Houses of Parliament?!!

[Bubbleswithsqueak]

I have to go to a daytime meeting at the HoP. It is in one of the members' dining rooms, so not the most formal of meetings, and I am in a creative industry (although not creative myself), so definitely not business suit territory.
I need to look smart, but not over dressed or fussy. Well put together, but not too shiny, if that makes sense?! Erring towards well-dressed, slightly hippie-ish academic, rather than powerhouse of industry.
Size 14 (pushing 16 in trousers), 5'6, ex-hour-glass with a peri tummy, a big arse and quite broad shoulders. Need at least half my outfit to be fitted (either top or bottom), or I look massive (the whole flouncy dress thing with big puffy sleeves is my worst nightmare).
Budget - max £200, not including shoes. Can't wear heels, so will need to wear with flat ankle boots (have black, blue and brown).
Help!!!

This is a lovely print, not too formal but smart, shape can be adjusted with the tie. In the sale atm and pics don’t do it justice.
https://www.toa.st/collections/sale/products/tie-waist-geometric-print-dress-olive-green

I’ve done meetings there and am very similar to you in shape but just a bit shorter. And always wear jeans usually.

Have a look at Uniqlo for smart, comfy jeans style trousers in plain fabric. I wear the cropped ankle ones but they might be a bit short for you.

No one else will care!!

This seems so reductive and lacking in imagination.

None of us on this thread know the OP, who she is, or what she represents. In my previous profession I spent a good deal of time in similar ‘spaces’ - and I can assure you that how I presented myself mattered hugely in terms of acceptance and progression. People did notice.

Currently, working in a creative profession it may be that the OP will be discussing policy that could affect me. I want her to feel well presented! And members of any institution she’s representing will be equally invested.

Finally - again - this is the Style and Beauty board. The OP clearly does care what she wears - that’s reason enough for posters to respect the purpose of this board …

I'm a similar shape but taller.
I suit wrap dresses and weirdly body con but they are so not me.

You say ex hourglass, so I assume you still do have a smaller waist than hips, just not as small as it once was? If so I highly recommend Lucy and Yak Addison jeans. If you opt for a block colour, rather than denim or pattern finish, they're really smart tailored trousers in a thick cotton. They've a very high waist (choose size based on waist measurement), a lot of hip and arse room, and slightly tapered legs. Oh and wonderfully deep pockets.

You say you don't like tucking in, so you will need whatever you wear on top to finish around the waistband area of the jeans. A slightly cropped jumper maybe. Or do tuck but wear an open blazer over?

If you wear jeans a lot and feel good in them, another alternative would be black jeans, or cord jeans, both of which can look pretty smart. I'd probably team with something jacket-y and a nice shirt. Cos have some lovely oversized tailored shirts, which would go well with a slightly oversized blazer.

@Sadza love the print, but just can't wear anything with that amount of fabric - it just looks enormous and weird on me - don't know why!
@AttillaThePlum which Uniqlo trousers do you get? I can only see smart with pleated front (disastrous shape for me - bag of potatoes tied up with string) and jogger-type ones?
@Wordless Thank you - I'm sure that no one in the meeting will remember what I was wearing, but getting it 'right' not only gives me confidence but means that I am taken seriously from first impressions. It's an uphill battle to be heard if you aren't dressed appropriate (or if you're female, or don't have the right accent, but I'll save that for another day!)
@LentilFaculties Yes to the body con dress! Couldn't wear one, but they suit me so much better. Wrap dresses tend to gape on me, but that's easily fixed.
@Faceplantagain oversized shirt and/or blazer have the same effect as the big dresses - I look like a ship in full sail...

I like the Lucy and Yak green Addisons, but they're out of my size...

Sorry for being so fussy! I think the stuff that's in the shops that is at the right level of smart/creative at the moment just really doesn't suit my shape, and the stuff that suits my shape is too stuffy...

I have meetings there too, and you don't need to be formal. I'm a different shape to you and do often wear wide leg trousers, or a suit (with narrow-ish trousers). Also dresses.

I'd suggest sticking to what you know suits you - what about straight leg black jeans? With a blazer of some kind (I don't know what you'd wear, probably not a boxy one) and a bright coloured silk shirt? I have a lovely fuschia shade one from Jigsaw that I often wear there.

