London outfit help!

[RuralStyleless]

I have to regularly travel to London for work and in my frumpy backwater clothing feel like I stick out at conferences and events. It doesn't help that I'm short and can't get on with heels or make-up.

I normally wear a straight black M&S petite suit with a seasalt shirt (overdressed) or a knee length dress with knee high boots (underdressed).

London ladies - any hints on simple, classic items or brands I can add to my wardrobe to look like I fit in a bit better! Budget total maybe £250, happy to buy pre-loved.

What are your colleagues/fellow attendees wearing at these events? Are you in Legal/Finance?I don't work in a corporate office any more but suits would be off the table for me. When I go to London for work I tend to wear mix and match stuff that I know will travel fairly well. In winter I like things like wide-legged trousers (ponte fabric) with a white tee and a cashmere cardigan, or shirt dresses (corduroy or similar) and boots. In summer I like linen trousers (I don't care about the creasing!) - wide-leg or tapered 7/8ths - and shell tops or print cropped-ish blouses, or maybe lighter midi shirt dresses.

I'd probably start with Vinted and would look at Wyse London, Jigsaw, Whistles, John Lewis own brands, and M&S Autograph.

Also I'd recommend a really great waterproof - you'll always need one in London, sooner or later! I have a couple by Protected Species' that work for smart events, and a longer plain one from Seasalt that has no jolly lining or similar.

Thanks. Yes, I'm in finance. My colleagues who attend are nearly all male or much younger, so cab't model in them. Some great suggestions thank you.

Things I seen that I like are

• Soft blazers over a smart dress (but how to get this look right)
• Smart jumpsuits (never my thing)
• Dresses with statement jewlery
• Pretty top / trouser combos that somehow scream smart - maybe it's belts, cost?

I am mid level senior in a corporate role and go to London maybe monthly. I tend to do soft jacket/shirt dress (whistles jersey blazer because I’m short and curvy and anything oversized or boxy drowns me). Or wide legged trousers/t shirt or shirt tucked in. Belt on trousers, trainers and always jewellery of some sort. Sometimes will wear blazer over if going to clients but not if just going to my office.

i feel about right tbh. Sometimes a bit blousy but that’s me not my outfits - I follow the buxom tavern wench model rather than the elegant or minimalist

So much harder when the rest of your industry is male!

Soft blazers - Boden used to do excellent thick jersey blazers so you could start but trying to hunt one of those down. They can look good over a shirt dress or over a more simple/plain style. Actually thinking about it, Boden was my go-to for this kind of stuff years ago when I was in offices.

Trousers and top-wise, personally I think this is all about proportions. Wide-legged trousers look good with a slightly cropped blouse or boxy top, but it can be hard to get right, I agree! The nice thing is that they also look good with classic flat loafers - in fact I firmly believe you don't need heels to look smart/professional.

Find a store you like (M&S is my go to) look at a mannequin & buy or copy the whole outfit. Whoever has put that look together knows a lot more about fashion than I do so I use their expertise.
No suits or knee high boots. As a PP has said, wide leg trousers, T-shirt type top (which if white must be really white & new looking) cardigan, a piece of chunky ish jewellery. Smart leather trainers (I cannot wear heels either so buy Fit Flop trainers) & a good bag.

I think M&S does some really good stuff (and does them in different lengths too) the trick is to go to the bigger branches in London or the one in the city (near Liverpool St/Moorgate) or in Canary Wharf. Personally the simpler the better, I also like Cos but can often be oversized so may not suit your needs. Also think about fabrics, Seasalt stuff is generally in soft cottons that although comfy, don’t look smart for very long, John Lewis used to do a range called Kin that most tops & blouses were in viscose, they still look smart now after years of wear. Whistles, Jigsaw and Hobbs might be worth looking at too.

Do any of these looks float your boat at all? Personally a lot of the Me+Em ones are not for me but I like the ones shown under "The Jean" heading - wide-leg trousers with a shirt and a woollen tank:

https://www.meandem.com/int/the-editorial/our-luxury-workwear-capsule-wardrobe

When I talk about shirt dresses, this is broadly the kind of thing I mean, i.e. striking print (don't need to hunk about other accessories and look good with block colour jacket), midi length, and don't need ironing every ten mins:

Jaeger patterned shirt dress

Hobbs shirt dress

Boden zip midi shirt dress

I don't think workwear tops and trousers have to be as tailored/suit-ish as they used to be. A couple of ideas:

Boden blue and tan combo - great colours

This style of trousers with a striped knit is very akin to what I'd wear to work

A similar look from JL

Let me know if you think these are a bit too informal and I'll adjust my suggestions accordingly!

