I’m starting a new big girl job soon and I need some help with what I wear.

[Snowcold]

It’s sort of social worker adjacent, so nothing too corporate or expensive. I’m an 18-20, apple shaped with a large bust. Medium length brown/dark red hair, pale skin.

I have a few pairs of trousers that I think look nice (high waisted black, brown checked and navy/grey pinstriped, black jeans, mix of barrel shaped, wide leg and fitted) and a few skirts

I have a few tops/ cardigans that also fit well (burgundy, charcoal, olive) I love a black and white stripe.
I think I’m an autumn kinda person? Bright blue, red and yellow look terrible on me.

Can anyone suggest some new tops or T-shirts or dresses that would work for me? Unfortunately until I start working my budget is only about £150 for everything. I’d be happy with cheaper brands or Vinted. I’ve included photos from the internet of the kind of thing I already own. Thanks!

If you are going to be chairing meetings or in big formal meetings I would wear black trousers and a jacket. I used to have a few jackets and I used to swap them around. Also - no dangling earrings. In those circumstances you want to look professional and competent. Office days and home visits can be skirts, jumpers etc.

@PiggieWig - I’d grasped what she said, and, from experience and observation I’d say it’s harder to put boundaries around your professional role when you’re ’working with communities’ than if you’re in an office, or chambers, say. Everyone passing though the Inns of Court understands the part they’re playing - that’s less obvious if you’re with a group of residents in a community centre. If you’re dressed like the poorest person there, they will make assumptions about ‘whose side you’re on’. So it’s surely best to dress as if you are neutral, with only professional, not personal skin in the game.

I work in a social worker adjacent job. My fear is looking 'like a social worker' though and was even when I practised as one!
I tend to wear a pretty basic uniform i can mix and match so wide leg trousers, nice knitwear on top and loafers/brogues. Not the height of haute couture but comfortable and smart without being OTT. If you're going to be in a job that's about engaging with different stakeholders including the public you don't want to look so 'business ' that you put people off.

I do a mix of things including chairing. My basics to one of those days would be comfy trousers (M&S wide legs). Some sort of plain top. Then I dress it up with a smart casual blazer and throw a scarf round my neck to dress it up. One or two pieces of delicate jewellery and a smartish bag and it looks a bit put together.

I’d have thought a striped top or a plain cami with a jersey blazer are pretty much definitions of neutral.

I disagree violently with the people suggesting big chunky jewellery. It screams naff to me.

I like overlap. I rarely buy anything (other than a couple of trouser suits) that I couldn’t wear beyond work.

Personally I'd look at h and m. Even if you don't buy there you can save your favourite looks to create a cohesive look. I've screen shot some ideas, these could mix and match. I'd wear something like these to be considered smart yet approachable.
My whole wardrobe is either black, white, brown, navy and tan. Patterns are minimal - stripes or animal prints. I have a few suit style jackets and a few shirts. Whenever I wear them people comment in how smart they are. Somw good boots, and shoes, and if you're an accessory fan then good belts and bags. You could add colour with scarves, gloves, bags etc if you wanted.
Keeping a tight colour and pattern palette, along with clothing styles that suit me, means I feel confident in what I wear. Im a size16/18 and short, so it's not always easy to feel confident.
I'd start small - add to what you already have - until.you work out what works best for you.
Good luck in your new position.

If I’m on a smart/casual day I wear ankle grazer tailored trousers - cigarette trousers maybe? With a bodysuit (Tesco are so good for these!) and a blazer with trainers. Dress it up with smarter shoes and a silk scarf if I have meetings

I'd go for some classic crew neck cardigans in the dark shades that suit you - look for M&S ones on VInted/ebay or in charity shops. Wear them with the top couple of buttons undone to create more of a v neckline. Wear over a t shirt with a slightly scooped neckline. It can look good if the t shirt is a toning colour.

The first picture here is what I mean by the opened up neckline https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/knitwear/green-crew-neck-knit-cardigan/p/924133935?srsltid=AfmBOop8oiy3WMi0PdqX7pMRudGPk9q0uaNn0gLtuO4G6-eRq5_aIrJjB4U

Wear something like this underneath https://www.landsend.co.uk/s/LandsEndUK/Womens_Plus_Cotton_Modal_Scoop_Neck_Top/pp/6416724.html?srsltid=AfmBOoobvSWSWP8ArwTvxNVWy4Cs7Qpjc_NxczYFOzSIHd8WASKmVL_E_bY

Just had a look at that New Look cardigan and I checked the material and it says ‘knit’. What fabric is knit? I do t but anything unless it is cotton, wool or silk at least in some part.

