Office wear for menopausal women who've had enough of your shit

[Fizzyq]

And who aren't as wealthy as they'd like to be.

Top priority is comfortable and not too hot, because these days it's always too hot, except when its suddenly cold. So I guess layers.

Not too tight, not too shapeless, not too expensive, not too cheap and nasty, not too fussy, not too old ladyish. This seems to rule basically everything out. I'm so sick of looking for stuff and not being able to find anything, and it doesn't help that my patience with anything that isn't straightforward these days is basically zero.

How hard can it be to find some reasonable smart casual (not jeans) stuff to wear to work that won't piss me off all day? Apparently it's impossible. But it can't be, surely.

If you work in an office environment and just can't be arsed with any twattery these days, what do you wear? Please help me before I have some kind of menopausal Falling Down moment and lose my mind.

This is perfect advice - and there are a lot of dresses on vinted that you can pick up that seem good quality.

Since peri hit, I can't bear having anything sitting on my stomach so cotton dresses have become my saviour. Nothing with any shaping or waistband, just a good straight up and down dress, occasionally with pockets. I buy depending on the shape and have them in all colours and designs - Vinted is invaluable.

I'm in the office full time so I keep a hoodie on the back of my chair for if it gets chilly, and I got an amazing usb fan online which helps when I get too hot.

I wear a lot of wide-legged trousers (from H&M) with flatform trainers or DM gladiator style sandals. I wear fitted t-shirts (mostly uniqlo) to balance out the wide legs.

I also have a couple of cigarette style trousers that finish on the ankle and I wear them with a blouse (more uniqlo) and chunky loafers.

I’m at the same stage - just can’t be arsed

M and s do wide leg, elastic waist trousers in various lengths that are basically like being out in pjs/gym kit. I wear them with a T-shirt, blazer and trainers - scarf, jewellery etc. to look half put together

This is me. Get a smart handbag (I have a small doctors bag I love) and smart backpack in neutral colours. They make everything look better.

I tend to wear smart midi length dresses - fairly loose but with some shape and a distinctive print. I wear with white plimsolls in the summer and boots in the winter. On occasion I will wear with heels.

Other outfits include wide legged trousers and a Breton. Cigarette pants with a loose silk blouse and brogues.

Wide leg trousers, fitted 3/4 sleeve tshirt, cardigan. Favourite wide leg trousers are Autograph from M&S, they're a light wool and so quite breathable.

Jersey dress, cardigan. Favourite jersey dresses are from Boden.

Blazer instead of cardigan if I need to be smarter.

I have lots of shirts but they're all either synthetic and sweaty or cotton/linen and crease if you so much as look at them.

Smarter trainers or ballet flats on my feet. No way I'm doing heels any more.

Tights and boots with the jersey dress when the weather is cooler.

I have a few dresses in this sort of style that seem to get quite a few compliments.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/gingham-v-neck-puff-sleeve-tea-dress/p/clp60651708#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r7c4

If it's hot I just wear the dress and sandals (and cheap cotton cycling shorts because chub rub).

If I want to smarten it up, I wear a jacket over it. If it's colder I can wear it with a cardigan, tights or leggings and boots.

Masai clothing for jersey and Cotton tees and tops that are shaped but cover my tummy, m & s jaeger are generally well discounted in the sales , next cotton/ linen trousers for casual wear and have a few sea salt dresses too although I wouldn’t wear them to work , dunnes stores particularly the Caroline Donnelly and Paul costello ranges ( Irish store but they ship a limited selection to U.K.) Benetton is good for linen & cotton office wear , white stuff can have some gems but check the fabrics as there’s a lot of polyester. I generally search for cotton / linen /jersey and wool and will buy some viscose dresses and skirts if I think the design will be cool anyway and that it won’t shrink. When I find basics that meets my fabric, shape and length criteria I repeat buy. Shoes generally new balance , Ecco and fly of London sort of things . It’s so frustrating though trying to find a style that suits in a fabric that’s tolerable . Although it’s an extra layer I find light cotton camisoles keep you cool under tops and m & s flexifit culottes are great under dresses . If working from home I second those m and s jersey trousers mentioned above .

Ive been wearing tapered trousers from m and s with plain white t shirts or a cami and blazer with loafers in brown or black.

The trousers have elastic on the back and a metal clasp type thing on the front.

I only wear black and cream which sounds a bit boring but it's really easy and I love finding great accessories. Other Stories have some lovely stuff at the moment.

