Creative professional outfits?

[DandelionSprout]

Apparently I don’t look right and that will prevent me building rapport with clients and making sales. For work I would usually wear plain black trousers and ballet flats with a simple long sleeved top. I have mousy hair and don’t wear jewellery although I sometimes wear a hair slide. Makeup is usually very minimal, just a tinted moisturiser worth lip gloss and mascara. I wear big Perspex glasses which I thought were trendy but perhaps not?

The alternative is to work out what shapes suit your body and then go with dark neutrals (navy/grey/black), maybe with some interesting jewellery.

I would say this. I would also look at Cos and then search H&M for the cheaper version.

If your interviews are over zoom surely you need to concentrate on your head, so hair, glasses, earrings, necklace and top?

@Cowbells is right.

Lots of the ideas here simply won’t look right with wealthy people. I’m pretty well off but if an interior designer turned up in a hoodie I’d really think they were not professional. Off duty - do what you want. If you are advising me on spending £££££, you need to look well put together.

Wearing dark colours is office wear. My DD is a barrister and that’s the only excuse for black. Of you want to impress clients, snd yet a job, black is an absolute no no.

Copying the suits I posted earlier is the way to go over the summer. Look for pleated skirts and plain shirts. Swap the denim for something in a smarter fabric. Look at Massimo Dutti. H&M is unlikely to have decent fabrics. Cos is a bit quirky. Their t shirts are good though. Jigsaw are excellent. Zara is usually good but be careful about some designs.

Doc Martins and Converse would be too casual for high net worth people. They would think you were trying to be 20. Just not classy enough.

Try and lighten your hair and get a good cut.

I’ve worked in creative agencies and imo the women who look good as they get older buy good quality stuff. Some are understated and that can really work. Others might have a bit more personal style.

You don’t have to look creative but it helps to buy well. Often the same outfit would be relied on heavily, well styled, but kind of complementing rather than fighting against the work itself.

Going by your links you can upgrade but still be understated.

OP I thought the shirt and trousers in the second picture you posted was simple and would be stylish and professional looking particularly with your glasses. The more spendy the client that you are selling to I’d suggest probably the more conservative and quality clothes you’d probably need. Maybe you could tell us more about the client relationship to your role?
From what you’ve said, as you’re not a fine artist, presumably clients don’t want to literally buy your vision right out from your studio unchanged. I’d imagine people commissioning an interior designer want someone they can trust and who can take on some of the client’s own ideas if needed as well as present a coherent professional vision of their own?
To come in with a very strong personal style statement that potentially doesn’t match the client’s vision could make them worry you’ll just turn out your usual stuff and not tailor it to them, or that you might not ‘get’ whatever aesthetic they have in mind.
To avoid being pigeonholed, I’d aim for professional and up to date looking and making sure you are in colours that really suit you especially if you have pale colouring to demonstrate your excellent colour sense.

If you weren't going for creative roles, I'd say this was a case of veiled ageism. But actually if I'm hiring a designer, I want to see that they have good taste - it doesn't gave to be identical to mine, but I'd expect them to have a keen eye and an interest in / passion for aesthetics, whether that's interiors, art or fashion etc. Sadly, that requires an investment in terms of time, energy and perhaps money but not necessarily.

Have a look at Brittany Bathgate on YouTube. She almost always wears a jumper
And trousers but is very stylish and minimalist. She wears a lot of Cos/Arkett/Uniqlo as well as more expensive brands.

I know a few architects and interior designers and they all dress in a very understated way. Really well cut clothes in a limited colour palette. No polyester, bright colours or prints.

Build yourself a capsule wardrobe for work. Choose 2/3 colours that work together, I would go for navy/charcoal/white with accents of olive green and dusky pink because they are colours that suit me and work well together. Think about the colours you are drawn too and that light up your face.

I would start with something like:
I pair of wide leg trousers in charcoal
I pair of slim leg ankle grazers in navy
A good white shirt or blouse
A good white t shirt
Cashmere or merino jumper in navy/grey/olive
The best blazer you can afford, they have transformative powers. Make sure it fits really well on the shoulders.
A classic pair of leather shoes, something like brogues, they go with everything

Look in Uniqlo, Cos, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Zara, Kin, And/Or from John Lewis. Search for them on eBay too if you have the time/patience

Keep it simple and everything will go together. Those pieces will give you a week of outfits and then you can add in more as you go. Stick with classics, a trench coat, a dress, a well cut denim jumpsuit maybe. Make sure that anything new that you buy works with what you've already got.

I'd try and get is a good leather bag. I appreciate you don't have a designer budget now, so go for something minimal and underrated, Cos or Arket should have something that fits the bill.

Good luck with the job hunting!

When I hire creatives I don't look for quirky or even necessarily 'professional' in terms of suited or expensive. But I'd expect some effort, could be jeans, could be a suit but that the person has given some thought to their outfit and importantly they are confident in it. I don't need to like your style, but I do need to feel like you care about design and how elements work together. Basically design yourself like you'd design a room. You'd think about the basics - what does the room need to function - and then add in the details as part of the staging.

