Needing to dress better for work

[StargazerLiIy]

But am not rich (yet!). So I am trying to snap up some Vinted deals.

I need some smart semi-casual outfits for a new job (not got the job yet), aiming for London office work. I am 50, I have been living in trackies and jeans for a decade+ since having kids. So out of the loop.

What a the top quality brands I should be looking for? I always liked Karen Millen before I had kids.

Thanks

Me&Em, WYSE, LK Bennett

The Fold, Toteme, Eileen Fisher, Jigsaw, With Nothing Underneath, The Row, Cos, Hobbs, Sandro, Sezane, Cefinn, Whistles, Me+Em will think of more!

Invest as much as you can for handbags, coats and shoes, minimalist but quality jewellery and watches.

I hope you get the job OP!

It depends if it is smart casual or a bit more business casual.

Where I work it is smart casual - i.e no jeans, no flip flops, no rips, no cleavage. I either wear a casual dress or a top and chinos.

Where I used to work was more business casual, so something like a blouse and trousers or a dress.

Just get what you like. High street brands (H&M, Zara, New Look etc) are fine, but you might want to veer towards the likes of Baukjen, Cos, &OtherStories, Mint Velvet,Hobb's, Jigsaw, Jaeger etc.

Yes it definitely depends on the type of work. Where I work in London (public sector type of thing) you can look very overdressed very quickly. Trainers are good for keeping things on the smart casual side.

Forgot the French brands like Maje,Sandro etc.

I wear plain white trainers or chelsea boots.

Thanks, All. That is a good amount to be getting on with.

And thanks for the job hunt kind words. Latest application is somewhere I think I'll need to look smart but not overly formal, but I quite liked being suited and booted before. It's hard to know, I have been off the scene for so long raising kids and wfh in slouch wear. I'd like to have the Rachel Green kind of vibe going on when she got that swanky job in Friends, maybe with a bit of SJP in SATC, ha, though I am not quite as slim or young as they were.
Applications going in to various places, but I'd like to get some outfits ready for interviews, and ideally ready to roll when I land something without needing to go on too much of an urgent clothes hunt.

Thanks for the advice re a good bag and coats and shoes.