Forgotten how to dress casually. Where can I shop?

[SwearsItWell]

I've was working in a very professional environment and had to be very formal for work. Pre lockdown I knew I was close to burnout, then I was furloughed and WFH. I realised that I just didn't want to live my life like that anymore, crazy big city hours. Handed in my notice after some long conversations with DH.

My new job is in a different field. Instead of buttoned up city formal the new job is smart casual, I can even wear jeans sometimes I've got shoes, that's sorted.

I've got plenty of jeans and bottoms though I'll add any good suggestions to the basket. I'd like tops, no dry cleaning . Everything from vest tops to t-shirts to jumpers to shirts to cardigans.

Brands or specific pieces, either would be helpful.

I'd like clothes with something slightly unusual about them, a bit of flair, not just plain navy tees or plain black jumpers unless the style is slightly unusual.

For example; I recently bought this t-shirt All Saints T-shirt it's still fairly plain but I like it because it's got a bit of detail.

No Boden-esq cutsie duck patterns or dressing to match a toddler .

I'm 37, 5ft 3, size 10 and busty.
I wear blues, black, purple, pink, grey, any browns, darker reds, burgundy and deep greens. I don't wear yellow or orange, they make me look washed out.

I’m currently obsessed with everything on the forgotten tribes website.

Like a lot of the all saints stuff.

I’m also desperately seeking a replacement for a ten year old silk mix slouchy t shirt (from ASOS of all places) that somehow magically works with everything.

That's exactly the sort of thing I'm after, both the wear-til-it-falls-apart slouchy silk mix t-shirt and I'm off to Google Forgotten Tribes now...

My OP was long enough but I probably should have mentioned that I like Free People though the less revealing stuff and Anthropologie too.

Saint and Sofia are great. Smallish range but great quality and ethical too.

Have you tried hush? It sounds like you would like that sort of style.

Just be aware that Hush quality is appalling, as is Saint and Sofia - numerous threads on here about them.

Watching this thread with interest, because I have nailed work dressing but go round in the same old casual circles at the moment.

Mint Velvet - I've just bought a few things from them this week and they are great. The measurements on their sizing chart are accurate too (I hate it when you order based on the size chart and then the garment arrives and it's 4 inches bigger, gahhhhh)

Agree that Hush looks really nice on the website but when it arrives in your home it's a huge disappointment. Every single time

Sorry to ask an off topic question @SwearsItWell but did you take a pay cut?
I went through redundancy and didn’t accept the alternative role now freaking out that I don’t have a job and nothing will pay as much!

Also mint velvet as a pp suggested

I can highly recommend Baukjen for casual wear, the quality is honestly outstanding. I have several tops and was them on rotation. The Ella top of my didn't favourite, gorgeous drapey shape
www.baukjen.com/products/ella-top-pure-white?ranMID=39036&ranEAID=gcdL%2FATRVoE&ranSiteID=gcdL_ATRVoE-cb0EoEZw704VDytgSlN_Dg&utm_source=LinkshareUK&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=10&utm_content=2523611&siteID=gcdL_ATRVoE-cb0EoEZw704VDytgSlN_Dg

I also really like their side stripe joggers, after being a jogger refusenik these have been a revelation.

There's always a decent discount code kicking about, you can usually get 20% off.

Unlike previous posters I've definitely had some success with Saint & Sofia and Hush, although agree Hush is hit or miss.

I'd say check out the more casual ranges at Zara too, occasional gems have been found there for casual wear. I've bought a couple of oversized satin shirts there recently that look great with jeans or ankle grazers

I have just discovered Sézane and am in love with the silk shirts, tops and T-shirts that have an unusual detail or cut without being fussy or frilly (which I can’t stand).

Sezane ( pricy and sizing hit and miss but free returns currently WELCOMEBACK should give 10% off and free postage)
Hush really is variable. I have some lovely tops which I've had for 3 or 4 years which is still in good condition and stuff I bought this year which is in holes)
Boden for plain basics eg boatneck tees, scoop neck tees and plain crew neck knitwear. Avoid quirky prints. I have Boden tops which are 7 or 8 years old still in good nick
FWP by Rae is my favourite tee shirt/ sweatshirt brand though usually with a French inspired slogan also has plain basic as do Ivy.
White stuff plain tees are good - avoid the prints though the stripes are nice too for a change
MKT studio are a new find which I love love love. Go to Atterley and look at the sale tee shirts. You will find some lovely things. Enjoy!

Ooh yes agree Baukjen too. Wait for a 20% off though because it's pricey ( and wonderful quality for basics like tops)

Me&em in sale
Jigsaw

Thank you for your help everyone, I'll reply about the clothes in my next post.

Yes @NJ2020 I did take a pay cut, a hefty one, but I was being paid London wages. When you remove the cost of the commute my railcard was over £1000+ a month or I stayed over, my commute was at least 2 hours each way every day.

Then there's the amount I was spending on clothing for work. I worked it out and even in summer I never walked out of the house wearing an outfit that cost less than £500, because it was expected. Plus hair and makeup. If I went to work in a plain suit it would have to be elevated with a designer scarf and shoes, for example. I'm good at finding sale bargains but it was ridiculously expensive. Those clothes definitely won't go to waste, I will still wear them but will pare them down, because I really do love them.

Of course we'd have expensive holidays 3 x a year because the stress meant I needed to unwind I absolutely do know how stressful it is doing plenty of other less well paid jobs, most of my family work in the public sector.

Added to all of that there's the fact that the job was I'm afraid I mean this literally killing me.

I'd worked my way up in the industry for 19 years, taking my qualifications whilst working. The qualifications are useful in other roles, so I've been able to find work quite easily.

