Help me help my newly graduated daughter dress for her new job

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DD has just graduated and has landed her first graduate job in procurement. She lives (or has lived!) in jeans and hoodies and has asked me to help her out together a capsule wardrobe. She's a size 12 and the office dress code is smart casual.

I shop in Boden, M&S, white stuff and Sainsbury's - in short all of the places that probably aren't very trendy! Where do smart 22 year olds shop for workwear? And what do they buy?

My dd shops in Zara, & other stories, Reiss and also gets a lot second hand online

I wouldn’t buy her too much, it is very difficult to know the vibe of an office until you have been there for a while

Next, H&M, Zara?

Smart casual can mean a lot of different things. For my organisation those in London dress more formally than us country bumpkins. I would lurk and see what kind of clothes people seem to wear.
Day 1 look more interviewee. Then adjust. But it does depend on the role and her own style and the work place culture

I’d tell her to go to TikTok and search for people posting their corporate wear etc, she can search by industry and age too and most people have links to all their items.

I think it depends what kind of company she is working for. Procurement in a solicitor office will be different from procurement on a building site for example. I would say standard black trousers and blouse for first day, then see what everyone else is wearing.b

DD starts her first job soon. She's looked at Insta phots if the office to get some idea of what is acceptable and worn and has bought a few outfits but will definitely be buying the bulk when she's already there.

I'd look at their socials, that's what we did for my Ds new job.

Don't think you can go wrong with black trousers and plainish top, with jacket or cardi in case the air conditioning is vicious. Main thing is not too short or too tight or too low cut.

Dd has a pair of black treasures, chunky loafers and shirts/blouses.

smart casual in her organisation apparently includes smart jeans, so she’s planning to do more shopping after she starts. Ultimately it looks as if she’ll be in the office 3days a week, so won’t need much anyway.

Weirdly my DD picked up quite a few things in Boden sale when she was in this position last year. It was good for plain basics. Otherwise she mainly picked bits up from asos as they have different brands, There seemed to be a fashion for blouses with big collars from nobody’s child. DD works in a financial services role in the City.

A white t shirt, black wide legged trousers, camel blazer/jacket, simple necklace/earings, cross body bag, loafers or trainers. If the jacket is too smart she can take it off.

camel blazer/jacket

Depends on her colouring. I look awful in camel. Navy or a deep burgundy shade suit me far better.

Not a T shirt without seeing the lay of the land.

This. Once she’s had a week to check out what everyone else is wearing, then she can go shopping on the weekend . Buy a couple of things , then wait a few more weeks.

She doesn’t need to get it all at once.

My Dd is in exactly the same situation, she started last week. She has worn her interview outfit ( black trousers and blouses, she has two ) then borrowed a couple of my tops from me for the rest of the week.

The vibe is smarter than she expected so she is going to buy a blazer next weekend . This is a bit of a shock for her as her usual style is CBeebies presenter on speed ( all bought from charity shops).

But she has a Big Girl Job now 😂

I forgot to say that she argued with me about her interview outfit, she told me that it wouldn’t be that smart. But for once she listened to me and yes it was “that smart”.

There was one poor girl there who obviously confused “ interview for graduate trainee job “ with “ mates wedding “ and wore a very short mini dress, super high heels and bright orange bare legs 🙁

My DD then argued with me again about her first day at work outfit ( it was a one week induction course in the training centre ). She said it would just be casual. It wasn’t.

One lad turned up in jeans and hoodie , she was cringing for him as the trainer gave them all a lecture on “ looking professional “.

The moral of this is

better to err on the side of being more formal than less formal when you are young and new at work and
always listen to your mother

Mantras to live by @S00LA 🤣

In our house I only have to say “it’s incredible how often…” for my kids to chorus “your mother is right”

Id have a look at Zara, H&M & Mango to get a couple of outfits to get her started, agree with above it totally depends on the office so I wouldn't buy too much before she actually starts. I work for a law firm & the dress code is smart casual but smart jeans & trainers are allowed which I was surprised about - I'd bought smart trousers & a blazer for starting which I've worn once! I think a lot of places are much more casual after covid.

If the new workplace is near enough, I'd suggest she gets a coffee and hangs out nearby at start or end of day to see what people her age seem to wear, then bases the level of smartness on the average, with a bit of her personality thrown in.

A really well cut suit in navy, charcoal or grey would be a good investment anyway, as you can wear the trousers as separates with a top that makes the look more casual, or with a fitted blouse for important meetings

I would agree. Don’t buy too much for the first few weeks. Think of it as grown up school uniform.
Black or navy trousers, 2/3 tops which nice but conservatively cut. 1 soft jacket 1 pair of comfortable shoes. I would also add a bag to take a laptop, 3 small pencil cases 1 with a small makeup kit, 1 with San pro and any meds, 1 with stationery.
All the best with the job.

To start I would get a pair of black loafers, 2 pairs of black trousers (a wide fit and an ankle grazer style) with 3 tops. These should see her through the first week. Then on the first wkend of the new job your daughter can go and buy a few bits to add to it as she'll know what people are wearing then in the office by then.

Search ' realistic work outfits' UK on instagram. There are loads of young women posting smart casual work outfits ( not jeans- never smart casual in my opinion!)

Get some basic tops and trousers in black, navy, white, grey as these colours look smart and are interchangeable then sit and wait to see what the culture is at her work.

I choose to dress smart for work even though most people rock up in jeans so it's really up to how she feels, but I would always caution on the smarter side for the first few weeks

It would be fine to speak to her new boss or team leader or buddy if she's been assigned one and ask them this question even if she hasnt started yet. We were given a briefing on workplace attire which has changed a lot over the years.

Suits are no longer the norm so don't go buying expensive clothes before she's started or at least spoken to some of her new colleagues.

I'd also add make sure her hair is cut and clean and hands and nails are clean. And keep makeup simple!