Help! Clothes to return to working at the office!

[thenextthingtoface]

Help! I've recently secured a Senior job which is very corporate and office based after years working from home.

I need to buy 'work clothes' but have no idea anymore where to look. Due to a slight disability I can't easily wear trousers so it's maxi or midi dresses with a jacket or suits (can't wear knee length!)

This criteria is so limited that combined with being out of touch with which shops I should even be looking at, I'm really struggling. I'm a size 14 ish so not skinny either and only 5 foot 3.

I'm also aware I'm starting soon so whatever I get needs to be cool enough in hot weather but also still corporate smart.

Please fellow mumsnetters, do you have any suggested shops I should be looking at or even outfit suggestions? I'm starting to wish I'd not taken the job as I'm getting really panicky about clothes.

I've name changed as I'm slightly embarrassed!

is it 5 days in the office? Are skirts a no as well as dresses? How much do you want to spend?

I would put together a bit of a capsule wardrobe so basically you’re wearing the same things on rotation. Dresses also can often easily cross seasons with the addition of a pair of tights and boots.

I started a new job this week and the dress code was genuinely the only thing I was worried about so I understand how you feel! I asked my new boss before starting and I’m glad I did - I would have turned up massively overdressed as it’s “come as you are”.

Congratulations!

I think you could take a breath and stop panicking.😄 Millions of women go to work in midi length dresses every day, with or without a jacket. It’s not a problem.

A dress like this:

Cos sleeveless

Or this:

Cos shirtdress

Or this:

Cos V neck

could easily be interchanged with a light jacket where necessary, or worn alone. You can spend much less or much more, depending on your tastes and budget. You probably don’t have to stick to black or navy, but clothes in plain neutral colours are more versatile, easier to mix and match and carry more authority (if that matters to you). Also - importantly, at 5’3 I can wear most dresses, but it’s sensible to make friends with your local alterations service so you can have lengths and proportions tailored to fit you where necessary.

@shuffleofftobuffalo
It's 3 days a week in the office. Skirts are fine too as long as midi length (ish).

I'm willing to spend a few hundred to get the basics together.

Its a finance environment and pretty smart, men in suits mostly but women obviously get a bit more choice but likely a blazer needed over a dress/skirt if not wearing a suit.

It is so stressful isn't it! Thanks for replying. 😁

I’m about the same height and size as you - I found Cos absolutely drowned me as their thing is volume and oversize.

formal workwear wise I’ve always found some nice bits at Hobbs petite. M&S can be good too. Personally I find Next workwear generally isn’t great quality and can err towards cheap, but if you’re judicious you can find some good basics.

for summer look for natural fibres. I actually saw some nice work appropriate things in Uniqlo this week -you’d have to judge if it’s corporate enough of course.

I reckon get a couple of outfits to start with and then observe what other women are wearing in the office over time, rather than investing up front and finding everyone is actually more casual than you anticipated (especially in summer).

I can't really advise on clothes but congratulations on securing your new role!

@AllMyExesWearRolexes thank you 😁

@shuffleofftobuffalothank you. I'm going to start today by looking at Hobbs, M&S and Next I think. We don't have a Uniqlo near us.

You are probably right about not buying too much but I feel I need at least 3 outfits, ideally four to start with (as the first few weeks I may need to go more than 3 days a week.)

I'm going to try to stay calm! It's just been so long since I needed to know where to look or how to put very smart clothes together!

Some time ago a poster told us that for work she had bought 5 tops , a few pairs of trousers ,she already had a few jackets and had a couple of skirts and she just matched the tops with either trousers or a skirt each day and she reckoned she had enough.

I don't work in a corporate office any more but when I did I wore a lot of midi shirt dresses, which might work for you. I had cotton/poplin ones from places like Massimo Dutti and Hobbs, and softer/less structured ones from M&S.

Another option might be long pencil skirts with a bit of a a slit. Thick jersey ones would probably be fine too - I'll see if I can find a picture of what I mean. I'd wear them with loafers.

