Senior-ish, work in City, need help with wardrobe

[Newhouse76]

My work wardrobe is a bit of a mish mash of Zara, Hobbs and a couple of things from Reiss ..although having checked its predominantly Zara. I wear mainly dresses and im not really into fashion 😳

2 woman have just joined the team and look effortlessly chic! They dont wear suits but separates which are really nicely put together.

Im very lucky to have been paid a bonus this month so would like to put some of it towards uograding my wardrobe.

Where should i start? I walked into Hobbs but walked out again as i felt panic and didnt know where to start 😳. Im not sure whether to try again or if someone could recommend me an independant personal shopper who is not affiliated to just one shop?

Im 43, 5 foot 4, size 8-10, people often think im much younger (ie in my twenties) than i am

I just bought this dress when it was 20% off and I think it might be my ideal work dress. However I am tall. My friend who is shorter swears by this one which they do every year and is currently in the sale Lola Dress. It would be arse skimming on me but looks great on her. I love Me + Em (sale only) but the trousers are quite long and you would need to take them up. I also really like Comptoir Des Cotonniers for blouses. &otherstories have good midi skirts and sometimes tops.

Book an appointment with Lizzie Edwards, she'll be a great help to you as the kind of assistance you need is her speciality. She's expensive but worth every penny.

www.lizzieedwards.com/

(I met her a few years ago and was incredibly impressed with her and her work.)

Swimminguphill - I bought two of those in Navy last year, the best dress ever. When mine die of old age I shall be taking them to a dress maker to replicate

@Swimminguphill love the whistles dress, perfect for covering my upper arm tattoo and I prefer dresses ( and I'm tall) might buy it for interviews

Which one Inliverpool1? The Lola or the Devyn? I do think the Lola is so versatile, I saw my friend wearing it at a kids activity both our children do, and thought you could wear it on a night out, for work, for anything really. Such a useful dress. Sadly, indecent on me! The Devyn in black is a bit more worky but I would happily wear it out for dinner etc. Really nice cut and although it's polyester it feels really lovely. Am wearing it now actually - about to head out for a meeting!

Following

Thanks everyone - just messaging over lunch 😁- some great suggestions here. I agree that the Fold looks formal, and i dont wear suits i any case however will take a look at the other links mentioned.

I bumped into an old colleague at lunch and admirrd her dress - it was from Cos! I think thats my issue, stuff looks rubbish on the hanger and i cant visualise it. Maybe i need a personal shopper to see past that

COS has very little hanger appeal. You need to go in and try everything on!

You might like Cefinn.

Also, be prepared to use a seamstress to turn an off-the-shelf into made-to-measure.

I have a light cotton version of Devyn however mine has a matching belt to pull things in a bit some days and not on others but it looks great with converse, heels, ankle boots very versatile and I can wear a top underneath in colder weather, bloody love em

The Ponte Dresses at HotSquash.com are half the price of The Fold ones, but made in London & better quality (in my experience).

I think that monsoon trousers are good wardrobe staples (in basic black & navy) then update with blouses of different colours/patterns (layer over a thermal vest & under a jacket in winter, or on their own with cropped trousers in summer).

Warehouse, Next & Debenhams all do decent and relatively cheap blouses that you can refresh your wardrobe with.

stella, when you say Lizzie Edwards was expensive, what sort of ballpark are we talking about here - her website looks amazing and so like something I need! But is it utterly ruinous?

Op, I am in a similar role and usually go for shift dresses and jackets (mainly Hobbs and Long Tall Sally as the fits good on me - am a different build from you though). Alternative is Reiss ankle skimmers in black or navy, with blouse usually from uniqlo and a blazer (lots again, or vero moda tall). There are some seriously stylish women at my work who really invest in their wardrobes, so I would like to get a bit more confident and put together!

