Help me please!!

[Iampondering]

I genuinely don't know where to start with this one, and I'm quite literally losing sleep over it which really isn't like me!

I have a really exciting new job starting in a month, I'm quite senior within the organisation. BUT it's a totally different culture to what I'm used to. I've been in very smart environments, and have a wardrobe full of Karen Millen style business dresses with heels. This is casual and I'm just clueless. Because how casual is casual? I don't want to look scruffy surely! All the interviews have been online so I've not even been able to get a feel for what others wear.

So can anyone guide me?
A bit about me: 5 foot 3, size 12, fairly hourglass shape, late 30s, blonde hair and quite pale.
Thank you!

Would you consider a personal stylist session to help you build a capsule wardrobe? If you’re senior you’ll need to hit the right note when you join. @frillseeking was giving amazing advice on another thread and has a stylist site with consultations (I’m not affiliated but bought 2 tops she recommended!)
Congrats on new job!

https://clm-styling.com This is the link - I found on the other thread

It's always better to go in too smart than too casual. While you take time to figure it out, would it be possible to dress down your Karen Millen dresses with smart trainers or loafers instead of heels, perhaps, depending on the dress style?

The beauty of office dress codes going is that everyone should be able to wear what they feel comfortable in, subject to applying basic common sense. I don't own jeans or trainers or t-shirts. I don't like jeans or trainers. I'm not going to buy them just because that's what everyone else is wearing.

I don't see the slightest need to ditch your Karen Millen dresses. If it bothers you that you're way smarter than everyone else, then as Drama Alpaca said, switch to flats. There's still a few women in my office wearing heels. They look great actually. They stand out from the sea of boring trainers and obviously they're wearing them because they want to.

Thanks all, I'll have a look into the suggestions. What flats are good? Are ballet pumps still a thing or hideously dated?

Every year Vogue and The Times (and probably others) run an article saying ballet flats are back.

Chanel, Manolo Blahnik, LK Bennett, Stuart Weizmann and just about everyone else who makes shoes keeps a permanent collection of ballet flats.

Ballet flats are not "dated"

I am a STEM academic, we are as casual as it gets. I think the advice above is implicitly about being true to yourself and I agree. If you love KM, why change? You may find yourself gravitating to separates over time.

Ballets and loafers are always in style

I guess it’s all about transitioning?

You can of course continue to wear exactly what you’ve always worn - but there are brands that might bridge the gap between business glamour and Uniqlo, or whatever your new colleagues wear.

Maybe have a look at:

Toteme
Adolfo Dominguez
Bite Studios (You won’t want to spend this much but it’s inspirational.)
Margaret Howell
Teurn Studios
Rendezvous Store
Net-a-Porter - just browse and see which labels appeal.

It may be a gradual process …

Thank you all! Lots to look and think about!

I work in a creative/casual environment - my go to outfits are:

Stine Goya dresses / skirts
Black wide leg trousers with top tucked in
nice jewellery
uniqlo dresses and t-shirts
Lucy and Yak Ragan black jumpsuit (perfect leg length for petites but size up one)

Shoe wise - box fresh Adidas gazelles (ie I only wear this pair for work)
Dr Martens

But agree - go a bit smarter the first day and suss it out :) always better that way around than feeling scruffy!

my office is very casual, in an effort to not look scruffy I tend to stick to wide leg or tapered trousers with either a box fit tshirt or long sleeve tshirt in basic neutral colours. I wear chunky trainers or converse or swing back flats if I need to dress it up a little.
Accessorise with belts and jewellery. Always do my hair and make up which I think goes a long way in elevating basic outfits.
Rarely wear jeans but if I do it’s with flats and not trainers, always keep an element of office smart either in my shoes or outfit, never fully causal.