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?

I would also first try and determine your core colours for your outfits, probably three base colours and two accent colours for start. Based on your colouring, full on black outfits might not be the most flattering. I would also recommend watching Daria Andronescu on youtube - she is a personal stylist who unlike a lot of fashion influencers builds capsule wardrobes using different colour combinations and does not stick to your classic navy, black, grey and white combinations only.

@DandelionSprout

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.

If you can get close to this styling then it’s a good way to go

Love the outfits you picked.

Im an apple too. Slightly oversized is usually more flattering. A boyfriend cut jean suits me best or wide legged trousers (fashion dictating skinny or straight 7/8s does me no favours so I ignore it),

I find tops better not tucked in but look for something with a well cut bottom hem (Uniqlo have some good ones with a slightly tapered hem) tee shirts heavier cotton only - not draped thin ones. Personally I find oversized cotton/linen/silk shirts much better. Jackets over the top are a great idea - or layers like the first picture you choose.

The trick I find with COS and arket is size down on the very floaty things and find V necks. Although my absolute favourite dress is one of arket's v-neck kimono cut in navy - their jumpsuits are often more flattering than the dresses.

Those three pictures are a really great starting point OP. For budget versions check out Uniqlo, H&M and Zara

The clothes you've picked are really good. You're on your way.

The trendy shop assistant picked them for me
Ok but I assume you still saw something in them seeing as you bought them. Don't do yourself down!

I agree the outfits you've picked out for yourself look good. I wouldn't get too hung up on Cos and I say that as a fan. I also agree about Zara - my very swanky local dress agency sells their tailored stuff sometimes and it often has me fooled - but I would visit a real branch if you can.

You’re doing well getting interviews already, it’s not easy to get in to.

Don’t underestimate your own style

OP you clearly have style it's just not at the whim of every trend. And it's totally fine to have a uniformed style, in fact a lot of designer types do the same.

Lean in to what you're comfortable with and be a bit more playful. Think less about what you think others expect you to look like and instead about what you enjoy but elevated.

Are you aware Yohji Yamamoto? Hes a fashion designer with a famous Pleats Please collection, easily replicate d by buying plisse which is popular atm.

Try Kin at John Lewis, they have some great separates. Their culotes/cropped indigo denim would be great with a simple top.

Uniqlo is another strong option.

Toast is also another, but really spendy. Good for inspiration though. Get a feel for styles and shapes then look elsewhere for similar.

For pricey brands, try second hand on eBay - set up alerts for your size.

MN won't let me add pics for some reason so here are links:

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This could be a uniform of sorts....

I like those trousers Atalune, where are they from?

H and M

Great OP! Masculine and no nonsense?

A sort of Margaret Howell look. Slightly Toast and a bit of Plümo?

Have you tried men’s cotton shirts as they’re often better made than women’s? Maybe Uniqlo? You could even make your thing wearing 501s. I’m sure Phoebe Philo did that. Maybe not for the interview though.

I totally agree about trying Pleats Please if you ever have some cash

Have you thought about midi skirts with a cropped jumper and a necklace? I am more of a pear shape but this seems to be quite flattering on me

I was wondering OP @DandelionSprout how it's going?

If you suits a more nipped in waist and like trousers, I'd stick with the trouser/top combo but look at more interesting cut (culottes, palazzo, cigarette pants etc) consider colour and tucked in tops. Attached are a few ideas I'd be working towards and invest in some pointed flats or even trainers if it's creative and not too formal (although not for interviews). I would also suggest some earrings - they really help you look more polished IMO.

Are you aware Yohji Yamamoto? Hes a fashion designer with a famous Pleats Please collection, easily replicate d by buying plisse which is popular atm.

I think you mean Issey Miyake.

You can buy some cheap plisse to copy the look but the secret with Pleats Please is the cut.That's much harder to copy. Of course if you're near east London, you can go to the Pleats Please sample sale but it's already happened this year (but gives you time to save up for next year if you fancy it).

Some great advice here @DandelionSprout.

I'm 41, pale and a size 14...I work in creatively as a freelancer but also work part-time in a creative role for a non-creative organisation where I have quite a lot of responsibility. It's taken a bit of time but I have now a style which I feel reads ok across the contexts and is 'me'.

My advice would be:

• Get a great haircut which really suits you and is distinctive without being outlandish. I have a long crop with an undercut - bleached on top and dark underneath. This is not as crazy as it sounds and can look very smart. But it is not apologising for itself either. If you have a plainer haircut have something distinctive about it - a blunt fringe or a stripe of contrasting colour. If you go to a decent hairdresser this can look elegant and not at all like a teenager gone rogue with a colour wand.

• Keep the rest of your makeup/grooming "expensive"-looking. Short manicured nails in a sensible colour. Minimal makeup.

• Avoid patterns unless you are confident, or else stick to something classic like a stripe or a check.

• Stick to neutrals and a couple of accent colours which you like -eg most of my wardrobe is grey, black and brown with green and maroon. This also means you need to buy less as everything matches.

-Simple shapes. You mention not suiting sacks - you could go classic but a bit quirky. Eg wide legged trousers, with a shirt tucked or half tucked in to accentuate your waist. Heavier shoes.

• Some interesting accessories which say something about you as an individual (they don't have to 'match' if you keep your outfit fairly neutral).

I can sympathise when you say your body type doesn't match your likes. I want to be a raven haired French wafter - but I can't given my resolutely Anglo-Saxon burly farming heritage. But you can take some elements of what you like and have a think about how it could translate. You clearly have a strong aesthetic sense in other areas so be kinder to yourself. Start with a few bits and your confidence will really grow. Good luck!