Best Place for Workwear

[StarDustMonkey]

Just that really! I am looking to get started on my career, and need to sort out a professional wardrobe instead of just jeans and hoodies!

I am 27 and need smart trousers, tops, suit etc.

Thanks you!

Check out Belinda's website
theworkwearedit.com/

Dresses - Hobbs, Phase Eight, Laura Ashley, LK Bennett, Whistles, Jaeger

Suiting - Jigsaw

Separates - Banana Republic, Massimo Dutti, M and S

OP - no need to spend loads….

Blinners fab website (Belinda) - has Mango, Warehouse and H&M.

Mango are excellent for suits, work dresses, cardigans etc - Warehouse ditto though not tried their work dresses. Also nice for blouses.

for what brands Ballroom suggests I would honestly try Ebay, outlet stores of these brands and sales. In my local dept store they plummet in price in the sales.

Thank you :) I'll check all those out. Oh and thank you Djangor, that website looks very good for some inspiration. I have a whole new style I need to discover now!

You can also get suits (skirt not sure about trouser) in Warehouse for approx 100 GBP - they also seem well made.

If you're thinking of Zara the blouses are ok and the cardigans (black) are good. The hems on the skirts though I always found to be not sewn very well.

OP - Belinda (workwear edit) posts here and has a thread here too, she's very nice and will answer your questions.

Some stuff at Tesco is really well cut, especially their cigarette pants.

I really like Zara. For cheaper options Dorothy Perkins and H&M are both quite good. I would spend time working out what colours and shapes suit you - a dress in the right cut and colour from Primark could look better than a much more expensive but unflattering one.

Oh and also make sure your clothes go together so you can mix and match outfits easily.

Oh yes Superfly - I only ever buy from sales, outlets and EBay! I'd rather spend £50 on a Hobbs dress from outlet than £50 on a dress from somewhere like Oasis at full price though.

And I also buy bits from H and M and from Tesco - I think the key is to look at Hobbs and blogs etc for the look you want, and often you can recreate it more cheaply, but if you go straight to New Look and buy the best thing in the shop it won't look classy.

Ok, so first go try on clothes to work out what suits me (that'll be a challenge! I have no idea what colours suit me for one). Then look for mix and match pieces.

Do you buy from private sellers or just outlets on ebay Ballroom?

That sounds like a good plan! And go on Pinterest and pin lots of workwear looks you like for inspiration.

I have bought from private sellers but prefer outlets. The most surprising brands can be fakes - I bought a dress that claimed to be Laura Ashley but was horrible cheap non stretchy polyester, took ages to arrive and came from China, label looked nothing like it should! So I'm wary but you can usually tell from feedback.

Thank you :) I created a rather large work wear board on pinterest last night!

These are the sort of styles I like. What are your views?!

Just some more examples of what I am liking!

Based on the pictures you posted, Zara is good. They do a sharpishly tailored suit with skinny trousers very well.

I second Banana Republic, although if you're in you're 20's you can get away with something far more daring. What industry are you in?

Thank you. I am in statistical and data analysis.

Nice pics! A great pair of black cigarette trousers is the holy grail - Gap Ultra Skinny are mine but it depends on your shape - numerous threads on here on the subject seem to suggest Gap, White Company, Cos, Zara and Banana Republic are the places to try for these.

Also - silk shirts from Uniqlo are fab!

I have a lovely little cardigan in a deep maroon from Dorothy Perkins that I wear like the first pic.

Topshop and Mango also worth a look for little jackets. I like Mango workwear, I should head there more often.

For heels - Jones Bootmaker is my go to - in the sales it's the same price as Clarks or M and S.

Thanks for the nice comments, ladies . Some really good tips on this thread about shops to look at etc. I have and love the Gap Uktra Skinny trousers (size down at least once, and expect them to give). In addition, Zara do sell those slim cropped trousers that you like, Stardust - they have some in their new range, for around £30. Let me check and get back to you. I'm size 8-10 and wear XS in the fab Uniqlo silk shirts (don't get the chest pocket ones unless you want a wide fitting shirt) and S in the Zara trousers, 8 in Banana Republic, and 6 in the Gap Ultra Skinny trousers. Just as a point of reference, so you can gauge the various brand fits.

These look similar to the French Vogue editor Pinterest photo you attached (the first photo you uploaded is of Capucine S.). Last season's version came up big so I needed size 8. www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/trousers/belted-trousers-c358005p2409024.html

Hand on heart, I think good workwear (and all other clothes) is about fit and fabric, more than brand and £££.

These are poly cotton, but Zara do these all the time and the fit and fabric thickness are great. Great summer colour. I'd be damned if I'd wear them w Birkenstocks, a huge top and greasy hair, though - not sure what has happened to Zara's website styling?! www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/trousers/cotton-skinny-trousers-c358005p2551501.html

Here are the navy and black version of the pale beige version I linked immediately above. The fit really is v good. I need size S in these www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/trousers/trousers-with-side-zip-c358005p2511514.html

Love the look of the trousers Belinda - though I hate what they have put them with, ugly shoes and ugly top lol

I'll have a look at the gap ultra skinny.

Loads of great suggestions and places to start. Thank you so much.