Help please, what to wear on top in smart freezing office?

[DoodlePug]

Good morning MN

I'm really struggling with office wear. Pre covid we were very smart (suits) but now everyone has dropped it down a notch.

Been wearing slim trousers and flats with a tucked blouse through summer.

Im at a loss for winter, and on top of that it's much colder than it used to be!

I have a few pairs of lovely wool trousers and some great chunky loafers so my bottom half is sorted, but what to do for the top?

I wear a lot of fine cashmere and merino, but it looks rather dated to me and I would really like to look more current. Maybe I need help on styling it?

I put a blazer over the top sometimes but I find that quite uncomfortable with the thickness of a knit beneath. A cardigan would make sense but looks a bit sloppy and mumsy to me? A chunkier knit doesn't look smart and tends to make me look much bigger.

I feel like I've just ruled out every option there! Any thoughts please?

Thanks

Go under not over. Uniqlo or M and S do great thin base layers which go under blouses and add warmth without being obvious.

What about bomber or biker style jackets? I love a chunky cardigan left open, to show more shape.

A jumper? Loads of smart jumpers around - even a men's v neck one would look good.

Fine knit versions, I meant! Almost as a top with a vest or t-shirt underneath.

I agree with the 'under not over' comment.

I met with a lawyer the other day who wore slim fit trousers and a roll neck top with a loose long line cardigan over the top. It looked very smart and elegant.

Uniqlo heat tech under your blouse/knitwear. I think a fine cashmere or merino jumper is perfect. I prefer a boxy, cropped length. If it is longer it hides my waist and makes me look frumpy.

I wear a thermal long sleeve under a long sleeved blouse and a Chanel style jacket over the top. The jacket is quite thick but very formal and smart. A thin scarf worn with a cream knitted cardigan can look smart, just make sure the cardigan fits well. A cropped cardi rather than full length can look nicer too.

uniqlo heatech tops, m and s do similar too which are lovely. Jigsaw ballet next tops are also good and though, I love he m and s round neck cardigans and think they look quite nice :/

Thanks for the ideas, I might have to investigate different cardigans to what I already own.

I'm going shopping later, I'm on a mission!

I agree with the suggestions for thin thermal tops to go under things. I have a couple of polo necks that can look nice under a short/blouse/jumper or blazer and I find I feel warmer if my neck is covered! I also have this in cream and it’s really nice and warm: www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/lambswool-turtleneck-jumper-450517.html

Definitely layer under rather than over. Vests, heat-tech, full-on thermals. Also those Japanese things that cover you from hips to just below your bra are very effective, and less visible than vests under thin blouses and fitted tops. Also sheepskin insoles.

Patra Silk long-sleeved v-neck thermal vests. Can wear under a shirt and blazer or under a cashmere jumper. Nice and warm, but no bulk.

If you really feel the cold then the heat tech ones might not cut it, they certainly don’t for me. Go for merino wool base layers or a merino jumper in a size smaller than you would normally wear and wear that as a base layer.

Thank you all. I bought some M&S heatgen stuff, both the long sleeve and the vest, I can wear both at the same time 😁

Wasn't very successful with much else, bought a skinny turtleneck just because I liked it, might be able to go with a blazer.

Love the sound of the Japanese thing @LoobyDop , I'll hunt around and see what I can find. My necklines are generally on the more scooped side otherwise I look like I'm all boob!

Here you go

haramaki.co.uk/products/haramaki