If you work at a university what do you wear....

[Lostfairydust]

Especially if you need to lose about 3 stone!!

I am short - 5ft 1 and my weight is on my tummy and thighs - I am a size 16/18 on the bottom and have biggish boobs (E cup) so 16 on the top.

I have a new job and need to know what to wear - all my previous work wear is too small and I can't seem to find a similar style in a larger size...

Help!

What role are you going to be doing? Did you notice what others working there were wearing during your interview?

I work in a University lab, so jeans and trainers are the most practical clothes to wear. Our admin team wear a mixture of casual, smart-casual and formal work wear. The reception team have to wear a uniform. It really does depend on the job and whether you're customer facing.

I'm going to a non medical helper for disabled students... the interview was last week and uni was really empty apart from the people interviewing who were dressed in smart suits which you'd expect at an interview!!

You shouldn't need work wear for that role. I would start with a casual dress.

So jeans?? Is that too casual?

Jeans sound fine to me. Nice top, comfortable shoes if you'll be accompanying students walking round campus.

I agree with FaFoutis and start with a casual dress. Once term starts you'll get a better idea of what to wear. I'm behind the scenes so it's fine being casual, plus I'm super clumsy and get chemicals on my clothes despite wearing a lab coat

You'll be with students more than staff so definitely casual wear.

I work in a uni administration role and its all smart-casual wear from either White Stuff, Fat Face or Seasalt! It's like a uniform

I look terribly lumpy in jeans but better in decent leggings...
Any suggestions for Tops - I can't seem to find anything that isn't a cold shoulder top or flowery

Really anything goes in a university - it's one of the perks of working there! I tend to wear causal dresses and skirts as it is what I feel comfortable in when sitting at a desk all day. But anything goes really - leggings and a floaty top/dress would be perfectly fine

Definitely smart casual - I bet you'll be in jeans after a week. The aides I have known have actually all been guys, but deffo jeans and long sleeved t shirts rather than suits/ trousers.
Expectations are often (unfairly) higher for women in any university setting, so I would start a little smarter and then tailor down as you get comfortable.
I wear jeans to teach, but most of my female peers wear dressier gear. They are also twenty years younger though, so are more worried about making a good impression whereas if anyone raised it with me I would just raise my eyebrows and point out the many male professors who look as though they have slept in their gear and no one bats an eyelid. It hasn't affected my teaching evaluations (probably because aesthetically I am invisible to the students lol) whereas younger colleagues do get evaluation comments on their dress style. [weird]

If you're going for leggings try a longer denim shirt over them, it can still look smart casual with some black boots

Yeah I'd go white stuff for tops - it's a safe bet.

Try Seasalt dresses, they are on the smart side of casual for university staff.
I wear scraggy old layers to teach, lagenlook crossed with slept in the woods. A male colleague sometimes wears a tartan pyjama top with his cords.

University? I've seen allsorts and often you can guess the faculty. Honestly, most things go. I have to liaise cross campus so tend to do black bottoms and coloured top. For your role I would imagine casual would be fine. I'm in my 40s so guess that has a bearing...

I wore lots of stuff from Uniqlo and Next when I worked at a university. It wasn't a student facing role but I did come into contact with external academics & visitors. So I dressed semi formal e.g. black trousers/skinnies/jeans/skirt with a smart top but without a jacket.

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/women

I work in a uni and mostly wear short cord skirts, jumpers, tights and boots in the winter, and maxi skirts and tops in the summer. Most of the people I work with wear jeans though.

Notetaker here, so sitting in lectures with students. I'm in jeans most days, and walking shoes so I can head off into the woods during a long break. Certainly at my university, jeans would be fine for your role, but we also have notetakers who wear white stuff type dresses. So anything goes really.

Thank you all - I shall get shopping - I think I'll go with leggings and long shirts,etc...

HerbWoman - how long you been doing the job? Do you enjoy it?

I used to work in a uni library. I wore leggings, tunics, casual dresses, cardis and Doc Martens.

That was a while back, but I imagine your role would suit that style.

I work in an admin role at a uni, I'm usually in skinny jeans with a shirt or tights with a dress.

Never look overly smart, unless I'm interviewing or we've got a 'posh' visit.

I mainly do.dresses and leggings..if I have a meeting I'll go smarter ..the smartest I get is an.M and s heavy jersey shift dress . If you'll be gadding around campus wear what makes you comfy and approachable

6 years now, and I love it. Although I don't tend to have much contact with the students we support (many prefer that other students don't know they need a notetaker), I love the variety of subjects - anything from Victorian literature to rocket propulsion.

I hadn't thought of M&S - will have a look!

Thanks HerbWoman - I'm looking forward to going to the lectures. My role is predominantly note taking too - it's school hours and term time - I can't believe my luck!!

I start soon and have bought mostly dresses to wear with tights or leggings, long cardigan (I'm conscious about my weight) and small boots... also got a skirt, a jumper and trousers - the cardi 'dresses down' the dresses nicely so I think they'll be ok....

Well apart from this one - I love it but worried it's a bit much for work... thoughts?