Putting yourself in a COS dress that isn't comfortable for you or wearing statement accessories that are make you fiddle are as bad as ASDA trousers.

If you're a trousers, hoodie and flats person - start there. Buy more expensive or fashionable versions of that, so not ASDA black trousers, go for a better fitting pair - John Lewis would be as good a start as any given the breadth of brands they sell. Try on loads til you work out the shape that works best for you.

Ditch the ballet flats and try loafers (I personally hate them but other love them) or sneakers (there's a recent thread with loads of suggestions). But if you really really love ballet flats stick to them but work out which trousers or jeans work best with them - the answer is unlikely to be polyester slacks. Swap the hoodie for either a cashmere version in the winter or the long sleeve top for an oversized shirt in the summer.

Invest in a very good portfolio case and work bag, again that works for you. One creative I work with is a backpack addict always some obscure new brand, another has used the same battered leather satchel for years.

And yes get your hair cut well - no need to go for a full change. Makeup if you don't wear a lot most days that's ok but master that art of it for interviews and pitches.

Honestly as a first step start a mood board like you would for a room brief. As PPs have said I think you need to get into a the right mindset first before spending any money.

Why don’t you post a pic with your face hidden so we can give you hair tips or colour or whatever? I also like to be comfortable and am fairly Kate Winslet, soft features and mousey hair. I brighten it up, and like places like Mint Velvet for stylish yet comfy clothes. How about trying balayage?

Op, I agree with coffeandcake, that keeping to a black or navy 'clean canvas'is a good idea. Go for well cut clothes, regular manicure, well cut hair, and then add one really good accessory that you are comfortable with. Maybe lovely hand-crafted earrings.

I know someone whose work 'uniform' is black wide leg trousers, black tailored top and her hair tied back in a pony tail with a bright scarf. Different scarf each day. Comfortable, smart, instantly recognisable.

But choose a base colour & style that suit you. There's no point in creating a wardrobe that isn't you and you aren't comfortable with.

@TeaAndBisquits love that shirt!!! So much so I might buy it lol

Basically design yourself like you'd design a room

OP I think this is the best advice you have received on this thread. If you don’t have a clear idea of your style, or how to achieve it, I think the best thing to do is spend some money on good quality, neutral (black is totally fine if that is your preference, and common in the design world, contrary to what a pp says) clothes with more tailoring/structure/“design” than you are used to. I would take a day and go around some upmarket shops and try things on until you find something you’re comfortable with. Ideally take an honest friend. Depending on the “look” you go for your DMs might be fine as shoes. Otherwise loafers or sneakers would work.

I think you can still wear black white and ballet flats if you add some statement pieces and combine things in a unique way. I think these all look professional but also confident by breaking some rules

Lots of the ideas here simply won’t look right with wealthy people. I’m pretty well off but if an interior designer turned up in a hoodie

Oh sure I wasn't suggesting OP wears a hoodie to work, but it's a good place to start in terms of figuring out her personal style. OP might find she's more comfortable with a 'sports luxe' edge to her work wear (I hate clichéd terms like that but you know what I mean; technical fabrics, wide legged trousers etc). Good shout re Massimo Dutti, they do a lot in that vein.

You're wrong about black though. Head to toe black, as long as its not in cheap polyester, can look very chic and contemporary. A lot of creative types in New York do the black thing and it looks great (also requires minimal thought when putting items together in the morning).

The PP who said ballet flats can stay, I would also strongly disagree with. OP unless you're a lithe, eccentric 19 year Parisian with a passion for putting together looks there is no way ballet flats are ever going to look right in a design-led environment - not least because they are very badly designed and not functional.

I’d invest in a work uniform

Black/navy wide leg trousers. Slightly cropped- like 7/8ths. Black crew neck sweater with a big white or denim Lacy collar over the top. Sleeves pushed- not rolled up.
Cool shoesorboots- so DMs, wedged sole brogues, vans, white vejas.
Good earrings- geometric hoops, tortoise shell of acetate shapes.

Your glasses are good.
Consider a brighter lipstick and have good groomed eyebrows.

Arket
Cos
The Kooples
Me and em

These are all good shops to look for style ideas.

Depop for second hand cheaper versions.

Silk blouses are also a great option for a quick smart/lux look.

Silk blouse
Houndstooth boxy blazer
Barrel leg jean
White trainers

Ballet flats, I think look cheap.

Excellent advice from anomletteandaglassofwine

I'm mid 40's and whilst I don't work in a particularly creative environment the cool 20 somethings always comment on my outfits although maybe they are being polite

Wide leg navy trousers, M&S do some brilliant ones. I wear with bright white trainers and a well cut white tshirt tucked in with a leather jacket and a cool cross body.

Cropped jumpsuit with trainers

Slightly cropped straight leg jeans with a western style boot, frilly shirt or interesting type of shirt (big collar / ruffles ) and a long wool coat in grey or tan

Midi dress with boots. if it's low necked then a cotton poloneck underneath is good

I rarely wear prints, plain colours but do like a bit of animal print maybe on shoes or blouses

Get your nails done - short dark shellac always looks groomed and consider getting your hair blowdried. Messy bun works if you have make up - always a bit of makeup.

