Nice, smart-casual workwear

[cheezncrackers]

I'm returning to work after being a big break and joining a new industry where the dress code is fairly casual. It's professional work and most of the women seem to wear nice trainers, dark trousers, some kind of stretchy fabric top, a cardy or jumper, no jacket. There don't seem to be a lot of F-to-F meetings, most of the work is done over Teams. So if you work in a professional, smart-casual office, where do you shop if you're a middle-aged woman who wants to look nice and not too scruffy, but OTOH doesn't want to spend a fortune?

Vinted is your friend here. Almost everything I wear to work is from Vinted these days. I wear a lot of Pleats Please (trousers or dresses), Rew trousers and Jaki London asymmetrical jumpers (or rather the same ones bought on Etsy for a third of the Jaki price). I’m also addicted to Walsh trainers. I get lots of compliments on what I wear to work (which is always a lovely surprise and makes me happy). I tend to wear a lot of colour. Head to toe red is a particular favourite.

I’m 54, work in Financial Services in a smart casual setting.

On teams I look better if I plaster the make up on with a trowl.
Since covid I prefer basic sepetares, blaser, poli neck oxford shirt etc. It depends on your body shape, budget and work environment.

Very helpful - thank you. I'm a size 10, 5'4", pear-shaped, so slim on top, but with boobs. I find blouses and jackets often fit oddly because of my narrow back with E-cup boobs, so I'm delighted that blouse and jacket are not the dress code at new workplace!

The Jaki stuff is gorgeous, but I'm not sure I'm tall enough to carry off those big, drapey knits. They look stunning on the models though.

There have been recommendations on here for M&S workwear.