Big Work Thing

[bluecloudme]

Hello ladies of Mumsnet!

I have been invited to a high profile / formal work thing in October (in Scotland).

It's legal / political and will be recorded.

I have resolved to get myself a new outfit for the occasion.

I'm thinking either:

1. Tweed jacket, white shirt, black trousers.
2. Suit of some description (either dress, trouser or dress and jacket).

I'm 47, size 10, I suit greens and browns and black / navy. Don't like prints or flowery.

I may not be averse to a bit of colour but don't want anything too full on.

Very grateful for recommendations! I will look at my usual haunts JL and Hobbs but interested to hear if there are any other reliable shops for work clothes.

TIA!

Need more info. Daytime or evening? What is dress code? When you say legal/political there isn’t usually much overlap for obvious reasons. Is it more legal or more political? If more legal then blacks and navy might be better than greens and browns but not a strictly hard and fast rule. Is it something like the opening of the legal year, or more of a party?

for work I like theory (sale on now) max Mara and the fold can work but need to choose a bit carefully, some of their silhouettes are looking a bit dated. I don’t think Hobbs is doing it at the moment personally. Me& em also good.

Don’t go to JL or Hobbs.

Wait until

MaxMara
Toteme

bring in their A/W collections and get something then.

(I wouldn’t risk Me & Em as there’s too much risk of half the gathering all turning up in the same outfit …)

I'm giving evidence in Parliament on a draft bill. I'm a lawyer.

Day time.

Thank you!

Ooh, fun! Well then I would see if you can find a nice jacket in a sober yet interesting colour - a dark green or nice tweed or even a burgundy would be great. I would also wear trousers not a dress as it will just be more comfy and you won’t have to worry about camera angles etc.

Have a look at The Fold. I wouldn't do tweed as it (imo anyway) can look a bit odd on camera. The fold Arlington dress is a favourite of mine (if it was good enough for Liz Truss to see the queen to become PM its good enough for most things) as it doesn't crease when sitting and waiting to talk and is a nice clean look

I agree with this. A formal dress usually is too tight when you sit down, trousers are much more flattering.

My friend, a multinational CFO, does lots of high profile events and she wears trouser suits. I agree, Theory are very good, Victoria Beckham are also great (see the Princess of Wales green suit - that would be too bright maybe for you, but the silhouette is very current and flattering). You might look on Vinted for those.

Good luck - how exciting!!

I'm thinking either:

1. Tweed jacket

Why? Because it's Scotland?

I'd go for something like this.
Max Mara dress.

Definitely not trousers. The corporate trouser suit is very dull and isn't much seen these days.

Don’t wear black on camera. If you are giving evidence in one of the committees etc it will be recorded. Go for Navy/Green if it’s your colour preference

https://www.dvf.com/products/dvf-astrid-dress-in-cilantro

I think this dress would be great - great colour, simple neckline, long and flowing so no concerns about how it will look sitting, and excellent price in the sale …

Gosh that VB suit is gorgeous 🤩

I do think i suit black but does it just not look right?

I did it a few years ago and wore a tweed short suit with heels, i loved it and have not ruled out wearing it again!

Thanks for the suggestions :-)

I quite like the Maxmara dress.....

I think the wrap dress isn't smart enough and i'm going against the grain here to say i thought Kate looked awful in the VB suit! I loved the colour but the fit was awful. I am probably old fashioned but i do prefer a more tailored look.....

Interested that business suits are a bit passed - in legal circles here i am not sure that is the case.

I would find it entirely natural to wear a suit for this sort of thing. Probably something from one of the contemporary designers who are natural inheritors of the original Jil Sander aesthetic. Alternatively it could be a good excuse to have a suit made to measure, particularly if that would realistically consume less time than months of avid scrolling!

(On the one hand I was always conscious of not wanting to be less well dressed than my male colleagues; on the other, I didn’t want to be distracted from serious work by clothes that performed less than perfectly.)

Do you know where would I get a suit made to measure? I like the idea.

My work life is taking a slightly different turn and i will need one for sure. Very sober, possibly pin striped.

Here are some suggestions:

Huntsman

https://www.standard.co.uk/shopping/esbest/fashion/best-bespoke-tailors-women-b1228214.html

I couldn’t specifically recommend from experience as I mostly just had off the peg suits tailored by the shop before I took them home.

(Congratulations on the different turn - I assume?)

ooh thanks i will have a look at these!

I'm excited for the next turn, a year of so of training first but i'm looking forward to that too :-)

Holland Cooper? https://www.hollandcooper.com/products/double-breasted-blazer-navy-chalk-pin-stripe