Where do you buy smart work clothes from?

[MavisMonkey]

I'm 39 and work in a corporate setting- a bank in the city of London. I'm 5ft and a size 14.
It's not a strict smart dress code so most days I wear dresses or a skirt and blouse / top, and I really like a bold pattern or colour. Currently I wear quite a few midi dresses or a skirt with a blouse / top.
A lot of my clothes are from ASOS, Zara or H&M and it seems like everything in my wardrobe is wearing out / showing its age at the same time.
I want to upgrade the quality a bit but not go too boring. I'm not keen on Hobbs and Whistles / Reiss jjust doesn't fit me as.
I've just ordered a few bits from Cos and am wondering where else to try.

Winser (their Gillian Anderson collection was good), Jigsaw, Modern Rarity as well as Cos, M&S and Uniqlo. Jigsaw is sometimes good for bold colours but it can be hard to find good patterns - Boden can sometimes stray into Grayson Perry territory and I don’t like it as it’s too identifiably Boden.

Ted Baker, Reiss are my favourites for suits and dresses

I have some bits from Warehouse, Next or Oasis

Hobbs and Jigsaw.

I dint work anymore but when I was corporate I wore suits from Hobbs and jigsaw and banana republic

Warehouse
Whistles sale
H&M
& other stories

Uniqlo, Cos, Arket, plains pieces from Boden, Hobbes and Jigsaw and for all of them generally when they are on sale or via eBay. Great Cos sale on now and I got three ideal for Spring/Summer work dresses all half price.

I’ve just got some beautiful trousers and some blouses from next. I stayed away for years thinking they didn’t fit properly but these fit lovely.

Have a look at The Fold. Not cheap but very good quality.

And other stories
Zara

Boden

Unfortunately, not many of the suggestions above have a petite line - speaking as a fellow 5 footer who LOVES the look of Cos, Arket and Winser, but they’re designed for GIANTS

I don’t have many other suggestions, sorry, but watching thread with interest...

What shape are you?

I'm a petite too, I don't usually wear separates as I find it difficult to find trousers or skirts in the right length so I'm not sure whether this will help

I've got about 8 good quality blazers, loads of cardigans and dresses. I mix mid price with cheaper items.

You say Hobbs doesn't fit you are you trying their petite or regular range? I'd recommend their petite blazers. Their dresses can be lovely but I have to be choosy, generally I only buy their short or knee length dresses as midi is the wrong length on me.

Reiss can be good for dresses, also Jigsaw, L K Bennett, White Stuff, Fat Face, Hush, French Connection, Ted Baker, Anthropologie, Sezane, occasionally All Saints.

There can be good finds in Zara, Next and M&S but be picky and check the fabrics - polyester can be shiny, sweaty and uncomfortable. Boden's petite range is a good fit but beware the wacky prints.

For cheaper dresses Oasis, Warehouse, Gap, Top Shop, ASOS, very occasionally New Look.

eBay can be good for cheap finds.

Does that help OP?

Massimo Dutti
PURE
Jaeger
FOLD
Ralph Lauren

I've got a few fitted, lined shift dresses from TU (Sainsburys).

LK bennett (always a sale on of some sorts)
Ebay
Navabi

Thanks all! Very helpful. I just need to get out of my H&M rut. I'm trying to be more sustainable and wear less disposable fashion but it's a hard habit to break as I get bored / go off clothes quite easily...

I'm going to try & other stories as I really like some of the dresses on there and I have some dresses from Cos on order. Also liked some of the stuff on Winser.

As I'm only 5ft I generally go for dresses and hope they're not ridiculously long in the torso so I can get a midi dress and wear it as a maxi or a mini dress and wear it as a knee length then a cardi or blazer over the top if needed.

Also I'm blessed with a generous tummy so go for a-line / wrap style things and avoid shift dresses and pencil cuts like the plague. Think this is why I've never gotten on with Hobbs and Boden, although I do have a couple of bits from Boden in their petite range.

Jigsaw has just had a really good sale. I would look fabulous at work if I had a job.

I have recently spent too much on Trouva, lots of smaller boutiques in one place.

Mint velvet
Jaeger
All saints
Tkmaxx
Charity shops
For me

Banana Republic has a petite range

Massimo Dutti can be useful. Some trousers are long but other clothes would be excellent..

It does seem to be an issue that many stores don’t do short or long clothes any more. M&S do in trousers but they used to do differing lengths in skirts and dresses too (years ago). It’s something that costs money though and customers want cheap clothes so alternative lengths has vanished. Banana Republic are only on line.

I meant to say that I think Mango have upped their game and Arket snd &other stories are definitely worth a look. Cos is H&M and Massimo Dutti are Zara. So favourite shops but a bit more classy.

@MavisMonkey I am 5'1. Boden has an excellent petite range and they have wrap dresses ( all kinds of dresses), so does Hobbs, so does Banana Republic. I usually advise people who want to get out f their style rut to get a personal shopping session at John Lewis or banana republic. There's no pressure and they know what suits different body shapes. You have a fixed idea about what will suit you so if you go with that mind set you may miss stuff ( we all do it). It will be a treat!

I'd recommend walking round a John Lewis womenswear floor. There are lots of good brands - Hobbs (great petite coats and suits), Somerset by Alice Temperley, Ted Baker, Reiss. Fenn Wright Manson have great petite tailoring too.

Arket
Mint velvet for blazers, dresses and blouses
Warehouse have a petit range.