'Cool' clothes for casual smart work conference

[Wumple]

Hi all

I work at home for a charity and am always in joggers or PJs. I need an outfit for our autumn conference but also clothes for occasional meetings and events. People tend to look quite cool and edgy in either quirky minimalist or more boho styles and I admire both looks but don't know where to start.

I'm an 8-10 and 5 ft 7 but I have a really big stomach and high waist which rules out tucked in tops. This is annoying as I think it always looks more current. I'm 48 and I have lost my way with clothes since WFH.

Can anyone help? If you work for a charity what do you wear to conferences or events?

Thanks

I volunteer fundraise for a charity and I tend to wear Toast or Sahara

thank you! I love Toast and will look up Sahara now as I don't know it. The Toast look is kind of what I'm after. Do you wear the dresses?

I am a charity trustee and last conference I cooled down a wide leg trainer suit with a t shirt and chunky trainers and a hoody under the suit jacket. Suit was Uniqlo which I like for for smart casual

Well I think wide leg trousers and a shirt (I usually wear silk ones) are a safe option. You can wear smart trainers with them. And a jacket if you need to be smarter. Look in Jigsaw or Cos or even H&M.

I have some cos dresses too which I wheel out all the time - easier in the summer with flat shoes and bare legs. I also have a sezane dress which I wear all the time with boots for conferences and the like. (it's similar to this onehttps://www.sezane.com/en-en/product/filomena-dress/black#size-6 .

I've just bought a shirt dress from Zara - 100 percent cotton and it's nice too.

I must admit I don't particularly suit Toast or go for that look.

Thanks for some great ideas. I love the sezane dress. There’s a nice red shirt dress in cos at the moment actually. I might order to try

Fellow charity worker 🙋‍♀️.

My go-to is wide leg trousers, crisp t-shirt and blazer/quality cardigan. I've noticed everyone wears trainers now, even CEO so some nice clean trainers, like sambas or gazelles. A matching belt and bag brings it all together. Pics for inspo.

Thank you