What to wear to work? Plus shoes....

[Aramynta]

I will be starting a new role at work soon which requires me to be smartly dressed. It's not an office job and "Smart casual" is the general rule so I have bought a couple of plain dresses, tights, blouses, smart tops and nice, work friendly boots for winter.

Any other suggestions? I don't like wearing trousers and will wear leggings with a long shirt or top at a push.

I am also looking for some low heeled and very comfortable black shoes to wear everyday. I want to spend a bit on these for quality, longevity and prevention of blisters as I am required to be on my feet for quite a large amount of the day.

M&S sell a lot of smart work clothes and comfy low heeled shoes. If you want to present yourself as a ' smart, no nonsense person, then I think you should keep it simple.

White blouses from Zara, long cardigans from anywhere, in black, navy, dark green, grey and dark knee length skirts. Hair very tidy. Long hair in a pony tail. Immaculate makeup, not too much but not too little. Think Air Hostess, police woman rather than Katie Price.
Then if it turns out that every one comes in a 'T' shirt and ripped jeans then you can dress down.
If I am entering unknown territory I always like to enter it at my best and most conservative. Think Princess Grace Kelly.

Remember not to trust ANYONE initially until you figure out how the land lies. ( sorry if this advice is patronising ) lots of listening and no revealing anything juicy about yourself until you have been in the job for 25 years!

Waiting to see if anyone responds. I'm looking for smart clothes for business without looking frumpy and take you into the evening as often have to go straight to functions. it takes so long looking in shops and when you do find them often made of yucky polyester.

Given up on Next because of materials.

My conclusion is that finding smart work clothes if you have £££ to spend but is tricky on more modest budgets. My 'budget' work clothes come mainly from M&S with a bit of Next etc thrown in.

This is polyester but I don't think you would know it to look at it and it fits the day to evening criteria. It is a lovely dress - I have it. Sold out online in many sizes though.

www.marksandspencer.com/pleated-bodycon-dress/p/p22397409

John Lewis have a new workwear range which is worth checking out too

M&S Insolia and Clarks are good for comfy workwear

p.s. not sure about leggings for work ..

I wear tube and pencil skirts with t-shirts mainly. Add a jumper or cardy if colder.
I have a couple of shirt dresses which I love.
We have a no jeans rule but can wear black jeggings, which I wear with a smarter fitted shirt.

In my job you can pretty much wear what you want but I aim for smart casual and avoid jeans.
I wear:
Cigarette pants (Next, Boden, M&S)
Wool pencil skirts or tube skirts (Boden, Topshop Gap)
Shirts (Boden, Gap, Banana Republic)
Fitted merino/cashmere sweaters (Gap, Uniqlo, M&S)
Low heel ankle boots or block heel shoes (Clarks, M&S, Dune, Topshop)
Outerwear is usually a black wool blazer or raincoat (Boden, Banana Republic, Topshop)

Absolutely no to leggings.

Clarks or M&S for shoes - Clarks have lots of not v exciting but comfortable work shoes. Here for example. Their ballet shoes are pretty good too, if you'd prefer flats.

Have you got a jacket, for days when you want to feel particularly smart? Maybe a black jersey blazer?

There are some nice 'worky' skirts in the M&S Collection range.