Do you have comfy classic shoes that you can wear? And a bag that ticks all the boxes?

Great advice from both @begone25 and @SheRa. It's a good idea to go and try on some stuff in a store with lots of options that is already catering for this kind of look. You can always then look for similar stuff pre-loved but at least you've got a starting point.

https://www.hobbs.com/sale/

Hobbs is great for work wear. The quality is good - everything lasts.

There’s a sale on with really good reductions. I particularly like this belted jacket: https://www.hobbs.com/product/casey-jacket-with-wool/0125-4072-9044L00-BLACK.html

I travel to London for work and have a uniform effectively. Colour palette is navy, grey black blazer and trousers. Sounds boring but I jazz it up with jewellery,scarf or bag. Invest in two or three good pair of trousers or skirts. Blouses to match usually cream is my go to colour. Blazers are good again I have navy and black in linen for the summer and heavier for the winter. I prefer a matching suit in the in between time of spring. Keep to the basics especially if you’re away for a few days at a time. Dresses also in summer always look great

Have you looked at Reiss workwear?

Thanks. Maybe not quite my taste, but then again, my taste isn't exactly working for me. Will chexk these all out.

No - will add to the list, thanks.

I work from home mostly, but when I have to go to London for events or conferences I wear a pair of Abercrombie Sloane wide leg trousers (they do different lengths) with a crisp white tee and a thin belt, with either loafers, slingback pointed flats, or even clean white Converse (admittedly the latter probably wouldn't fly in your industry). I have the trousers in about four different colours.

https://www.abercrombie.com/shop/uk/p/a-and-f-sloane-tailored-wide-leg-pant-51625331?seq=04&source=googleshopping&cmp=PLA:EVG:20:A:D:EU:X:GGL:X:SHOP:X:X:X:X:x:ANFGoogleShoppingDCPLAUKBottomsXAll+productsPRODUCTGROUP&gclsrc=aw.ds&gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=17559271344&gbraid=0AAAAADeAqWOkHKZKdwhIWCQN15B3jvlg&gclid=CjwKCAjw2brFBhBOEiwAVJX5GPy5XJ2X1Pb2MmaZsvPl81Pf-KKn0iX4kwzGzSxpWvwwr7iuVppBoCZO0QAvDBwE

I’m also in finance and in 4-5 days a week but it sounds like I might be in a slightly smarter environment - but just in case any of this helps.

I have found Hobbs work trousers are great - look smart and I have worn them with a T shirt and a jacket as they tend to look smart enough. I have a number of long sleeved dresses from M and S/Hobbs/Hush and Boden that look smart enough on their own.

I have some chinos from M and S (the collection ones, not the cargo type ones) as I have shorter legs and they fit me well. I tend to wear these with collared shirts (like suit shirts) from a variety of places. I wear these with the sleeveless jumpers and it looks quite smart (I have a few of the buttoned ones from Joules which are lovely quality).

https://www.joules.com/style/su584418/av1007 joules knitted vests which tend to smarten up dresses or trousers and shirts

These are the chinos (not collection!) but these are great for summer or hot weather as they are light https://www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-straight-leg-chinos/p/clp60634040?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

https://www.boden.com/products/westbourne-ponte-trousers-black-1. These are good but a bit heavy for summer - nice for winter and look smart

@RuralStyleless can you give an idea of what wasn't your taste? I.e. are you more of a block colours person, prefer suiting/crisp shirts rather than knits, do you like flowing fabric or want structured stuff etc? Or is there anyone whose workwear style you like, or have you seen any photos with colours/looks etc that appeal?

Thanks. I like 'pretty' things - florals, applique, light patterns. Soft, comfy fabrics. But I can see these don't quite do smart well compared to block colours and some bolder prints. Guess I'm trying to make a change to feel more comfortable when I'm at these events, even if not my personal preference.

Happy jn trousers, skirts, dresses. Not good with belts. Shoulder pads a no no!