Young professional look

[goingmadinthecountry]

My dad is currently going for interviews in the legal profession- she's 21 and wants to look very smart but not older than she is. Can anyone point us towards some labels she might like? Jackets in particular are proving problematic - what do edgy young professionals wear these days? I'm 51 and a teacher so totally out of the loop! Shoes are also an issue - she doesn't want to wear big heels but mid heels are yuck. She has v smart patent loafers but is open to ideas. All ideas gratefully received.

She's 5'7, brunette, pale, size 12 but really just wants a starting point that isn't where I might shop!!

Whoops dd not dad - he is 87 and retired!

I'd look in Tk Maxx, ASOS and Primark. For shoes, I can't really wear heels due to foot issues so if I need smart ones then I look for flat with a pointy toe or smart boots if the weather's right.

Ooh she's in law. Take a look in Hobbs I think.

mango

John lewis

I'd go for Mango, Zara & even Topshop. For shoes I usually aim for Office or Dune. Mango has a particularly good range of white shirts at the mo - good luck!

See, I thought Hobbs but it just seems quite old. She bought a Mango jacket today and at home it just looked a bit ...beige despite being black. If Hobbs is really where young lawyers buy their clothes I'll keep on at her. It's a hard stage I think, especially if you are quirky by nature. Thought today's shopping was good but she came home and tried it on and was a bit deflated. She has a couple of good shirts from Pink/ Charles Tyrwhitt or similar.

Think maybe a bigger shopping centre - very few jackets around today. Stratford or Bluewater?

Try Ted Baker, Reiss, Banana Republic. All good options for young lawyers. (I'm a not so young one but used to buy a lot of work clothes from Ted Baker and Reiss in my early-mid twenties.)

Aw I was really hoping it was your dad I'm not much help with labels but I just wanted to say that the legal profession is pretty conservative so I would stay well away from anything edgy or quirky. In fact if you're a teacher she could do a lot worse than borrow something of yours!

Seriously I hope it goes well.

Thanks for all the ideas! Only a small Ted Baker today but she does love their stuff.

Try TM Lewin or even M and S for suits, Hobbs and LK Bennett for dresses/tops, Mango, Zara and French Connection for funkier bits. Id go for something very plain, black or grey, which can be jazzed up with tops and jewellery

Haha OK goingmad, I'm obviously useless at this! I think mycat's ideas are better! (I still think she should at least look at hobbs' website.)

I work in an office of gorgeously dressed young women! In fact I like to think I was one of them before I got pregnant

Are the offices she's interviewing at very corporate ie suits for all? If not, I would suggest the following:

Blazers - at least one black but don't all have to be, prints and bright colours (if acceptable in her offices) will keep the look fresh and not age her. I would suggest river island and miss selfridge for these, topshop also do very well tailored ones.

Dresses - can be from anywhere as long as they're smart, for her age I would suggest river island, topshop, Zara, oasis

Blouse/shirt style tops - shops as above

Slim fit black trousers - as above

Shoes - when I wear heels to work I tend to wear medium heel to work to be honest as I couldn't go all day in the very high ones I would wear on a night out/to a wedding etc, Dorothy Perkins and new look do some which really aren't yucky as long as you get the right style - eg leopard print to brighten up a plain dress and pointy ones. There's some on the DP website at the minute which have a skinny metallic heel. Also ankle boots might be appropriate in the A/W, fringed ones are still very in and again they give a plainer dress a fresh look.

Add accessories to keep outfits looking fun and varied. These I would always get somewhere cheap like primark as they're no worse quality than what's three times the price in topshop etc.

I miss my pre-pregnancy clothes! Good luck to her x

Get onto Pinterest and search a few terms like contemporary office outfits etc for inspiration.

Just realised you asked about shoes too. Loafers would be fine. Most of us tend to wear heels when walking around the office/going to meetings and flats to and from work, but there are no hard and fast rules as long as shoes are smart (and generally black).

Thanks all - lots to look at. She's doing interviews for training contracts so wants to really look the part. More shopping tomorrow! Ah well, tidying the dining room can wait another day.

Is this just for interview or for work generally? In a professional job it's useful to have at least one proper boring black suit, and that is always fine for interviews, can dress it up with interesting/colourful blouse shirt or necklace.

If she gets the job then she can expand her wardrobe with more tops/skirts/jackets/smart trousers to mix and match

It's for interviews. Think I just need to tell her she has to dress like a grown up.

I think Jigsaw has stylish and feminine but still professional looking office wear: Jigsaw. Hobbs is nice too but a bit older looking I think. I have also bought some great office wear from JCrew who now deliver to the UK, although the prices can be high (but excellent quality and very stylish): JCrew

(I'm not a lawyer but with with lawyers, if that's any help...)

Dress like a grown up. Law is still very corporate and a lot of the big firms are not quite ready for edginess. She can let her sartorial personality out once she's got a contract!

she needs to look professional, smart and work appropriate. do not under any circumstances go to Topshop, Asos or primark.

banana republic, reiss, mango, ted baker, LK bennett. she needs a suit, a neutral top and some heels she can walk in.

law is very conservative and first impressions count. i think flats would be fine but i'd be inclined to go for a simple court shoe. practice walking in them.

keep the make up and accessories minimal. personality is for later. she needs to look like the type of employee that can go to client meetings and dinners.

(i'm a lawyer btw)

Happy daughter. LK Bennett dress bought, jacket bought and she agrees heels work better. All very conservative but beautifully made and all dark grey/black.She has no problem walking in heels but is practising! She has a great pair from work experience from when she was in tribunals etc. Thanks, all. She loved the feel of clothes not from H and M/Topshop etc! I'm feeling a bit poorer but such is life.