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'm not good with skirts either pinegreen as I'm short the most flattering length for me is above the knee but I'm going to have to be careful with that when it comes to workwear.
I love some of the midi skirts that are around at the moment but they would drown me.

I'd take Madewell off your list as it is far too casual. Instead, I'd put its sister store, J Crew on your list. It is great for petites and has a decent suiting section.

I can't really be helpful as it's not my world now - but centuries ago when I worked in the City the most ambitious or successful men wore bespoke Saville Row suits. So, as an equally ambitious woman, in a largely male environment, the mid-range high street labels mentioned here really wouldn't have done me any favours.

Hugo Boss, M&S Autograph and very selective bits of Ted Baker - a couple of pieces on here could work www.tedbaker.com/uk/Womens/Workwear/c/category_womens_clothing_tailoring?int_cmpid=_w_mn_clothing_workwear

Have you thought about Phase Eight? I think their work dresses are great (not least because they’re machine washable) but I’m probably a bit older than you so you may not agree! I think they do a petite range too.

I once went to a talk by a style consultant who recommended wearing a tailored jacket with a dress to give a more “corporate “ appearance. It might be worth splashing on a couple of good jackets.

Have you considered midcentury vintage? I work in the City (very smart) and as you are slim and petite it could work well. I find 50s skirt suits from Lilli Ann or similar absolutely blend in with more modern workwear - the materials are superb and the cut immensely flattering.

Also, women in the 40s and 50s tended to be shorter so you may find the right skirt length for you (though needs to counteract the tendency for longer skirts then, of course)

Mominatrix I agree, J Crew is a good shout.

Yes GeorgeTheBleeder I remember those days too but things have most definitely changed. Fwiw in my new office the tailoring is still there and the money but the difference is style. With hindsight the 80s/90s power suits were generally a uniform, even at Calvin Klein levels whereas this current style of office wear is definitely more individual. People definitely did not look the same but they did look smart, businesslike and stylish. If anything a return to that suiting uniform would be much easier!

Good thinking RuggyPeg, I often overlook Ted Baker in particular.

And vintage is pretty ethical, of course!

What about using a personal shopping service at one of the big department stores that has the brands you like? I have never done it, because the main requirement of my work wear is that you can wash puke off it (HCP), but I know lots of people who have found a personal shopper great for work wardrobes.

Fantastic, thank you Sigh81 that's a great recommendation.

As it happens a friend of mine used to have a lovely and successful vintage shop, she only closed it when she had her DCs and running a shop, especially one where you need to constantly look out for new stock, too much.
Often when I tried things on in her shop I would find that I was the wrong shape, I have a real hourglass figure but I'm still bigger than a lot of the vintage sizing.
It certainly never put me off and I will definitely look again.

Aw XXcstatic I did my time in the public sector so I get it and this really isn't patronising because I know what it takes thank you for doing what you do
In one way I love the idea of the personal shopping thing but and this is really judgy I have a perception that the kind of women who provide the service are the type who are intimidatingly perfect; hair, nails, accessories. Do you know what I mean? I'm genuinely not being bitchy but I do find women who always look perfectly immaculate at all times intimidating. I mean how do they do that?

As a PS I frequently like Ralph Lauren so I'll scout round there too.

Agreed that current City professionals dress very differently to even 10 years ago. I completely disagree that you’d be looked down upon for head to toe Cos. A girlfriend is v. v. senior within one of the global private equity firms based in Mayfair and that’s all she wears. With good bags, shoes and baubles.

Perhaps if you are at Coutts then someone might care. But certainly in my sphere, it’s about the watches (men) and the handbags and jewellery (women) as markers of success/seniority. Not too many places ask men to wear ties at their desk and Surface Pros have consigned expensive pens to languish away in drawers.

I would thoroughly recommend a personal shopper as well. I say this kindly but Karen Millen will not give the image you are looking for.

Also, women in the 40s and 50s tended to be shorter so you may find the right skirt length for you

When standard sizing was set in the 1950s the average woman was 5'2", 36", 28", 38" so the OP must be pretty close to that as a petite size 10.

I like the Fold, Reiss, Winser London and J Crew.

I disagree that high end high street doesn't cut it for a senior city job. It's also my experience that it tends to be the accessories (low key, not at all flashy but high quality) that mark out the most senior women.

pinegreen I'm sure your friend looks great but when it comes to clothes for me I have to respectfully disagree. I've just looked on the Cos website, there is not a single dress on there that I could wear. They are either too long or so completely shapeless that I would look pregnant or that I'm wearing something Zandra Rhodes' 1980s collections. Nothing wrong with looking pregnant if I am, but I'm definitely not and don't plan to be ever again.