Our DCs are more independent now so my years of paying for childcare are long behind me and DH has been building his career so his rise in salary can take up some of the slack.

That's the long answer obviously but yes, I've taken a huge pay cut but when I calculated the savings I will make it's not so bad. At 40% tax my train fare alone makes up for £20k of lost salary.

If this post makes me sound like a city-rah arsehole, I promise I'm really not. These were the expectations that went with the job.

I'm hoping you find work soon @NJ2020, I found the government careers support very helpful.

Have a look at Joe browns! They do some lovely smart causal clothing which is slightly quirky. I absolutely love it!

This one government careers website.
For @NJ2020 and anyone else who may find it useful.

If you ask they will assign you an advisor who can talk through your options.

Apologies that my last post was mostly bold, I'm on my phone. The crossing out hasn't worked either so it probably doesn't make much sense,

@SwearsItWell well done for getting out (of what I assume was law) to save your life. I did the same, although not before having to spend a year fixing myself due to the burn out.
Clothes wise you've had loads of good advice, vthe only thing I'd add is to sell anything designer you don't think you'll use, I did that and had some money to spend on upgrading the casual clothes I was buying.
Enjoy the future!

GemmeFatale I like Forgotten Tribes, thank you for that. They're on the list 

At the beginning of lockdown I bought a pair of Saint and Sofia jogging trousers and they are lovely, excellent quality too gavisconismyfriend. So I've looked at their other clothes but they seem to be selling quite a few items with their logo on them, written in big letters and that put me off. The quality of my joggers is so good that I will keep looking, I'm waiting for their autumn collection to drop.

blackcat86 I own and like some Hush IME you have to dig deep to find pieces that aren't standard garments that you could find anywhere but I've already got 3 items in my basket!

I've read the threads about the quality of Hush and Saint & Sofia LoeliaPonsonby. I've only ever had good experiences but I'm mindful of what I'm buying. All Saints quality can be iffy too.

Agree about Mint Velvet, good quality and reliable sizing MrsSpenserGregson again, I have to dig around for the pieces that aren't similar to others.

That's interesting GillyBobs, I put in a Baukjen order earlier this year and sent everything back because the quality was abysmal. I'll give them another shot.

OhRosalind I love Sezane, I've got a few items in my basket there too . My one criticism is that I'm short and or their dresses are too long for me, even their short lengths. I'm not looking for dresses now and I'm very excited about ordering.

I'm avoiding plain Sooverthemill as I have plenty of plain tops, Hobbs are good for plain tops too. Occasionally I find a Boden gem but they can be ubiquitous so I choose carefully. Atterley is a good suggestion, I'll take a look. Thank you 

Thank you @DameCelia. You could be right  I had though about selling some of my designer clothes but they were bought with love as in my love of clothes. For now I'm going to keep everything and anything I don't wear during the first year of work I will sell.

@LoeliaPonsonby I'd recommend Boden, Hobbs, Theo and George and Gap for good quality, plain basics.
Reiss, All Saints, Anthropologie, Sezane are good, as well as the advice on this thread I'll post others as they come to me.

my bolding the names didn't work that time.

Please keep suggesting.

I solved the issue by buying all my smart casual in France. Looked silly, but i sat on a bench for hours in Dijon, assessed what the woman were wearing and then started hunting in shops.
French women (in Dijon) have a great sense of style! Even buying same stuff there, I can't pull of that natural elegance they have.
Atm you could do the same on pinterest/instagram I guess.

That's a good idea Thesunisstillshining. You've made me crave an afternoon people watching in Dijon now.

@SwearsItWell yes I was simply suggesting that those retailers plain stuff is better than the quirky prints ( which I’m not a fan of). I think browsing Atterly you will find some great stuff. Also wearsmymoney has a blog each Sunday and she does really good round ups of casual stuff. Have found some independent retailers via her ( as well as lots of really expensive ones!). I love Joseph and also Liberty London online for outfit inspiration and their sales are great. So tops and jeans at half price which are premium ( overpriced) brands. Enjoy your browsing. I found the same issue when I left corporate life and became a SAHM. Took a lot of time to work out how to dress so I enjoyed it again.

I like Chinti and Parker knitwear. Some of it is really twee, but other bits are great and a bit different. Not everyone's cup of tea

www.chintiandparker.com/collections/sweaters-sweaters/products/pink-colour-block-wool-cashmere-sweater

Some of it is a bit frilly but I also like Paisie for slightly unusual cuts. They're good at draping too.

www.paisie.com/collections/tops/products/knitted-two-tone-top-with-asymmetric-hem-in-lilac-and-white

Absolutely, Sooverthemill I do agree that you can't beat good quality, plain basics. For myself at weekends I've been wearing plain jeans and tops because I'd put all of my fashion effort (!) into my workplace wardrobe and stuck with standard reliables at the weekend. I've lost my mojo, my off duty clothes say nothing about me except, maybe middle aged and dull. I'd like to wear clothes that look more like me again IYSWIM? I agree too that it will take me time to find what I like and what suits me now.

You mentioned FWP, Ivy and MKT Studio. I'm grateful, I've never heard of any of them but I'll have a root through and see what I like. I suspect that IRL we had/are having similar experiences. I've gone from a heavy corporate life and whilst I will still definitely be working I can wear a relaxed look to work now and I need a revamp.

I love Joseph too.

Another brand worth mentioning is The Fold. Well made, classic designs. I have quite a few of their dresses and tops and I'm going to repurpose them with, say leather trainers and jeans.

Whilst I've been looking around I've found Nu Denmark, they have some lovely clothes.

Thanks nanbread I'm going to look at those links now....