Workwear advice

[workwearadvice]

Name changed and looking for some advice!

Some background:

I'm 37. Size 12 but sometimes a 10. 5ft 3 and a half.

Body shape is a bit of an apple but I call myself a prepubescent teen. Chubby cheeks with puppy fat and a round tummy but no boobs and small hips and bum. I was 1.5 stone lighter a few years ago so am lacking confidence.

I have a new job. I'm a family solicitor and will be working in a high street firm in quite a nice market town. I have been a family solicitor for years but this job involves setting up a family department from scratch with a view to becoming partner shortly. So I want to impress the two bosses with a view to investing in their business at some point.

Part of my issue is I just don't get the dress code and never feel confident in my clothes. I was at a regional firm before and it was pretty casual unless you saw clients. Even then men

and women didn't necessarily wear a jacket but some did and men would often wear a tie.

I will see clients practically daily and this will continue. We don't do legal aid work but the clients range from nervous youngish people on benefits whose family pay fees to older, more traditional confident clients who could be multi millionaires. My point is I want something that makes me approachable but business like without standing out too much from my colleagues.

My first question is if you were my client what would you expect me to wear?

Secondly, which shops are best.

Previously I was a little more casual. What I would wear before would be m and s elasticated mini skirt, flat Gabor loafers with gold bar, Zara or mango boucle jacket. I wouldn't always wear the jacket to client meetings.

I want to look more polished but not stand out. I do have confidence issues but am investing in my hair (nano keratin treatments), skin etc so I am feeling a bit better.

I don't earn huge amounts either. I'm earning over £50k and am a single mum living in the south east with ridiculous nursery fees. I have however had a nice little payout from the previous firm and think it's worth investing in a few good pieces.

The other issue is my usual style is stan smiths, veja, timberland boots, with dark loose jumpers (often stripy) and skinny black topshop/river Island jeans and gold Missoma type hoops.

I feel that style is very at odds with the style I should have at work which makes me feel uncomfortable. I bought some pieces from Hobbs the other day and although I could tell the quality was good I felt so frumpy and it aged me a lot so they are going straight back!

Sorry this is really long but any suggestions about what you would expect me to wear as a client and links to items/shops would be great!

Could you merge your styles by wearing tapered black trousers with loafers, a plain top and a well tailored jacket for work?

Or cigarette trousers.

I agree that your home style is not a professional work style.

My local solicitors seem to wear a combination of Hobbs type suits (often in the sale) or good quality blouses and skirts/well cut tapered trousers. Cashmere, plain or slightly patterned with stripes, pullovers substitued for blouses when its a bit colder. Lowish heel classic court shoes or loafers with the trousers. Colours tend to be muted for the suits so black, navy, mid blues, dark green, grey, camel, burgundy etc. Look at mixing and matching colours.

The suit bottoms can be worn without jackets but jackets are useful for formal meetings. You would need to judge if you have any of those! Dresses in any of the above colours too. Just nothing too garish. Think classic rather than homely or casual.

DD is a family barrister so her formal workwear is:...... Black! However for Chambers she wears the colours above. Look at Hobbs, as mentioned, LK Bennett, Jaeger used to do excellent pieces in their sale, M&S do great tapered trouses and John Lewis has very good classic cashmere. Plus lots of other brands such as Phase 8 and Modern Rarity. Even look at Boden for dresses. Massimo Dutti is fantastic. My particular favourite. Top off with some jewellery that makes you happy!

Good luck. Exciting times.

I meant to add that blouses can be more or less any co-ordinating colour from white through to black and patterned. Just not neon or brights I think.

@VanGoghsDog thanks. That is actually pretty much a good blend of my styles. I don't often wear cigarette trousers as I'm short but I think if get them tailored that should help.

@PresentingPercy thank you for your detailed reply! Yes I am very excited it should be a good opportunity. Thanks for the tips . I popped out to John Lewis yesterday and bought some nice items to try on. Honestly, there is no substitution for touching the fabric and seeing items in the flesh.

There was a “Swedish architect” thread on here a few months ago. Does that look appeal to you? It’s cheaper to achieve than a straight Hobbs style with less dry cleaning.
Good shops: Cos, Arket, Uniqlo etc.
I’m an accountant and veer towards this look so it’s totally acceptable. On days I’m not I like to mix and match jackets with trousers and dresses rather than wear a suit

I like the Fold and also Winser London for workwear. They're both good quality and nicely cut, but ££.

Yes! I forgot those brands. I was trying to remember them! I agree it’s good to feel fabrics. Not always easy right now.

Do you wear heels OP? I had a similar question recently and I’ve discovered that a pair of heels make most outfits look smart!

Seconding Winser London. M&S Autograph have good work clothes too.

I’m a finance director. If I’m meeting lenders or presenting to the board, I wear a jacket. Always. It conveys authority, which you need as a woman in a room full of men. People definitely take you more seriously. I appreciate that you work in family law and will be meeting clients rather than senior colleagues, but those clients will expect to see a capable-looking woman who can hold her own in negotiations. That means at least some tailoring. You’re not going to see Fiona Shackleton in a saggy cardigan!

Since you are quite petite, I think that the boucle jackets you describe will work well. Ditch the jersey mini skirts. Slim trousers and heels, even if they are small heels, look good. If you are going to wear brogues or loafers, they have to be really good quality. Avoid too much pattern or fuss. Ayesha Vardag will wear strong colours, but she’s always tailored and the shapes are neat and simple.

Thanks for all the tips!

It seems heels are a common theme and can smarten any outfit. My problem is I can't walk very well in them and can be a bit clunky but I will have to get used to it!!

