Pls help. Plus size help needed. Huge meeting next week.

[Noideawwhatsoccuring]

Hi

My company is partly earned by a PE company. I am being promoted to a very senior position in my company. It’s been quite a surprise and I have been invited to the PE company head office in London to meet the senior leadership there. I do work with one Senior VP from there but he always comes to us. Everyone else I haven’t met. I was told on Friday and the meeting is Wednesday morning.

I have no idea what to wear. I was going to wear my favourite M&S tapered office trousers with this jumper and some loafers. I am a size 20. But I am now panicking that my outfit is not appropriate at all. To relaxed. But worrying my usual ‘big meeting’ outfit might be too dressy. I also carry weight on my stomach (PCOS belly). But my hips are quite wide compared my my waist.

I am really getting inside my own head. I often feel out of my depth. I know I am really good at my job. But I am not from a privileged background, not university educated, a single parent and I often feel completely alien around these people.

Anyone got any ideas of what would be appropriate? Or know what’s been worn in these sorts of offices?

If your budget is £££ have you looked at this https://gb.marinarinaldi.com/ before?

Budget? A mature, plus sized colleague who is top heavy wears fabulous knee length dresses/capes with stylish knee length boots and professional/chunky earrings or necklace. She looks amazing.

What is your usual big meeting outfit?

I think the trousers and loafers will be fine but just use a more formal top, something more officey/meetingy

I agree with @soupfiend about a new top, but I'd get a jacket too - not matching the trousers like a suit though. If it turns out to be too formal, it's easy to take off. Just going to look at Whistles - I'm a large 18 or 20 and have got a couple of great things from there.

Congratulations! It’s great that they have recognised your abilities and they are obviously very confident that you can deliver in the new role.

When feeling uncertain about things like this I would go smarter rather than casual. It’s not a job interview, but I’d dress more to interview level than to ‘regular’ level . So I’d be looking at smart tailored dresses, perhaps with a blazer.
Do you feel better in trousers or dresses?

I think I would order from Whistles

• their boxy cotton shirt
• one of their plainer tshirts
• a slim jersey jacket

And this boyfriend blazer https://www.whistles.com/product/crepe-boyfriend-blazer-38021.html

And try out various combinations with your trousers and loafers.

Many congratulations on your promotion- I just failed to get one and I know that wa the right decision so trust that they've made a good decision here 💐

I agree with keeping the trousers and loafers but perhaps wear a silk shirt and a structured jacket, tweed or military style velvet - something to lift the bottom half, and if your hips are wide it makes the top half neat. I would also do whatever grooming makes you feel like your best self: a blow dry or nails.

Hi, thank you. I didn’t expect so many responses.

My budget could be fairly big say £200 but I don’t want to go over that. I pilled weight on when my mum died a few years ago and caused my PCOS flared up. I just seem to have got it under control and lost 2 stone. Hopefully, anything that fits me now won’t do fit in 2-3 months, so would prefer not to spend that much. But I would if I needed to.

I have attached the photos of similar to my normal big meeting office wear. I have the Karen Milan dress. The 2 next photos are just similar styles to ones I have in my wardrobe.

Thank you for the congratulations. I am going through the comments properly now. Just wanted to put in the info I missed.

Its definitely not as formal as it used to be. Smart tapered trousers are perfect with loafers. Add a boxy plain top and a jacket, but the jumper over a shirt with some chunky necklace would be good.

Take a look at Pinterest and search plus size office outfits for lits of inspo.

@Britpopbaby those clothes are amazing. Not sure I can stretch to that budget at the moment. But they are lovely.

@boblemon I aspire to be like that. Not sure I currently have the confidence to pull it off. But wish I could.

@soupfiend @PermanentTemporary thank you. I will look at changing the top. I do have plenty of blazers that I could use. though I do love the blazer you linked.

I wear too much black. And want to add more colour into my wardrobe. That would work.

@WombatCowgirl i have just had my nails down actually. I went for a deep red, quite short. I am glad I had them done when I did. My hair appointment is the day after this meeting but I have a subtle baylage so the colour is still good. My hair is in a bob and it’s a bit grown out but I can curl it and it looks nice.

I like the idea of a structured jacket and a silky shirt.

I love the khaki and black dress. It hits the brief but has a touch of personality unlike the two black ones. Could you wear that with your loafers. And add a black blazer? If your excess weight is around your stomach mainly and you wear the blazer open it should still be fine when you hit your target so not money thrown away.

It would be easy to pick up on the high street this afternoon. You will feel confident in a dress you own and that fits you well but just elevated slightly. Whilst there you can suss everyone else out. And invest your remaining budget for next time.

If you splurge on things that aren't you they are guaranteed to turn up in jeans and trainers.

A silky shirt sounds good. My office is cold in the morning and boiling in the afternoon, so something you can wear without a jacket is good, just in case.

Congratulations on your promotion.

Congratulations!!

Have you ever tried a Tuxedo jumpsuit? Black ones can be very flattering for all shapes and sizes. Next usually have a decent selection and are reasonably priced.

Good luck!

Thank you. No I have never looked at those.

But I will now. I love a jumpsuit!

I have ordered a few bits to pick up in town today. Will try them all on when I get home. Thank you all so much

Congratulations on your new job!

My go to for this would be Joanna Hope they have some lovely dresses which would work well for this teamed with a blazer and boots.

That dress you have posted @Noideawwhatsoccuring ( the one you own) is gorgeous!

OP Zara do a similar olive blazer to the Whistles one if you were keen on it :) good luck!

H and M have some great silk like shirts at the moment. I bought one to wear with some black Cos trousers and it is really lovely so also worth a look. A Cos shirt dress might also work, they are often a bit oversized so fit ok on a size 20.

I think the 3 dresses you have all look very suitable. If you want you can jazz the black ones up with some new accessories. Or if you go for the patterned dress, maybe a new bag or shoes? Seems little point spending a lot on something that may not fit you soon when you already have good options available.

Hi all

Thank You for the congratulations. I actually bought a few different outfits. A couple of dresses and some shirts. I wore a blue silky blouse and my M&S tapered trousers with a light coloured blazer relaxed blazer. also got a belt. I didn’t own any.

It went brilliantly. I really enjoyed it. I was so nervous on the train on the way down I thought I was going to be sick. But it was fine. There was challenging questions about my plans for the role but the CEO said he was very impressed with how I handled them. I got a couple of emails on the way back. One from the CEO and one from a Senior VP saying I did a great job, came across well and showed why I got the role.

I have been invited to a working session down there again tomorrow. The travel is a bit much as I live alone with my 12 year old. But I had a chat with my Dad who is brimming with pride and he is staying over tonight so he can get DS to and from school and look after the dogs. I have an adult dd who also reassured me ‘we can sort it together, go for it’

It’s been a shit few years since I lost my mum. But right now I feel really lucky to have my little family.

Just wanted to say thank you to you all. You really helped me with your advice. And your kind words also helped me. I am going to save the thread for everyone I need some clothes as I, hopefully, get smaller.

Lovely update OP glad it’s all going well

Congratulations OP! So pleased it went well.

Lovely update 🤩