Returning to the office after 25 years..what to wear?

[LemonLemon25]

Help!
After 25 years working in the airline industry wearing typical airline uniform of dress/pencil skirt, blouse, scarf, jacket, tan tights and block heel court shoes I've jacked it in for an office job in a totally different industry. The dress code smartnprofessional casual and I just don't know what to wear.

My wardrobe consists of uniform (soon to be returned, gym kit, jeans hoodys and the odd evening garment. I have 2 smart dresses from M&S and Next in black and navy which I've worn with the block heel courts and flesh tights to interviews and a funeral.

This worked for the interview but im worried I'll be a little over smart (having glanced through to the office on final interview). Also...is this a dated look.

I have some tapered black trousers and a blousebi wore to first interview whichninwore with loafers bought for the event burning feel short fat dumpy in flat shoes.

I look aeoundninbgeneral and lots of people at the local train station seem to wear dms, loafers etc. I am somoutnof touch I need help gearing together an outfit that smart but not dated. I'm.52 so not wanting to "get down with the kids" but don't want to.look tragic.
I've a menopause belly and gone from a 10 to 14 in 3yrs since menopause hit. I am also on 5ft 1 tall!!
Please help.

Omw.....I do apologise. I meant to review not post. I am walking the dog and typing!! Apologies!! 😯

I work in local council, most folk wear smart trousers, black/navy with a top and cardi or jumper, hardly anyone wears a proper blouse nowadays. Or, nice dress. All with comfy flat shoes.

Exception - the very young ones who want to look trendy tend to come in looking like they are strutting down the catwalk but we're talking late teens to early 20's for them.

Hang around outside your future employer’s office at lunch and see what’s normal for them.

Block heel courts and flesh coloured tights? Yes - this is terrifyingly dated - burn them!

Pretty much everyone wears some level of ‘smart casual’ for non-uniformed work now. What you buy really depends on your wallet and your perception of yourself. You could choose similar outfits from

Uniqlo
Mango
Zara
Community Clothing
& Other Stories
Cos
Palava
Toast
Weekend MaxMara
Me and Em
Toteme
Margaret Howell
MaxMara

depending on how much you want to spend and the general tenor of your work environment.

(I’m afraid I would be distraught if I were made to shop at Next or M&Spencer - but they do seem remarkably popular on MN …)

As to height, size, proportions … I am a couple of inches taller than you and have never in my life worn petite ranges, but I have long arms and legs and I’m quite prepared to have hems taken up on dresses and trousers. Your exact proportions will determine how much you can buy from regular ranges. If you’ve been wearing a uniform for a quarter of a century you may need quite a period of trial and error to work out which brands appeal to you and suit your proportions. (In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes you five years to really get the hang of your new dressing freedom.)

You could - if you feel you need instant help - do the dreaded John Lewis Personal Styling thing. It’s free and some people have found it revelatory. Others have been disappointed. Up to you.

Browse all the sites listed above, and a hundred others. And take your time, you don’t need to buy everything at once. (But please don’t make the mistake of imagining that being 52 means you have to dress in any particular way. You don’t. Enjoy developing your own personal style.)

People on here have commented that M&S work wear is good value. I haven't been in for ages so have not bothered .A few weeks ago a poster said she has 5 tops and a few pairs of trousers and a jacket occasionally and she finds that is fine.

Thank you for your replies
I've alotnof research to do I think.
I feel I've lost my style in general the past few years so i need to sort myself out.

I used to take myself off yo Debenhams in times gone by when I felt that I needed a fashion overhaul because you could grab 20 different items and try them all on. It's tge back of fitting rooms anywhere now that makes trying new styles difficult.

Wide leg trousers with a fine knit jumper or plain T shirt and cardigan are popular where I work. No one wears heels.

Maybe don't do this

Trousers that aren't jeans, flat shoes and a jumper is as smart as it gets at most of the offices I've worked in.

I work in a large office with people ranging in age from 20s to 60s. I wear heels, flat boots, maxi dresses, trousers + blouses/shirts, skirts, cardigans. Some colleagues wear casual trousers and smart t-shirts, trainers. But I carry my heels to work and wear trainers for the commute. Can't go wrong with black trousers and a top while you work out your style.

Heels are very dated. Pair of wide or straight black trousers, thin knitted top, black cardigan. Wear Chelsea boots or loafers as shoes. That will get you through the first day, when you can see what everyone else is wearing.

Wide leg trousers very popular in our office for those of all ages. M&S have some good styles in multiple leg lengths. Flat shoes only (chunky boots, loafers, smart trainers) -I can't think of anyone I know who wears heels, not even kitten heels. Tops are smart t-shirts with cardi or blazer type jacket, or knitwear. A few people wear skirts, but definitely more casual styles than anything you'd have seen as part of a skirt suit (cord, denim and linen in summer are popular). Good luck with the new job!

So when you glanced through to the office what sort of things were the others wearing? If it's smart casual things like trousers, tops, knitwear etc then adapt it to your taste and style. Think about the clothes you like to wear, materials, colours, patterns etc. For example I love suede shoes and have a few chunky smartish Etnie's fader lace ups. I love warm colours, navy, burgundy etc, lambswool. I'm your age too!

Noone wears heels any more, or tailored dresses or skirts, except for very specific occasions such as court or a very corporate client-facing role. Wide leg trousers, smart trainers (or loafers or boots), some kind of top. As a PP said, if you wear black trousers and a top you won't go wrong and you can see what others are wearing before you buy more.

have 2 smart dresses from M&S and Next in black and navy which I've worn with the block heel courts and flesh tights to interviews and a funeral.

I have never worked in an office but this is what my mum wore to work in the 80s. I didn't really think people younger than her still wore flesh-coloured tights or court shoes! I work in a school, which is semi smart-most people wear trousers and a top/jumper or cardigan with shoes/boots.

Before you sit down to browse the internet arm yourself with a tape measure, plus a t shirt and a pair of trousers that fit you. Be sure to study the on screen measurements for every item you’re interested in - and compare them to the measurements of the t shirt and trousers laid flat. Don’t get hung up on assuming you are the same size on every site; you won’t be.

Also - don’t scan every site looking for things that look like your uniform. Or like garments people wore to work in the 90s. Be guided by the clothes that are predominant across all the shops - currently wider trousers, shorter tops, tent like dresses - and try to find examples you think you could wear. Trying to fight against current trends can leave people feeling frustrated and looking weirdly outdated. (You will not find anything labelled For 52 year olds. Just choose what you think will work for you.)

As for shoes - keep an eye on what clothes are styled with on the various websites.

Maybe loafer with a bit of a heel if you don’t want flats as court shoes/heels are too formal. Low heeled boots in winter also ok.

Trousers per preference but wide leg common and strike a good balance. Your trousers are also fine. Black or navy that can go with different tops.

Your dresses perhaps for meetings but not day to day, but too formal with the heels unless interview or very formal meeting.

I would just get a few things initially like one pair of trousers, a couple of tops and the shoes to start so you can get more of a feel and add to it later.