Affordable work wear basics- do these exist?!

[Ohyippedydooda]

Any tips of where you find these please? I really need a whole new work wardrobe for a promotion, can't afford to spend a fortune and so am looking for affordable basics that I can mix and match together. I currently live in the same few old outfits, really need to up my game for this job, please help!!

I am impatient as I have the chance to go shopping tomorrow- any suggestions would be so gratefully received! Thanks

I buy formal wear on ebay - you can get great quality stuff for very little. I got an as new dress last week for less than £5 including postage

H&M can be quite good, always worth a look. Usually around £25 for a smart dress, and they have lots of suits, blouses etc.

Uniqlo has some good basic trousers, shirts and tops all around the £20 mark.

Uniqlo is your friend here

Uniqlo.

And I have bought quite a few bits in M&S recently,

Uniqlo are great for simple basics.

H&M is my go to. They have an office type section usually with good staple trousers and blouses always under £20.

The response will depend on your definition of "affordable". I doubt I could afford M&S or Uniqlo for workwear. My office clothes are bought from Asda George and Primark.

I don't have an Asda or a Primark near me, Eggy.

Dorothy Perkins, Primark, Matalan and H&M are my go to!

I like Next for trousers. Tops can be too identifiable sometimes.

I think Zara is great. Last bits of the sale are on as well to get some bargains but I read on the other thread everyone hates Zara 🤷‍♀️

Dorothy Perkins do a ankle grazer trouser for about £20 a pair in loads of colours. I got 5 pairs in different colours in the sale earlier in the year for £15 a pair and they are now my work uniform - different pair every day with a different top/blouse/sweater/jacket etc.

Has made getting ready in the morning much quicker!

Thanks for the tips, will check those all out. I would say that h&m and DP are affordable but I was expecting to spend zara prices to get things that look a bit more polished if that makes sense? I guess I am looking for things that look stylish but classic without spending £60 on a dress! I will be in a more visible role with senior colleagues so I feel like I need to look the part whereas now I can get my head down and no one really notices me!

Are there any more online shops I might have missed? Uniqlo sounds interesting and would never had thought of it

Uniqlo is great for workwear and you can get cash back through Quidco (and probably other cash back sites) if you are watching your budget. Their 7/8 trousers are smart, comfy and wash well

Sainsbury's

For workwear I pick out what I like from the current collection and have the outlets send me the item the following season if it goes down to a certain price in my size. For coast I will only buy if £39 and jigsaw/LK Bennett my limit is £59 for a dress.

For immediate needs sainsburys is very good and has plain dresses you can make little changes to. George has some good stuff too but the Tu range feels a little better on for me.

Great tips, thank you!

I just bought 2 new pairs of culottes from Zara in navy and black. I think they were about £25 but really useful. The fabric is man-made but means no ironing and the front of them is flat as opposed to ruffled so really flattering. I wear mine with smart, boat neck tees I got from M&S for £6. It's my current "uniform" for work and I love it, really comfy but neat too.

To be a little bit controversial perhaps.. Google capsule wardrobe, or even better check it out on Pinterest. It's amazing how many looks you can get with very few pieces. Get some decent quality basics like black trousers (not massively expensive ones) and use tips on mixing and matching. Congrats on the promotion!

I've just bought a whole new work wardrobe for similar reasons - I got most of it from Debenhams, The Collection. It all goes together and the items were really very cheap. Like around £20 each.

I buy a lot in Sainsbury's......but maybe that's just me?☺

Sainsburys clothes are 25% off now for a week, so very possibly worth worth a look?

Wallis do nice quality trousers got lovely pair of black cotton trousers for €25. Oasis blouses wear well & jumpers especially in the sales. Monsoon sale for good coats to wear in winter.
Good shoes & leather bag adds polish. Same with classic wool coat in winter.

The woman who are stylish in my work place. Don't spend much but seem to have the knack of accessories. I.e. Nice scarf, earrings, necklaces. Again all these are costume or classic pieces of say gold or silver jewellery.
I buy all my clothes & accessories in sales, as work clothes are nt super trendy! Great value on line in main stores like high street. Or say use 15% off first on line order etc.