I need to look professional. Help!

[HonoriaGlossop]

OK I am the manager of a project which is not social services but in that field. It's my first managerial post and I have been munging around at work in clothes that I know make me look like a student. I have never looked professional in my life but I now have a worker who is SO groomed and wears all the right stuff; we are going to be attending a weekly meeting together and I am blushing NOW at the knowledge that everyone will think she's my manager!!!

Can you stylish ones help? What is a spot-on 'capsule' work wardrobe? Complete novice needing help in word of one syllable if you can manage it

TIA

HELLLLPPPPP I am bumping this in case you stylish ones can take a minute from your primping and preening to help

What looks managerial????!!!

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what about a sleek comfortable practical trouser suit worn with shirts, polo necks

I am 40. Size 14. I actually LIKE to wear studenty crap clothes but clearly that isn't going to be allowed anymore Actually I like something a little arty, I'm not talking having to look like a lawyer or city type as I'm not in that line of work.

I think I like things that are a bit tailored? Because I have boobs, bum and tummy all sticking out all over the place. But I can't bear proper suits as I am very short and I just think I look bizarre in anything too formal...

sorry, this is why I have nothing to wear and nothing in my wardrobe!!!!

HG - don't wear a skirt suit (frumpy, out-of-date). You want to look efficient, smart and forward-thinking. Personally I'd go for a dress and boots with a good coat and bag/briefcase or else a trouser suit in a good fashionable cut (don't ever believe anyone who tells you to buy a classic cut - there ain't no such thing, only frumpy).

How's your hair/general grooming?

You need boots with heels - probably slightly chunky, biker-boot type - definitely not dainty, because that won't balance you out.

How about a polo neck under a tunic dress or a sweater dress?

thanks Anna; dress and boots sounds very 'me' - I think I could be trusted to have a go at that.

Trouser suit sounds good too but what is a good fashionable cut???

oo I really DO like the sound of polo neck under a tunic dress.

I am writing this down - shopping tonight!!!!

oh and thanks Irene aswell just noticed your advice re the trouser suit as well

there were some fabulous high waisted wideleg trousers around recently, you could get trying on some and see if you like the look? Wear the same boots as with the dress?

Trouser suit - look for slim fitting trousers and a longish tunic type (bell-sleeved?) jacket/top, again with a polo neck or perhaps a shirt (it will need to be in the same brand, cut to fit). With perhaps an ethnic type necklace?

Hi, 6 months ago I got a job as a therapist rather than as a pstychiatric nurse on a ward or a lecturer. Have worn jeans to work and looked like a student for YEARS. Agree with you about not wanting to look too corporate in this field.

I wear really nice wrap dresses with a top underneath (too revealing otherwise) with funky tights and chunkyish boots (like Anna said). Wide leg trousers with slightly heeled boot and tailored tops or a flared skirt with fitted tops and boots. Still me but not too scruffy or too corporate looking.

Good luck! x

Might be worth you getting Gok Wan's book on how to dress for your body type.
Also how about booking an appt with a personal shopper in House of Fraser/J Lewis etc? That way you get to try things you might not pick out, as well as a secodmn opinion.
Agree re a good coat (try Hobbs sale, you need to spend some cash on a coat IMO), good bag and smart boots. Agree on medium chunky boots but dont think anything biker-style looks professional. Hobbs do medium height med width heel which would work.
Wrap dresses might suit your body type, Phase Eight has nice patterned ones.
Get a decent haircut too and look after your nails. These things will make you feel/look more groomed.

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And some decent jewellery!

no polo necks if you have a bosom. what shape are you, where are your broadest and narrowest points on torso?

for comfort and smart:

fab black trousers - hobbs/jigsaw/whistles etc

thin jumper

chunky beads

nice boots

jacket if you have though not essential i think in this day and age

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V or square neck if you've got boobs, polo necks make big boobed women look a bit matronly.

Some lovely high waisted wide leg trousers in M+S at the mo too

have a look round here nice grown up stuff but not dull. lots of variety too.

thanks so much everyone, I am noting ALL ideas

I think so far I can best see myself in trouser suit, and also a wrap dress with trousers, that sort of look. peacelily I love the idea of wearing a top underneath a wrap dress, I usually look at them and think they're too 'booby' - why didn't I think of that....

fishie, I would say my narrowest point is kind of under the bust - I have a high waist, I'm definitely not a perfect hourglass shape but I do have a shape, IYSWIM. I'm quite 'balanced' in that I have broad-ish shoulders to balance out the hips!

I hope a wrap dress will suit otherwise I'll be starting again

Agree with anniemac, dress over trousers not very sleek/professional. Why not wear dres with boots instead? Think this is more slimming anyway.
The Trinny and Susannah book on body shapes os wuite good, might be worth getting, soudns like you might be a "Vase"!

oo the dress over trousers thing is proving to be debatable isn't it! OK I will try it on tonight and see how it looks. Also will try on just with boots.

hana I like jumpers I just find them too clingy iyswim....

I think both can look great, it's a lot easier to dress smartly in Winter too IME. In summer it's all too easy to slip into the birkenstocks and cropped trousers look which i did all te easily last year!