I went last summer and while people on an individual level might not care, it made me feel better and more confident to wear more formal clothes than my normal jeans and jumpers. Most people we saw were on the smart end of smart-casual. We also had photos taken which were used on the website/SM of the organisation we were attending on behalf of. What about something like this?

https://www.marksandspencer.com/jersey-textured-midi-column-dress/p/clp60652162?color=BLACK#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r1c3

@Bubbleswithsqueak

These are the ones I have, which definitely don't do that potato thing (I have similar issues!):

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/smart-ankle-length-trousers-464140.html?dwvar_464140_color=COL05&cgid=IDtrousers1391

The slightly tweedy ones are also nice:

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/smart-brushed-herringbone-ankle-length-trousers-460543.html?dwvar_460543_color=COL08&dwvar_460543_size=SMA001

And I also see that they do them in a longer length if the ankle length ones are too short for you. They would probably work though, I turn them up.

That dress looks surprisingly wearable, seeing the texture of it (which comes up better in the khaki version). I wouldn’t normally go for something that clingy but this dress looks good

I've been for meetings at HoC and it's not as formal as you'd think - people wouldn't bat an eye at most standard stuff.

That said I wouldn't wear jeans or leggings! I felt most appropriate in a tube pencil skirt and light knit on top. This kinda thing -

https://www.baukjen.com/products/bea-skirt-with-lenzing-ecovero-caviar-black?country=GB&dfw_tracker=28130-SK40171-BLK-10&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAkp6tBhB5EiwANTCx1CiCxD7UsgtkoLban_ewdgPdlprYaOlVM9UMOSYYl-t5ZIP1uTukyhoC7i4QAvD_BwE

It's also crazy hot so don't wear thick knitwear or jacket.

Yeah this would be perfect - may buy this dress!

Your normal work wear is totally fine. Used to visit a friend who worked there (subsidized bar tbh 😇) and just wore what I was wearing to my office job that day.

I used to work at HoC a lot. People really do wear all sorts. However, what I would say is that it's pretty conservative. So anything 'out there' will tend to stick out more than wearing jeans would.

I used to wear business smart casual- city smart would be too much. Cos always have great structured dresses.

Similar to Rainallnights suggestion, I would recommend M&S elasticated jersey trousers. I like the wide leg version. I'm a hourglass shape with a relatively small waist and then huge arse, hips and thighs. I love elasticated waist trousers because they fit all over, and don't need a belt etc. The M&S trousers are surprisingly flattering - they have no pockets so don't enlarge the hips. They are also incredibly comfy but look smart, and are only about £17.50 if I remember rightly.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/jersey-wide-leg-trousers-with-stretch/p/clp60506499?intid=mobileappppdpshare

I wouldn't wear jeans or leggings. I'd wear a Hobbs dress or suit.

All black. Flat boots. Great big earrings and red lipstick will signify "arty". A hat if you think you can pull it off (a beret is easy to wear). Job done. This from an academic in an creative/ arty job.

Great big earrings and red lipstick will signify "arty".

Speechless …

@Bubbleswithsqueak I'm in and out of there regularly. It is all fairly low key these days. You don't tend to see many people in jeans or anything that's very trendy or very 'creative' but pretty much any other style goes.

How about a skirt and top with some smartish but flat boots. You can end up walking miles down corridors, plus if you don't have a pass you'll have to queue to get in and that can take a while.

An a-line skirt, knee length or just below would give you a waist but wouldn't hug too tight and you could find a top that wouldn't be too tight and would sit well on the skirt. If it were me I'd accessorise with a scarf that could add your own taste and flair. You could go as formal and smart or informal and casual as you liked. I also feel those items would be useful afterwards and could be paired with other things you may already have, so you wouldn't be wasting money on a one-off outfit. I buy everything off ebay, so I've no idea what is in the shops but I'm sure there must be clothes like that available.

Good luck with the meeting. I hope it goes well and you feel well dressed in whatever you decide on. It definitely helps my confidence to feel happy with what I'm wearing.

Having worked there and in and out all the time, dress warmly - it can be really cold depending on whether you’re in the Palace or Portcullis.

I go nearly once a week and I wouldn’t spend money just for a new outfit. People wear all sorts and I see a lot of jeans. My client meetings are 100x smarter than HoP!

I used to wear dark jeggings with a blazer and top plus cool boots, but that's quite a dated look now and I'm forbidding myself from wearing it.

@sensationalsally I'm also into all black at the moment. I don't care if it 'drains' me and I'd look better in colour, it's soooo easy to dress in the mornings, black skirt or trousers, black cami or long sleeved vest in winter, some type of black shirt or jacket (pinstripe, wool, whatever), tan/suede boots, or sometimes long black boots. Sometimes a cream coat, sometimes black, sized up, big scarf.

I have gone through phases of enjoying colour, but I'm feeling extremely lazy at present- and it would be an easy win for the OP if they aren't confident to put together stuff quickly, plus usable afterwards. Think about the time of year though you won't want to wear long boots past about March.

I don't wear red lipstick, I do wear (subtle) gold jewellery!

Smart casual think Hush or Boden