Smart casual emergency...

[Seriouslymole]

So, our company has been taken over by another company. We generally all work from home and I spend my days in jeans and hoodies or leggings and skirts.

We are being ushered into the office (in London - I live in the SW, so six hours on the train...) on Tuesday and apparently the dress code is the dreaded smart-casual. I either have smart - full on suit, boots etc or casual - the aforementioned jeans etc. What the hell do I wear?

I am late 40s, short grey hair, a size 12 (although verging towards 14 following lockdown) with child-bearing hips, fairly chunky thighs, medium boobs and 5 foot 7. HELP (please)! Have the day off on Monday and happy to spend it shopping. I will wear stuff again but don't want to spend hundreds if it can be avoided. I hate clothes shopping and generally buy second hand but this is something of an emergency so happy to do it just once!

I personally would wear smart trousers with a plain white/black/navy t-shirt and smart jewellery (gold is my colour) and my smart leather jacket over to go in. I'm thinking you could use your suit trousers if they are nice?

Yeah. Just wear a cardigan instead of the jacket.
Or if you think that’s too smart then buy some black jeans. Proper black on black.

Hi there,
If it were me, I'd wear nice straight legged trousers, or very well fitting good, dark jeans if your dress code allows it) from somewhere like Whistles, with a jersey blazer (like wearing a cardigan but smarter) and a lovely blouse / shirt. Flat shoes / boots. I veer towards chelsea boots or brogues myself. I dress a bit like Andrea from Call my agent only without the heels and I am not as skinny as her (I'm 5 9 size 12)
I actually have her The Kooples black tuxedo blazer!

Others will most likely recommend a midi dress but I don't wear dresses to work so I would be uncomfortable in one, especially for a first meeting.

most important thing is to be comfortable and not self conscious about what you're wearing. That way you'll be more confident overall.

Good luck!

That was confusing - I buy trousers from Whistles not necessarily the jeans

Thanks all - love the idea of a jersey blazer and smart jeans - any links/recommendations gratefully received.

Whistles has really good jersey blazers, I've had 3 of them in the past and will buy again. I already have the black, burgundy and green so I'm waiting to see if they do them in any other colours.

Levis or Hiut are worth looking at for jeans

Second the whistles jersey blazers. They do different colours every year but nearly always do navy. They were my go-to for client visits before Covid. Very comfy, soft and can be carefully washed.