Can anyone help me with work clothes? Wardrobe advice needed please!

[stringbean]

I'm going away on a week-long course with a new company next month, and need a bit of advice on clothes. Until now, I've worked largely from home, so haven't needed many 'office' type clothes.

I have black trousers and a nice jacket with 3/4 sleeves which I can wear with a couple of different tops, but what else can I get? Black trousers aren't really that summery. I usually wear the trousers with boots with a chunky heel, and really struggle with summer shoes as I don't like heels or pointy toes, so could really use some shoe advice too (the trousers are too long if worn with flat shoes).

I'm definitely a trousers person, probably because I struggle with shoes to go with skirts (again, the heels thing). I'm 5'8" and a size 10/12. Tend to buy clothes in 'safe' shops - Gap, M&S, also like Kew (but don't have one nearby) and Hobbs & Jigsaw, but these are a bit pricey. I'm prepared to pay more for good quality clothes that will last though. I don't want linen as I have to drive for work and arrive looking as though I've just slept in my clothes! If anyone can offer any advice for a capsule work wardrobe I'd be very grateful.

Many thanks!

I used to have to pack for week-long trade shows (seven days of being dressed for business in the day and to go out with clients at night) twice a year with my work and I used to take:-

Black trousers
One jacket
Cashmere sweater
One A line tailored skirt (but if you really hate wearing a skirt, tailored trousers in a different useful colour that goes with your jacket eg. charcoal grey)
One dress (just below the knee, not too 'floral/girly/floaty. Either a tailored shift or wrap dress, whichever suits your figure. Woven silk wrap dresses don't crease, which is handy...)
Four or five T-shirts with high lycra content so can be stuffed in bag and come out like new in different colours that suit your jacket/skin tone. Buy the shape that suits you best in lots of colours - I had V neck 3/4 length sleeve in red, bright pink, teal and cobalt blue. These didn't take up much room, so I took a lot to allow for accidental red wine spillage etc!
Two tailored shirts (I used to take one white, one striped)
A few different necklaces - take up no room to pack.
One pair strappy heels, one pair daytime heels, one pair ballet pumps

That used to get me through the week looking reasonably smart. Have fun on your trip

Many thanks for your advice - that's been really helpful. I went out today and threw myself on the mercy of one of my favourite shops, and now, together with the bits I already had, have pretty much got what you've suggested, bar the tailored shirt. I still need to sort out shoes, but have found some I liked and could wear without crippling myself, so hopefully I'm all set.