Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Office wear?

16 replies

Makemeaname · 09/06/2019 17:57

I'm early 20s, size 18-20, 5'7. Starting my first office job soon and have no idea what is appropriate to wear.

Can someone please honestly tell me if any of these things are at all appropriate, and what else to look for?
Thanks

Office wear?
Office wear?
Office wear?
OP posts:
Makemeaname · 09/06/2019 17:58

Or these dresses?

Office wear?
Office wear?
OP posts:
Deliheaven · 09/06/2019 18:01

The white top would be too off the shoulder for my office but everything else looks great

RidgedPerfection · 09/06/2019 18:04

I am just starting a new job tomorrow and have always either had a uniform or worn sports kit, so all new to me too really. I have got a couple of these dresses www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/phoebe-jersey-dress-black/sty-j0148-blk?gclid=Cj0KEQjw3PLnBRCpo8PCoaGM99MBEiQAppRuC-JuvcYt1Tmg9LIgJ54nJhN_9zd9AeI8BbxTNasWEK0aAi_h8P8HAQ&istCompanyId=a40e1fa1-0635-4a1b-8d9a-2caa763eeee2&istFeedId=2baa5e38-c363-4ebf-aa58-ab2450d639aa&istItemId=wlaiwiiap&istBid=tztx&ef_id=Cj0KEQjw3PLnBRCpo8PCoaGM99MBEiQAppRuC-JuvcYt1Tmg9LIgJ54nJhN_9zd9AeI8BbxTNasWEK0aAi_h8P8HAQ:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!8125!3!297909388773!!!g!532564148288!&cm_mmc=PLA--GoogleNMPICSS1585740208--60124337656-_-40127310 with a discount code, rather than paying full price. They look much better on than in the photos.

I also got a couple of pairs of trousers (black and navy) and then quite a few tops from places like Uniqlo to go with them.

I like the clothes you have linked to, although no idea what would be acceptable in your new place of work. I decided initially to get a basic wardrobe together of plain pieces (in the main) that I could make more individual with accessories and I'll then add more clothes as and when I see them / need them and once I have a much better idea of what everyone else in my new workplace wears.

Makemeaname · 09/06/2019 18:18

@deli yes I realised that once I'd clicked through to the model pic

@ridged that dress is lovely but out of my price range and probably wouldn't suit my fat. What sort of uniqlo things have you gone for? I have a couple of black trousers and a few tops but not much - just what I needed for interviews.

OP posts:
Honeybee85 · 09/06/2019 18:49

I think you should just follow some general rules:

  • cover your shoulders
  • skirts / dresses should not be too far above the knee
  • not too much cleavage
  • always wear tights, no bare legs
  • no open footwear

And you will be fine Smile
Good luck in your new job!

WhiteLightTrainWreck · 09/06/2019 18:54

I went from business dress with strict guidelines to smart office wear. I found Matalan were really good for a variety of clothing.
Black trousers and pencil skirts
Blouses in a variety of colours and patterns
Dresses, fitted and drop
They have a really good range of reasonably priced pieces.

I searched office wear and filtered womens:
www.matalan.co.uk/discover/workwear?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=office-wear&%5Bfacet_filter%5D%5Bmeta.root_category%5D%5BWomens%5D=on&%5Bfacet_filter%5D%5Bmin_current_price%5D%5Bgte%5D=4.0&%5Bfacet_filter%5D%5Bmin_current_price%5D%5Blte%5D=65.0&per=36&sort=

You'll have alot of patterns and summer wear in there too, but depending on the office, that might be appropriate?

Congrats btw

Honeybee85 · 09/06/2019 18:59

I don’t have if they have an actual shop in the UK but German brand Hallhuber has fab clothes in general and most of it is very suitable for the office. I think Zalando sells this brand too.
Benetton is also great IMO

lhastingsmua · 09/06/2019 20:26

It depends on your workplace & industry but I wouldn’t be able to wear those tops at my work. The t shirt shape, the lace etc just wouldn’t be appropriate.

I would go for shirts & blouses instead to wear with trousers & pencil skirts. Blazers and dresses too. Might be worth starting work with what you have already and start buying new clothes one you see how your colleagues dress and what your dress code is really like.

trinity0097 · 09/06/2019 20:29

Nothing that shows your underwear, so tops that are solid over the shoulders.
Nothing that shows your underwear when you reach up/bend down either!
I find Sainsburys is great for workwear, I have tonnes of their shift dresses, which you could wear with a jacket or a cardigan depending on how formal your workplace is.
You really can’t go wrong with black trousers and a blouse/fitted top in most workplaces. Then see what people are wearing before spending loads.

Makemeaname · 09/06/2019 21:32

Thanks, can't really do button up things (boob gapage izsues)But I'll see about something more formal looking.

OP posts:
lhastingsmua · 10/06/2019 00:23

You could try something similar to these which have no/minimal buttons.
1
2
3
4
5

chasingseagulls · 10/06/2019 08:11

Are you even sure there is a dress code, or that the one they have requires business style wear? Lots of offices don't have one anymore. You don't want to spend money on formal dresses only to turn up and everyone is in jeans!

Otherwise Honeybee85's general advice is good, although I disagree about the tights and closed toe, for an informal workplace that's rather outdated.

ChiaraMontague · 10/06/2019 09:43

Have a look at Debenhams website, I recently bought quite a few bits for work and was really impressed with the selection of nice work appropriate clothes from Principles, The Collection, Wallis and Hobbs (Hobbs expensive but they had a great sale on some bits).
I would go for 2 pairs of trousers (black and navy), 5 - 7 tops, a cardigan and/or a blazer to start off.
I’m Size 18 too and noticed that they had a good selection up to size 22 in a lot of the range

Makemeaname · 10/06/2019 16:58

@chasingseagulls I think it'll be the informal side of formal if that makes sense, although I did have an interview at a similar job that had a ridiculously strict dress code! Will just have to wait and see, should have enough stuff to last the first week.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page