Workwear Chatty Part 3 - theworkwearedit blog

[Littlepinkpear]

Starting thread 3 already! Who knew we could make it to 2000 posts on pencil skirts and sensible footwear

Me too. And shoes. I think I like shoes even more than bags.

treated myself to this recently

Like its styling a lot but suspect the leather may be a bit light...

The Autograph shoes and bags are excellent quality, and almost always stylish and non-badged. Bag looks good!

www.marksandspencer.com/pure-silk-front-knot-blouse/p/p22292565

Bought this silk blouse in m&s and it is lovely. 100% silk so lovely and non-sweaty. Good thickness of silk - I wore a nude colour lace bra under and it wasn't obvious. The tie thing I wore in a loose knot hanging down rather than pussybow style. Thoroughly recommend and £65 is not bad for silk I think. Will have to see how it washes though...

That does look elegant. I think £65 for silk is about right. I'm hoping Banana Republic do some thick silk shirts, too. The Massimo Dutti ones look good, but are more sheer than I would like. It's such a common problem w shirts. It's almost like you need an arsenal of good nude underwear like vests and bras etc.

Although I have a good friend who hates anyone seeing his nipples through shirts, so wears a vest under his cotton business shirts. Am laughing as I type.

Well now! I've enjoyed looking at those, so thank you ladies.

I had thought about the Longchamps, but I have only seen the tiny one in RL and really wasn't sure. Do the bigger ones look good, really really?

The Cos one is the same shape as my new black one and I find it an inconvenient one. I need to get other bags to keep my stuff together inside it. Otherwise, lovely bag.

The BR one is lovely but a bit too formal for what I want / need.

I had completely rejected this season's GAP leather bags for too expensive for what they are, but I seem to have overlooked that one and I think it is a really pretty colour especially for the price.

I can only get the M+S link to bring up a page of bags so I'm not sure which one you meant. Some nice ones there though, but not the one...

Supper on the beach weather will be over at this rate!

Love the blouse BTW. I can't justify any more white/cream/pink silk blouses though. I adore them endlessly, but not even my kids notice when I get a new one any more.

The big ones look much better that I would have expected, they are classic chic I think. Nice subtle sheen to the material and the leather is a nice touch. For what you want it seems ideal. Keep an eye out, you might be surprised how many people have one. You'd def need to see it in rl tho!

Thanks. I shall have a look at the colours too.

Well, after spending quite a bit of time and effort getting the & Other Stories warm ivory fringed blouse, it looks awful on me. I should have known, really, that the style wouldn't suit me, but persisted anyway. It's now gone back.

Did I mention that the beige leather pouch is perfect? I'll look for the link.

Obv neither are really workwear, although the blouse would be perfect for dress down Friday or a casual workplace.

This is the pouch / clutch. www.stories.com/gb/Sale/Bags/Leather_pouch/590753-2693898.1

These silver slippers are coming soon to & Other Stories. I plan to buy them as they are gorgeous in real life and are £45 - excellent value for money IMO www.stories.com/gb/Richard_Braqo_Slippers/594756-1729487.1

The pouch looks really lovely, Belinda.

I'm pleased with myself because I managed to get a Baukjen dress, brand new with tags, for a fiver in a charity shop today! I'm hoping it will be okay for work in Autumn/Winter with opaques and heeled ankle boots.

The Baukjen dresses are made of lovely thick jersey, aren't they? Funnily enough, the closest charity shop to me had a blue Baukjen dress in it, last week, but for more ££ than a fiver . It was size 14, though, so too big for me. The weight of jersey is key, no? Thin jersey over my rear end = heinous. Thick jersey = less of a problem although still not ideal

The ouch is so fab, if anyone is looking for a clutch to match their Coast Celita spiked heels, it's a good toning neutral. Just saying...

Adelia is online bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?cid=1015250&vid=1&pid=000970241U014-17576

Haven't actually tried it on properly yet - hopefully the jersey will have good arse-skimming properties.

It feels nice and heavy, though, like the Me+Em dresses, so hopefully will be fine and good.

Just tried it on. The jersey is lovely and heavy and drapey and it fits like a glove. Will need sucker-inner tights for perfect smoothness, but I'm really pleased with it. It's a perfect length too - just on the knee. I'd heard that they tended to come up really long, so think I've been v lucky there!

Well done!!

I really like the Baukjen jersey stuff. Had things from isBella Oliver in my second pregnancy (when I realised that just buying bigger trousers from marks was not the sensible couse during pregnancy ....). The jersey is really fab it washes so well, hangs well, doesn't seem to fade or bobble. The maternity wear I bought from io did two of my pregnancies, and has done both sils and one work collegue twice too, which I think is a bit of a testimony to quality. They have some lovely things in Baukjen for this aw.

Have just done the BR Roland mouret. Pretty disappointing. None of the dresses are lined. Have tried on sloane fabric dresses and skirts which are unlined before, and they all went back. Honestly, 85 to 99 quid for an unlined dress is having a larf. They just look cheap. Was going to order the long sleeve colour block dress but my son said it was hideous. And I think he's right there.

So I ordered the pencil skirts in black and pink and the zip up black collarless jacket because it is like one that the prime minister wears in borgen .... Who knows about sizing though, BR is so hit and miss, and although generally you have to size down, this is workwear, so you don't want fit skin tight. The skirts are lined, allegedly.

I thought that there was much more in the general BR collection which was workwear friendly than the mouret stuff. This dress bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?cid=1006131&vid=1&pid=000980202U014-17340 although again unlined this bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?cid=5039&vid=1&pid=000970458U014-17659 and of course my lovely shoes I am waiting for a code before I buy bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?cid=95157&vid=1&pid=000970241U014-17539

Brillenbar - I really should have invested in Isabella Oliver at the start of my first pregnancy instead of getting half way through my 2nd (and last) pregnancy and realising I hated my maternity clothes. It was too late then. I got so huge w twins that it was pointless trying to drape or ruche or anything, I just was enormous. Anyway, the point is, I agree that good, heavy jersey is worth buying.

Well, go, Brillenbar - you are on Banana Republic like an Easter bonnet! Unlined fitted dresses are awful. I hope to go to BR tomorrow and have a butchers.

Oh, I found another workwear blog: www.boardroomstylewatcher.com

Like a couple of the little jackets on there, Belinda.

Some of the outfits are really good, aren't they?!

And some are, erm, less so. :)

I like this one and hpw beautiful is this woman's smile? Am rather fond of little cropped jackets. :)

Cropped jackets are great. I have quite a few - can't wear longline ones. She does have a great smile, I agree.