How to dress for casual office? (Plus sized)

[Usererror1999]

Starting a new job and will be in the office a few days a week

Just spoken to a woman I know who has just started and she was telling me that the dress code is really casual: usually jeans.

i have no idea what to wear! I rarely wear jeans: usually at work I wear fairly standard office dresses. And then I dress very casually (ie leggings and long t shirts) when at home / taking the dog out / taking the kids out.

to make matter worse, I’m plus sized and just a bit frumpy looking in general. Can anyone give me some idea and inspiration? Photos particularly appreciated

bluevanilla.com/products/evie-curve-black-and-white-wide-leg-palazzo-trousers?variant=39646715150413&currency=GBP&gclid=Cj0KCQjw--2aBhD5ARIsALiRlwAiEZ_5wsuBeaEDsorFC592RAH9LdOLYLtKIwsuMHrZvZCJvudzbAcaAta7EALw_wcB these stretchy wide leg trousers are fab.

I am the same size as you and Romans Originals dresses are my friends, most can be dressed up or down depending on footwear.. other people wear jeans in our office but I get some lovely compliments on my dresses and they are definitely comfier than jeans for me!

www.roman.co.uk/dresses/casual-dresses

I agree with others who have said go smart on the first day / first few days and then make your own assessment of how casual to go. This is always my approach. Currently I work in a policy type role in the civil service. These types of teams are usually very relaxed in terms of dress code, and I’ve been a civil servant for years. But I always show up smartly dressed on day one of a new job. I think it makes a good impression - as long as you’re not going overboard (stiletto heels, three piece suit / twinset and pearls!) - and allows you to see what people at different grades wear too and where you want to pitch yourself.

I suggest also, rather than buying yourself a whole new wardrobe, maybe think about whether your office dresses can be accessorised / styled to be dressed down. Chunky knit cardigans and smart trainers are potentially your friends here. I have a few very smart outfits that I dress down like this - eg pencil skirt and shirt, but with a crew neck jumper over the top and casual boots. For me this has the advantage of being able to dress it up at short notice (if I need to brief a minister or go to parliament at short notice - jumper off, jacket and smart shoes on). For you, it’ll also have the advantage of you being able to wear clothes that you’re comfortable and confident in rather than buying lots of new clothes that put you out of your comfort zone. Anything that makes you less self conscious at the start of a new job is good :)

Oh - I’m a size 16 by the way.

Ooh, I’d also recommend Uniqlo. Their soft merino wool crew neck jumpers are really nice and come in a few colours - I have red, black and white. They’re really easy to wear with jeans or smart trousers. I like them for when I’m not sure what to wear and don’t want to have to think about it.

Their smart comfort ankle length trousers are nice too - recommended to me on another thread! - but their sizing is pretty all over the place so not sure they’d go to size 18/20. I’m an XL in those trousers, as a size 16 with a sizeable arse - yet am L in others of their clothes. Womens sizing!! shakes fist at the wicked gods of womens sizing

Dresses are more comfortable than jeans, so if you have them and like them then go ahead and wear them. I'm an apple-shaped 18-20 and I wear a lot of Uniqlo stretch trousers and jeans which are comfortable. I wear them with a vest-top/camisole and a loose top over it, generally East, Monsoon or Uniqlo. I don't work in an office anymore but I wore pretty much the same thing when I was in a casual office.

I find the Uniqlo XXL is an 18/20. Not everything comes in that size, but enough do.

I wear a lot of fat face who do bigger sizes and casual dresses which I dress down with boots or trainers

i do have a few pairs of smartish jeggings: but I understand that these are now out of fashion.

Sod that! Do they suit you and are they comfy?

I have 4 pairs of Next stretch 'skinnies' (haha I'm a size 22!) which I'm not giving up anytime soon. If I wore fashionable shaped jeans I'd look bloody awful.

I tend to wear them with a plain t-shirt and a funky shirt or lightweight kimono jacket over the top, or a lightweight v neck jumper if it's chilly. Converse or Rocket Dogs for footwear.

I know where you're coming from. I used to work in school with a fairly uptight dress code...I now work freelance and my main client is a metalwork fabricator so a very different aesthetic!

Oh dear, I love the Saint and Sofia ones!

What actual size are you @GonnaGetGoingReturns

12-14.

Best friend is 16-18 though.

Be you! If you're comfy in your office dresses, wear those. You can always dress them down a bit with some smart trainers or more casual shoes.

I think most people would expect a new starter to look smarter than usual on their first day so do that, assess the general dress vibe then and take it from there. I wouldn't waste too much thinking space worrying about it in advance.

Be you. 😊

Those Saint and Sofia trousers come up large @GonnaGetGoingReturns. So you would want them in size 12

Here they are on eBay.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234747176635?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=sZk1efVEQIi&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=AAJQbzHiQr6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

oh great - thanks!

Hi

Congratulations on your new job! The most important thing is that you feel comfortable. How about one pair of jeans with four ways to wear? These are from Taking Shape.

Or perhaps some trusted dresses worn casual.

I wear in a similar type of office . Wear you dresses but definitely dress them down.

If you feel like trying jeans, I wear straight legs or bootcut with pretty blouses, kind of like this pic.

I work*

Our office has gone very casual since COVID lockdown, I still wear my smart casual work trousers and simple tops as what i wear at home is very much loungewear and I don't want to wear it to work.