Evolving from fitted dress and blazer at work now everyone else has

[stillsleeptraining]

I've seen a few articles and threads here about how "the only people who dress up for the office now are estate agents and maybe those working in finance". Well, I'm guilty as charged but no idea what to adjust to!

I generally wear a fitted dress and blazer and it took me a long time to find that style. For me, it's easy, comfortable and I feel great. However, I'm often the only one like that nowadays!

I'd like an alternative that I can at least consider. At home, I used to like smart stuff but nowadays I'm in hoodies or clothes I've been wearing for 15 years as I always, always spend spare money on the kids.

Can anyone recommend a style for me please? I'm feeling very archaic.

Oh and I'm a young looking 44, size 10, no boobs since bf and an "athletic build" (so I've been told !).

Or even brands that I can scroll through. I'm really clueless.

What industry are you in? Does your firm have a dress code?

I am in finance (though buy side so more relaxed) and wear jeans with a jacket most days, sometimes blazers, sometimes chanel style jackets, sometimes slightly peplum jackets. Very occasionally long sleeved tops and maxi skirts

I wear cigarette pants in the spring / summer with a short sleeve blouse and flat slingbacks.
In the winter, decent leggings or long trousers with a long top/ blouse & boots or brogues.
My office is quite "posh" but people wear all sorts including smart jeans.
In our industry we don't have customers, we have companies bid for our work so we're not exactly out to impress clients.

My office is a mix bit typically women similar to you would be wearing

• wide legged trousers, flats, with top/blouse

Sorry, pressed send too early.

• wide legged trousers with blouse, top, jumper, jacket as required by the temperature

• skinny trousers with the same above

• midi dresses, heals, relaxed blazer

• jeans, blazer, top

• knit dress, tights, heals

I'd say that if you aim for one smart thing eg tailored trousers, and mix with something more relaxed, eg jumper, you're in the right space.

It's less Hobbs and more Jigsaw in style at my workplace

I would stay stick to a dress and jacket but make the dress and jacket more casual!

I work in finance and generally wear dresses, but slightly more casual- so a wrap or skater dress with a looser material- if I’m having a casual day I wear with a cardigan and ankle boots/sandals depending on season. But equally easy to add in heels/a more formal jacket for dressing up!

I'm in finance! I've never been a great wearer of dresses and certainly never fitted dresses, but these days I'm living in chinos or cigarette pants, relaxed or slightly oversized blazer and blouse or silky top, and either chunky loafers or doc marten 1461 shoes.

This is very very helpful - thank you! Will look at Whistles too. I'm in banking, but took another role during the pandemic and maybe it's a different culture, but things are different and I feel like a dinosaur.

Cigarette trousers a good idea. My shape doesn't really suit wide legged trousers or longer blazers, but I'll look at those styles and try and figure out something that'd suit me.

Thank you!

I am usually dress, flats, cardigan in varying stages of smartness. This tends to fit in anywhere, and is comfortable and easy to do every day.

I'm enjoying a shirt dress under my jacket. Really easy wear and feels so much less formal than my more fitted tailored dresses.

I've added ankle boots and black tights over the winter too.

We are a similar age/size - though I’m 5ft3. My work staples - professional setting with men still all in suits, zero jeans to be seen anywhere - are:

• black linen mix cropped jumpsuit with oversized blazers or jardigan (/whatever we are calling structured cardigans now). Mine was Mango, I’ve seen similar in Next.

• 7/8 fitted trousers and cashmere jumpers or oversized blouses / tencel tops.

• (faux) leather a-line skirt and tucked in blouse / knitwear.

I love a cropped wide leg trouser out of work but only have one pair that are suitable for work really.

I'm a jersey dress and cardigan look girl. Little bit older, but I'm in not for profit

Maybe some inspiration at The Fold?
thefoldlondon.com/

@daretodenim

Maybe some inspiration at The Fold? thefoldlondon.com/

Oooohhh - now that is a great website. Thank you.

And I can see how jumpsuits could work here. My heart gave a little flutter at the thought of a jumpsuit when pp suggested it! But I'm trying to push my comfort zone.

Thank you, everyone. This is very uncomfortable for me so I appreciate the help

A friend of mine swears by using the personal shopper service at John Lewis. She says they suggested a number of things she wouldn't have considered trying - but they suit her and work really well

www.johnlewis.com/our-services/personal-styling

OP have a look on Pinterest there's some really smart casual on there.
As long as you've got nice shiny hair and clothes that suit you, with classy brogues or sandals. Less but more quality is my thoughts. Shoes and handbags say a lot.
Always look fresh and smiley.