What do people wear to work (office based) these days??

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

Am due to start back at work next week, returning (to a new job) after 7 years of being away (due to family).
I'll be office based- and am tall, slim & 40 if that makes a difference!?!

What do people generally wear for office work these days?
And where do they shop?

I feel I'm completely out of touch!!

Thank you.

Like you I am about to return to an office environment after a LONG time working in a completely different situation. I found some really useful tips on here and for me the best places to shop were Reiss, Mint Velvet and Jigsaw.

I’ve ended up with mostly smart trousers and top combos plus a couple of dresses which I can put jackets over. It’s been a blast buying shoes :-) Have fun shopping for your new wardrobe!

Try Hobbes and Whistles too

My office is relatively casual. Black jeans and birkenstocks are accepted. Blue jeans and sportswear not. We have a variation of styles around the office from smart dresses and heels to combat trousers and polo shirts.

I wear black leggings or tights, tunics, flat shoes.

theres no single dress code tbh. I would never wear heels or a suit and very few in my sector do, but people in other offices obviously do wear those things.
I wear day dresses with brogues or trousers and “tops”. I’ll wear superga or similar with the trousers.

Offices are all over the place these days, the last 3 places I've worked have been suits, business casual, and jeans/trainers so could be anything! I'd go in on your first day sticking to the more formal/conservative side and then scope out what everyone else is wearing. Probably trousers and coordinating jacket (but not a suit) with a blouse and shoes with a low-ish heel and bring a cardigan, then you can take your jacket off if everyone's super casual.

I got most of my work wardrobe from Banana Republic. Good quality, nicely fitting pieces, great trousers in the Sloane cut.

Nice dresses in M&S that can be dressed up with heels and blazer or more casual with boots/flats...used to really Boden love but really off that for dresses now (still like their shoes). Hobbs is good for dresses - good deals in outlets if you can get to one. I find plain block colours and simple prints/spots/stripes are versatile.

Thanks all!
I think it'll be more formal than not - so smart trousers / shirts as opposed to jeans & trainers.
Appreciate the suggestions, I need to hit the shops!

I have some very nice Reiss dresses which I love, but they were a sting budget wise- I buy skirts and blouses from oasis or warehouse on the whole

It varies so much, I've always worked in offices but attire has ranged from jeans and doc martens to suits depending on the company culture. I suggest you have a couple of outfits then do a proper shop once you get a feel for the place, or a quick email to hr is a good option. Not sure of your budget but the supermarkets have decent semi formal clothes eg trousers, skirts, blouses and dresses (though the holiday lines may have reduced their offering currently). Personally I wear dresses mostly from bravissimo because I'm well endowed and they make clothes that fit me.

Should have said, other shops that had the right sort of stuff (smarter than jeans but not just suits) were Mango, Cos, & Other Stories, Hobbs and Whistles as previously suggested.

Personally I found the colour ranges weren’t as good for me but some great stuff all the same. Also try Uterque esp for funky shoes.

PS lots of sales on at the mo too...

I work in the Civil Service so I wear whatever I see first in the morning generally. The dress code is relaxed. Mostly blue jeans and a tucked in shirt with boots/flats or if I'm feeling funky, Stan Smiths with straight legged trousers and a nice top.

I shop anywhere, Next, Hobbs, Marks, H&M, Primark, Oasis, Jigsaw ... If it sells clothes I'm there.

I generally wear dresses (shoulders covered) with heels (block heel t bars) and a kimono type cardigan or blazer
Or trousers and a top with heeled boots or flats (same cardigan/blazer)
Our officer is fairly easy going but can't wear open toe shoes/strappy tops/jeans etc
Mostly my dresses are Boden, joe browns, Dorothy Perkins. Have a ruched skirt from eBay which I wear a lot

I tend to go for a few nice blouses/shirts that can be worn with either black jeans or cigarette trousers, with a smart cardigan or I've got a couple of Joules tweed jackets that are versatile. I also use a good bag for work, that makes me feel smarter.

I have these wide leg ankle grazers in navy and black and am similar height, build and age to you. I love them, really good quality and I think look smart but up to date. I wear them with a front tucked tee or jumper and either loafers, brogues or sometimes a block heel court shoe.

I'm also a big fan of dresses, as they're easy and a whole outfit in one. I like Cos and me & em.

Anything goes in my office but I wear day dresses (Hobbs, Boden), a black skirt and shirt (H&M) or checked trousers (Mango) with a plain top. At weekends (7 day operation) I tend to wear jeans and a smart top!

I wear pencil skirts with a silky top or a shirt, black skinny trousers with shirts or a a top and blazer. Always wear heels.

Also wear a lot of dresses, I find this easier sometimes as I find it doesn't have to match like you do with a skirt and top.

Surprised no one has mentioned Massimo Dutti - I recently came off a contract job in the City and there was one in Cheapside near me and they always had decent office clothes for not an outrageous sum of money.

My friend went back ‘in house’ after a long break working from home. She is senior and used to wear suits and formal dresses and jackets in London 10 years ago.
I felt things had moved on since then but she insisted on the same sort of things.
Then rang me and said You’re right, it’s way more informal now.
It’s still quite conservative, o jeans or trainers. But smart trousers with nice flats and a blouse or shirt seems to be the standard now.
She has bought tops from Jigsaw and Hobbs, trousers from the same.
Some good quality loafers.
Baukjen have some nice stuff and good quality for your height and shape.My friend is polar opposite to you though, quite short and pear shaped.
Good luck going back.

I've recently gone back after a long time away, also 40. I've found M&S do some great tops that are smart casual and great for the office. Even better, most don't need ironing 🤣
If you register for their points card they often offer 20% off.

Or next!

Massimo Dutti has fab blazers but having had everything I’ve bought shrink in the wash or their shoes peel leather, I’m pretty wary of their quality.

I work in a front office City role; like most places we’ve moved to Dress for your Day. I need to be able to flex whatever I’m wearing into client facing so my standard is trousers, flats, soft blouse which is quite comfortable and appropriate with a jacket. Jigsaw, some Hobbs (pretty frumpy at the moment), Warehouse, Arket, Jaeger, Gerard Darel and Joseph are my staples.

I have a few LK Bennett/The Fold type dresses as well for formal meetings but they are much less commonly seen now with our dress code.

Virtually all women not in a client facing role wear trainers or flats with dresses, midi skirts, trousers and sometimes jeans.

Thank you!

I think the likes of Hobbs and Whistles are out of my price range...
I like the look of some stuff in & Other Stories and Mango though.
I tend to shop on the high street - Next , Warehouse, Oasis etc. - great to have some new ideas though!

HM can be good for blazers.
Arket for trousers, tops, blouses
Mango for blazers and dresses, very reasonable.
Massimo Dutti, dresses and jackets,
Don't forget M & S Autograph for well made basic items.
I never seem to get on well with Reiss or Hobbs they seem suited to shorter ladies

I wear shift dresses (John Lewis, Next, Dorothy Perkins), tights and smart flat shoes. With either a jumper, cardigan or jacket depending on how smart I need to be. A set of 6 or 7 pretty much sees me through (and they generally don’t need ironing!)