Not suits, not jeans: what to wear to this sort of job

[vvviola]

Had a "meet the team" morning at my new job (admin at a university - in NZ, so clothing in general a little more casual)

I think I pretty much hit the mark for clothes in the office (black straight skirt, red & white floral top, dressy low-ish heels)

Problem is, after 3 years of maternity leave/student life, and umpteen years before that in ultra-formal suit-wearing world, I not only have nothing to wear, but have no idea what to buy.

Someone on my other thread (about what to wear for a "meet the team day") said they wear trousers plus blouse to a similar sort of job, and there was certainly quite a lot of that style in evidence plus a stunning grey maternity shift dress on the woman I'm replacing. But I'm quite overweight and I don't feel comfortable or look good in that style. And buying trousers is a trauma as whatever fits me around my middle is horrible and baggy around my thighs & legs.

Any suggestions for me?
(Size 16/18, 5 foot 4, 36DD, good legs, losing weight hopefully fairly conservative dresser)

I'd think about wearing your suits, if they still look good and fit? If the woman you are replacing was wearing a stunning shift dress I think formal suits would look fine.

I work in university admin in the UK and wear suits/shift dress+jacket or stylish dresses with boots or heels. I don't have a good shape for formal trousers so never wear them. If I have a casual day (no meetings, just desk work) I will wear jeans and feel fine about it as long as I have good shoes and accessories.

My suits don't fit anymore :(

They will again hopefully, but that's probably a while away still.

Other than that one stunning dress (which I probably noticed more because I could neither find not wear that sort of dress when I was a beached whale pregnant), there really was nobody else in a suit. I'd be more formal than both my line manager and the academic I'd be working for. Not sure how that would go down.

Dresses I could do though, if I can find smart/non-sexy/well-fitting ones, and figure out whether my old favourites are suitable or just make me look frumpy and fat.

don't dress to academic standards - most of the ones I encounter are scruffy as anything!

Can you get some basic, reasonable quality jersey tops / t-shirts? I am from NZ and on visits home have never found any clothes I liked, so I feel for you.

I do buy icebreaker merino t shirts in NZ, which look and feel good - your straight skirt with a scoop / v-neck top in the same colour as the skirt would look fine (an XL in the icebreaker range will fit you) I'd wear that with micronet tights and fab shoes but that's down to personal taste.

Tell us about your dresses? And what else is in the cupboard that fits and you feel good in?

What about wrap dresses? If it is too low layer a scoop neck tee or pretty camisole underneath. Wear with knee length boots or opaque tights in the winter. Sandals or court shoes in the summer. Jacket or cardigan over the top if needed. By summer though you may well have lost that extra weight. If you look and feel attractive then you will be happier, you don't neccessarily have to wear trousers just because they are. ( I know New Zealand women love trouser suits). Go to one of those outlet centres if there is one near you and pick up a few dresses and change the look with different jackets. Bias cut skirts to skim over your stomach and a wrap top over the top and a jacket or longline cardigan. Try David Lawerence ( are they Australian?) for comfortable, conservative but with lovely detail, work wear.

Ok, the dresses:
All empire line (I think - fall from a gathered point just under the bust), but not acres of material. 2 jersey material with 3/4 length sleeve - one is dark blue with white floral pattern, other is black with white paisley pattern. 2 in a lighter material, short sleeve, more material - one with red and navy abstracty flowers on a white background, the other black circles on white.

Have actually remembered a 5th dress - sleeveless jersey wrap around with pleated skirt in black and brown tigery stripes (actually more conservative than it sounds).

That's it. Other than a couple of work shirts and the outfit I wore yesterday, I've nothing else that looks in any way decent. And I suspect the 3 jersey dresses will be too warm to wear to work for at least another month or so.

Am reading back over the other advice now, thanks :)

Bumping up because I've done a huge sort through my wardrobe, so the final lot of "stuff that fits or almost fits" is:

• the five dresses
• a few work shirts
• one pair of grey trousers, leg too wide and a little short
• a few nice tweedy skirts that will look ok in winter (coming soon here in Nz)
• two long-ish patterned skirts that are a little too tight in the waist and probably a little frumpy in length (worth shortening? Have a great seamstress)
• one black skirt suit
• red floral top

With the exception of the suit (plus shirt/red top) I don't think I have a decent complete outfit among the lot.

I have a load of v-neck faux cashmere jumpers which would be lovely with the trousers/skirts, but I have a lot more weight to lose before they are a realistic option.

Help!

Doesn't sound too bad, you know.

The sleeveless dress sounded good, so while it's still warm you have that, the straight skirt with floral top and the other shirts and can you get away with one or two of the jersey dresses on cooler days?

I make that six or seven outfits that you can wear right now.

The grey trousers don't sound good, how do you feel when you wear them?

Have you got any cash available at the moment? Seriously, I would wear the outfits I noted above and buy a couple of jersey tops to wear instead of the cashmere-type ones until those fit. Think of it as a capsule wardrobe.

If you are losing weight, I'd think about buying shoes, unusual tights and accessories to make your limited wardrobe look different, rather than buying a lot of new clothes. How's the losing going?

Vvv, try on the dresses you have, complete with shoes and accessories etc. See which one you feel most comfortable in :)
Choose the most comfortable and the most plain and then wear a cool necklace with it. Then paint your nails in a colour that picks up the colour in the necklace.

Food luck, I'm so pleased for you!!!

Aaargh, I was in a hurry, sorry for the typos!

Thanks HellOnHeels, you've calmed me down quite a bit. I think it doesn't help that my style has changed quite a bit since I last had occasion to dress for work (I've rediscovered that I have good legs, can get away with more dramatic jewellery than I thought and have realised that wide trousers + short and overweight isn't a good look)

I have some money coming in a while, so could get some new trousers and some accessories when that happens (and new glasses)

KiaOra - do we "know" each other from elsewhere on the site (did you NC?). Good to get what I'm presuming is a Kiwi view. It really is amazing that despite how similar Ireland and NZ are there are some things (like appropriate work attire) that have so many subtle differences!

:)
No kiwi connection whatsoever though.

How's it going vvv? Have you started work yet?

Hurrah to good legs and dramatic jewellery, bet you look lovely

Replied on the other thread HellOnHeels, but wanted to reply here too.

Started this week. Clothes going well, I think. I'm also wearing my contacts and putting on proper makeup every day which makes me feel smarter too.

I missed on the first read-through that you are from NZ - so you know what I am up against, availability wise. But, I think a few solid colour tops and cardigans to go with my various dresses and skirts shouldn't be too hard to find, even here.

I am determined not to get frumpy.

(I have also discovered some skirts from nice material that are probably too long on me, but I have a fantastic alterations place so may see if they can shorten them for me - they worked wonders on a sun dress last year)