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?

Many moons ago I was a children's dance teacher so I have every admiration for you arkela.

This is none of my business but after my second pregnancy I piled on the pounds, by all means lose weight and enjoy the journey but there really is a lot to be said for loving your body as you are, rather than as you plan to be. I know that's easier said than done but one of my friends is a size 18 and she always looks gorgeous. Properly stunning. I'm sure you do too but do what you need to do to be happy

Mine was traditionally a very male dominated industry, when I first started out the casual sexism was shocking. At first I took it but about 10 years ago I found the courage to point out how hurtful it was. It didn't always win me friends but it sometimes earned me respect and made the perpetrators think. There's been a huge push towards training and employing women over the past few years, it's fantastic to see and, of course, the whole industry ethos and atmosphere has improved.

So I agree absolutely, employing the best person for the job should be celebrated.

Back to the far less important matter of clothes...
I've found some lovely dresses though, again, some may not be as appealing when they arrive and taking the sleeves or length need taking up. Having been through my wardrobe I have some dresses that will go with the others.

In step with my new workplace I'm trying to push my style slightly from the standard office suiting.

Predictably, I'm struggling to find good quality petite blazers in any colour other than navy, black or sometimes grey but I'm on it. If anyone has any ideas for possible shops as a solution please add them.

I've found 4 pairs of shoes though I need to rein in my magpie tendencies for sparkle and 2 handbags to be fair I could live without them I always wear my wedding ring, engagement ring both of which are beautiful and some fine silver bangles. I'll swap out my existing diamond earrings with pearl earrings with my pearl necklace or one of my other necklaces. I have enough coats and separates to see me through the short term.

I do need a new watch but that can wait for a couple of months.

I've seen some Hermes scarves I like but I'm still not sure how to wear them and whether they will go with the wardrobe I will have accumulated and, if I'm honest, I'm not sure how to tie them.

Hair appointments are booked, see also brows and I will do my own nails. My makeup is fine but I'll make a trip to SpaceNK and Bobbi Brown for a refresh.

I'm going to book in for a course of 1:1 yoga sessions and do plenty of walking and some bad running I'm terrible!

What have I missed?

Please keep any ideas coming.
Thank you.

Definitely LK Bennett for blazers which are a bit less corporate. They add a more casual vibe to a corporate suit as well.

You could try Brooks Brothers for blazers/jackets. I just checked out their range and while it’s mostly navy and grey, there are some colourful numbers in their including a couple of florals and some stripes. I quite like the leather blazer - it’s a nice mix of traditional and rebelliousness.

Have you tried Daks? Their dresses are a bit dull this season but they do have some colourful blazers.

Blazers have to be petite sizing, they're about the only thing that can't be regular sized otherwise you'd have to alter length, arm length, possibly shoulders the distance between my shoulders and the top of my chest is shorter because I'm smaller all over and once you've done all of that the waist or chest is often in the wrong place.

So it's petite only and that's the difficulty. I looked at Next today but even in the photos the quality doesn't look great.

OP I've rather lost track of what's been said above (I have RTFT but wine has been consumed ...)

Is there any reason why you can't just scroll through Net-a-Porter or Matches? (Purchase of £20k ballgown or gold frogged blazer not compulsory ...)

(I must admit that when I needed City clothes I used to race to Browns or Wardrobe - but internet shopping wasn't really a thing then.)

Maybe try www.sumissura.com/en-uk/ for a blazer? It's basically bespoke though I can't vouch for the quality.

GeorgeTheBleeder I know you've RTFT and I apologise if I've annoyed you, I'm not being flakey.
Without being rude - how tall are you?
If you type 'petite' into the Net A Porter search engine what comes up is some very beautiful underwear by Le Petit Trou and some accessories.
If you search, say dresses there is no facility to search for shorter sizes on there. It may be that if you search through every item of clothing there may be some petite sizes but I really would have to click onto every single item of clothing I like to see whether it comes in a shorter size.
Honestly though I just don't think Net A Porter do clothes for petite sizes.

It's the same with Matches Fashion too.
I typed in petite and it came up with a designer called Peter Pilotto. 'Brilliant' I thought, there's one. But no. I clicked on some dresses and none it seems come in petite sizing.

I saw this dress and I love it. Now imagine it with 6 inches taken off the bottom. If I kept the sleeves the same length they'd probably be wrist length but that would ruin the line of the dress so chances are I'd probably have to take those up too. The shoulders would definitely have to be taken up or the dress would reveal cleavage. I have a chest but professionally I want to keep it hidden to be taken seriously.

TL:DR I'd end up with a nice dress but not the proportions of the original design and tbh the thought of spending £1300 + on an item to have it altered from it's original style annoys me.

Even good ole M&S only has 52 items of petite clothing on it's whole website and not all of them are formal or professional.

Apologies if I come across as ranty, I'm really not I'm used to short woman problems by now but if you've never tried to look you cannot know how limiting finding shorter sizes is.

Thanks for the link QuestionableMouse I'll take a look at it.,

Not annoyed at all! Sorry if that came off the screen.

However, you've said you're around 5.2"? And that only blazers/ jackets need to be specifically petite? I'm a couple of inches taller - but my mother has never been taller than 5.2" and has almost never bought anything from petite ranges. Because they're so limited. (She's always beautifully dressed.)

Doesn't it all depend on the proportions of the item in question? If you're looking at an enormous flouncy midi length dress that floats around the 5.9" model's shins - yes, waste of time. But what happens if you look for dresses labelled 'mini' and cut close to the body but without a prescribed waist position? Or tops described as cropped? Worth a try? (Looking on your behalf I saw the loveliest printed silk cropped short sleeved Chloé top - but I dare not link as its not a MN approved high street price.)

