First 'proper' job in 20 years....what the heck do I wear?

[KingsArmy]

I have a new full time job starting in December in London after being out of the game for 20 years.
Office based but attire is stated as smart casual.......herein lies the challenge.
Having lived in leggings/joggers/dog walking tat/sainsburys bakery outfit (current job) over a long period of time I really need help and guidance on what I should wear.

For guidance I am 6ft tall and have a real problem in most shops with their tall not being tall enough. Size 12/14, alas no boobs to get excited about, bit of a mum tum and size 9 feet. I have long curly hair and wear glasses.
Budget is small at the moment but I will be earning more in the new job so am able to spend after a few paychecks.

Advice greatfully received.

Cos. Their dresses are perfect for your shape and height. If you buy a dress you don't need to worry about matching tops and bottoms

Cos dress
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For smart casual you can get away with e.g. smart top half and casual bottom, or vice versa. For instance, nice shirt paired with jeans, or decent quality t-shirt paired with smart trousers. Trainers are acceptable as long as they're in good condition and reasonably clean, and your outfit has other smart elements. Also, the casual elements should be in good condition - no rips, no ragged hems, no bleach stains; clean, and fit decently. Nothing stretched-out, obviously worn, or clearly used for dog walking and slobbing around for the last five years.

I agree, this is our company and I wear black or dark blue jeans with shirts and blouses, or tailored trousers with a cotton t-shirt or merino/cashmere jumper. Often trainers with wide-leg trousers, otherwise brogues or ankle boots. I keep a blazer at the office if I have a meeting with the directors.

And congratulations on the new job!

I would avoid buying loads of new stuff just until you have been in the office to get an idea. Our company is also smart casual but it means very different things for different people. Some men still wear suits (no tie) or a blazer, shirt and smart jacket. Lots of women wear dresses and trainers or skirt/trainers, but equally there's a lot (including me) who wear t-shirt/jumper + jeans combo. So my advice is dont go wild but get the measure or it first. Can you recall what the person interviewing you wore - that's often a good barometer or did you get a glimpse of the office?

I'd go black trousers and jumper or blouse type tops.

Men are mainly in shirts but the ties and suit jackets have gone the way of the bowler hat!

I don’t think jeans would be considered smart casual? Maybe black jeans, but definitely not any other colour.

I would also buy black trousers and blouses to get started. I’m very short so can’t advise on your where you’d buy at your height

I might try to go with say a longish skirt and a nice jumper for a first day but as advised by a PP definitely avoid getting loads of new stuff until you know the lie of the land, every workplace is very much a rule into itself in terms of dress code.

I'm on the fence about jeans being considered "smart casual".....if it was a social event and it said smart casual then I think dark navy or black jeans would probably be ok, but I don't think I'd turn up to an office job wearing them on the first day until I'd see what everyone else was wearing! I think you're better to be smarter than more casual if you're not sure.
Dresses are often cheaper than buying separates and I find shirt dresses comfy for work with tights and ankle boots. M&S have some good dresses in at the moment and some come in long length e.g. Printed Tie Waist Midi Shirt Dress | M&S Collection | M&S (marksandspencer.com)
I also wouldn't buy loads of new things until you know how hot or cold the office is! I've worked in some office where you need outdoor gear it's so cold, and others where it's so warm you could wear short sleeves all year round.

Congratulations on the new job! Please let us know how you get on!

For our smart casual office when I’m going to the smarter end I’ll wear knee length dresses and tights e.g. shirt/smock dresses. Than either boots or loafers.
If you need to smarten it up you can add a black blazer over the top.
Or I agree with trousers and blouses, you can get some nice plain blouses in primark just to get a couple and see what the office is like.

Congrats on the new job. I agree with others, that I'd go in slightly smarter to start with, to see what everyone else is wearing. Black/Navy trousers or skirt, a blouse and blazer or cardigan. I wouldn't wear jeans at all, unless black and the office is very casual. I worked in several offices in London, and the level of 'smart casual' can vary wildly!

Next and M&S do a tall range, but I can't comment on the trouser lengths etc:
Buy Women's Workwear Tall Online | Next UK
Search results for "tall" (marksandspencer.com)

Our office is smart casual and outfits wary hugely from smart shift dresses and heals to jeans, T-shirts and hoodies. It varies by team.

I’d agree with not buying much until you’ve seen what it’s like in person.

personally I tend to wear one smart thing paired with a more causal item. Eg black trousers + plain T-shirt and jersey blazer or flat boots, shorter skirt and cashmere smart knit.

More senior folk tend to dress smarter than less senior in our office. Big boss is wearing Reiss, The Fold etc but always with flat shoes/trainers. Men are jeans/trousers + shirt, occasionally a suit. Again some teams are jeans, T-shirt + hoodie (tech teams)

Agree with this
Our smart casual is no denim, trainers, shoulders on shoe, open toe shoes etc

I'm 5ft 10 and usually go for
Skirt and top (blazer/cardigan)
Wide leg trousers and top
Dresses

Made myself a mix and match where everything goes together so I can grab a skirt, top, blazer and it works

Oh no social event smart casual means dolled up to the nines, one step down from black-tie.

I thought it meant black jeans, OH NO, I found out the hard way, walked in it was party dresses, glittery tops, hair ups. I'm in Scotland there was blokes in kilts the works there was nothing casual about it.

The the clue is in the SMART the CASUAL bit means just not stuff you'd wear to an office. I felt such a tube sitting in my jeans and a casual shirt.

I started a new job recently and had nothing to wear so bought a few things before starting. It turns out that smart casual in my office is much more casual than I thought it would be. The clothes that I bought are too 'workey'. People are wearing jeans and trainers. Buy the bare minimum to start.

Wear whatever you wore for the interview for your first day just to get the measure of what others wear.

Thanks so much everyone. Excellent points made to take a wait and see approach to what smart casual actually means! It seems there can be a wide spectrum.
I also wouldn't of classed blue denim jeans as office wear, have to say I didn't see anyone wearing jeans from my very brief peek when I was walking to the interview room. The guy who interviewed me wore a suit but no tie.
I have some cream new balance trainers which will go with lots of things I should expect.
I'm a lover of comfort wear, especially around the tummy. It's going to be a culture shock having to look put together and smart by 7am everyday!

Comfort wear, not sure if they do them long enough but M&S have loose black trousers with a broad elastic waist band - very comfy.

Good luck in your new job!

I think that’s not the norm everywhere. Smart casual socially here would be jeans, boots, camisole, blazer, evening bag and fancy jewellery.

Mine is smart casual. Yesterday I wore wide trousers, tucked in cashmere polo neck and black flat form trainers with a white sole. The day before I wore black velvet narrow trousers, flat black boots and a cashmere crew neck tucked in with a slim leather belt.

If you get a formal invite to an event that's Smart Casual - double check.

Its definitely not the same as Smart Casual down the pub on a Friday night. I wanted the ground to swallow me up.

I definitely agree with checking how it is in reality - people may be dressier for interviews etc. I think black trousers and nice jumper or a dress. I’d wear shoes or boots not trainers until you see.

https://www.matalan.co.uk/hub/womens/smart-casual-clothing-guide.list

I would wear a pair of black trousers and a cashmere jumper