Very smart workwear

[BeCoolYolande]

Hooray I've got a new job

I've always been smart at work anyway but this job is a very smart corporate environment.

Hobbs has always been my go-to but I've found their quality has dipped recently, as has the quality of Boden.

So where can I buy good quality women's workwear now?

To confuse things I'm petite and size 10, I'm definitely not Cos shaped and I prefer dresses with a tailored jacket.

I'd prefer ethical brands if possible.

Any ideas?

I always think that Jigsaw suiting is good for some quality staples. Last for ages.

LKBennett?
Petite is hard, I know. (And Boden at least do petite!)
Otherwise you're straying into précis petite, planet petite territory... how old are you?

I'm 39 and the trouble with Precis/Planet is that there's the danger of straying into Mother Of The Bride territory, which I want to avoid like the plague.

Dresses don't necessarily have to be petite sizing, as long as it's no longer than knee length it will usually still look ok but regular midis are definitely out.

Is it still ok to order from L K Bennett?

Fenn Wright Manson? Good petite tailoring

I am also a 10. I find jigsaw on the large side for me and it does not sit right.
What budget are you thinking?
Have you tried Joseph? Going to an outlet might be good as a bit more budget friendly, I have two very nice work trousers from there. Their jackets are also good.

Just saw that you prefer dresses, Joseph work dresses also very good.

Actually, regarding ethical brands.
There is an App Good on You.
That has rated thousands of brands on environmentally friendly/ ethical (you know is very difficult and a lot of things to consider but is a start )
Have a look, I have downloaded and now avoid big offenders.
goodonyou.eco

What about Reiss? Although their price has gone up and not sure if quality still the same as it used to be.

Are we talking senior-role-in-big-City-firm smart? Because head to toe high st is not going to cut it for that (not knocking the high st - it's all I wear, but my work environment is non-smart)

If you are in London, go to Fenwicks & Selfridges at a quiet time and try Joseph, Maxmara etc. Dresses are all well and good but spend a lot of time in the dry-cleaners so get some separates too. And congratulations

People Tree are a good ethical company, and they sometimes have more tailored items. I have a few of their dresses (jersey, not formal tailoring sorry) and they're very good quality, and a good fit on me (5'0")

Congratulations. If I had a corporate job and a salary to match, I would start with Joseph and The Fold (who keep sending me their catalogue god love 'em).

And, depending on where I lived, I would think about casting around for a tailor.

The Fold and Winser London would be my immediate thoughts.

Oh yes. And a good alterations place. I'm only 5'2" but my shortness is all in my legs so I generally do fine just having trousers or skirts shortened by a few inches.

As a petite 5ft 2, size 8 I've just bought a smart dress from Finery. Perhaps not as expensive as you wanted to spend but lovely quality fabric.

XXcstatic it's a big City firm but I'll be in a satellite office, so not London but the expectation is still very corporate. What I've gleaned from all of! the interviews I went to is that a typical smart suit is not the thing. The men wear suits but with a twist ie suit trousers with a blazer, not usually matching and an artsy shirt ie floral or bright.

For women the picture was more complicated; there were some carefully chosen high street pieces I recognised, paired with expensive tailoring.

It reminded me at the risk of sounding pretentious of the way the Royals dress on official charity engagements - does that make any sense?

So I suppose I need to find a sense of style and pieces to put together, rather than building a core wardrobe of designer suits. A capsule wardrobe but not one I can repeat too often. All without looking mother of the bride.

Floisme I like The Fold too, I should have said that in my OP but I couldn't rely entirely on their styles.

To compound my difficulties my salary will increase but I have to get through the first month or two before I have any decent money to spend.

Luckily I have a good tailor Sohotadragonretired so that part at least is sorted, I agree it is the only solution for a shortie like me.

bsc I like people tree and could wear a dress from there matched with a tailored blazer.

Thank you for all your suggestions, now I'm home and I've been able to explain more please do keep them coming.

Cefinn (yes it’s Sam Cam but it’s all washable) and Libby London both very good for senior female work kit.

Respectfully disagree that you can’t wear high street in a senior role in the City; my wardrobe is 75% high street and 25% low end designer (Joseph etc). I have really good bags, coats, shoes and jewellery which helps.

Also, I stick to a uniform of formalish dresses (client days) or slim trousers and blouse (desk days). Don’t bother with skirts, I don’t like midi skirts and pencil skirts look a bit dated.

Hugo Boss is my staple. I’ve also found some more individual items (the odd dress/top/jacket) at Anthropologie

Reiss is my workwear staple. I'm petite and the local one has an arrangement with a local alterations shop. It works well

Respectfully disagree that you can’t wear high street in a senior role in the City

Agree you can mix it in but not head to toe Cos or similar (well, obviously you can but you will be judged ). But sounds as if the OP has a bit more leeway. I agree that good accessories make a big difference.

OP it's funny you said about the royals, I work somewhere with a super smart dress code and my boss said the other day he would define the dress code as "British Royal Family". Thinking about it he's not far off.

I buy most of my clothes second hand but brands I like include Hobbs (although being second hand the pieces are older and the quality is still there, and their trousers are a good cut for me), Reiss, Max Mara, Hugo Boss, Jigsaw, Whistles, LK Bennett, White Company, French Connection. Also have a few bits from Warehouse and Oasis. I'm heading for a more senior role hopefully soon but our female senior managers tend to wear similar.

I'm very careful to only wear things that fit me properly. One thing I've been wearing quite a lot recently is an imitation leather skirt from Oasis. Not very expensive but fits me very well and looks very smart with a silky blouse.

Men still wear suits but I haven't seen many suits on women for a good few years.

Oh and also Paul Smith for tailored pieces.

Paul Smith is a good call evilharpy, rather than buying in bulk from one place because I'm lazy ie Hobbs I think I'm going to have to mix it up a bit and choose carefully from all of the brands you mention plus I'm going to try to include:

The Fold
Komodo
Lowie
People Tree
Birdsong London
Theo and George

Because they all have good ethical credentials but I'm also going to look at:

Me+Em
Anthropologie
Banana Republic petite range
Sezanne
Realisation
Maje
Madewell
Bomb Petite
Karen Millen
Fever London
Comptoir Des Cotonniers

In short, I'm going to have to get creative and start to imagine my wardrobe. I do have some good clothes that will certainly start me off but I need to get everything out and fill in the gaps.
If I put together enough outfits for the first two months then go from there.

I've identified my base colours and accents but I do need to get better with scarves.
Cold weather scarves I can do easily but I need to buy some suiting scarves and get clever with them.

I've got some good accessories but I could do with some more.
DH bought me some beautiful diamond earrings ethically sourced from ethical jewellery, I have some pearls and pearl earrings.
I've got lots of good shoes but definitely need some more heels I can comfortably walk in.
I've got some good bags too but again, there's always a need for more

atomicnotsoblonde I can find Reiss hit and miss, in my local if I go in on a busy Saturday then forget it but if I can get there on a quiet day midweek and just say 'this is me, what have you got?' they are very helpful and really know their stock and how it looks on people.

So I'll take a day midweek and pop in.

Ooh I forgot about Karen Millen and Banana Republic. Both good shouts.

I have three pairs of leather heels I tend to stick to for work. Black, navy and nude. None were expensive (the black ones were from Matalan of all places! They are leather though. Other two were Clarks) but they're extremely comfy. Other than that I have some ankle boots in black and navy, and a few pairs of good brogues from Hobbs and R&B, that seems to cover most bases.