new job in tech/ fin tech, but I’m short, fat and old, what to wear?

[DIKateFleming]

I’ve just got a new job, most people there are young millennials and v tech. I’m coming from a more traditional background, and I’m starting to wonder what I should wear on the 1 or 2 days I’m in the office. I normally wear Boden/ White Stuff/ M&S fairly mumsy stuff. But I’d like to look a bit cooler. I’m mid 40s, average height, size 18-20 so lots of cool brands won’t fit. Any tips? A friend has suggested converse, jeans, shirt and blazer. I know I won’t look younger, I just don’t want to feel like everyone’s mum

if anything like the tech guys at my work, jeans, a game of thrones tshirt and trainers would fit right in!!

joking aside your friend's suggestion sounds good, apart from the shirt. Although saying that probably best to err on the formal side until you get the lay of the land.

Similar here, though I am in a Board advisory role to a fin tech start up. I’ve stuck to my own style of smart column dresses and heels. It differentiates me, but deliberately so as my job is to bring governance and control rather than the more freewheeling approach of the tech bros. The senior guys get it, even if the younger ones think I am the geriatric fun sponge who dresses like Theresa May.

They won't care what you wear, and you'll stand out more for trying too hard to fit in. Wear what makes you comfortable.

I'm mid 40's and 2 years ago went to work for a very cool tech company, and at my interviews there was floors of very cool looking people walking around. I felt the pressure to dress like some of the people walking around the office.

2 years on what I've realised is... actually people wear what they want to wear and feel comfortable with. And that's the freedom. Not, having to be super cool and fit in with a different "uniform".

Explore what you like to wear and give that a go perhaps? Having said that, jeans, shirt, blazer (roll the sleeves up slightly perhaps) probably works ! Less formal, not "try too hard", and not "in your face". You might feel less self-conscious in clothes you're comfortable with, rather than stuff you feel a bit awkward in?

It it helps mostly I started off wearing jeans, converse, and a top of some sort. Either a hoody (if less formal) or something smarter if seeing customers. Pre COVID I'd moved onto New Balance trainers (black with gold) and was trying some new stuff - jumpers etc., but then have been WFH ever since.

I would just wear what you usually wear unless you are using this as an opportunity to change your look a bit. Be yourself.

Possibly play safe early on with trousers and top same colour.Some cool footwear but worn in first!

Oooo cracks fingers

Finally I thread I have experience with!

Honestly tech (even fintech) is so casual. men will be in trainers, shorts and tees. Wear whatever you want, but I think overdressing (ie being too corporate) doesn’t quite work here

Not all tech places are shorts-wearing, but if they're not, jeans and t-shirt.

Sounds like I shop the same places as you (similar size too).

My sister is cool and a lot younger so I try to pinch some of her style for smart casual workwear.

I think the trousers/ top +/- blazer combo sounds a good one. I really like boden chinos and Joules do jersey blazers in bigger sizes - I've got several colours - always get compliments. For a more contemporary look you need to have your trousers ankle grazing so invest in trainer socks!

I'd echo the shoe comment above too - Veja trainers maybe - I have silver metallic ones that get compliments and my sister rarely wears anything else!

Alternatively I got some really rather cool liberty print vans recently that some of my trendier colleagues were admiring.

I've also just bought a jumpsuit! Never thought this would be my thing - but actually it's pretty practical (one garment - looks smart). I've paired it with my veja trainers when I've worn it. I pinched the idea off a very stylish older colleague. I would suggest boden or sea salt if you want to try one.

I used to have regular clothing crises related to work but since implementing the above these have abated!

PS: I'm a doctor and my sister works for an NGO so might not work in your sector!

I used to work in a fintech - honestly just wear what makes you comfortable. No point in dressing to fit in you won't feel like yourself. Congratulations 🙂

Thank you for all the advice.

I would like a bit of a style refresh, it’s been really easy, and comfy, to be in the mumsy rut while WFH and it will be nice to shake it up a bit. I’ll still look like me, but cropped trousers/ shirts/ blazers is definitely something i like.

I’ve just signed up with Thread, which I could see being an expensive habit, they’ve already sent me some interesting things in my size.

@Ratonastick would love to hear what you’re doing sometime. I’m going in to a senior executive control function (finance/ risk/ compliance/ people type thing). I’ve been out of column dresses and heels for too long to get back into them.

Will have to look for some good trainers, quite fancy that. I’ll have a look for Veja and various metallic ones. Had some white ones from Clarks but they just rubbed really badly.

@Acovic I’ve just discovered Joules chinos and trousers which seem to fit me well, and a few sea salt bits, so will have to keep looking

I’m just thinking about it, when I look at their employees on LinkedIn there are quite a few men my age and older, but no women, they all seem younger (or just aged better).

I used to be fairly senior (tech side) in a tech firm and my style varied - the thing about there not being many women around was we each wore more or less what we wanted. Some of the eastern European ladies were very smart and glam, another lady dressed like a fashion-backward male programmer, including the slightly too short trousers, but always looked both wholesome and comfy, the head of dept looked like she'd pulled random stuff from the Oxfam rails (!!), one of the seniorish finance people had a v butch style, and I varied between Teresa-May-terrify-the-interns style (before the last big promotion) and jeans and hoodies (after it was in the bag).
The "normal" one wheeled out to all the girls-in-tech shindigs had, I recall, gone down to Next with her sister at the end of Mat. leave and bought a shedload of stuff there...but she was management fwiw.
Oh and obvs there were a couple of office goths...

Given your remark about Clarks’ trainers rubbing I’d be wary of Veja’s - they are hugely popular where I am (Paris) but have a reputation for being painful and hard to break in. For me Addidas Stan Smiths are super comfortable but there are lots of alternatives out there.