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!!!

https://www.katebarton.co.uk/products/aw23-the-easy-winter-dress

@MargoLivebetter I think a skirt and top is the way to go. Just have to find one now...
I am most definitely not a red lipstick and gold earrings person - my colleagues would think I had been abducted by aliens!!
Boden, White Stuff, Fat Face and Sea Salt are my usual go-tos. Just not fancying anything I've seen so far. Off to look at Hush!

Officials are in and out all the time so will just be wearing normal business wear, albeit a bit smarter for an event or foreign visitors etc. I would just wear trousers and a jacket or a simple unfussy wool crepe dress or similar. My perfect dress was a bargain from The Row, but clearly most officials are on a tight budget pay wise, so champagne taste on beer money, hence Massimo Dutti, L K Bennett, Peter Jones, Hobbs, Boden, with the young and slim getting away with Zara and Reiss.

Goodness - I've been a few times and it didn't occur to me that there's a dress code. I just wore jeans and a tee shirt. Haven't been excommunicated.

I have many meetings in HoP. Anything goes (I'm sure I spotted Kirsty Blackman wearing pyjamas at a committee meeting!*) Most elected members do wear business dress if the house is sitting. If the meeting is a Monday or Friday or morning of another weekday it's more casual. Spads, admin staff are much more relaxed no matter what day.

Wear what gives you energy and confidence. Give them hell!

*Disclosure - I saw this on a photo, not IRL!

I’m a bit late to the party @Bubbleswithsqueak , but I’m a similar size and shape to you (slightly shorter) and have to attend similar environments. Based on all the criteria you’ve given I would go with slim fit/skinny jeans so fitted bottom and then a shirt- I usually knot the bottom ends to give a bit of shape as I don’t like to tuck but just hanging around looks undone and flabby and leave the top few buttons undone for a bit of cleavage. Maybe a blazer or soft jacket over the top( so short enough not to swamp you/ drag everything down). Then some earrings - don’t have to be massive but dangly or sparkly/pearl studs work well. Have fun.

These look great but what's the sizing really like? I'm a 12 and the fit assist thing is saying I would need an XXL!

@brogueish The fit assist needs to take a long hard look at itself. I'm a 32 inch waist/14 and wear a L. I would maybe order M and L and see what works for you.

@AttillaThePlum argh! none of the herringbone ones in my size! And I liked those...

@Bubbleswithsqueak Oh no! They do come back every winter, but the plain ones (sadly not on sale) are good too.

Also, I had a look at my daughter's (she uses them as 6th form smart trousers) and she is a 12 and wears M.