SophoclesTheFox I can't recall exactly but she'll take you shopping and go through your wardrobe too. She has various price points too, although if you're wanting to totally overhaul your wardrobe, it can cost a few thousand pounds. However, it's worth noting that she has a few assistants who work for her who she has trained, and they all work in the same way as her/share her ethos regarding styling and buying clothes.

I really do suggest you contact her just for a chat and some advice, that costs nothing

Her personal style is very unfussy, and having met a lot of stylists/personal shoppers over the years, I do think she's one of the best at what she does.

Mumsnet Mods please note I'm not affiliated with Lizzie Edwards or Lizzie Edwards so please don't zap my recommendations.

(Note. I used to be a personal shopper and a few years ago I thought about returning to it albeit it in a different capacity and met Lizzie along the way. She's one of the few fashion stylists I've met and been impressed by)

The Fold, Matilda & Quinn, L.K. Bennett (use credit card if buying online), Me & Em. Maybe use John Lewis if you don’t know where to start, but I would try Oxford Street for personal shopper as more selection there. You sound like you have a slim figure so you should have plenty of choice. Remember you can get things taken in and up for a more put together look. Just look for a dry cleaner that does those things.

I know what pp means about Cos and hanger appeal. I always think the clothes are a weird shape and don’t even get to trying them on!

I have done quite well out of phase eight recently. Some of their unstructured plain dresses are as nice as anything in Reiss or whistles and they always have a sale. Avoid anything with a print!

Cos is hit or miss. I’d live to like it but it doesn’t like me!

J crew tippi merino sweaters with ankle skimming trousers are a standard for me. Kitten heel or flat sling back shoes, pair of small gold hoops - job done.

Whistles is nice but so expensive for polyester! I slightly resent it...

I second those who say see a personal shopper. I would go to John Lewis Oxford St, or if you live in a westerly direction the flagship at Westfield, and get them to put together a capsule plus give you some simple rules for combining and expanding your wardrobe.

Good cut and fabric plus alterations if needed make for a smart, sophisticated and "expensive" look and you can mix it up or refresh with relatively cheap accessories. I would totally plump for The Fold if I had the budget you probably have but it sounds like that might be a bit too formal for you? Dresses or sharp separates (trousers that hit the ankle, well cut jackets) would combine smart and cool with not too conservative and matchy. Heels have their place but flats make the look more current, usually.

I'd caution against John Lewis personal shoppers... I had a truly terrible one once but I'm sure it depends who you get!

I loved the look of Lizzie Edwards but do not love the sound of 'thousands' even if she is amazing, sadly.

I really like Reiss trousers (the slim ones) for work - I have 4 pairs! I have to get a size 10 as have a larger bottom than top but they seem to fit really well. Also, try block heel/mid heel court shoes. I have some white sling backs from Office that look way more expensive than they are. They are mildly trendy but nobody is alarmed by white footwear these days...

Windser London, Adrienne Vittadini, phase 8, Finery and Plumo are my go tos for non-suit work clothing. I use DH’s Irish tailor for suits and got some great ones on holiday in Asia too.
Don’t buy polyester, go for fabrics that feel and look good as a priority.

This won't be initially helpful but I'm going shopping tomorrow to a little boutique place in Cheshire that does gorgeous clothes by a scandi brand. I forget the name off the top of my head but I'll come back tomorrow. I no longer work in that world but the clothes in this place are a great blend of corporate without being same-y or dull.

thanks Stella, i may well do just that!

I’m the same height as you but a curvy size 10 (ish!) hourglass. I tend to wear dresses or cropped trousers with jacket/silk t shirts. My wardrobe is from Whistles, Me+Em plus a sprinkling of Winser London and Jigsaw. One go to brand for me that I have had not seen mentioned so far is Hugo Boss. They do some great work wear and have a good sale as well. For tailoring Paul Smith is hard to beat as well. His “travel in” range is brilliant for long days and moving about a lot.

Agree with Hugo Boss.

Oh and keep your eye on Brand Alley. They have some great designer work wear on there.