Style me for work

[LadyBrienneofTarth]

Ok ladies - Heres a challenge

I have just landed dream job and I mean "pinnacle of career" job - there is nothing higher or better after this - I need new clothes that make me look professional approachable efficient and relaxed all in one

I normally wear black boots, black pants and a black loose top (sometimes blue, occasionally red)

I am 5 foot 3 inches and overweight at 145 pounds / 66 kg - c cup - hips - used to be flat stomach but now not flat - so hate tucking anything in and don't like belts

I also hate shops so if I can order online all the better

I need 5 outfits worthy of exec / board level

Help

It might be worth having your colours done to make sure that black is right for you.

I would do as suggested, get the following in the same colour (eg black):
Jacket
Trousers
Dress / Skirt

Then in another colour (eg grey):
Jacket
Trousers
Dress/skirt

Then different colour tops

I'd be tempted to go for colour in shoes/bag - eg red - but I don't work in corporate America

If you don't need high end power gear then perhaps Reiss
Eg get matching skirt, jacket, trousers, dress in their Hartley line
www.reiss.com/search/?search_param=all&q=Hartley

I’d go with a Céline bag. Congratulations!

As a short (ahem) woman myself, I feel weirdly proud of you

Max Mara, Joseph, The fold, Winser, Ralph Lauren etc all need your attention. Mention them to your personal shopper.

You need comfortable shoes.

Chie Mihara, Sargasso, Cole Haan, Ferragamo, Everlane.

Invest in your footwear, if you walk comfortably it’s a great confidence boost.

Ann Taylor! They seem to have a good selection of formal wear, also JCrew and agree with other posters on big department stores.

And congratulations on the new job!!

I work a lot in NY, in finance, and I'd add that nails and hair are important. I also see some statement jewellery, as in obviously expensive, e.g Chanel, Dior, van Cleefs and Arpels. $$$$$ but sets the tone if you can afford it.

Oh yes..get used to a new level of grooming.

Do people wear Ann Taylor in high level finance in the US? Don’t get me wrong, I accumulated lots of it back in the day (mid to late 90s) when I worked in Manhattan, and have worn it for years as a senior lawyer in the Magic Circle, but truth be told I was quite junior when I started buying it, and I do try to mix it with slightly higher end pieces when I do wear it. If I recall correctly it is kind of like Hobbs and Jigsaw but a little cheaper.

If you can wait till you get to the US (New York?) to buy, is recommend that you book a personal shopping appointment at Bloomingdales.

Congratulations on the job and do have fun shopping! 🛍 I do envy you too!

I guess OP wants to feel like she’s covered for the first week, at least!

But I agree, it would probably be best to get a small capsule wardrobe together and then once you’re over there you can find your bearings, look around a bit and see what people are wearing and once you’ve got an idea of what you need, enlist a professional to help you get it sorted!

Another consideration OP to buying the majority of your wardrobe in the US is that at your height you’d be a “petite” (not knocking it, I am myself! 😉) and the selection for petites (your size isn’t terribly dissimilar to mine and I figure you’d be around an 8-10 in US sizes, definitely not plus size even if you think you’re overweight) is MUCH better in the US, for all sorts of brands, than in the U.K.