What I find really helps is a nice, comfortable jacket or even a smarter cardigan. If you can put that over almost anything, it immediately looks smarter, especially when you are sitting behind a desk.

This one is £10 on Vinted.

I was using it to show the neckline not as a suggestion to buy - I had suggested M&S. I only really buy cashmere or linen cardigans but not on a £150 budget......

The OP has said she’s not got a huge budget, so she might have to compromise on fabric somewhat.

Whistles do a jersey blazer in various colours which is perfect for slinging over trousers or a dress to smarten then up a bit. They are always available on Vinted for say £20. Worth a look.

I'm not sure what height the OP is, but I'm on the larger side of a size 16, tall & big-boned, with long wavy hair. Delicate jewellery looks wrong on me - it disappears. Ditto dainty floral prints. Just my opinion, but I think they're for the more petite/fine-boned amongst us. It's a scale thing.

By chunky jewellery, I don't mean big strings of plastic beads or tacky Claire's Acccessories-type stuff. I mean a few simple striking pieces in silver or muted gold (toned/plated) or bronze. Not gold studs & a thin gold chain with a teeny-weeny something hanging off it. It's pointless on me. Ditto little fussy rings - not when I have the hands of a farmer's daughter ...!!

Lots of mine is vintage costume jewellery, including some brutalist/modernist silver or bronze pieces (often Scandinavian). I've collected them over the years, often very cheaply, & love integrating them with my outfits. Some are more for evening, but most are worn for everyday. I do also have many bits & pieces of modern jewellery.

I mentioned some chunkier bits of jewellery as a) the OP seems as if she might be a bit on the Gothy side & so might enjoy playing around with some organic pieces & b) it's a good way to introduce some colour & interest to plainer outfits.

Once I've done my make-up & put my clothes on, perfume & one or two pieces of jewellery are what make me feel properly "dressed".

I'm thinking Wendy Dagworthy or (daytime) Tina Chow rather than Su Pollard ... So, I disagree (non-violently!!) with you that chunkier jewellery is inherently naff ...!!

I was thinking Theresa May, rather than Sue Pollard. I’ve got skinny wrists, a slim neck and bony collar bone so still need delicate stuff even though I’m fatter and have three chins now. I take back naff as applying to all bigger stuff, but retain it for TM style or nasty big coloured beads.

Only for people with orangutan arms though. They’re nice, but the arms are soooooooo long! I ended up getting a similar one in Marks for my T-Rex arms.

Granted but you can get cotton for around £20.

Cotton as well! Thanks for that - I like Whistles (mostly, quality of fabrics has taken a dip in the last few years), being taller their stuff generally fits me well.

I can only remember the infamous leather trousers & leopard-print heels ... She was a style icon though, compared to the slob Johnson ... Our female PMs - & MPS - get a much harder time of it!

OP - you said you have lots of black, some browns & charcoal. Do you like camel/tan shades? As they're good for autumn colouring - & I think look great with a bit of warm/dark red to lift them.

This Autograph M&S jumper is a good deal on Vinted, & would go well with most of your bottoms?

I'm an apple shape too (as well as an autumn), & a jumper that is just long enough to cover the middle bit - but not longer - is lengthening I find.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/8034677265-autograph-marks-and-spencer-ms-crew-neck-jumper-with-mohair-size-20

These are some images of the tan/red combination that would work. You said you don't suit/like blue, red or yellow - but like & have burgundy. If you veer towards the darker/warmer reds - not brighter or blue-toned reds - they will complement your colouring. If you don't like red in larger doses, lipstick/bag/scarf/trainers/jewellery will all do the trick (though not all together!!).

Another suggestion, for its versatility, would be a dark denim, A-line over-the-knee or calf-length dress. I have a shirtwaister one from Toast (eBay) that I wear without the belt A LOT. Great with knee-high or ankle boots & tights, & you can layer a thin long-sleeved T-shirt or jumper under it in winter.

This one on Vinted looks pretty good?

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7907179165-monsoon-denim-dress-size-20

This one looks very similar, possibly even better shape-wise, & is a bargain ... though check if it really is a 20/22 as Vinted sizing is now all over the place!

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7980343684-denim-dress

I find longer length cardigans smarten up a basic trousers and top outfit. I have navy and burgundy ones from Vinted (brands are Oasis and Tu).

They also help as I often cold! I have a couple of blazers too from Vinted, for the same reason. One is grey herringbone and the other a tweed. Useful for chucking on over a long skirt / dress for a meeting.

congrats on the role!