Can a navy trouser suit be made to look vaguely cool or lost cause?

[OneDayIWillLearn]

I have to present at a work conference in November and need to be dressed smart/ professional, but I really I don’t want to look or feel dowdy and middle aged. I’m 41 and a size 14-16.

I almost never wear this kind of thing (my job is usually a mix of manual outdoor work which I dress accordingly for and smart casual for meetings). My go-to style is more Boden sweatshirts, bird print or bright check shirts, bright coloured or patterned trainers. I’ve got a navy Boden puffer with rainbow sleeves that I love and a corduroy pinafore dress. But obviously none of this kind of thing is appropriate!!

I did a personal shopping session at John Lewis last year and came out with a navy Whistles jacket and tapered Hobbs trousers which the stylist suggested I could wear as a trouser suit - and I really liked them at the time (I’ll paste links below). However I can’t work out how I can wear these so I feel like me and non-frumpy but also look professional enough!

Would a brightly coloured top/ big Prue Leith style necklace/ some kind of colourful shoe do the trick do you think? Or just look silly and inappropriate?

If the navy trouser suit is a lost cause then I’m open to any other suggestions of a look which is professional/ smart enough for a conference without being a complete frump-out for a curvy woman in her 40s??

https://www.whistles.com/product/180826.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=22797692313&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22797692313&utm_content=188306982451&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22797692313&gbraid=0AAAAADtW8dtRJNtX3Bd71nfHwY0KHmdl2&clickref=1110luWCHym&app_clickref=1110luWCHym&utm_source=partnerize&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=easyfundraising

www.hobbs.com/product/linda-tapered-trousers/0224-8618-9845L00-DEEP-PINE-GREEN.html?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=22300217733&cq_net=g&cq_plt=gp&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22300217733&utm_content=171138532490&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22300217733&gbraid=0AAAAADC5o-LsMUVlVhTWQYDLLClnUXEcW&gclid=CjwKCAjwi4PHBhA-EiwAnjTHuZJtc339G0G4eD8YrFfCJVhmOLkqMiKF2S620iG1CILE3FeUlsS9ghoC7asQAvD_BwE

White tshirt and smart trainers

Thank you, it’s the kind of thing I never usually buy but I have to say the personal shopper knew what she was doing!

Ok I’m giving up on the Prue Leith necklace idea- maybe I’ve been watching too much Bake Off 😂

@TheRavenKingsDaughter probably meant something like RELAXED TWILL WIDE-LEG TROUSERS - DARK BROWN | COS GB.

@OneDayIWillLearn , the stylist will have picked out something that suits your figure and lifestyle. The COS one doesn't even look good on the model (who is probably 18, size 8 and 5'10").

Not sure there will be any in the shops at present but I've worn navy trousers suits with mustard top and loafers or a print blouse also with mustard accents and been complimented loads. Age 50 5 foot 2 and size 14/16. Even got my current job wearing exactly this combination at interview.

I've no idea any more what's appropriate for a work conference so that's not my focus. What strikes me though is that we're talking as if this outfit is a suit when what I'm seeing is a jacket and trousers in different colours - tonal but different - and probably different fabric and textures too.

I'm not saying they can't be worn together but I'm questioning the idea of wearing them as if they're a suit when they're clearly not. Typically with a suit, you use the top and accessories to provide a bit of contrast but maybe, in this case, it might make more sense to use them to pull jacket and trousers together. Colour would be the most obvious way but I'm sure there are others.

I have wide leg navy trousers and matching blazer. I tend not to wear them as a suit because I'm more of a separates person. The trousers have been worn to a wedding paired with teal coloured velvet blazer and teal satin top.

They work with more casual jackets and blazers, but not esp well with a jersey blazer I have which is mid blue rather than the baby blue of the one in your original post OP. I don't wear pastels, so I like sharp contrast colours.

I wear the navy suit blazer with jeans and Breton or with a smart skirt and top.

Re statement jewellery, there's definitely something in between a boring thin ish plain chain and Prue Leith Dolly Mixture style neckwear.

Re plain versus coloured tops, I don't tend to wear white, cream, pastels and like a contrast. Black doesn't go with navy trousers, so if I did wear my navy suit as a suit, I'd go for a contrast. Bright red isn't contemporary but there are a few russet and orange tones around at the moment. I have a ribbed jersey top from Uniqlo that works with navy and a sort of camel coloured top.

They are both actually navy and pretty much the same tone (I tried to link to the navy version of the jacket but it came up as the pale blue one). But yes they are different textures. So yes I do take your point, I hadn’t thought of it like that.

Ah ok - on the link the trousers looked greeny blue rather than navy.

Oops I hadn’t noticed I’d got the trousers link wrong too! It was last year so not sure if they are still doing the exact ones but this is closest to the right shape and the colour is navy…

Two thousand times no and same for chunky earrings. I agree with the rest of Peggam's post.

I don't like "frumpy" but agreed those Boden tops are wrong- agree with jellybean's suggestion too.

Or Attictroll's suggestion of bold top but ditch the jacket.

White top, white trainers, navy suit = chefs kiss. I want this outfit myself.

I'm just back from a conference, and there was quite a variety of clothes worn on the stage, which is not a bad thing as it shows character. But, pay attention to your socks! A couple of younger men were wearing ankle grazer trousers, but with patterned or logoed socks. So at audience level that's what caught your eye which looked careless and silly.

A thousand times No to the white trainers.

A plain shell top, no pattern. Rust or grey, perhaps?
Navy is classic.
Mary Jane or other low heeled shoes. Nothing approximating plimsolls....

I agree, if a woman is wearing trainers and t shirt with suit and the men are wearing suits, shirts and smart shoes it's not sartorially equivalent, esp given how many more smart wear styles there are available to women

I agree. Nor Converse...

I would not wear trainers either. At conferences I tend to be on my feet a lot and wear loafers or brogues but I do have a love for masculine shoes.

😂

Love the strong reaction. Are they over? Is it the work situation? I though plain ones were okay for corporate.

Yes, they are well-and-truly over. The men will be suited and booted.
I'd wear smart ankle boots under full length trousers, or smart loafers/derby shoes. Smallish heel not high ones unless you usually wear heels.

Plain trainers are OK for smart casual, but OP is looking for a more business-like look.

Yes, this is good advice on the footwear! I got some really lovely loafers from Clarks.

Brogues look so chic, imo.

I don't like brogues or loafers, but i like a derby shoe, but any of the three types would be fine, as long as they look good quality. The shoes need to be dark.

(Don't get me started on people calling any flat shoe a brogue when it has no broguing. And what is it that causes an on-the-knee skirt to be called a midi? )

I'd go for a Breton type top or quality white tshirt, but you liked the Boden tops of a previous poster so go for those. You've had a multitude of different opinions here, showing people would wear it in all different ways. One style does not fit all. It's a lovely suit, and I'm sure you'll look lovely in it.