Help me smarten up for work!

[Exploretheunexplored23]

Hi everyone

Im 5'7, size 16, 32J boobs. I work in an office environment where company policy is that you must wear a knee length skirt everyday. I want to wear smart work dresses and suits but i cant find anything that fits reasonably and is affordable. I would pay around 25 pounds for a dress or more for a skirt suit.

Please help me!!! I feel so dumpy all the time i just want to look professional and be comfortable!

I'm in a similar sort of environment and I get a lot of my work stuff from oasis, warehouse, Hobbs.

Zara are also good.

Are you on Pinterest? Have a look for "pencil skirt outfits".

Also I've found eBay is my friend here. Loads of great stuff at a fraction of the price.

I saw a new skirt in oasis the other day but at £45 was a bit above what I'd pay.

Boden sale (clearance) is worth a try for dresses especially.

I've had lots of nice things for work from Sainsburys. Phase eight sale is often good for dresses. Hobbs is good but expensive.

Where dictates that you have to wear a skirt?! It's not 1975.

paperdoll my company handbook says I should wear a skirt when I meet clients. And a jacket. Skirt should be of an "appropriate" length.

It depends what the op does, I used to work in law and there was a very strict dress code. we had to be skirt suited every day.

Now it's strict when we meet clients. Other times it's more laid back.

I also worked in a company that had a knee length skirt / dress policy (but we could also do suit with trousers). We also had to wear tights all year round as bare legs were not permitted. This was a back office for a very well known bank and we never had any customers or clients in the office but it still had a strict dress code policy.

Dress down days also had a strict set of rules such as no: trainers, leggings, strappy tops that show shoulders or cleavage, shorts, jeans with rips, jeans or trousers that were not full length, hoodies, clothing or t shirts with logos or slogans, sandals or open toe shoes, evening dresses to name but a few. The dress code policy Took up a full 2 sides of A4 paper.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I work in senior management for a chain. Ive been ebaying some of your suggestions and picked up a tu suit so far.

Is oasis stuff generally worth the price tag? I had a work dress from there before but all the hems fell down

Asda is good for work clothes and also Matalan online

Oasis is not very likely to give you a 'quality' look, no.

Would it be possible to buy fewer, more expensive items? So total spend the same but fewer items? Concentrating on good fabrics - no polyester.

Linea from House of Fraser can be Hobbs-like but slightly less ££.

You work in senior management and are buying clothes from asda ? You need a pay rise girlfriend, what's going on there ?

I mix and match. Oasis top ted baker (from eBay) skirt.

Jigsaw are good as are jaeger (their sales are good)

I like this M&S

£25 is not much for a new dress unless you are going to ebay. How many outfits do you need? What do you have?

Senior management? £25?