You can easily get away with high street clothes if you go for cut, plain colours and quality but it's well worth investing in a decent bag but not a ubiquitous Mulberry anthony / bayswater. I tend to go for a bit of metallic sometimes,

Op I simply don't believe you when you say you have no sense of style - not with those specs. And the hoodie you picked out from all the zillions of others on Google is a distinctive colour. I get how, after years in a job where you were expected to be invisible, it must be daunting to put yourself centre stage, but you've studied design so presumably you understand form and colour and texture and space and all that other stuff. I think it's a case of learning to apply those skills and that knowledge to yourself. It may take a while but you've got the tools already.

In the meantime I think it's important to be yourself so I'd start by looking for a more high end version of your usual look. I don't shop in many place these days so there might be better suggestion on this thread, but I immediately thought of Me and Em and their cashmere hoodies. All their stuff is pretty low key and casual but also work appropriate, has a bit of 'edge' and is very contemporary. The prices are scary though the sales are good but, if your clients are in the high income bracket, then maybe you do need to spend? But even if you can't afford to buy at the moment, their lookbook might be helpful.

My second thought was +J, the current Jil Sander collection for Uniqlo which is much more kindly priced. Most of it sold out on the first day but they're now getting returns and / or restocking (although you still need to 'stalk' and check every day). She did some very cool hoodies and sweatshirts for under £50 or, for a smarter look, some silk/cotton knitwear and tailored trousers. It's a very limited colour palette and kind of stark, which some people didn't like, but it means everything goes together both in colour and shape - you could literally close your eyes, grab a top and a bottom half and they'd probably work.

I don't think the ballet flats are a killer by the way. They're not fashionable at the moment but you could make them your thing. But you'd need to wear them unapologetically, if that doesn't sound too pretentious.

The creatives I work with wear flowery dresses with leather biker jackets and biker boots in winter/ clogs in summer. Not sure if that helps?

Your work is about being an expert in visual images and that needs to follow through to your own personal visual image.

OP you need to take this seriously and put some effort in. Look at Pinterest, look at magazines, pay attention to what others are wearing that looks good. Take advice from personal consultants if necessary. You need to get to a place where you know what suits your body and what styles look good on you.

As a designer you can have your own image/style/look it doesn't need to conform to other people's ideas. But it does need to be well thought out and considered and it needs to look good, at least to you. Not making much of an effort or trying to fade into the background is not appropriate.

You clearly have a good eye, you can absolutely do this.

Ballet flats are dead, IMO

I get stuff in nice fabrics (so cashmere and merino jumpers and silk shirts) off eBay and Vinted or in TKMaxx and it really makes me look so much smarter and up-to-date at minimum cost.

I'd also try Zara and HandM for some big chunky costume jewellery, which will help a basic outfit stand out.

@Nataliafalka

I'm mid 40's and whilst I don't work in a particularly creative environment the cool 20 somethings always comment on my outfits although maybe they are being polite

Wide leg navy trousers, M&S do some brilliant ones. I wear with bright white trainers and a well cut white tshirt tucked in with a leather jacket and a cool cross body.

Cropped jumpsuit with trainers

Slightly cropped straight leg jeans with a western style boot, frilly shirt or interesting type of shirt (big collar / ruffles ) and a long wool coat in grey or tan

Midi dress with boots. if it's low necked then a cotton poloneck underneath is good

I rarely wear prints, plain colours but do like a bit of animal print maybe on shoes or blouses

Get your nails done - short dark shellac always looks groomed and consider getting your hair blowdried. Messy bun works if you have make up - always a bit of makeup.

You can easily get away with high street clothes if you go for cut, plain colours and quality but it's well worth investing in a decent bag but not a ubiquitous Mulberry anthony / bayswater. I tend to go for a bit of metallic sometimes,

This is a brilliant post.

@Nataliafalka where do you shop for wardrobe staples?

How do you avoid patterns? I'm just naturally drawn to floral prints etc then get stuck with them. I know plain colours are more versatile but how do you develop your palette? In plain colours I often feel frumpy and invisible, as a mid-fifties, slightly overweight woman. (I know - lose the weight if you want to look stylish. I'm working on it. )

Op I simply don't believe you when you say you have no sense of style - not with those specs
The trendy shop assistant picked them for me when I said I wanted to look like a designer. I’ve looked on various clothes websites and found loads of stuff I like but can’t wear. I love the boxy and draped silhouettes but I’m an apple shape with a heavy tummy and thighs, so thin drapey fabrics just cling to my bumps and look awful. Loose clothes make me look enormous and anything tied in the middle makes me look like a sack of potatoes. My body looks best in something fairly fitted or shaped around the waist, but that’s a bit old fashioned and not what this “designer” Cos type look is about.

I’ve picked out a few things I might get away with. Mostly trousers with tucked in top and a jacket skimming over the top, paired with boots or chunky flats. They’re mostly out of my budget so I’ll have to shop around for similar, if anyone has any suggestions. I’m probably looking around £20-40 for a top and maybe £80 for a jacket or shoes.