what do you wear to work - smart casual office?

[insecure123]

I work in an office with a smart/casual vibe - many wear jeans or casual types dresses (ie no suits or anything)

I am applying for a temporary promotion which would involve working with directors etc and attending more meetings. While there is no guarantee I will get it if I do It is in the same office so still a casual vibe but with it being a "step up" I want to dress appropriately and have some more smart outfits for meetings. I do have a black "work skirt" and a couple of shirts for when I have meetings with solicitors (fairly regular in current role) but when I wear those I feel like I have my school uniform on! lol. I don't want to look old and stuffy (early 30's) but if I could pull of a smart (enough that I will be taken seriously) but still "fashionable" look that would be ideal

What do you think the staples are/ what do you wear/a couple of outfit ideas.

Any sugestions appreciated before payday (this turns!)

Black trousers or black jeans (Mint Velevt ones with two zips my favourite - www.mintvelvet.co.uk/product/phoenix-indigo-biker-jean/4531

With something like this as a top - www.mintvelvet.co.uk/product/granite-wrap-effect-top/17270

& black low ankle boots - m.asos.com/h-by-hudson/h-by-hudson-leather-ankle-boots/prd/9138171?clr=black&SearchQuery=&cid=8278&gridcolumn=1&gridrow=2&gridsize=2&pge=1&pgesize=72&totalstyles=13

Or a plainer silky top!? (Shopping by proxy here!). Good luck!

At the casual end- jeans, breton, smart leather trainers
Smart end- still jeans, but collared shirt/blouse, blazer, brogues or ballerina pumps
My office is very cold in winter so tend to be driven by that. Generally now I wear a shirt, jumper, jeans and flat boots. Not mega fashionable but warm!

Great, thanks for the links! Very helpful and getting e in the mood to go shopping....

It is cold in my office too! I usually wear a strappy thermal vest underneath. I quite like the shirt with jeans look and I do have a few nice shirts/blouses

I think the trick to this kind of dressing is:

Impeccable grooming. So really good hair, brows, makeup if you wear it, nails (not sayig they must be polished but neatly shaped and clean), etc.
Tailored and well maintained clothes and shoes, so they fit just right, and everything is in great condition.
Mixing one smart and one casual thing together. So tailored pencil skirt goes with a slouchy silk mix t shirt or cashmere/similar sweater. Silk blouse goes with jeans. Wide leg trousers go with a fitted top.

Of course I can’t even perfect the first tip, so this is all taken from observation not experience.

I do try and make an effort with the whole hair, brows, nails because if nothing else it makes me feel better about myself! Always try and carry a good bag too!

Agree with matching smart things such as trousers/pencil skirt/leather or satin skirts with slouchy knitwear. And silk shirts (try And Other Stories) with jeans and flat boots or brogues, or under jumpers. Another good option is jumpsuits - either ones with sleeves or over a thin polo neck. Plain black or grey crew-neck t-shirts under a tailored long-line blazer and jeans. Look at Cos, And Other Stories and Arket, Toast etc.

Shirt dresses are also good, but you want art-school rather than fitted, which tends to mean cocoon-shaped - but with a wide leather belt if necessary. Midi dresses, but avoid anything girly or frilly.

I work in a similar environment, I tend to wear tube skirts and a slouchy top/jumper, culottes and fitted top/jumper, blazer and jeans, leather skirt and denim shirt, dresses in a casual fabric all with ankle boots or trainers. I tend to go more casual on a Friday with sweaters and jumpers.

I work in a similar environment, I tend to wear tube skirts and a slouchy top/jumper, culottes and fitted top/jumper, blazer and jeans, leather skirt and denim shirt, dresses in a casual fabric all with ankle boots or trainers. I tend to go more casual on a Friday with sweaters and jumpers.

I work in a similar environment, I tend to wear tube skirts and a slouchy top/jumper, culottes and fitted top/jumper, blazer and jeans, leather skirt and denim shirt, dresses in a casual fabric all with ankle boots or trainers. I tend to go more casual on a Friday with sweaters and jumpers.

Sorry internet problems 😬

Impeccable grooming. So really good hair, brows, makeup if you wear it, nails (not sayig they must be polished but neatly shaped and clean), etc.
Tailored and well maintained clothes and shoes, so they fit just right, and everything is in great condition.
Mixing one smart and one casual thing together. So tailored pencil skirt goes with a slouchy silk mix t shirt or cashmere/similar sweater. Silk blouse goes with jeans. Wide leg trousers go with a fitted top.

^

This.

I work in a similar environment. I mix it up between pencils skirts with tops /shirts tucked in, skinny jeans with loose shirts and corporate dresses but always wear heels.

I work in a very similar environment, in a creative industry.

