New work wardrobe HELP!

[Illputtheminapie]

Hey there
I've just landed a brilliant new job that I'm excited about and I'm going to need to (find an excuse to ;D ) update my wardrobe significantly.

It's a very senior role in a young, cool and creative business in London.
The other leaders are mostly male, over 50 and wear work casual, no trainers, no denim.

I need some brilliant key pieces that make me look slick / elegant / classy but still with an edge / flair that's in keeping with the industry.

It needs to be cool and youthful, fashion-forward rather than tailored and traditional. No skirt suits for me thanks.
I like dresses a lot but the majority now are too floaty and floral or too frumpy for this brief. I need sharper, bolder things!
Definitely heels, most of the time, they don't have to be high, but no trainers for now.

I'm not scared of print or colour, although I usually wear a lot of black. I used to wear a lot of Cos, although I'd like some more form-fitting things this time.

Can you picture it!? Can you point me at any particular shops / brands to look at? I've found some nice basics on John Lewis website but not much. Maybe one or two things in Cos...

Happy to spend a bit, but thinking along the lines of Whistles prices at the top end rather than Chloe (we can dream!).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Oh and I'm 5'4", just under 40, and a curvy size 10-12.

Wide leg black trousers? There are some really nice ones around. Not with heels though, unless maybe heeled boots.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie yes I keep seeing so many nice wide leg trousers but all with trainers, which I want to avoid. I'll try to pay attention to the photos on websites to see if I spot then successfully paired with any other footwear!!

My wide leg trousers work with brogues

congratulations...i'm loving saint+sofia
check people tree too.. finery.. ...and..ted baker(sorry,still a fave)

Oh thanks for the brogues tip and the brands. I hadn't thought of Saint and Sofia, or the others and have a couple of things I love from Finery already.

Incidentally, I love these!

www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-julianna-cropped-trousers/p6002404?s_share=jlappdroid

Culottes

@Br1ll1ant

My wide leg trousers work with brogues

That's what I wear with mine for work, although they undoubtedly look better with trainers.

@tolerable thanks!

I've also just remembered Karen Millen? Haven't they had a modern reboot? Or did I imagine this...

Is form fitting the look at the company? I ask because while I liked your ‘sharper, bolder’ brief I’m not sure that translates to form fitting ted baker / karen millen type stuff in the industry you describe. I may be wide off the mark though as my industry isnt characterised my young, cool, creative types.

The clothes at Iris & Ink and The Fold have a modern office twist (only occasionally for The Fold which looks a bit corporate, aspire tobe on the board for me).

To nail a ‘sharper, bolder’ shape I think you need to work around the trouser/skirt types you favour so sleek tops tucked in to wide midis, boxy tops with column skirts or slim fitted trousers etc.

@1frenchfoodie you are so right! I've just been looking at K Millen and it's totally off brief!

And yes, by form fitting I guess I just mean either sleek top tucked into more unstructured/ voluminous bottoms, or skinny pants with a looser top. Not the whole lot baggy IYSWIM.

I'm too little and curvy to pull off shapeless things, however cool they are!

Thanks for those brands, I'm not familiar with either so I'm off to check them out.

Get yourself on Instagram for inspiration, I follow a few accounts that have very stylish workwear outfits.

@treatingthestreetslikearunway
@lifewithjazz
@whatemwore

Be careful with heels OP - now that we are back in the office I find that the only people wearing heels are the over-45s!

@doneadulting amazing thanks, will do

@MsFogi yes yes this! I'm basically not wearing heels at any other time, but I feel like if I want the other seniors (all over 50) to mentally put me in their "club" from the off, I need to at least start with a bit of heels.
Hopefully once I'm more established a nice sleek pair of white sneaks can sneak back in...?!

A chunky loafer works well with trousers and would feel a lot more fashionable than other shoes. Oversized blazers work well to smarten up an outfit whilst still looking stylish.

Thanks @inevitablytired

@doneadulting those instas are perfect, especially Em and Jazz - thanks..

Looking like I have to undo my swearing off Zara for life

If you are keen for a bit of inspiration I’ve been enjoying blue ollarredlipstick.com blog (she is on Insta too but not sure of handle, not the same as the blog). She shops almost exclusively secondhand from a range going from H&M to high end designers and does really interesting layering, asymetry and uses colour brilliantly (if a bit ‘extra’ for a lot of offices)

@1frenchfoodie that sounds really interesting thanks will check it out. You can definitely get away with a little bit extra in my industry

@1frenchfoodie is it this one?

bluecollarredlipstick.com/

Some 'interesting' choices on that blog! Some nice individual pieces, but some very odd combinations imo.

Summer dress?

www.mintvelvet.co.uk/products/trinity-puff-sleeve-dress

The puffy sleeves are questionable, possibly.

Have a look at Shiv's wardrobe from Succession. Not just her suits (too formal for your job, I think) but her wide leg trousers etc.

Bright coloured brogues/loafers beat heels I think, if you can't/won't do trainers. The men in your workplace aren't helps back by silly shoes they can't stride out in - why do this to yourself?

Look at Hugo Boss for work wear and Theory if you can afford it. It will at least give you an idea.