Basic work tops for tall daughter starting first grad job. Plain coloured smart no frills.

[Pistachiomonster]

Help me put together a basic office work wardrobe or at least some tops for our daughter starting her first grad job. She is tall 5’10’, medium build, with a long body, dislikes patterns, frills, anything in the slightest but see-through, hates dresses and skirts, any ties, big collars, big buttons, puffed sleeves etc etc.

She has quite pale skin and moussey brown hair. She has no interest in fashion. She has a pair of black trousers, a pair of navy trousers and three white shirts/blouses that look like school shirts.

So it’s more tops she needs to get her going (maybe a green, teal, pale blue or red that will go with both colours of her trousers). She is on a low starting salary so I was going to try and get her three or four tops and maybe a jumper to start her off as she is on a low starting salary and has to pay a deposit and her first months rent.

My DD is similar size and I recommend New Look tall range. It's cheap, often has offers, and there are nice shirts with longer sleeves and body.
Next tall range also worth a look.

Eh, I was wildly independent and still appreciated my mums help when looking for work clothes for the first time!

OP Next do multi packs of some tops and a lot of work wear in tall. Zara trousers are fantastic for work, they always have a range of black trousers in which wash well and they will all be in sale soon!

20 somethings in my professional-attire work are wearing ‘work’ trousers (black, burgundy, shades of brown), various t shirts and shirts but less ‘blouses’ than my generation (i unashamedly love a blouse) and chunky dm shoes and loafers. Maybe a very casual blazer on top and a cool ‘work’ rucksack rather than a handbag.

Yes new look tall is really good!

NEXT to multiple packs of tops, cardigans, lightweight jumpers.Plain no frills but do the j9b. I've just bought some for work. Ideal for the summer months.

When my dd started her office job at 21, she decided to have a couple of very basic work outfits, and after a couple of weeks of seeing the office vibe, go shopping. Big 4 with dress code: dress for the day, meant that very often even senior staff were in jeans and hoodies. She talked this through with me - I think it’s normal that a 20 something asks their mum’s views.

She now works in fashion, where the dress code is ‘office wear with a twist’.

I second/third/whatever Uniqlo.

Their linen shirts come in all sorts of colours and are reasonable quality for the price. They'd need ironing, but linen wears well and looks smart.

Surprisingly, Primark do decent cotton shirts, less of a range & their sizing is weird. But not expensive.

Please buy her pure cotton or pure linen or pure silk: no polyester, even if it seems practical. It's not smart, it doesn't wear well, and it will smell eventually.

Thanks I am unsure of the sizing/fit of Uniqlo (and whether tops would be long enough in the body for her) as we don’t have a shop near us. I am a fan of natural fibres cotton/linen myself. But she really doesn’t seem to be at all keen on linen. On recent shopping trip everywhere seemed to only consist of linen, beachwear, cropped or fitted tops or see through tops. Think she wants smartish but comfortable more traditional workwear at least to begin with.

Are you tall with a long body as a lot of tops and jackets come up very short on her?

M&S tops are almost always short in the body (I'm 5'7"). Older clientele normally but i've got some good worktops from Lands End. Cotton. They have washed and worn well.

I've just had a quick look there are things in both the cotton modal and supima cotton section that would work.

A blazer over anything always elevates - Joules do some nice ones in stretch jersey - and Vinted is a good source!

Hobbs do nice plain tops - dd has about six! 3/4 sleeves, slight stretch and nice weight so not see-through. Hobbs’ regular sizing is for the taller person, I find (cos I have to buy petite!). Also sometimes there are business sellers on eBay selling BNWT ones at a cheaper price.

New Look have a Tall range with a variety of smart tops.

@Pistachiomonster what about shopping in the menswear section of say, M&S ? The buttons go the other way, but otherwise the sizing might be better? And I'm sure they do a range of smart pure cotton business shirts.

First off, you sound absolutely lovely. I have no doubt I’ll need to do the same for DS when he’s a bit older. He’ll be able to do certain jobs, but won’t have a clue how to dress himself for them. He would also turn down linen. Too scratchy.

Would Vinted be a good idea? So you could buy a variety of options for low prices, then once she’d decided what works for her, start focusing on that brand/size/style new (or continue on Vinted - better for environment and budget!)

I have this Uniqlo top in navy and black and it’s very flattering and comfortable to wear:
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9060597796-uniqlo-white-shirt
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9125994690-uniqlo-top

This Hobbs top looks nice and simple and the seller has a few other tops that you could bundle:
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9033506227-hobbs-black-34-sleeve-top-size-m

H&M great for things like this:
https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/6669232912-hm-work-shirt

Oh, and for tall - a few long vests to wear under everything? Then if shirts do rise up it’s less of a problem and looks more deliberate? Match the vest to the trousers to keep it simple.

Get her to have a look at Next online - I’m her height and have always found their sizing fine . They do a series of sets that are inexpensive.. I think they are even called ‘the set’

My DD likes Uniqlo for work tops she is tall but it's all leg and shorter torso. She finds they fit her nicely . I find them quite short .M&S are good.
My DD used to think they were not remotely on her radar as " it's your kind of shop mum": but she got some really nice work trousers ( they do long/extra long ) and 99% is machine wash . Even linens or delicates.
( I don't work for M&S ) 😉

I am tall OP and wear Next to work as they have longer length trousers and the tops tend to come up longer. Marks and Spencer’s tops tend to be too short for me.

Cos is also good for very plain basics. Not cheap though but lots on vinted. They last really well.

Some of the suggestions on this page, she’s a new graduate not a 50yr old woman!!
our grads at work wear pedominantly wide legged trousers and plain tshirt type tops - some of them
a bit tight and short for my liking but hey! A few striped shirts around too at the moment, often worn open over a tight tshirt or vest top. Mostly wear trainers on their feet but a few pairs of loafers around and a DM style boots. Try the supermarkets for plain tops too, Sainsburys do a decent range of T-shirts. The problem
at the moment if you’re above average height
is that most things are “boxy” which means too short on us!

If she’s a new graduate she’s at least 21. Let her build her own wardrobe!

The OP has come here looking for help. Do you really need to be a dick?

OP, Uniqlo is great for smarter but plain t-shirts and tops. Also, they and H&M are great for online shopping.

@Pistachiomonster online retailers specifically for taller women

Marks, also does tall.

I have similar taste to your daughter and find it hard to find nice things that are plain. Something I’ve started doing recently is getting boxes from Lookiero - you can specify what you are looking for, your measurements and budget and they send you a box of clothes that you can either keep or return. I’ve had a couple of really nice tops from brands I don’t recognise / don’t seem to be able to buy directly.

I didn't think the concept of work wear still existed! It's at least 15 years since I've been in an office that expected that and that workplace was massively behind the times even then.

I'm tall and wear loads of COS for work. Also have a look at Arket. Cos have lots of 't shirt with an interesting shape' things going on and the trousers are cut well for taller people. It tends to be sharper angles rather than ruches and frills which might suit.