OTOH there are some dresses on the Karen Millen site which, with a very tailored blazer or jacket and subtle but lovely accessories, could look perfectly appropriate.

Those are about my measurements CountFosco, yes.

Yolande I’m 5’ 6” and there isn’t a dress on the Cos website that I could wear either. Anything oversized like that looks like a sack on me.

Sounds like you need a trip to Bicester Village or similar upscale designer outlet. I have a friend who dresses seriously smart for work and she has some amazing but affordable designer stuff she's picked up from there x

Theory also make great separates.

I think the key to nailing this look is good quality, well fitted pieces in good materials (many of the names above will provide this) with excellent accessories. You can get the basic pieces from upper high street, but the shoes, bag, scarves, jewellery must be the best quality. An Hermes scarf, Chanel pumps, Cartier watch will make any well fitted high street basic look smart.

Worth looking at Japanese brands - brilliant tailoring and often fits petite bodies better. High street - but MUJI is about to extend their clothes lines.

Once you’ve worked out your style/capsule/silhouette you can look for out of season classic pieces from Chanel and Prada.

Look for proper outlets, not shopping villages where pieces are made at lower prices specifically to be reduced. Prada has one in Milan - my mums friend used to go every couple of years and stock up on shoes and pieces that wouldn’t date.

The Outnet and FarFetch are great for designer labels at reduced cost.

Ebay is worth a look too - for scarves, accessories also for dresses for formal gala evenings where people will be spending £100/0s on dresses to wear once.

I second Winser London especially their dresses.

Thanks everyone.

Winser London is a good call DontCallMeCharlotte, I'd forgotten about them so thank you.

Mominatrix you are right, I agree that accessories are key. I'm fortunate to already have some of the pieces you mention, though I like Jimmy Choo's more wearable shoe styles and Mulberry bags. As I already own some of these I've got a head start.

I'll take a look at the Japanese brands PaddingtonMare, I've always dismissed them because although I'm short I'm not the standard Japanese shape but I will take another look.

You've hit the nail on the head re gowns. There are three formal events annually, at least one of them could be appropriate for cocktail dresses but another is gowns only - which will be a fresh nightmare. I'm hoping I will be able to hire something but it seems unlikely given my height.

Chesterado I think that a shopping outlet could be a good option for cheaper pieces to match with the more expensive.

My base colours are black, blue any blue, grey. My second bases are burgundy, camel, paler blues. Accent colours any browns, blues, pinks, purples, some greens.
Any ideas for pieces that could fit into this would be appreciated. I'm not good with scarves.

I've had a few scores from the Gold Label rail in TK Maxx too (if you can handle hunting through all the hideous garbage). Stella McCartney jackets, and I have a gorgeous Theory high-necked wool top from there.

I'm not a fan of scarves so can't offer any input there - I'd put scarves as largely out ATM anyway other than in the actual woollen outdoor sense.

Some Ebay ideas:

Cocktail silver ebay.us/xYkjnf

Long purple ebay.us/9pdV2s

You’d want to get them tailored but the quality is there.

Also disagree on the head to toe Cos thing. I’m a lawyer in the city and often wear this. Admittedly not a partner, but the few female partners dress pretty much the same as the associates.

Anyway, appreciate OP doesn’t like Cos. We were all leafleted by a brand called Madderson the other day that looked similar to the Fold - could be worth checking out. Also rate Joseph. Even M&S Autograph has some good basics - cashmere is excellent.

I've had a few scores from the Gold Label rail in TK Maxx

Ssshhhh! Don't tell everyone ...

My haul includes Margiela, Rochas, See By Chloe, Stella McCartney, etc. And no, they're not fakes. I've lived long enough to be a pretty canny shopper. As I don't look outside that section I don't even need hours and hours of patience, just a spirit of adventure, because often there's nothing. It helps to be slightly outside the average size - the most exciting finds are usually either tiny, or the opposite.

Aside from winter scarves I'm not a scarf person SoHotADragonRetired, which is why I asked for help. Tbh if I can manage to look good without them I would! My Mum is an inveterate scarf wearer, she wears them well but I'll always associate scarf wearing with her, rather than me.

Thanks PaddingtonMare, that's a good dress.

HarrietM87 please don't misunderstand, I envy people who can wear Cos and look good in it - and plenty of people do, I'm sure you look great. It's simply that the designs are not for people like me.

I'll check out the Gold Label Rail GeorgeTheBleeder.