Where do you buy your work clothes on a budget?

[MrsSeptember]

I've looked in Primark and New Look and there was nothing I liked at all.

I'm a size 14/16 and really want some nice tops and dresses to wear for work.

I'm on a budget so I can only look at highstreet.

Gap has a sale? Until when? I need to go!

And I usually just buy my work clothes when I am in Asia so I can find my size and not pay a fortune. I looked at Primark dresses but they didn't have a size 6 in the dresses I looked at. Sometimes TK Maxx have some nice things that aren't too pricey in extra small

I'm the same size as you, and my Go To shops for every day workwear at the moment are H&M, Cos and Sainsburys. I'm lucky in that our Sainsburys is a very large one, has a big clothing department and always has a permanent sales rail so you can pick up some really good bits cheaply. I know I've said before on another thread that the two dresses I wear the most, and which are always admired by my designer-clad boss, are both from Sainsburys sale rail, and cost no more than a tenner each.

I also like Massimo Dutti if I want something a bit smarter.

And I know M & S isn't the flavour of the month at the moment, but I love their pull on wide leg trousers - they are about £25. I've got them in black and navy, and mix and match with my tops from H&M and Sainsburys.

Kitty from the amount of discount vouchers that I keep getting emailed from GAP it seems to me that they are having a permanent sale.

It does make me wonder whether they are in trouble.

OP I meant to mention in my previous post that I have also rediscovered Uniqlo and they are great. I got a fab wide-legged jumpsuit from there on Saturday (sorry I don't know how to do links!) which will be great for work or for going out and it was £25 (or £24.90 to be precise). Really good fabric and looks smart. I got it in black, they also do it in navy and also a grey/khaki which I am sorely tempted to get. Also picked up a mac in their sale, and a stone coloured A-line sleeveless dress which was £14.90. Good quality and inexpensive for work.

Pinot I think they were actually in trouble a few years ago and we're having to change their products? But OK I will go. I don't go there that often of the closest one means a 20 minute walk to the tube station and then about a 30 minute walk from the tube station to the gap. Are usually walk to the one in Hempstead from Swiss cottage. Or is there a closer and easier one somewhere else? Is there a gap on a high street with a tube station nearby so I don't have to Walk so far? On the Jubilee line I mean.

@hellokittymania There's a big Gap on Oxford Street right by Bond Street station on the Jubilee line.

Thank you! That would be much easier for me to get to. :)

If paying full price: H&M, TK Maxx, Uniqlo, Cos and M&S - keep on walking past The Pink Dress and head for Autograph. I used to like Sainsbury's but it didn't wear or wash well. In the sales, I look in Whistles (although quality really starting to piss me off) Me & Em and Boden.

Don't forget second hand: Dress agencies can have good higher end work stuff and I also like vintage shops for 40s-60s tailored jackets. Charity shops aren't much use round here - occasional gems but far too random to rely on. I don't use Ebay cos I don't want to end up with unwanted stuff but there are certainly bargains to be had.

H&M also recommended here - be prepared to try on lots of sizes though. I have a couple of their jersey skirts, chinos and jumpers.

For good quality basics, Uniqlo - sign up for newsletter for £5 off first shop and keep an eye on sales and new arrivals as often on offer when first on sale. I also rate Boden for their less ditsy stuff for work but I only ever buy in the sale and normally at the very end when up to 70% off. I try to plan ahead too - have a pot for work stuff and buy up in the sale/out of season as I like pretty neutral classics for work so buy them up ready for next winter etc.

Another Sainsbury's vote here. If you can wait, they do 25% off everything every so often, usually last about 3 days and held during school holidays.
Or Dorothy Perkins online. Free returns.

Matalan. They do a great range of smart ankle grazers and nice blouses/tops. Always wash well too. I'm in my late twenties and a size 10 and my mum is in her 50s and a size 12/14 and we both shop there for work clothes. It's good online too as you can click and collect for free

H&M sizing is strange but that just means you need to go with enough time to try things on, and try on a range of sizes.

Once you have it, the size on the label doesn't matter.

Warehouse, tkmaxx,eBay, DP

Phase Eight - I'm lucky to be near their outlet shop, sales prices are goof too. Tops last & wash really well, stretchy like Baukjen but in patterns which are better flab disguisers. I'm lucky that the charity shops near my mum in Hampshire often have good work clothes at reasonable prices. Some bits from Asda & Matalan if you pick carefully.

Another vote for h&m here. Asda are quite good too, their stuff actually washes well.

Cos. It's not that expensive considering the quality and you will look really well dressed.

M&S for basics. I know it gets slated, but I think they will nearly always have something you can wear.

What IS your budget and what environment are you working in?

I shop in Primark for work wear but not in the "workwear" section. Horrible nylony trousers (shudder).
If you look in the more casual end you can find some nice skirts that are ok for work. Often very cheap: £5 or £10.
My office is very cold so I normally wear these with a V. Neck jumper and a suit jacket.
Primark is terrible for knitwear (it shrinks) so I get the v. Necks from the men's section of tesco or asda.
The suit jacket is charity shop- originally from M&S. A good quality suit jacket and shoes allows you to get away with cheap skirts and jumpers.

Cos in the sale, and uniqlo mostly. Some bits & pieces from H&M and Zara but you need to look hard.

Bon Marche used to sell lovely trousers - like thicker leggings but looked like proper trousers with a very very fine cord. Matalan - I have some jackets that fit ok but the trousers are like clown's trousers on me (size 18/20). Have some Primark and Debenhams trousers, jackets from Debenhams, Marks, Next (and trews). Blouses from all sorts of places -mainly charity shops. Got a nice Jaeger one.

TK Maxx
Charity Shops and
Ebay!

You can't go wrong with Joanie

https://joanieclothing.com

Free delivery, free returns xxx