Back to work after 6 years, wardrobe help needed please

[hazbaz]

As above really, after 6+ years of jeans & jumpers & sticky fingers, I have a job & I'm stressing about what on earth to wear!!

I'm size 14/16, curvy of thigh, bum & boob. The office is small and local, smart casual.

Where should I start to look? Budget is limited but prepared to pay a bit for some key pieces. What trouser style is going to suit me & look vaguely on trend...

Plus it's school hours so have to go pick up 2 small boys straight after work.

Any help much appreciated, thanks

Cigarette trousers are everywhere at the minute and there's some really lovely ones! For lower budget, George at ASDA have lots of gorgeous patterns. I'll be getting a pair from there hopefully in a couple of months time (I'm 36 weeks pregnant!). There's also an alternative to cigarette trousers which are similar but a bit more relaxed, with an elasticated waistband. Again, ASDA have some and I've also seen a lovely grey pair in Next, too. Either type of trousers would go well with heels or flats!

Oh and good luck with the new job!

I'm getting clothes together for a new job, also smart casual. One of my best buys has been a blazer which goes with everything and looks smart but is easy to chuck on. Changes cigarette trousers and a plain top into an "outfit". My came from H and M and wasn't expensive.

Another useful buy is a leather jacket, although this might be too casual for you. Mine is fake so wasn't expensive and again can be worn with anything, I like it over a dress with a cardi. Fake ones are very very good nowadays. Mine is similar to this www.amazon.co.uk/ONLY-Women-BANDIT-BIKER-Black/dp/B00DVI6V1U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427184035&sr=8-1&keywords=only+jacket+women

The only thing I have spent a bit more on is shoes. I bought expensive ballet flats that look smart and are comfortable. I find cheap ones hard on my feet and tend to quickly look shabby. I don't get on with heels.

Congrats on new job and good luck starting. I'm nervous...don't like being the newbie!

Thanks both for the replies. I did some disorganised shopping today but am really struggling to find trousers that don't make my bum & thighs look enormous.

I'm not really a leather jacket lover - not cool enough - but a blazer might make me feel smarter. I think a large part of the problem is it's such unfamiliar territory, I was working in big companies up in London before & the people who interviewed me were men, tricky to get a handle or how smart to go. Thanks anyway

There's another thread going at the moment about elasticated waist trousers, some super smart but comfy ones linked there. Good luck with the new job.

As hazbaz it sounds like you've given up already!
Embrace the curves, wear a bold lipstick and a bit of tinted moisturiser to distract! It always works!
How about some black cigarette trousers which you might find more slimming, with a khaki wrap over long sleeve top? There's plenty of those around too as khaki is the 'in' colour at the minute!
Don't give up

Ive just returned to work after 6 years too in a smart casual office environment. I find trousers and blouses very restrictive and just 'not me' so I've been wearing black and grey marino wool dresses from Cos with opaques and black suede ankle boots (that sort of dip down at the front) and statement necklaces. Hair tied up and nice make up, sometimes red lippy to brighten up the look. I feel like I've made the effort but am still comfortable.

Ive no idea what to wear in the warmer months tho. Im thinking ankle grazer trousers, top and penny loafers?

www.cosstores.com/ie/Women/Sale/Dresses_Skirts/Leather_panel_merino_dress/7060348-22202714.1#c-24479

I wear this dress with tights and boots. And more similar style dresses.

Not sure how old you are but ROMAN do some decent dresses.
Very work-like though.
So if you are young then ignore this!
Or nice wrap dresses from ASOS?
HERE

CoconutAmericano I LOVE the sounds of your work wardrobe! I really like that dress you linked to - do you have any more?

hazbaz I think a small fitted jersey blazer would really work for you if your office is smart casual. There are loads of them about and they look great with a nice simple top and a scarf or necklace. Dark coloured trousers, navy, dark grey etc, maybe black. Go in somewhere like GAP or a department store and try on loads of styles and you will find the shape that suits you best.

Or how about a skirt / dress?

It can be daunting, I know. I too went back to work 2 yrs ago after 6yr as a sahm and I went back at a very senior level. It is a creative field though and very laid back smart casual. I had to define for myself a sort of level of dressing that carried some authority and yet wasn't off-putting for the field I am in. I have it narrowed down to slim or skinny jeans (only dark and smart, very dark indigo, black, charcoal) or trousers with a nice blouse / top and a fitted blazer if having meetings, cardigan if office based. Nice necklaces / scarves and decent bag & coat (I have quite a few now that I rotate) and good leather ankle boots or brogues for me work well.

I rarely wear skirts / dresses to work anymore but plan to start again this spring.

I might check out coconutamericano's dress this weekend.....

Thank you kitekit! I am eyeing up this dress too but have to try it on first

www.cosstores.com/ie/Women/Sale/Dresses_Skirts/Silk_collar_knit_dress/7060348-18484237.1#c-24479

I love the sleeve length

i LOVE that one too, and the fact that it is navy. I especially liked the styling on the first dress, at 5ft 9" I would like to wear it with slim fitting trousers and lace-ups like the model. Gorgeous!

Im 5 foot 9 too and its perfect length.

Ah yes, but you're probably 25 and a wispy size 8......

I, on the other hand am 45 and a size 12 so my short dress as work wear days are most likely over :-)

Nope! 38 and also a size 12. I get away with it with my 200 denier tights!

Fantastic next question: where can I get 200 denier tights? (if you were being serious? I dream of such tights - basically leggings with feet!)

Primark! Actually they do 300 denier too for proper winter weather . The ones i buy have socks attached to the bottom!

I've got a new job starting soon and felt the need for something a bit different along these lines, and I've just bought this. It looks great on, smart casual and not as short as it looks on the picture, on me it's just slightly above the knee.
Topshop

Thanks coco (I reckon we're on shortened name terms now no?) I will dash into primark after work tomorrow and stock up! Hope they have colours other than black too.

OP sorry for hijacking your thread - hope you find some nice work clothes

We are kite lol. I was in there yesterday and they were selling them off due to weather warming up.

I'd better get in there fast so. Having said that its lashing, windy and freezing here today....

Aaah thanks everyone - yesterday was pretty depressing, made me feel old, clueless & frumpy! Hoping maybe online shopping is my friend, off on holiday tomorrow so can browse at leisure & re look through all these links. Thanks again

H&M are good for inexpensive work clothes but their sizing is all over the place. I have several pairs of trousers from there that fit but are all different sizes from size 12 to 16. I have a size 14 smart dress that fits like a glove and another is a size 16 that's too tight.

I'm personally not a fan of cigarette trousers or peg leg style trousers. I think they make my bum look huge. I think it's a good look on skinny people but I'm a size 14 with a tummy and big boobs and they just don't work for me. Maybe if your shape is more balanced than me it will look fine. I like loose fit smart trousers with a fitted top. The trousers make my tummy look smaller and balance the boobs. Not sure if it's the most up to date style but it think I look smart and slimmer.

I second a blazer, smartens up any outfit. I would also advise buying a good warm cardigan. In my experience offices fluctuate between basking hot to Antarctic cold over the course of a shift. It's a constant battle of people fucking around with adjusting the air conditioning because they are too hot / cold.