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 wouldn’t discount a personal shopper. I sent my husband off to one for similar reasons and she was great. Sorted the basics out in a day. Also she was independent so able to use all shops. The other thing I would say is it’s not just the clothes. A great new haircut, well done makeup etc, nails very tidy with any nail varnish being discreet. The “glossy” bit which is where I always fall down. This coupled with the right accessories helps no end. Also a long time since I worked in the City but it was always the fab shoes that gave the more senior women away.

I too am an hourglass, OP. So I feel your pain re: Cos.

Do you have a good seamstress/tailor? Although the 40s/50s clothes often don't need tailoring to my figure (god bless midcentury vintage!) I find modern skirts etc. often do. I would be lost without mine and it makes such a difference.

For scarf ideas, MaiTai blog is great. I'd also google for images of Christine Lagarde and Nancy Pelosi who love their Hemes scarves.

Hermes

Take a look at Goat; yes it has had a few outings on the royals but the paired back silhouette works.

Apologies for not replying sooner, my adult DD has mumps and I've been looking after her yes, she had all of her vaccines.

Catanddogmake6 I would love to see an independent personal shopper, I've only ever known of them to be attached to department stores. Do you know where I could find one?

As it happens I do have a good seamstress Sigh81 are there any vintage shops you can recommend?

Thanks Mominatrix and Lookatmenow I'll take a look at both and report back in a bit.

I'm going to be the oldest person in my team those higher up are my age or older I'm quite comfortable with who and what I am. I get the impression there is a lot of competition between both male and female members of the team to be super fashion conscious. I don't feel the need to get into that, a lot of fashion just looks silly on me now I'm middle aged. It's more a case of finding my own, good quality style that I am comfortable in.

When I went to meet my team all of the young women were wearing vertiginous heels, it did make me smile when I noticed that they all had at least one pair of flats of trainers under their desks, presumably for the journey home

Try KathKath for scarves: kathkath.com. They have some gorgeous designs.

a lot of fashion just looks silly on me now I'm middle aged.

It's a shame that you feel this - just at the point where the media is prepared to admit what designers have always known - that the expression of style through clothes intensifie as one matures. Really directional /avant garde clothing looks far more striking on a person who's also wearing their life experience in their face, body and gestures.

There are a lot of clothing exchange shops in the London area. When I had a smart corporate job many many years ago I used to go to a shop in Ealing that did designer samples - so all really nice modern stuff, just one offs. I had a fabulous black silk dress from here, it was just classically stylish, a lovely weight of silk that just hung expensively, and could be worn in a multitude of ways, cinched in with a belt or not, sleeves rolled up or not etc, and I used to wear it a LOT , one day with red belt shoes and bag, another with a coloured scarf and matchy shoes and bag / with different jackets etc. I have to say there was something rather special about the cut of it. No idea who designed it but I imagine they're a brand name now. Often people who had even seen this dress earlier in the week would say 'Oooh, new dress/outfit? I like that one'. I wore that dress till it fell apart.
Of course being out of corporate, I have no idea where to go now!

Ralph Lauren have some good work dresses online, plain and more statement-y.

My best friend is extremely senior in the City, been in the FT regularly etc. She wears mainly M&S for work but she does have some really fabulous jewellery and expensive handbags. She’s employed for her brain, not her wardrobe.

Oh wow Lookatmenow I love the clothing on the Goat website. My one criticism is also probably the reason I like it so much - it's very much my current comfort zone. So I suppose it will match easily with my existing wardrobe.

Mominatrix some of those scarves are gorgeous, I'll do more looking and find pieces that go with my colour scheme.

KathKath are lovely too ghislaine I'm going to have to do some serious looking and investigating.

GeorgeTheBleeder I know it's a shame but I ordered this cardigan in small the other day, just for weekends and it looked ridiculous on me, the sleeves were like clown arms. I've tried lots of different jumpsuits and I invariably look like a chubby toddler every.single.time. Ditto split flared sleeves, they look nice enough on but having the length taken up loses the line of the style. I could cite many other examples, it's not for the want of trying. I'd love to be able to wear directional pieces. That said I've never met a Vivienne Westwood dress I didn't love.

I don't get into London much Ariela that dress sounds stunning. Is there a directory of clothing exchange shops? I'd make a special trip into the smoke if I could hit a few shops in one day.

Jay55 I like Ralph Lauren too, their styles are often flattering.

I would add that I think you can get away with high street so long as it’s simple and well cut but along with bags, shoes and jewellery being noticeable I would add a blow dry and short shellac nails.

That's absolutely true Applesbananaspears I've been employed for my skill set, not my wardrobe and believe me I've grafted for it.

However, I will be presenting to the board every fortnight or so.

A combination of the new role, that I haven't updated my look for a while and the fact that middle age has crept up on me all combine to mean that it's about time I gave my style a shakeup and this is the perfect opportunity.

I used to enjoy clothes and I'd like to feel that way again.

Btw I'm well aware that this is entirely a first world problem, I'm not alone in having had some very hard times so this particular one is a nice dilemma to have.

I've always given my nails, hair, teeth, hands and makeup attention Applesbananaspears and I try to stay in shape so my hair and manicure routine is good.

Reiss are great for petit people I wore a lot of their dresses to work

I am similar size to OP. Nothing looks worse than clothes slightly too big (except slightly too small, I suppose!) with drooping shoulders, baggy back and sleeves finishing half-way down your fingers. Clothes never look the same if they are altered. Trousers in particular lose the shape and the hem looks naff.

I have some nice Banana Republic things. They do petite and also their normal range is not too humungous. I notice that someone upthread mentioned Winser London. I looked at the website and the stuff looked quite nice, and they do a size 6.

The Kooples also

Sandro

OP, are you based anywhere near Henley on Thames? If so I'd really recommend Fluidity in Henley. It's a boutique with multiple high end brands and excellent knowledgeable stylists who'll get you into something you wouldn't normally pick up from the rail. No pressure to purchase from my experience.
www.fluidity-f2.com

Gosh thT shop in Henley looks just the thing. I need to make a trip there.

I don't have any brand advice but just wanted to say congratulations- and I hope you enjoy your shopping trips! I love to see women succeed!!

Sorry OP - but I've just noticed you said:

Btw I'm well aware that this is entirely a first world problem,

And think it's worth pointing out that ambitious, professionally successful women in many places, that might not come under the first world label, also care very much about dressing well for work ... It's not at all a first world problem.

IrmaFearLay the baggy back, yes! I thought it was just me.
I like Banana Republic too, even though their petite range is good there isn't much of it but I'm with you completely that their standard range is often a good fit too.

Fluidity looks great Lookatmenow I can get there!

roundigament thank you, I'll look at The Kooples and Sandro. I said upthread that Reiss can be good but I need to go in during the week.

Thank you arkela that's such a kind thing to say - are you an arkela?

Oh GeorgeTheBleeder you are right, of course but after years of spending the majority of my money on my DCs it feels like I'm being so indulgent. That's the point I suppose, I've worked hard for it, as I said I used to enjoy clothes and now is the time to enjoy them again. I'm going to love dressing for my new role...I just need some helpful pointers.

I am in the US so I'm called a Cub Scout den leader, rather than arkela. But I'm currently in the beginning stages of some significant weight loss (if I can keep it up!) and I am looking forward to replenishing my wardrobe. My workplace is business casual but I want to smarten up a bit. My company is actually a male-dominated manufacturing company, but within the corporate functions, women are in the ascendancy 😄💪🏻 and I think it should be celebrated!!