(as it's not ...)

George you're absolutely right though, as you say, it depends very much on the dress.
Where does your Mum shop, out of interest?
Go on, post the Chloe dress

Maybe ...

In the meantime, have a look at these things - bearing in mind I have no idea of your personal style, they're just examples of what I mean:

This?

Or this.

Don't know if this would work.

And now I can't find the Chloé top - seems to have disappeared!

Found it! Possibly not your serious workwear - but it looks so light and airy - I so want it for the coming season of sweltering on the tube ...

Actually, having re-read your updates I'll look for a different shape. But quite honestly that full skirted look is highly unlikely to work for you ...

I was going to suggest Me+Em but I see you have them on your list. If you don't mind having things shortened, I find a lot of Phase 8 dresses work very well under a neutral jacket/blazer, and the style often suits a more petite frame. However, they do tend to be too long, so often need shortening. Ditto, while most of Wallis' stuff is too fussy and frou frou - I make a point of going in about twice a year because they do have a large petite selection and I almost always manage to find one good blouse or dress.

PS I don't have to shop exclusively at Petite. I have a short body but am average height overall. But I do find petite tops and blouses in particular fit me better if I can find them. And the Phase 8 styles of dresses, while not petite, work well for my upper body, if I can shorten them. (I love their tops and jumpers and blouses for more casual wear but they all look ridiculous on me!).

If you like bold prints.

Rather cute.

In short, I'm not sure you'll find the best fit if you look at long sleeved, midi length full skirted dresses! As you say, they'd need an impossible amount of alteration.

Separates may work better. Small tops and skirts that, if not already short, would be easy to alter.

But, OP, I have bad news ... I think I have found the perfect designer for you. Closely cut, shapely, V necked, glamorous clothes.

Balmain.

Sorry ...

I commented upthread but thought I’d add that I’m also petite (5’3” and size 8, sometimes a 6). I also work in a very senior position in the City. Most of what George has linked would be very out of place in my office (sorry George) and despite being petite I don’t generally need to buy mini length skirts or cropped tops to get a good fit. Sleeve length and excess volume are the usual issues so I tend to stick to fairly slim silhouettes, and short or 3 quarter length sleeves (or full length silk shirts with the cuffs folded back).

I mentioned Hugo Boss and Anthropologie before (Maeve is my favourite from there for workwear) but I also buy a lot of JCrew (sometimes petite, but their standard range tends to be ok for knee length or shorter dresses). Other brands which I find generally fit well without alteration are Theory and Milly. DVF dresses and skirts are also ok (if designed to be knee-ish length - midi length swamps me).

Not sure any of those have any eco credentials though! The Outnet can be good for finding higher end work wear.

I found a website called bombpetite.com which might have some suitable things. The dresses are a bit young and short, although the Jennifer Ann brand seems more workwear, and they have some blazers - I like the lavender pinstripe.

bombpetite.com/product-category/petite-dresses-1/?swoof=1&stock=instock&product_brands=jennifer-anne&really_curr_tax=30-product_cat

Oh - I'd wandered away from workwear and was just ruminating more generally on a possible different shape.

I'm with you on the difficulties of petite clothing, particularly in suiting, OP.

Clothing with a fairly defined waist is much more flattering on my figure and finding dresses etc. that sit right is so much more difficult than just lopping a bit off the hem.

M. M. LaFleur is an American brand I love, specifically aimed at women's workwear. They don't ship to the UK but definitely worth checking out if you're ever in the US.

Exactly as you say PCohle I can usually get away with or make minor alterations to regular clothing as far as length or arm length but I'm going to have to find petite jackets.

And yes, yes to defined waists although just below the bust suits me too.

My legs although short are relatively slim so buying a regular short skirt and wearing it at knee length which is where it might sit on me is fine.

We'll be in the US next year so I'll seek out M. M. LaFleur while I'm there.

If the dress I used as an example was able to be taken up to the length it's intended to be it would be fine on me with a smart jacket and heels George. Whereas the black scarf dress you've linked to would look like I'm wearing a sack because there has to be a cinched in point, that's probably as much to do with my hourglass shape as my height.

I tend to stick to slimmer silhouettes too MassDebate. I already shop at Boss, J Crew and Anthropologie but Theory, Milly and DVF are good tips - thank you.

Bomb Petite is one of the places I've been looking for jackets ghislaine but there's a danger that some of their more exciting styles and colours can be a bit mother of the bride.

My plan is to wear a blazer, heels and accessories and be a bit more adventurous with dresses. Although the dress code is smart the women wore interesting dresses with their suiting. So I'm excited about finding dresses in particular but as I say, they don't necessarily need to be petite but blazers definitely do.

m.shop.nordstrom.com/c/all-womens-wear-to-work-shop?origin=topnav&breadcrumb=Home%2fWomen%2fShop+by+Occasion%2fWork

Worth a look when you're in the States. Same with m.kohls.com

I buy petite blazer style jackets from ebay, more choice and formal jackets are rarely worn out. Precis used to do more workwear, it comes up occasionally, and better quality Next /M&S/principles petite.

In terms of UK vintage (physical) shops, for me nowhere bears Blackout II in Covent Garden wrt mid century vintage.

On Etsy, favourite shops are: FabGabs; SartorialMatters; Simplicity is Bliss Vintage; and DearGolden.

Most of the shops are American: unfortunately they tend to have the best 40s and 50s stuff (thank you, UK wartime rationing). You may need to learn to love - or at least to shrug off - huge customs charges.