New job, pay rise= new suit. Help please!

[Notyummy]

Ok, I have a number of suits in my wardrobe,but they are all at least 4 years old and as I have just a got new job with a 10k pay rise I feel justified in purchasing a new one.

Criteria: I will spend up to £250 for something special.

I am a 10 on top, and 12 on bottom,classic pear, so need something that flatters my arse. 5ft 10, so can wear things that require height.

Nothing too trendy, as fairly conservative sector...but wouldn't mind something with a 'twist'. Leaning towards trouser suit, but already have a few of these, so would like to see what skirt suits are out there.

Quite dark colour and fairly heavy weight so it hangs well. Absolutely no linen. Some people wear it well...I look like I was pulled through a hedge backwards within a minute of putting it on!

By the power of mumsnet....

hobbs hobbs hobbs

lk bennett

principles

At 5ft 10 and a 12 max you can wear all kinds of lovely things .

Jigsaw?

Do you have to wear a suit to work? I was at a meeting at the notaire here in Paris last Friday and the female partner was wearing a very lovely taupe sweater dress, very similar to one I have from Joseph, that cost around £250 including the fine polo neck underneath.

Dresses are good for work these days, I think.

Could probably get away with a dress and a jacket, as long as there are no plunging necklines involved. (Not that I have massive boobs anyway). Have a couple of wrap dresses that might fit the bill if I wore something underneath.

Other problem is that I live in Lincolnshire, which is a retail wasteland. I could probably get to Nottingham to look for stuff if I want to spend properly...but I don't think it runs to Joseph or the equivalent. Could be wrong though...will have to check it out.

Will have a look at the Hobbs website. Only have one item of clothing from Hobbs, but remember liking the fact that the sizing was so generous when I tried stuff on!

But you are SLIM and Hobbs is SHAPELESS .

Call Trinny and Susannah

Can't you go to Cambridge or something?

I love hobbs trous as they are long enough for me (5'8") to wear a substantial heel with
their jackets with the wider vs are great for balancing peary hips too
lovely

NOOO! They would make me stand in front of some badly lit mirror whilst manhandling my tiny boobs and making me look at my bigger bottom half. I would never recover.

Having said that I am happy enough with size/shape so would be happy to wear fitted stuff as long as it is well cut.

I bought a perfect swimsuit for figures like yours (and mine, though I am a bit shorter) this morning, in Eres. Unfortunately it isn't pictured on their site.

Nottingham is easier (plus have to go there for meeting!) Perhaps might try Cambrige if no luck. Need to get investigating the availabilty of posh suit shops in Nottingham.

Thanks for the link mrsbadger. Will have a browse...

Mrs Badger those suits aren't sexy enough...

"fairly conservative sector"

sexy is about how you wear it

add shoes, bag and lippy

but I wear jeans and jumpers to work so what do I know?

Even in conservative sectors (law? medicine? education? government?) you don't want to lose sight of your physical charms .

Personally I think tailored jackets are no longer "smart", either...

Admit suits don't 'sell themselves' on the website, but would be prepared to try them on to see if the cut worked for me. Whilst don't want to be overtly sexy, would be nice to memorable (in a good way!). My job will all be about negotiation, networking and conflict resolution, so want both men and women to like me..i.e men think I look nice/attractive, but women don't think I am getting my bits out for the boys

It is a reasonably senior post within the Home Office.

Notyummy - that sounds quite a good starting point for deciding on your new look (and the look sounds right for the job), so you obviously do know where you are going.

Which town nearest you does both Jigsaw and Joseph? Because, if I were in the UK, that's where I'd start.

Actually, thinking about it, given your description of the job, a dress sounds perfect - you will look more approachable and softer than in a suit (so easier to win people over).

Notyummy - just because it is an MN cliché but hasn't appeared yet, and because someone mentioned Trinny etc. - have you thought of doing a personal shopper? - at whatever big smartish dept store you can get to? It is so good for ideas/ranges you wouldn't have thought of, and they are all very deliberately no-pressure-to-buy.

Hobbs cut-on-the-cross things were a revelation from a session I had, which I think would look fab on your shape.

There is a Jigsaw in Nottingham, and I suspect there will def be a Hobbs. Think I am a bit stuffed on the Joseph front. Nearest one is an outlet in Harvey Nicks in Manchester or Birmingham, which is too far to go i think.

Personal shopper...now thats a thought. Will have to see what big stores there are in Nottingham.

It does piss me off though...Nottingham is always trying to sell itself as a 'retail destination'...yeah, right! I come from north of the border, and give me Glasgow for clothes shopping anyday.

Aah well, good for saving money!

So go to Glasgow!! Brilliant idea! - surely you can carve out a day for it? Character & originality & verve. Go on go on.

I've seen some nice suits in Jaeger.

Ebay is amazingly good for suits as you aren't limited to just what is currently in the shops, and it seems that people buy them for one occasion and then they sit in the cupboard.

Sticky Fingers do some really good suits - I have a dress and long jacket one that always makes me feel good, but is v conservative - my field means that you can easily scare the customers. Sexy is definatly out.

Message withdrawn

would love to go to Glasgow, but will not be happening in short term. DH is in military and away, so confined to where I can travel to in nursery hours.

Ah ha! Is Anna on a campaign? Does she market for Joseph?!