My tip is always start with shoes. What will you be wearing on your feet? When I went back to the office I found that I really hated wearing heels that couldn’t walk comfortably/fast in. In winter I wear low heeled boots - ankle length under trousers and knee length under skirts. In the summer I have one pair of court shorts that are comfortable but I often wear leather trainers as I have to walk from one building to another 10 minutes away.

If you know Hobbs sizing then try Vinted. There’s tonnes of workwear on there. Just make sure you read the descriptions and look at the photos carefully.

Dresses are easier than skirts as you don’t have to worry about getting matching items. Dresses and jackets work well in the summer.

Me + Em. One of the dresses is styled with a jacket but I don't think a jacket is an essential over a smart dress.

Re Cos, I'm 5'3" and don't have a problem finding dresses in Cos

Me + Em
Me + Em
Me + Em

If you really want to spend there's Max Mara
Max Mara

I agree with @AlphaApple- shoes first and Vinted

I wear midi dresses or midi skirt and and tops with tights and patent loafers int the winter and smart flat sandals in the summer.

Look for jigsaw and whistles as well a Hobbs, cos and kin and hush.

i avoid floral dresses but have some lovely “mild’ animal print skirts and pair them with a short sleeve jumper or posh t shirt in summer

shirts dress are smarter and avoid tiered maxi dresses skirts and anything too voluminous.

I get skirts and dresses from Vinted and tops and shoes I buy!

get decent leather tote too from Vinted

If you need Vinted tips i’m your gal!

If you have a John Lewis within reasonable reach I’d really recommend a personal styling session where you can try on a load of stuff within your brief from a range of brands in one go - one stop shopping! Once you have identified brands/sizes that fit you can then go on to shop confidently on your own

Have you checked the dress code? A lot of offices are more casual.

I like Fatface for dresses, and Roman originals -

I like M&S trousers and Matalan sometimes do nice stretch trousers.

I am retired now but my work clothes were all jersey shift or short sleeved dresses with a cardigan. Dresses are far easier than skirts or tops, less to think about. I got a lot of dresses from Sainsburys of all places. Next also has good options.

I’m the same height as you and live in Cos! It’s functional without being boring, fabric is generally good quality, and it washed well. Have a look on Vinted, you can get a few things cheaply, a medium should fit you.

I have a similar role, same height and size. I hardly ever wear trousers, most midi dresses.

Whistles is a go to - often buy cheaper on eBay if returnable. Cut well for curvier figures. I have a few Whistles shirt dresses.

Samantha Sung (eBay as expensive)

Couple of dresses from Phase Eight

Jackets/Blazers from Hobbs, J Crew and Ralph Lauren

Next have a few linen/linen blend shirt dresses that are the length you’ve mentioned. Might be a good option for the nicer weather and whilst you scope out the dress code for yourself.

Thank you so much everyone! I've been out with the kids all day and finally sat down and checked this thread. This is giving me hope that I won't need to go naked or resign before I start out of clothing embarrassment. I'm going to be brave and start googling (up until now I was struggling to face it.)

I work three days a week in a finance office and two from home. Workwear in my office is less formal than it was pre covid. I do have a couple of dresses I will get out in high summer but my go to’s are separates which mix and match.

Dresses are more of a look whereas the same skirt and jacket can look very different with a white shirt or a bright top and you can then make the outfit more casual with a cardigan or knitted jacket instead of a suit blazer or formal jacket.

I often wear the same trousers or skirt twice in a week with different tops and jackets. They can look very different. I also wear some of my work pieces for weekends or socialising styled differently. Here’s an idea of how a capsule wardrobe can create a wide number of work looks. If you are only in 3 days per week you could manage with 2 tops, 2 bottoms, 1 dress, 2 jackets if they mix and match to give you 6-8 outfits.

@Chouxthank you, it's great to see an example!

@Oceangreythank you. Good to know I'm not the only one not wearing black trousers constantly.

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastleoh wow I love the Me + Em dresses! Bit more than I'd usually spend but they are gorgeous.

@fatgirlswims quite possibly actually as I've never used it. What are your top tips to be aware of or know please?!