Unusual work wardrobe: help needed!

[GinTotingCaterpillar]

I have a dilemma: I am hoping for a stylish work wardrobe, as I am stuck in a rut. This is not so unusual, as S&B requests go.

I need black or grey.

This is the unusual part, the bit of my wardrobe that cannot be changed, everything needs to go with the attached.

You see my problem. Especially as I am 5'4 with a pronounced hourglass figure and G cups. Nice.

Frankly, my role often makes me seem stuffy enough (I'm not, honest), I really don't need my wardrobe to underline this impression.

I would like to move on from the 'whatever is clean and black' look and embrace a more stylish 2016. Can you help me?!

For added information, I'm 35, size ten, blonde-ish shoulder-length hair with cool colouring. Happy to spend a bit on quality, prefer that to crappy throwaway clothes, but we're not exactly rolling in money (funny, that).

What should I wear?!

I can't speak for others but I am Church of England (and not quite a priest yet though on the way there).

I wonder if there is a slight misunderstanding of what it means to be on duty when you're a priest. Being on duty isn't only when you are conducting a service - you are just as much on duty if you are visiting someone, or at a coffee morning, or a school governors meeting, or praying alone in your study - or for that matter in the supermarket. You're on duty being a priest all the time that you're not working, and for many people taking off their clericals is a way of telling yourself (and other people) ' I'm now off duty'.

There are differences - some Evangelical priests (who'd probably use the term minister instead) object to wearing clerical clothing at all. Some choose to wear coloured or patterned shirts. Generally speaking, the higher church you are, the more likely you will be to wear black clericals.

Re embellishing your uniform, the problem is there isn't a standard uniform -except when you are conducting services, when you're expected to wear robes. For women priests clothing is a particular challenge as many of us feel very uncomfortable in standard clerical shirts. The challenge is to find a work wardrobe that is appropriate, helps you to feel competent in your role and doesn't cost the earth (clergy pay being fairly low).

Sorry, just to finish answering Calzone's question, you might wear clericals from the time you get up till the time you go to bed; or you might have an evening which is not work time and change, and on your ( one ) day off per week you definitely don't wear them - you just wear normal clothes.

Then if you are leading a service you will normally wear robes (black cassock and/or surplice, White cassock/stole and possibly chasuble/Dalmatic -these are more ceremonial kinds of robes).

Thanks for answering my questions. :)

Do you mind me asking questions? I may have more.....

What about (especially if your top half more fitted) an a line midi skirt? La redoute have a lovely one in Camel which would go.I think??

Could you wear something like a velvet A line skirt? I know someone through work who wears the collar with a black shirt and she often wears Boden skirts and cashmere cardigans.

Calzone very happy to answer questions

About collar wearing: what niminy said! It's a public statement, which you can't really do as effectively any other way.

I am also CofE.

I like the idea of midi skirts. I have worn them with fitted tops before, so that might work.

PS: I'm not a priest yet either! Happy to answer questions though.

Our vicar has a fine line of Hawaiian shirts when he's undercover.

Maybe go for 'a look' - plain black trousers but a mad coloured/patterned tank top?

I'd argue that doctors are "on duty" all the time too. As in if they saw an I'll person they wouldn't walk on by. Many of tnem are scholl governors etc because of the status given to them from their job. But they don't need to wear special clothes.

The vicar at the very very conservative and tiny church in the village where I live doesn't wear the collar. He strides about in jeans and a t shirt or sweater with a logo on it which looks like a cross but I don't like to get too close:) he held the nativity looking like a London weekend dad:)

That's not very helpful is it?:) just wear normal clothes? Your goodness will shine through.

MrsLeigh probably S&B isn't the place to get into a debate on the rights and wrongs of religion. Most doctors, of course, feel they have a moral duty to help passers by in distress. But that's not quite the same thing as being on duty.

Priests are one of very few occupations left that have a recognised form of occupational clothing. I think you will find that hospital doctors take off their white coats when they leave work - and emergencies aside they are no longer 'in role'. For most priests the collar is a way of signifying that you are 'in role'.

Lavendarhoney I explained earlier that there are differences between how different theological viewpoints see the collar. The OP (and I come to that) sees the collar as important - and doesn't want to be the kind of conservative evangelical who spurns them.

Who's debating the rights and wrings of religion?

*wrongs

Sorry, jumped to a wrong conclusion

I just wondered why it has to be black or grey? My vicar often wears a clerical collar in a shirt that is pink or pale blue rather than black. If she wears a black shirt then it will often be with a burgundy or bottle green suit.

It also depends on circumstances. If she's turning up for kids club or something more informal than that then she'll wear jeans and a cardigan with her shirt and collar.

Slightly derailing the thread, but just wanted to say I love the fact that you wear your clerical shirt and collar. Both rector and curate at my middle-of-the-road CofE church refuse and it really upsets me.

Love some of the dress ideas on this thread!

Funnily enough mrsmortis it's easier to get clerical shirts in all kinds of colours than it is to get non-shirt clerical tops! I really, really hate wearing shirts - I don't have a single one in my wardrobe - and live in t-shirt-y tops. This is proving a challenge when it comes to clerical wear!

By the way gintotingcaterpillar I had an idea for you. How about a wrap top (something like this over a shirt/bibstock? That would get over the 'expanse of black bosom' issue.

A good look is to have a jacket, tailored or structured, that you can put on over whatever top and trousers/skirt you chose to wear. Some kind of flecked or patterned or boucle fabric so it will go with a lot of things in either black or grey. I do this at work. I spend the maximum possible on the jackets and save money on the other components because the jackets (esp long ones) hide a multitude of sins. If you want to be more casual, do a cardigan jacket. I found three examples that I like:

Oh, and I think the ultimate cost a lot, last an age black (and navy) mix and match separates for smart work dressing are from Paddy Campbell.

www.vice.com/en_uk/read/british-female-priest-fashion-940

They look nice. Maybe try the company cross designs?