I wear a mix of things, dark denim skinny jeans and I have a range of nice shirts from The Kooples and Whistles etc.

Slim fitting black trousers (whistles) and low heeled leather or suede ankle boots.

I have 4 fitted jersey blazers from Whistles, one black and one burgundy and they are life savers

I have a 'good' trousers suit from The Kooples for when I need to really push the boat out.

Lots of nice knits from Mint Velvet and Cos. I am 48, 5ft 9 and size 12

caperplips you sound like you dress beuatifully! I just have an oversized tan jumper, navy skinny jeans and tan fringed ankle boots on today because I had no meetings

Oh I feel like a slumpy mess lots of days!

I invested in a few mix and match things when I strarted this role last year as this position requires the 'smarter' end of smart casual and my old job was the more casual end.

But I have had other financial commitments since I started and have not added to the wardrobe and I feel like I am wearing the same few things over and over!

I have 2 whistles knitted / jersey jackets btw not 4 - that was a typo

My focus over the coming few months is to add 3 or 4 more outfits into the mix.

I have one informal meeting today and it is freezing and sleety so dressed for warmth. I'm wearing dark navy skinny jeans, a black merino wool Mint Velvet jumper with black silk trim, burgundy leather brogue style chelsea boots, a soft grey scarf and when I am out a navy wool cos coat and a burgundy leather slouchy shoulder bag.

No prizes for style today!

Invest in a good quality blazer or two that will sharpen up any outfit at short notice I think

Was looking on another thread about the French tuck and they were talking about Emanuele Alt style

My workplace is smart/casual - I tend to err slightly towards slightly more formal (sometimes work with high-level clients) and usually wear chinos, an unpatterned top and a suit jacket, or a midi dress and suit jacket. As it's now winter and I'm out and about a lot, I've swapped the suit jacket for cashmere jumpers - the jacket will come back in the spring.

I’m a lecturer in a creative subject and wear quite similar things to what’s been mentioned above, but never blazers or any type of inside jacket. I always wear red lipstick and have painted nails, and have a lot of nice (not particularly expensive) jewellery.

In winter I have several “uniforms”.

A-line short-ish skirt, fitted jumper, opaque tights, Chelsea boots or leather trainers.

Culottes/cropped wide leg trousers, jumper, trainers or brogues. I wear crochet or fishnet tights underneath.

Black skinny jeans, blouse, and either crew-neck jumper over, or heat-tech top underneath. Chelsea boots.

I buy from Topshop, Warehouse, Cos, Other Stories, and Whistles, odd bits from H&M, Zara, ASOS. “Hero pieces” in my autumn/winter wardrobe are a black leather mini-ish skirt (White Company), fine-knit polo-necks (Cos), crew-neck cashmere jumpers (M&S), black leather Stan Smiths, and grey Adidas Continental 80s.

In summer I wear a lot of midi dresses, plus culottes with Breton tops or t-shirts.

Today’s outfit was the black leather skirt, pale grey funnel neck Cos jumper, opaques and Chelsea boots, with a big chocolate brown faux fur coat from Zara.

I’m 5ft 6 and a hippy size 10, small waist/bust.

Sounds like my office, although some pieple news to be smarter.

My lost worn look is a blouse (I quite like patterned ones (ie polka dot) tucked into aline skirts (leather, cord, whatever) with a cardigan.

*people need

I am mega casual today with an oversized navy cowl neck and dark skinny jeans. I have my failsafe boots on though - Fairfax and Favor heeled reginas in tan. My boyfriend got me them (after they had spent 4 years on my wishlist) and I do feel they smarten most outfits up and I certainly feel nicer wearing the,. I really could do with a farm wol smart coat though. I have a couple of smart coats but I don't think they are heavy and warm enough for this time of year. I keep reverting to my big furry thing and/or my padded joules jacket. Both as wonderfully cosy but neither are particularly smart or refined looking....

Hi Insecure your outfit sounds lovely today! I love those boots although I have gotten out of the habit of wearing long boots, don't really know why.

Judy your outfits sound fabulous! Can I ask where you get your socks for wearing with ankle length trousers / coulottes and brogues. I have loads of each but can't find the right socks to make that look work for me!

'm wearing dark navy skinny jeans, a black merino wool Mint Velvet jumper with black silk trim, burgundy leather brogue style chelsea boots, a soft grey scarf and when I am out a navy wool cos coat and a burgundy leather slouchy shoulder bag.

No prizes for style today!

You sound like you'd win an Oscar for style!

halfwit it reads FAR better than it looks - it's all pretty dull. And it doesn't disguise the fact that I am a middle waged woman who's carrying too much of a spare tyre around the middle!
But thanks!!

middle aged (but most likely middle waged too