Are these two dresses dated for workwear?

[CoastOfXmasPast]

I know “if you like it, wear it “ but also I was loved the era of a power Galaxy dress, and would live in them for the rest of my working life, so need some perspective.

https://www.hobbs.com/product/meera-dress/0125-5237-9045L05-ZINNIA-PINK.html?utm_source=google&utm_source_platform=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NEST_Hobbs_UK_EN_BoF_Shopping_Brand&utm_id=22300217733&utm_content=agid_171138532490-ad_736662908342&network=g&device=c&targetid=pla-293946777986&utm_tpl=live&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22300217733&gbraid=0AAAAADC5o-KwGWjelOitcXVX5sd7rkULg&gclid=CjwKCAiAzOXMBhASEiwAe14Sac3hzLKfFRuXOlOBqVaIJQVk1lrUH-RBsTvlRqGi-flYMFJ-RP3vIxoCkeIQAvD_BwE

https://www.hobbs.com/product/hallie-dress/0125-5635-9045L00-HYDRANGEA-BLUE.html

I would assume older lady with somewhat 'look at me' vibes.
Senior women at my work wear separates, sometimes with a jacket. We are a smart-casual City office. There is precisely one lady who clings to the shift dress and heels look.

Well I bet the OP didn't expect some of the deranged responses she’s got to her question! 🤣🤣🤣. No wonder other forums take the piss out of Mumsnet so relentlessly

All of this is moot anyway until op tells us what sort of place she works. COME BACK OP!

Unless of course you’re an admin. In which case, never sully S&B again! We only want serious people here!!

Id forgotten about Galaxy dresses OP! Loved them. My very fashionable SiL wears separates to work. Wide legs, wide shirts and tank tops. Its not a look for people who love a Galaxy dress I think.

Your Hobbs selection look too long for workwear to me. Tips them from work dresses into wedding guest I think. But I WFH in pyjamas and has slowly passed on all of my serious workwear.

I think it hugely depends where you work. I like them and would love to dress like that for work. But I’m a primary school teacher so would look very out of place 🤣
I wouldn’t wear them with trainers, they’re too formal and it wouldn’t look right. Trainers only look good with a more relaxed dress in my opinion. But in the spring/summer wearing them with a flat sandal would look great.

Seriously, OP, the dresses aren't great. The colours are not current.
The sleeveless styles aren't officewear, and add width.
They are plain and uninteresting.
The only point of interest is the belt or waistband.
The models are young, pretty and tall and are wearing a size 8 - you might be too in which case why would you want to wear these?

You'd need a jacket or cardigan.

On a positive note, polyester doesn't crease and they have pockets.

Im in the wear what you love with confidence, and you'll look fabulous anyway camp.

My office is casual dress code, jeans, t shirts etc. Depending on my mood ill go casual, the next day ill go in full on "power suit", day after 1950's circle dress, after that tweed shorts with black opaques. Wiggle dresses, maxi dresses, shorts, biker leggings.....love it all.

All with DMs of course and fuck off giant statement jewellery and a pigeon bag (not a typo, I have a bag in the shape of a massive pigeon) 😃 very older lady look at me. Good, soak me all up bores 😂

Hmmmm.

I think they’re fine. Depending on where you work, the colours may be a bit summery, or the pink bright. Blue is more corporate. They’re good, smart shapes to me.

I think they are slightly dated but not so much that you shouldn't wear them if you love them. I agree with others that they are slightly at the more weddingy end of things especially with a heel (very LK Bennett circa 2003 with kitten heels and a pash).

I don't think a cardigan signifies anything- where I work (law) everyone wears them including the most senior people, maybe with a smarter jacket to change into for external meetings.

Someone posted that cardigans are not for work and then declined to explain why.

I’m pointing out that in many organisations including my own that there are both written and unwritten rules regarding what professional women wear. They are generally expected to be formal. And that means wearing a jacket/blazer. Support colleagues are generally not held to the same standard.

that’s not me having an “issue” with admins, I’m just reporting the rules that exist across half the city 🤷‍♀️

I have a pigeon bag too - I love interesting bags 😆

😆 at the cardigan comments

I think these dresses are a bit dated tbh and I think that there is a frustrating gap in the market for smart work dresses. I my opinion there is a need for neutral colours in simple designs and I struggle to find any that fit the brief. Fortunately I am only in the office once a week and only really need to be smart for board meetings but I am getting a bit tired of rotating the same black dresses I’ve had for a long time! Wide trousers and shirts (and dare I say it a merino cardigan) are my normal workwear but for a formal meeting I do feel a bit better in a smart workwear dress.

But what sort of cardigans are we talking about?! Wrap, waterfall, long, cropped, one's with patches on the elbows? I need a visual 😁

I think it depends how much you care.

I wear bright colours to work because I like it (and I always have). Can’t see why anyone has to stick to just black/navy and grey. Majority of my trouser suits are blue but I have a number of dresses in raspberry pink, aqua and green. I usually wear them with a jacket (my favourite jackets are from Hobbs).

I think those colours are lovely but if you won’t feel comfortable in them don’t wear them. You can tell when people are comfortable in what they are wearing and I think this has the biggest bearing on how someone looks!

They look a bit PM's wife circa 2013.

If there is anything in the OP's contract to say that she cant wear cardigans then I'm sure she's aware of it and won't degrade herself in that way

I love my pigeon bag, it was custom made for me and its one of my most treasured possessions.

Im currently coveting the ginger cat Vendula bag to add to my collection 🤩

I do wear cardigans but this type: John Lewis Cashmere Crew Neck Cardigan, Khaki

I think the blue is an ever so slightly more dated style than the pink, but I think either are suitable for workwear and the pink is a decent price. They’re always good to have in the wardrobe! I disagree with the wedding guest vibe but that’s because I would always dress up with heels and a hat for a wedding. I think if you pair with a cardi and ballet flats or other type flats or even a block heel they would look appropriate for workwear.

@Nonnegotiables - what sort of budget?

It’s a long time since I had to dress for chambers / court / city life, (though I loved those clothes!) but for more free and easy but still ‘authoritative’ work wear I would highly recommend

Studio Nicholson
Rohe
Margaret Howell
Cos
Sofie D’Hoore

That sort of thing.

(And if necessary I’d prefer those, or similar brands, pre-owned, to less high quality brands.)

Me and Em isn’t my style, but I can see it works for other people.

If it’s a written rule, I’d love to see it. An unwritten rule is just women finding ways to judge themselves and other women and is snobbish and even misogynistic imo.

Almost Everything colourful dates , and there is a huge difference between standing out and sticking out .
people are back to dressing more formal but it’s pencil skirts with white shirts or slim cardigans worn as tops , buttoned and tucked in.

It's not misogynistic. Men don't wear cardigans either.

Oh ha, ha at men don't wear cardigans.