New job - size 18 Smart Casual dress code

[whatnow40]

Help please!! I'm size 18 hour glass and 5'6. Moving in to a new job with a smart casual dress code as a senior manager. Junior managers wear jeans and trainers, the (Male) directors wear suits, or chinos on a Friday.

Can you help me find some appropriate clothes that hit the middle ground please?

I'm your height and size and Boden fits me really well esp around the bust I'm a DD / E.

I find black skinny jeans also really suit me with a shirt or blouse, my favourites again from Boden, the jeans can be from anywhere tbh as we are all very different shapes when it comes to jeans. I like high waist skinny jeans.

So yes find some black trousers / jeans you like and then wear all manner of tops, shirts and blouses.

Skirts suited me better when I was a size 14. I have just bought some lovely midi summer dresses from George at Asda based on a recommendation on MN and they all fit brilliantly. Like Zara dresses but fit much better around the bust.

Not sure about footwear although you could get some black trainers as a compromise. Ankle boots for now and when the weather gets warmer the trainers and then not sure some kind of closed toe and heel Sandals

Or if you want to be more daring and wear dresses go for These

I'm a similar size (and shorter!) in a professional job and I tend to wear jersey dresses with a blazer.

I wear a lot of dresses with cardigans, sometimes boots, sometimes trainers, some times just flats. Other days I wear black trousers and tops. I’m about the same size as you. Summer time I wear sandals, or flip flops when I know I have no meetings and am just sitting at a desk all day!

Thanks everyone. I've never worn trainers with a dress! I'd love to, but how? Like, what style of dress and trainers? I'm so used to a more corporate environment, this dress code is gonna kill me!!

I wear my adidas gazelles with dresses and similar style trainers. I have a black and gold pair from sketchers (their street style).

TantricTwist - OMG I am in love with those dresses! They've even got one in a Liberty print (Tana Lawn) and they do my size!!!!

I must start saving!!!!