Work wear for an office novice

[Sprankers]

So yesterday I secured a dream job and was very excited today I've realised I better get some suitable clothing. I have never had an office based job, my usual work wear would be dark Jean's and a casual shirt with wellies
I know the dress code for this office is smart but not formal, no Jean's but not full business suits etc. I have no idea where to start with trying to build a wardrobe.
I'm 29, 5ft 9 and a size 12, pear shaped. Would welcome any suggestions or advice. This role is a BIG step up for me and I'm going to be managing alot of mainly older men so I feel I need to really look the part

What kind of industry is it?

How do you feel about dresses?

For the first week, especially if you are a lot younger than the team you will be managing, it is a good idea to dress slightly more formal than you would normally. For women that’s fairly easy - a long sleeved dress, black tights (opaque look good in the winter) and black shoe-boots. It straddles smart business casual / smart business formal really well.

Its within the agricultural industry hence the previous wellies. I have always been a field based advisor but this role is 95% office based.
I wear alot of dresses as casual wear but I wouldn't know where to start in terms of which are office suitable

Pair of black trousers or skirt, black shoes (not wellies!) and a blouse or smart shirt. Wear a different top each day and keep the rest the same.

A plain black jacket if you get cold too. Most big supermarkets will have co-ordinating basic black officewear, as will all the usual clothing retailers.

I agree sensible to pitch it slightly more formally.

I think the easiest way to do this is to wear a jacket - whether that's over a dress, smart trousers/skirt or jeans.

I wear either black skinny trousers and a blouse with flat loafer kind of shoes, or a polo neck with high waisted skirt and tights or patterned trousers with a plain top. So somewhere between smart (suit and heels or pencil skirt) and jeans.

Have you thought about getting a personal shopper at John Lewis to similar? It makes it really to try on lots of different styles without having to cart everything back and forth.

I am a scruffy bugger by nature. For work I wear dresses in one solid colour because there's only one item to think about, no decisions about colour or pattern coordination and they can't come untucked.

Thankyou, I think the advice to go more formal to start is good I actually already own a couple of blazers, one navy and one a very country beige/brown tweed but given the industry I could probably make it work.
What sort of dresses would work? And for trousers I generally hate black could I get away with navy or even coloured?
I do actually own a couple of blouses that I usually wear with Jeans but I think could work with a smart pair of trousers

You can’t go wrong with:
Smart black trousers
Smart / simple white blouse or other muted colours
Nice blazer
Nice cashmere/ wool cardigan
Pearl earrings/ simple stud earrings
Simple make up: I always wore foundation or concealer, mascara, eyebrow pencil and some neutral lipgloss
Re shoes: low heeled black pumps are always in fashion

For blazers: Zara, Mango
Benetton also has lovely office work clothes.
I don’t know if they deliver or sell in the UK but I loved Seidensticker blouses. Perfect for the office.

m.zalando.co.uk/womens-clothing-blouses-tunics/seidensticker/

I'd go with a few simple additions to what you have now and then as you see what others in that industry at your level (or the one above) wear, and how the office feels you can adjust.

If you already have some shirts and blazers, then you just need a couple of pairs of trousers and some chelsea boots or loafers. Navy trousers would be fine

What size are you? Zara or H&M is usually a good option for office wear that straddles business casual / formal if you are under a size 14. If over then Hobbs / M&S / Monsoon often have good basic long sleeved dresses in premium fabrics

Thankyou all,
Seidensticker is a bit out the current budget. I think I will have a good look through my current clothes and see what I've got that can be tweaked. Will start with a few of pairs of trousers and maybe a couple of simple wrap/mildly A line dresses which match my current blazers.
Then when I've figured out how casual/formal the place really is I can have a bit of a shopping spree funded by the pay rise the job is bringing

You’re right OP.

Seidensticker is indeed expensive so I fully understand why you’d choose to go for less expensive options at this moment.

shop.mango.com/gb/women/dresses-midi/buttoned-midi-dress_67040527.html?c=44&n=1&s=prendas_she.familia;32.dresses32;Office

Some shopping inspiration for you 😊
Good luck in the new job!

If you can remember what the people who interviewed you wore that could help guide. And if the older men you are managing are all in wellies, you might want to look like you are comfortable in wellies too, so not too slick...

If you just wanted something to wear while you get a feel for the place, Amazon, slightly surprisingly, have quite a few reasonable jersey dresses like this one

A plain, dark COS dress with opaque tights and brogues can be easy. You want things which go together, but don't need much thought in the morning. Slim cigarette trousers from H&M with a plain blouse, blazer and brogues is also easy to do and comfortable.
Good luck with the new job!

A friend of mine who I always think of as stylish always said to me so long as you have good jacket, nice scarf and shoes no one really notices the rest

Don't overthink it too much:

www.businessinsider.com/matilda-kahl-wears-same-outfit-to-work-2016-3?r=US&IR=T
medium.com/@eradikate/i-wore-the-same-dress-every-day-for-a-year-9fabf6bdd715
www.fastcompany.com/90356060/we-asked-two-of-our-female-editors-to-wear-the-same-thing-every-day-heres-what-happened

If you’ve a tweed blazer I’d go with skinny ankle grazer trousers (black) a white shirt (tucked in open neck) or a high neck blouse blazer brogues or loafers.

If you dislike black, and have 1 navy and 1 brownish tweed blazer then you can make that your palette - navy with white/cream and beige/brown. Means you can add in tan accessories or more colourful if you prefer.
It's a cliché but you really can get away with not very many items if they coordinate together and you change a couple of accessories.

Being well-groomed (hair and nails tidy, discreet make-up) always helps.

Just make sure you can walk in your shoes!

"Dusty" I think you have a point there, its going to be a fine line between smart enough for my bosses but not so smart the men I'm managing assume I've never got my hands dirty and therefore don't respect me.
I think buying a few items that I can mix up while I get a feel for the place is the way forward.
"Palavah" there will be no heels involved as I am hopeless in them so no worries about walking in my shoes

I have a mix of stuff
Skirts in navy and black (M&S) which are about £9.50 each (jersey mini on website)
Cigarette trousers in black (Wallis)
Utility shirts (Wallis and gorgeous!) in berry, green and grey
A few different tops mostly navy/blue based
Navy short cardigan
Black blazer
Various dresses
Black loafers, black t bar heels, nude t bar heels, black ankle boots

Between that lot I can mix and match!

When I feel best at work I'm usually wearing a floaty dress (quite short, long sleeves, very floaty) in a dark colour with a discrete pattern on and black tights and heeled boots. I recently purchased the dress linked below and I feel younger and nice in it

www.oasis-stores.com/gb/clothing/dresses/leopard-skater-dress/072887.html?dwvar_072887_color=68&position=68&cgid=dresses

Other than that, I also like to wear cropped trousers with some sort of pattern, a floaty top and blazer with heels or boots. However I would probably recommend nice flat/pumps/brogues they would look equally as nice!