To not want to wear tailored trousers

[operaha]

mostly because I don't really know what they are
I have just started work at a new school. It has been taken over by an academy and they have big plans. One of the shake ups is uniform, which also reflects on staff dress code. I've worked in a number of schools which have ranged from no dress code to smart casual etc and I've always been fine but this place is proper suited and booted and I don't know what to wear!!
Shirt with bow, pencil skirt and black blazer taken from funeral/interview dress but every morning I get stressed thinking I'll get pulled up on it.
I'm a baggy jeans and holey cardigan kind of girl so don't mind getting dressed up but I have no idea what to wear.
I'm a 12, 5ft 4, dark blond, fair skin, 36yo...
Anyone want to dress me?
Ps more likely to shop in Sainsburys than river island if you get me, but send me any ideas, I'm hopeless!
Not a fan of trousers for work unless baggy and flowery but willing to experiment - absolutely nothing skinny or cropped allowed.
How did I get to this age and not know how to do business dress? I want some creative, individual side, I wore my chakra necklace under my blouse today

Fluffy I am for you. Dress is lovely. WEAR IT.

I had years of this. Suits just aren't me but I can just manage a jacket over a dress under duress. I just had a wardrobe of shift dresses especially ones with three quarter length sleeves. Wore them with dark tights and heels or long boots and felt like me. Suits just don't.

personal attacks don't count if you strike them out

fluffy.

Oh and if you've got the patience I've got a fair amount of Hobbs and phase 8 stuff in charity shops for under £10 and their dresses make me look way better than I should do,

Aw thank you. I like it and I don't care if others don't. Justme I don't comment on others clothes because I'm not wearing them. Maybe you should try doing the same, as we were always taught 'if you haven't got anything nice to say...'

Charity shops in affluent areas are usually full of designer brands (some unworn).

I'm a charity shop addict...have found some amazing stuff and it's not REALLY shopping is it...

I have issues with charity shops which is a shame. Not sure why I feel the stuff will never be properly clean even though it is all washed and steamed and thoroughly checked prior to sale. Wish i could get past that as the ones near my work are fabulous and a girl at work gets some brilliant stuff.

Honestly the clothes there are probably cleaner than in my wardrobe!

But I know a lot of people who feel the same as you, it's not uncommon at all but I couldn't cope without charity shops and eBay.

Fastday the daft thing is I know how clean they are as MIL volunteers and buys things and she is pernickety as hell. I might try buying something and see if it gets me past that. If you like eBay try vintner it's 2nd hand clothes and shoes and you can swap as well as buy.

Charity shops are the only reason I'm not entirely dressed in Primark. Cheap basics from Primark augmented with good quality bits from charity shops.

You have to go into charity shops frequently and scan. Maybe one thing in three shops will appeal, fit, and suit.

Ooh thanks I'll give vintner a go.

Have a couple of for your nerves and brave a charity shop. You'll never look back!

Oh no fastday a new place to spend my dwindling funds

Happy to help!

Opera try to look for some plain basic pieces which mix and match and then play about with brighter blouses, shoes or accessories like scarves or jewellery.

Eg a navy jacket, pencil skirt and dress. A couple of print blouses, a couple of plain blouses, a patterned dress and a patterned skirt.

If you make sure that everything goes well together then you have about six different outfits there not including changing the look up with shoes and scarves.

If you get bored every so often pick up a new top or print dress.

If you don't want to spend too much money make sure everything us machine washable, dry cleaning is an expensive pain.

Primark actually do great things for work so try there to pick up some tops etc.

I've been pencil skirt and jacketing it this week and that suits me ok, I think I'm too short for trousers, or at least haven't found any I like so will stick with skirts and love the dress and jacket idea so am going to have a shop for those. Definitely can't wear leggings or tunic type things which was fine in my last job :( can't seem to link but yesterday in Sainsburys, I saw a gorgeous 70s kinda print skirt, flared out... Matched with light jumper in a mustard colour - I love it but wouldn't wear out of work... I have some boots that would go but just don't know if it would be allowed.... I'll have to take a picture when I'm in there tonight and see what you think not in a changing room jeeeez!

I toom a picture in a ganging room of my frock as I sent it to do to ask if it was ok for a particular thing I had chosen it for. I'm getting more into dresses, have always been a trousers/top/cardi kind of person.

That's what I was thinking of doing :) ignore dick heads!

Sainsburys have lovely stuff in now.