I had the predecessor to this dress
https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/florrie-jersey-dress-multi-fantastical/sty-j0849-mml?code=D8C7&tc_ch=ps&tc_ve=goog&tc_so=pmax&tc_me=cr&tc_ca=drop-offer&tc_au=&tc_cr=na&tc_campid=UK+-+Performance+Max+-+WW+-+New+-+0-90&tc_adgroupid=&tc_kwid=&tc_matchid=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw7NmzBhBLEiwAxrHQ-YNyN-HKHCXW5_75mGid6YbuvZmw6-kIyQKzV8jL81zyZSAO0Zv3wBoCDOkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

(Phoebe dress) In many colours, it took a jacket, cardigan, sandals, boots...tights ..had pockets and wasn't tight.
I sold them off on vinted when I retired and they were snapped up so clearly I am not the only fan.

They're mentioned quite often on MN, but Mountain Warehouse do a range of different easy-wear dresses with pockets that work well at this time of year: very 'wash & wear', in a range of different patterns and prints.
Many are currently on sale, and some are cotton: https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/womens/dresses-skirts/

I have just bought this - comfy and lovely to wear

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/striped-knit-mini-dress-p05802018.html?v1=354244852

M&S do some lovely wide leg trousers with a tie elasticated waist, pair with a short sleeved top and wedges.

I also wear these

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/braided-belt-trousers-p02298198.html?v1=352754089 with this cotton top from Mango

Fatface have unfussy jersey dresses.

Roman Originals are good also.

That's a great dress@Bjorkdidit ! Am going to look out for that. I haven't worn dresses for many many years always wore trousers. But have accumulated a few dresses mostly vinted and they are v comfy and so easy to throw on and with the chub rub shorts and white trainers I think they are comfy

I'm office/WFH hybrid so don't need too many office outfits, thank goodness! Not in the UK but most of this should hopefully translate anyway:

Summer: Linen wide leg trousers in black and navy (with half-elasticated waist). Paired with 100% cotton tops (kind of shell top style with mock buttons down the back). Have got two of these in different patterned fabrics.

In between seasons: Pretty much the same tops, with different trousers - I've got a couple of pairs of Seasalt "Waterdance" trousers which are thick cotton with the buttons on the side, not at the front - which makes them a bit less jeans-like. Have also got a couple of pairs of Uniqlo "ankle pants" I think they're called, which are slim fit 7/8 length work trousers.

Winter: Same Seasalt trousers or the Uniqlo trousers with a long sleeve top and blazer. Have got a couple of Seasalt sailor shirts and some other striped tops from Next which sit nicely under a jacket.

Shoes: I wear 'nice' trainers to work these days, have got a pair that live in the office full time (white leather lace ups a punched pattern/design). Also have a couple of other pairs that I'll sometimes wear (blush & black). These are worn all year round!

What on earth do you normally wear to work that is so difficult to wear while menopausal? I wore a uniform but didn't have any issues, and never heard any other women complain about it either.

Yes, layers are a good suggestion, then you can peel them off when you get hot, but otherwise just wear what you feel comfortable in.

I'm a wide leg trousers and shirt person. I've recently got into back elastication

I'll wear a t shirt and trainers if I'm wearing a jacket or if it's a in-house more casual day.

I used to never wear sandals to the office but I do now.

I'm thinking of looking into high cotton content bras.

When it's insanely hot nothing really works though does it?

I wear cotton dresses, not tight, and coloured trainers or loafers.

Thank you so much for all the fabulous suggestions and (even more so) the solidarity.

There's always one, isn't there? Is the sneering really necessary? FFS.

Good for you that you never had issues. Thanks so much for telling those of us who have. 🙄

Lucky you.

For one thing, I had to work out which colours and patterns were best for hiding the inevitable ridiculously wet patches under my arms, which no amount of Mitchum could stop.

I seem to have developed a massive waist and thighs recently, and would be better in trousers for work (I've been managing in dresses but not ideal.

Does anyone have any tips for trousers that fit huge bum/stomach/thighs?

I think when you're dealing with a hot sweaty environment AND have hot flushes etc the only practical solution is a lot of dupes of everything so you can just tear it all off when getting home.

I aim for 4-6 of any garment/shoe that works. For one thing, you can bet it'll get discontinued!

Made me laugh that they said they’d never heard any other women complain! Been racking my brains thinking where would you wear a uniform, without normal women in their 40s and 50s? 😂