Smart office wear for summer after wilderness years

[Warandpeas]

I’m back at work (virtually) after 6 years as a SAHM and I’ve taken to daydreaming about a work wardrobe for summer to take my mind off lockdown boredom.

Job is civil service, some high level meetings but mostly office work. I used to do similar work prior to having kids and I tended to go for wrap dresses or shifts + jacket, or skirt with blouse. I’m browsing online at Boden, M&S and everything either looks too flirty/patterny or midi length (I’m short of leg). Where have all the nice, fit and flare knee length dresses gone? I’m a pear so pencil skirts don’t work for me either. I have loads of trousers, but dresses/skirts are eluding me.

Any ideas where I can look for mid-budget office appropriate summer wear??

@LittleMissEngineer I’m mid 30s. I used to like a plain Boden dress pre kids but they were quite figure hugging, which I’m not really after 2 kids down. I’ll check out the dresses you recommend though 👍🏻

Is the Amelie dress true to size or would you size up if you don’t want it figure hugging?

Hi @war

1. I have two Amelie dresses, would say they one up big
2. I am in a similar situation to you & I think Reiss is by far the best for smart workwear. It’s a bit pricey but it is good & do watch the sales Good luck

If you are on Instagram, try following blooming_niki She wears nice office clothes.

Thanks all. Loving the instagram inspiration, is there anyone else who does grown up office wear on insta/blogs? I feel like everyone in the mainstream fashion world works in creative environments where it’s ok to wear floor length kimonos to work...

I have recently been really impressed with Dorothy Perkins workwear-I have a few of their dresses and trousers bought after Christmas and they are a nice stretchy fit for my size 12 shape and require almost no ironing after being washed, just hung up with the hanger to dry. Good price tag too - a slightly more affordable version than Next’s offerings.

Here’s one I have:

www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-5699972/workwear-dresses-1969998/black-western-belted-pencil-dress-9674014

Just re-read that you don’t normally wear pencil skirts sorry but you might be surprised!

This style of dress might be more to your liking (scroll to the picture of the model wearing it and the empire line suddenly doesn’t look so ‘maternity’!) think I’ll buy this one myself once lockdown is over!

www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-5699972/workwear-dresses-1969998/dp-curve-navy-empire-waist-pencil-dress-9630787