Work clothes upping my game?

[Longleggedlovely]

I'm in need of some work clothes, I'm beginning to get more senior in my role (lawyer) and feeling the need to smarten up. I currently buy marks and spencer, next etc with a few more high end brands. My preference is dresses and jackets but open to suggestions. I am tall 6ft and a size 14 with a large bust and hips. Any thoughts of where to look for smart, professional workwear?

Thanks!

Always Hobbs. My entire wardrobe for work is Hobbs. Classy, timeless pieces. Not cheap though

I like John Lewis own brand suits. Good quality and fit really well.

I also like Winser London for their miracle dresses.

I think I'm a bit tall for Hobbs? I need to be careful that dresses aren't too short. I'm thinking I'll need to suck up the cost though to get some decent pieces that will last

I'm in the same job and generally wear dresses and jackets too. Hobbs is always a good bet as PP said. Jigsaw also used to do nicely cut suits with a variety of pieces in the same fabric, so I often bought a couple of jackets and 2-4 skirts and trousers to mix and match (am no longer in the UK so not sure if this still applies!) Recently I've had some bits from Lauren by Ralph Lauren which I really like although they often use synthetic fabric. I also have quite a few tailored dresses and jackets from Boden (plain, no prints!) It's not exactly a fashion forward brand but it's a conservative profession.

Another tip would be to invest in a good quality leather bag - I love my Mulberry Bayswater which is often paired with M&S dresses!

Also 6ft, Hobbs no problem

Sorry re Hobbs repeat - cross post!

Fab thank you, will have a look in Hobbs. I've got a few RL pieces and I love my handbags though Coach and Kate Spade rather than Mulberry! Will also have a look at Boden and Jigsaw.

Watching with interest- Are most of the Hobbs dresses not dry clean only though- i only wear a dress once so that would be a real pain for me.

I've put a Hobbs dry clean dress through the hand wash cycle in the machine and it was fine

I've put a Hobbs dress through the machine and the dress shrank but the lining didn't

I was actually hoping it would shrink as I'd lost weight and if was too big but the lining hung down under the hem!

The Fold. Gorgeous stuff. Hugo Boss do some decent bits and pieces too (though some of it can look a bit frumpy)

Second the fold. Am a lawyer too and always wear fold for important meetings and court. Massimo dutti is also nice I like the cut of their blazers

Thank you, not heard of The Fold but will pop into Massimo Dutyi tomorrow.

Wait until the sales start in the summer & then dedicate an evening to online shopping as then you'll get loads of bargains mixing & matching across the department stores e.g. JL has a massively reduced Hobbs jacket as it only has a jacket in a size 12 & nothing else from the co-ordinating range; meanwhile, HoF has the dress & skirt, also massively reduced as they don't have the jacket.
Do you want to wear suits all of the time? Where I work, dresses with contrasting jackets are much more the thing at the moment.

Dresses and jackets really are having a moment, aren't they? I like a good dress (Baukjen) and jacket (Reiss) but my goodness do I love a suit.

Am an hourglass and work in the City and 1950s true vintage suits are just amazing. Fitted, smart, a good length (am 5ft7) and gorgeous details.

Sorry for the digression. I love workwear - thinking about it, talking about it... happy sigh

Hobbs is good.

LK Bennett is worth a look. Their pieces aren't 'suity ' but work well together. And they last and last. Other than that, my smart work clothes are Hobbs and Boden dresses with a jacket. I loved posh, fitted black trouser suits in my keen and ambitious days. I think that always looks stylish.

I'm intrigued by your new role. Are you perhaps a barrister? DH's firm (City) have a year round dress down policy and boy, do they make the most of that. The senior ones are the worst. However, The line has recently been drawn at running gear and I've told DH he's not to wear anything he's previously mowed a lawn in.

Thank you, loads more to have a look at and good tip re the sales. I'm in Scotland so different legal system but still a no to running gear, though that would make dressing for work easier!

Great thread....never heard of The Fold. Some fabulous dresses

I am not as tall and find baujken good for dresses
I keep an eye on long tall Sally they have good sales
Tall girls has some lovely dresses
I used to have planet jackets so have been stuck recently sometimes Hobbs are Abby short so I have been buying jackets that go with dresses rather than suits

Oh and banana republic have a tall range

You don't need to spend more to get a professional look. I buy lots of stuff from sainsburys and m&s

Jaeger Outlet is great for work clothes but I don't know about returns now they're in administration

If you can bear a little rummaging, have a look in TK Maxx. I have had some Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Great Plains etc. I mix it with Sainsburys, M and S, Next and New Look. I'm not as tall as you, OP, but generally need long trouser lengths.