Help. Smart modern office wear size 16-18

[Nothingtowearagain]

I'm coming up to a period of lots of meetings at work, formal meetings with teams across different departments and external stakeholders too. The company is restructuring at the end of this year so I want to smarten up and appear polished.

After spending the last few years WFH I have no idea what to wear. I'm the biggest I have been size 16-18, 5'6, no real shape and feel like a big blob. I'm 40 if that matters.

I want some smart and easy to wear options. Thinking smart and plain dresses that are not too fitted, boxy blazers, trousers and jumpers. I don't do patterns and ideally want all black or dark colours.

Foot wear is an issue for me. Can't wear heels anymore but I have a smart pair of mid calf boots that go well with dresses. What shoes do people wear with smart trousers these days? All the online shops show models wearing ridiculous strappy heels with tailored suits.

Please hit me up with links and suggestions. Budget is generous as I have not bought any new work clothes for four years.

Honestly, you just want MaxMara - it can supply all your office wear. Although I wouldn’t buy too many (or actually any) dark, boxy suit jackets straight off: you may be surprised to encounter all your stakeholder representatives in chinos and shirts. But you’ll find some good dresses and separates there too.

If you’re desperate to spend more money places like

Bite Studio
Co
Casey Casey

will relieve you of it in exchange for very beautiful clothes at varying levels of formality.

Matches has recently been taken over by … Frasers, I think. Someone else can volunteer to investigate the result. Net-a-Porter - exists; take camping gear and paracetamol, you’ll be gone for months …

Lots of people will want to recommend Hobbs. And M&S. Both of which also supply work wear.

Forgot:

Lemaire

which does go to size 18.

Toteme and Teurn Studios don’t - you may want to take a look at both of them anyway, for contemporary styling and the possibility of generous sizing.

Hope other people will have suggestions, @Nothingtowearagain.

Thanks @TheOriginalFrench

Max Mara is lovely but very expensive for what I'm after, basically a new work wardrobe! I want to spend no more than £100 per item really.

Looking for something in between M&S and Max Mara! Hobbs I've found not that generous on sizing ...I am basically a big blob (very unmumsnetty)

Hopefully bumping for others to come along with some more suggestions.

I love the Whistles slim Jersey jackets, which come in loads of colours. They're like a half casual half formal kind of jacket.

Don't be put off the name! They are not particularly slim fitting and I'm.not exactly skinny myself.

I wear with a dress but they'd easily go with trousers/ top.

@Nothingtowearagain shift dresses? e.g.

www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/dresses/fs5/shift-dress?

EBay max mara there's loads of bargains

I'm the same size. I have a range of dresses I can wear with biker type books or a low heeled boot.

They're from M&S and Whistles.

This sort of thing: https://www.marksandspencer.com/jersey-shirred-midi-waisted-dress/p/clp60649881?intid=mobileappppdpshare

https://www.whistles.com/product/rina-trapeze-dress-37642.html#cgid=DressesClothingg_WW&is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=rina-trapeze-dress-37642&pos=10

I buy a lot from Jigsaw, I feel it's quite polished and a bit less boring than Hobbs. Not droopy dresses but trousers, knitwear and blouses. You have a bit more height than me so should be good for jackets.

Thanks, I'll look at Whistles and Jigsaw. I feel extremely fat and have a very big tummy and not helpful seeing lithe 6 foot models wearing these outfits.

In a panic now as I have a face to face meetings next week.

I'll take a look thanks. I have previously worn shift dresses but now with my big fat tum, it's hard to find a dress that doesn't make me look like I'm 8 months gone.

How formal do you need to be?

How about this kind of dressy? I think it would skim over large tummy (which I have too!)

liveunlimitedlondon.com/products/black-crochet-knit-dress?variant=40869206753340