Help me build a work outfit in a post covid world

[Stylewannabee]

I’m struggling for inspiration on how to dress myself for a semi corporate business casual environment . I only need to go into the office once a week so I can afford to spend more than I would have done pre covid .

Having been inspired by the thread about the lady in the persuit of elegance I’ve taken away some objectives to get my capsule wardrobe sorted and are planning to shop for my lifestyle and idealy in outfits.

So my first outfit that isn’t loungewear !. Help!! I need a casual workwear outfit for a size 16 pear shape 30 something. My budget is up to £500 if it includes shoes and or bag. I’m a senior technical manager so need to look professional but not stuffy or lawyer level corporate.

I like the look of sezane but haven’t taken the plunge. My style aspiration is classy Parisian chic maybe with a hint of academic.

www.sezane.com/en/product/christie-jacket/navy

I like this jacket but what would I wear with it so it doesn’t look stuffy?

Anyone ?

Great jacket. Could you take inspiration from how it's styled on the website. Rolled sleeves, worn more casually. How about some chunky ankle boots? Russell & Bromley had some (spendy) gorgeous ones. Would keep you looking current but with an edge. Basically a look I wish I could pull off!

@Crumpledandworn ah a poster ! Thank you. I hadn’t considered Russell and Bromley ! Let me check .

Why couldn’t you pull it off ?

Soz, was rather negative...off to lust over R&B boots

Have you got a Cos near you? I was in there the other day and loved almost everything.

Love the blazer, I have one in that cut that I can wear with barrel leg slightly cropped trousers over black slim fit polo-neck. Then add the chunky ankle boots PP advised above, or these… www.cosstores.com/en_gbp/women/accessories/shoes/product.chunky-derby-shoes-black.0940924001.html which I’m obsessed with but can’t justify buying

Just to say @stylewannabee that I could have written your post word for word and will be following the thread with interest. I'm aiming for a smart pulled together look but sort of insouciant and laid back at the same time! Or failing that, anything that will fit .

Have a look at maje and rouje, as well as cos and arket for slightly cheaper things.

I would go for straight leg or tapered trousers (tapered is fab on a pear shape), ankle boots and a patterned blouse or polo neck with that blazer. If your office lets you wear trainers then some smart white leather trainers (Veja or similar) would be nice too.

@Chocolatecoatedkettlebell yes there is a cos in the nearest city . It would be a day trip out so I want to go with a bit of a plan of attack ! Otherwise will just get a bit lost fed up and go home .

The shoes are a bit more chunky than I would normally wear .. I have some thick calves so prefer slimmer styles but I hear you . A bit dr marten bit smarter ?!

I’m thinking about the sezane blazer hoping it’s wool and I won’t sweat like a pig as per my H&M / next blazers . Once you have to take the blazer off in your meeting the outfit comes down a notch!

@sergeantmajor yea do join me ! I’m not sure of your body shape but lol the beige oversized clothes currently in fashion on slim influencers I’m not sure works for everyone.

I’ve been loving fashion style edit and her wardrobe but I can’t find an bloggers with a bigger body shape and similar classy styles. They seem to rock more prints and bold styles.

Emma hill is another one I kind of like ( boarderline bland but ok workwear ) however she is a very different shape to me ..

I’m googling these with interest too! Pre lockdown I had so many intentions to try to update my wardrobe… but it hasn’t happened. I’m in a traditionally quite male profession, who all dress traditionally (suits) so used to dress similar to them. I joined a corporate, with lots of senior females and looked so out of place the first few months - they’re all in bright printed dresses, jeans, trainers, maxi skirts… anything goes really!

A colleague wears (I might be getting this wrong) “&other stories” and Cos a lot and she looks great! Always with a statement necklace.

@TakeMeToKernow yes something a out after covid feels different. Also fashion and trends change in 2 years . I was reading another thread about all the people watching you miss out on working from home and the style inspiration!

I’ve looked at & other stories just can’t see an outfit out of it

@Noodleted thank you for your advice. What do you think about a white shirt from arket ?

www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/shirts-blouses/product.straight-cut-poplin-shirt-white.0941535001.html

Any tapered trousers you can recommend ?

With a navy blazer and that white shirt, I would wear straight leg jeans and some nice ankle boots or loafers (black, brown or tan). Another option could be these Zara trousers, maybe in beige or a colour www.zara.com/uk/en/high-waist-trousers-p07901432.html?v1=109655016&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv5ljex9w5ojGPaOgPlOw2EXTw0Q8AjWz_rhYD8m93YjIdSeEYJ3gbwaAiy-EALw_wcB

Cos and arket both have nice tapered trousers (search tapered or pleated as the silhouette is similar). I'd wear those with something a little more form fitting on top, maybe a polo neck or slimmer cut/more silky material blouse to balance out the silhouette (just because the arket shirt you linked looks like quite a loose cut and the poplin will mean it holds its shape).

E.g.
These trousers www.cosstores.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/trousers/product.tapered-trousers-black.0945580001.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv77XprVUXXkuygUykcV7fM1qp83hQdE46OwXXfpWFu_zLSWQMcEN3QaAqkZEALw_wcB
this shirt www.jigsaw-online.com/products/long-sleeve-silk-shirt-fern?variant=40761578061990&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv4t7-48u1Tx6Za0Emw25rQEo4S3BGeLW98_tRarmuDRaiXxjetVe2AaAiSXEALw_wcB
or this jumper www.massimodutti.com/gb/long-sleeve-high-neck-sweater-l05625562?celement=911189

I try to do wide on bottom, narrow on top or vice versa but definitely not wide all over! Some women look great like that but as a fellow pear who isn't 6ft tall I just feel a bit frumpy. This is just what works for me though so definitely don't take it as gospel.

@Noodleted what a superstar you are ! I’ll give them a good look over again tonight. I hadn’t really heard of massing dutti so will explore .. at a glance looks very expensive but the jumper isn’t .. could be a good find for me ! Balancing quality and price.

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Memi-Zip/p/26161361

I’m also tempted to put these boots with it ..maybe too casual not sure. I’ve got black Chelsea boots but they look a bit boring.

I find these dress up quite well:
www.baukjen.com/products/neath-jersey-pant-caviar-black (however I am allergic to the word 'pant')
But now I'm looking for some proper weight tailored trousers, probably tapered, but nothing too Hillary Clinton.
I'm a short-arsed, slim pear fwiw

@sergeantmajor is it an American thing. I’m fed up of influencers talking about ‘pieces’ in their ‘collection’. Or that just isn’t ‘my style’ anymore as in I am now wearing what everyone else is wearing.

Those trousers look a bit too casual. I was thinking more tapered . Maybe a more drapey fabric but in a looser style to wear with a fitted top .