smart skirts for work? do people actually still go to work?

[xksismybestletter]

Im looking, fruitlessly, for some skirts to wear to work. I have some jackets from m&s, so went there to look for skirts and can only find "jersey mini a-line" skirt, which doesnt exactly scream corporate smart.

And it has kicked off a long hour in front of the laptop trying to find a suitable skirt or two for work. They need to be smart, suitable to wear with black tights, and ok to go with shirts and jackets. Does no-one dress like this anymore?

I have a senior professional role, but find suits with beige tights both cold and dated looking.

Please recommend me some shops - ive tried wallis, dp, boden, hawes and curtis and m&s so far. Bit of a range of pricing I accept!!

Oh - ive also looked at la redoute, tu and h&m

No help sorry I haven't been in an office for 18 months. Was planning on getting some trousers and a nice jacket. Don't want anything too "corporate" now but needs to look smart. It's impossible

I’m struggling with this too. For the first time in my life I’ve turned to eBay for clothes. Saved myself a few quid too.

Would this work?

I found this at John Lewis & Partners. What do you think? https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-taylor-ponti-pencil-skirt/black/p4159684?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&sshare=jlappioss_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

Following with interest as I've drawn a complete blank with smart skirts which are not horribly corporate work suit types.
Luckily I'm not in a hugely corporate type environment so I go with a midi or longer dress with a suit jacket and boots or more formal shoes depending on what's on the agenda.

Hobbs?

Next have some stuff that would fit the bill but in answer to your question, no I don't think many people dress like this anymore, sorry! At least they don't in our office. I think the current preference for flat shoes has probably rung the death knell for smart skirts, as they look, generally, crap with flats.

In our office women are mostly wearing trousers with jackets or dresses. Things have definitely got more casual since covid, both in our company and in those we deal with too (lawyers, audit, accountants).

www2.next.co.uk/shop/gender-women-category-skirts/category-skirts-use-workwear-isort-score

but trousers give you cold ankles!! I neeeeeeed tights. I'm open to longer skirts but floaty doesnt quite work - I work with uniformed services. (I do wear flats btw! - brogues)

I've looked in next too. An actual shop!

The john lewis link is possible, and it have been looking at others there too, so thanks

I like the M&Co midi skirt on that page.

I went to a conference/trade show not long ago and noticed none of the women wearing heels, unless they were thick heels on boots. Even the senior VP and chief officer types were wearing dress/jacket/boots-or-flats combo. As was I.

From my end, I still WFH, will probably be hot-desking a max 3 days a week if I can ever manage to return to the office, and gained a ton of weight during Covid lockdown 1. My old customer-facing suit doesn't fit, and I'm never wearing heels in a corporate setting again. Value for money isn't there for me to buy a new smart suit.

its not really a suit I want. I have jackets and wear them with dresses or trousers. I also like shirts and skirts, but the skirts is the struggle. I'm fascinated that this is such a thing. I also like skirts and tights for casual, but apparently I need to love leather and cord for that to be a thing!

I have actually just bought the M&S jersey a line mini skirt you referenced in your OP for work partly because I struggled to find anything much when I was on a similar hunt to you. I work in a smart, albeit much more relaxed since covid, environment and I think it will be absolutely fine. In fact, I think one of my team might have been wearing it today too.

Have you tried Winser? www.winserlondon.com/shop/clothing/dresses-and-skirts

I've got the m and a one you mention op. My corporate city office has come out of the dark ages. I'm only in a day a week. My biggest struggle is shoes. I have literally worn trainers and flip flops since feb 2020, my work shoes look like torture.

no, I only wear sweaty betty leggings these days. I have worn midi length skirts though in recent years.

Have you looked at Whistles though? I think they have some nice stuff in this winter. Also Cos I think. (and possibly Arket)

I’m a lecturer in a creative subject so was never smart-smart for work, but people teaching in other disciplines tended to dress how they would in that work environment - so law lecturers more suited and booted, for example. I’m only on campus a couple of days a week at the moment, but the shift in what people wear is really noticeable. Male colleagues who previously wore suits and ties are now in smart trousers and casual shirts, women who would she been in smart shift dresses and court shoes are now in midi dresses and flats.

None of that helps you, I know, it’s just quite interesting to see the change.

Don't know if any of these are the sort of thing you're looking for:-

shop.mango.com/gb/women/skirts-midi/houndstooth-pencil-skirt_17086715.html

shop.mango.com/gb/women/skirts-midi/flared-midi-skirt_17036322.html

www.roman.co.uk/skirts/work-skirts

Try next online rather than in store. They have loads of brands on there too.

Depending on budget try Hobbs.

I’m with you- work clothes have disappeared off the shelves. I buy my work clothes from Roman, you have to have a bit of a search to find something nice but it’s reasonably priced and does the job!

I'm turning more to French shops as an antidote to all this shapeless baggy wear.

Some skirt choices at Bon Marche:

www.bonmarche.co.uk/womens/clothing/skirts/

You could also try La Redoute, Esprit.

interesting that so many have got that same skirt! I've ordered it

I've also ordered some floatier dresses to see if that might work as an alternative style. We shall see.

I do agree this is fascinating - such a shift so quickly. I quite like a bit of formal. I should have gone for the actual uniform I guess!!

I'll look up some of these others too, thanks for recs

Having the same problem @xksismybestletter! I've spent weeks looking for a skirt I can wear with black tights and boots. I'm the wrong shape for trousers 😂 I don't need to be super smart, but I need to be presentable and I feel better when I'm not casually dressed.
I ordered this from Roman Originals (I know, but am ever the optimist). Hasn't arrived yet!

Another one looking for a black pencil skirt and struggling. Nearly ordered a mint velvet one but it had a gold zip up which I didn't like. Saw one on Boden but couldn't bring myself to spend £65 on it! Wasn't keen on any of the ones on next and ordered and returned the M&S one as it was jersey!

I have a pinky pleather pencil skirt and a pleated one but wanted a black one...who'd have thought it would be so hard!

So yes, following for inspiration!

Most of my current shirts have come via lookerio or stitchfix but my favourite shirt from the last two years is Dorothy Perkins

Going by the sixth formers on the bus last Friday afternoon, if you don't mind straight tailored skirts in various colours and textures that just about skim over the darker tops of a pair of black tights and you're about a size 8, somewhere is selling them.

They do look very smart, albeit potentially a bit chilly come December.