What do people wear to the office these days?

[katmarie]

I need some help please? I am starting a new job in a couple of weeks, and while it will be work from home for the most part, I am going to have to attend some induction stuff in the office during the first week. It's a central London based software company, and I'll be doing a client success/account management type role. I've worked from home for the last 2 years and I have no idea what to wear into the office any more! I wear leggings and tshirts to work at the moment, but I want to make the right impression and I don't think leggings are going to do that.

I need a couple of suitable outfits, that are practical for getting the tube, and working all day in, which say professional and competent, without screaming old and out of touch! I'm 40 years old, 5ft 2, size 16 and I have a bit of a tummy from having my 2 kids which I've not been able to shift, which I'm quite self conscious about. I have a budget of about £100 all together, but I don't know where to even start. Can anyone help me?

I wear a lot of white like trousers with short sleeve jumper type things. And either loafers or trainers

How about some nice floaty dresses which can be worn with sandals in the summer and chunky boots and some kind of cardi/knitted scarf in the winter?x

I'm a similar age and size and wear a midi dress or jumpsult with flat chunky sandals or ankle boots depending on weather.

I work in a tech field, and office wear ranges from graphic tees and jeans to shirt and tie (and not the manager, either!). Women generally wear jeans or casual trousers with a blouse or a plain t-shirt and oversized blazer. Chunky trainers or docs seem popular. But there are plenty of floaty skirts and shell dresses about, too.

I usually wear jeans with a shirt (dying to buy made to measure shirts but need to save up for those). Shoes are either rocket dog trainers or doc marten brogues.

I'm another in the wide leg trousers & trainers camp. Or loafers in a situation where trainers aren't suitable.

I like the sound of wide leg trousers and flat shoes, I tend to struggle to find petite trousers though, but I can always get them altered I imagine. Off to browse the Internet, thanks for the inspiration!

Oh god I've gone down a blazer rabbit hole! Do the blazer and the trousers have to match? Or compliment? I don't know how I have made it to 40 without knowing this stuff! Anyway I found these trousers (hope the pic attaches). I was thinking these with a smart single colour shirt sleeve top and a blazer?

I like some smart trousers, cami top and blazer (not the fitted one, more like relaxed fit). Shoes- loafers or kitten heels.

I'd say they should compliment each other. I don't think I'd wear matching pants and blazer nowadays. Maybe if I was a lawyer or someone and dress code was very strict.

OK so next question, where do people buy these things from? Asos doesn't seem to offer a huge amount of choice in my size, and half the shops I would have relied on for work wear seem to have vanished from the high street, (dorothy perkins, debenhams) and I really could do with trying some things on!