Office wardrobe

[sofiaaaaaa]

I’m really happy as I graduated last year and have finally secured my dream graduate role! I will be working in an office again!

Looking for advice on what to buy for my work wardrobe. It’s within financial services/banking and the dress code is business attire.

I have a few basic items from when I worked at the office in my current job, but after WFH all year I think I need to start from scratch. I am struggling with what shoes people wear now as I’ve been in trainers all year!

I used to wear heels/heeled boots as I’m short but feel this could be outdated now? In my current job I felt like I had to wear them to get people to take me seriously! I’m short/slim and regularly get confused for a student.

I wear t bar heels, heeled boots and some loafers from Clarks which are mega comfy
My office is a bit of a mish mash with what people wear so I just stick to what suits me
Making sure you can mix and match it all helps so I have

Black wide leg trousers (M&S, they hang beautifully and look more ££ that they are!)
Black/navy/printed skirts (M&S)
Wallis utility shirts in navy/green/berry (all go with the skirts or trousers)
Various tops in grey, black, navy, prints
Navy cardigan, black cardigan, black blazer, printed blazer (again all go with above)
Tights in nude, small hole nude fishnet, black opaque
Dresses - FAR too many! Probably about 50 but I wear them all the time

So I would try and stick to a colour palette for basics that suits you and you can always add more stuff in. So if you know navy suits you better than black then do that etc and the same with anything printed try and do similar tones. Makes picking outfits easy too!

What is the dress code? Many banks/institutions have changed to “dress for your day” so not very dressy most of the time, more so in middle/back office roles.

Heels (court shoes) aren’t too common in the City anymore but boots are fine, either flat or heeled. Loafers (especially) and smart pumps tend to be the most common, sometimes brogues.

I would honestly start back in the office before you buy too much - dress codes can be imperceptible until you’ve spent a bit more time with your colleagues.

Don't buy very much now. Start the job and then get a sense for what is normal there and then also what you feel comfortable in.

Just because other people wear heels or flats doesn't mean you need to. You need to find what is right for you within the context of your new job.

Most people in central London commute via public transport and walking from station, or cycling on a Santander bike. So you see relatively fewer women in very high heels than you probably would do working in a company in a small town where everyone drives to work.

So just wear your interview outfit on day one and get a feel for the situation.

And then I'd suggest focusing on picking a colour palette and sticking to it so you can mix and match whatever you buy together easily. Get some sort of neutral but smart blazer/suit jacket that will work with your colour scheme and leave it at the office - you can then put it on over whatever you are wearing if you feel like a meeting requires a more formal approach!