Wow, so I looked at Winser and the Fold. They are beautiful items. I then ended up on Libby London and that is even more wow! The cut of those pieces is just beautiful.

I think I will have to bite the bullet and invest in pieces and think of it as an investment in my career if I want a promotion. Dress for the job you want and not for the job you have and all that!

The other thing that stops me investing in good quality stuff actually is that my weight can yoyo and I have that eternal hope of losing weight permanently!

Presumably these pieces can be tailored and taken in if needed and again, taken out?

Dress for the job you want and not for the job you have and all that

I know that this is sometimes regarded as quite cliched advice, but it is absolutely correct.

Buy the clothes for your current size. Not everything can be tailored to a smaller size, but if you get partnership you can afford to replace stuff anyway! Good luck.

Heels take practice! Most important is the fit - too big and they are harder to walk in - start with a low block heel and build up over time.

I was going to suggest a shoe with a lowish heel - not completely flat but not high either. About 2.5 cm or so. Block heels are fine, something like this with trousers
www.marksandspencer.com/leather-ankle-boots/p/clp60186371?color=BLACK#intid=prodColourId-60186371
or www.marksandspencer.com/leather-block-heel-square-toe-ankle-boots/p/clp60467482?color=RED#intid=prodColourId-60467485
(they have so many nice shoes and boots I could have chosen - but I was looking for the heel)

Procrastatron, do you have a link for the 'swedish architect' thread please?

I agree about heels smartening you up - but I also wear very delicate flats, which I think are just as smart. Hard to find, mind.

These are along the lines:

www.russellandbromley.co.uk/impression/124166

I wouldn't wear boots with a skirt, even heeled boots. How about something like this which comes in lots of colours, and will lengthen your legs:

www.russellandbromley.co.uk/impulsive/237037

There are quite a lot of courts about that are similar to that R&B shoe. I’ve just bought a red pair from Gabor. They do black suede as well. Peter Kaiser shoes are super comfortable too. You don’t need high heels. You just need a classic shoe to elevate your height with skirts or dresses. R&B have great flat shoes too. I suggest leather or suede as they give a bit and will be more comfortable. Suede ankle boots are great but I sometimes think leather ones are too clunky. DD would never wear them for work.

I think family clients like to feel they are getting good professional advice from someone who cares about their situation. Or someone who will do their best in the most challenging of circumstances. You don’t need to be a fashion icon and you won’t need a jacket unless you go to court.

Hair, nails and makeup are part of your presentation but it’s what makes you the person to get instructed that’s important and some clients will want your empathy rather than being impressed by your suit. You don’t really have to dress to impress anyone and I’m assuming you won’t be representing the great and good in their divorces and family squabbles just yet.

Winser items have some stretch in, I believe, so might help if you are thinking you might lose weight. The Fold had a private sale on Friday so they might open it up more widely soon. Keep looking.

I have a few Winser dresses and they are brilliant. So flattering and easy to wear plus the stretch gives you some leeway on weight. Mine have all come from Ebay - in fact almost all my workwear is as it lets me wear really great quality items without the price tag. People frequently buy business wear and don't wear it for whatever reason, so you get BNWT or worn a couple of times at a fraction of the new.
I'm 10 years older than you, and Hobbs makes me feel frumpy just looking at it!
Reiss is worth looking at for really nice pieces, and I've got a couple of lovely blouses from Ted Baker which give a great colour interest to a plain jacket and slim trouser combo.

Actually Hobbs do really neat jackets and well cut trousers. I don’t think they are frumpy. They are basics to build on at a not too high a price. They also do pretty good shoes and boots.

I think family clients like to feel they are getting good professional advice from someone who cares about their situation. Or someone who will do their best in the most challenging of circumstances

You can do this whilst dressed like a capable professional. The two things are not mutually exclusive.

You don’t need to be a fashion icon and you won’t need a jacket unless you go to court.

Nobody said that the OP had to be a ‘fashion icon’. She asked for advice on what to wear in order to look businesslike and to impress bosses whom she hopes will invite her to become a partner. She needs to dress the part.

Hair, nails and makeup are part of your presentation but it’s what makes you the person to get instructed that’s important and some clients will want your empathy rather than being impressed by your suit.

As above, it is possible to be empathetic whilst looking smart, competent and businesslike.

You don’t really have to dress to impress anyone

She does. She wants to be invited to join the partnership.

and I’m assuming you won’t be representing the great and good in their divorces and family squabbles just yet

The OP explicitly states that some of the practice’s clients are traditional and confident and could be multi-millionaires.

I work in finance and advertising (don’t hate me...) so meet with a mixture of traditional City clients and young media-agency types. Cos works well for me for getting that balance right, as well as & Other Stories if you can find one near you. Plain silk shirts always look smart (&OS do a machine-washable one in various colours which are very useful). Cos do some great work trousers (I like the culotte style ones as they look smart but approachable, not too ‘buttoned up’, if that makes sense). Other than that, a good haircut, a fitted jacket to hand and a pair of heels under your desk, and you’ll be sorted!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3954599-Swedish-Architect-fashion

I don't find Hobbs frumpy at all. is it me?

Actually, after I posted, I remembered that I only ever seem to look at certain rails in Hobbs so maybe I skip the frumpy bits.

I usually see something wonderful then have the assistants pounce on me so I scarper. This is one certain store in a well-to-do area. Maybe my local store would be different.

I'd forgotten but Pretty Ballerinas do elegant flats:

www.prettyballerinas.co.uk/ballerinas/67571-ella.html