaste. The benefit. Not the 'pitch' of 'our service is so great because we have the green technology' or whatever. Its about what her company sees as the benefit.

Even something as simple as - you've got to do x and I've made it a reasonable price and allowed you to 'tick it off' your list in a quick and easy way.

Love it. Style & Beauty with added careers advice!

So you are 'selling' the benefits of your company providing this service?

So you are 'selling' the benefits of your company providing this service?

As legally required, here is my mumsnet update:

Meeting went incredibly well. Bitchwoman had blind copied her manager in on the last nasty email she sent me, and he had pulled her up on it!! I found this out from her PA who picked me up from the train station.

She has been given a telling off for being such a cow. How great is that?

I was very nice and she was very pleasant. Dress looked fabulous!!!

Thanks Mumsnetters!!