Workwear chatty thread Part 2

[BelindaAllWorkedOut]

Let's talk workwear. Maybe a little bit of non workwear fashion chat, too.

My blog is at theworkwearedit.com but our chat goes above and beyond that.

Thanks for adding 'how to dress when you are petite' to your 'to do' list! Liking the 'dress-down Friday' suggestion too.

In the meantime, have any other shorties (5ft 1) out there managed to find a decent pair of black work trousers?

Next sizing tends to be good, but am not liking all the polyester....

PS before you all start flagging Boden. I've tried there, and while the quality is fantastic, I find the petite sizes still too long...

Both Banana Republic and Gap do petite ranges. The BR petite range works for me, quite well, although they don't have all things in petite. I think J Crew so petite, too.

Looking for photos I took of the Mango jacket.

I think Giovanna wears things that many women could copy or adapt for their figures. Ditto Natalie Massenet. Both are glam and feminine, but not too extreme in their looks.

Numpty: I've bought two pairs of trousers from Zara in recent months (one black, one navy). Length is ok as they're meant to be ankle skimmers but look a little longer on me. Polyester though.
Zara sizing on hip/waist/thigh is better than most brands I think for petite people. The lengths are long but that's easier to get altered than hip/waist alterations.

Banana Republic petite trousers used to be ok a few years ago but alas no longer. And agree Boden is hopeless on petite sizing.

I thought I might write a petite clothing blog but then realised there is so little that fits without alteration that it would be a very 'short' blog (short...get it?)

Probably the dark one for me, as I don't look great in that cream and already have some light ones. The fabric is good, just depends on the fit, for me.

Numpty I am 5ft 3 and really like the Mango Shanghai ones - I think Belinda tried them in her blog.

I have them in navy with a turn-up and they are just above the ankle when standing but you may need to size down. I got a 10 and they are a bit baggy round the bum after I have worn them for a couple of hours.

Thanks Belinda. The cream may not be for me so, if it's very creamy, I find it hard to get cream right. I can look a bit unwell if it's very buttery. Not sure about the dark one. I might hold out for the zara one. I think you tried on the Zara one?

Numpty - I'd second Mango, just passed by them and lots of black trousers in Zara-ish small sizes. Agree size down for both though.

I did try the Shanghai from Mango - good fit for me.

Re the Mango blazers, the good thing is that these are all multi coloured, so the cream has some silver through it (see fabric pic), which makes it cooler / less warm cream. The navy has black and white through it, too.

Let me quickly check your link, but if it's the Zara navy and black £90 blazer, then I am hoping it goes in the sale as it looks like it might be a smaller cut and is unlined. I actually want a sort of cardi, but smarter, so I can fit it under coats in winter. I struggle w blazers under coats.

Ah, yes it's the £90 (!) blazer. Very chic but quite £££. I tried it on - it's on the blog. I liked it in S, but thought it too £££.

Thanks! Could you help me find the Shanghai trousers? I don't see anything with that name on Mango's site?

Oh silver thread on the Mango jacket sounds ok. Will look a bit closer tonight. I am in need of a pale neutral jacket. Is that Zara jacket unlined?

Numpty, these are the Shanghai trousers

haha depends where you work.

Finally does leave thread is really too conservative and worky and I am freelance working in artsville! Will stick to the other one .

Oh but hope you all don't mind me nicking some of the ideas have been asked to do a small fashion column !

Christ. You should have seen jumsuit woman. Just looked so wrong. We all went

What the one I have? Its very smart I was wondering if too smart lol

Dunno. Didn't look at yours as for me they are in the same bracket as onesies.

This looked wrong though just not professional.

Thats odd I think it depends Most of my mates professionals and I think they would wear it. Maybe not in school though not sure of etiquette for school. Not like a onesie though .

So glad I found this thread. I need help with finding an interview outfit. It's for a customer service position in a bank. I'm not sure how smart I have to look (my last job before DC was working with animals and wearing boiler suits, so what do I know?)

Should I wear a suit? Does it have to be black?

Hi enormouse and welcome!

A few questions, is it customer facing? In a previous life I was a fresh faced graduate trainee bank employee. We had subtle rules to follow - what I remember...

No sleeveless tops
A jacket must match trousers/skirt, not same fabric but no clashes
No stiletto heels, only block but heels always
Heels should be subtle and compliment outfit colour (navy with navy etc.)
Patterns were a no,no

Dresses were fine (sleeves if you want to wear on it's own) with a cardigan in the summer, but for interview I would carry a jacket if too hot to wear

Subtle handbag if you have one

Tights, no bare legs

Think about the uniform they put the bank staff in and go from there

That's great littlepink, thanks. Not customer facing, does that alter what's acceptable?

I was thinking navy or dark grey suit (I look terrible in black) with a simple shirt/blouse and court shoes.

No it doesn't alter it, just trying to picture the interview situation and if you would be in a staff uniform of sorts (so very simple but well turned out would be best) or if you could go for stronger colours or a pattern.

What you are suggesting sounds great, the temperature might be the only issue at the moment with formal workwear.

Oh yeah - very simple jewellery and no tattoos on show.

Have you seen how the staff dress?

The staff uniform is black suits with white shirts and hints of red for customer facing staff. I'm sure you can guess which bank it is now . From what I can tell its standard corporate office wear for other staff

My natural inclination is to be quirky so I'm trying to tone it down.

I'd go for a conservative suit, but you can always wear slightly funky shoes eg animal print, metallic toe cap, coloured courts. It makes you more memorable, but doesn't distract / cause the interviewer difficulties imagining you in the team.