"Business professional" for the clueless

[JohnnyAndTheTaxDemand]

Please help! I've been unexpectedly seconded to a company that's got a very different vibe to what I'm used to. I'm meeting my new boss in person in a couple of weeks and have been told the dress code is "business professional". I think I'm sorted for my top half - a short sleeved navy silk top. Or I have a shirt from joules that I think would be ok. But I'm stumped about bottom half - my only smart trousers are black which I feel won't work with navy.

I'm 5'3, size 12-14, hourglass with a bit of a post-pregnancy tum. Very pale colouring. Limited grasp of fashion or style.

Please help a clueless ex-academic who never wanted to be corporate and generally lives in jeans 😂

Can you do a free john lewis personal shopper if there is one near you. There is no obligation to buy but as a similarly clueless person I have found these useful

Super idea but I think I'm unlikely to be able to fit it in before the meeting unfortunately. Probably something I should do for the longer term though!

Navy and black are ok. Especially if you have a 3rd colour in shoes (e.g.red or cream I mean not another dark neutral).

I am on the leadership team of a large company which is mainly male and I always used to stress about what to wear as I worried they would judge me when I was presenting .
My go to work wardrobe is trousers ,various styles ,black or navy from next or Matalan paired with blouses from Next -Love and Roses mainly as they are smart but a little bit fun too and look good either in person or on teams .
Different coloured kitten heeled shoes ranging in price from LK Bennet to Shein ,a good leather handbag ,one black ,one tan and a laptop bag .
It takes all the stress out of dressing for work .

River island wide leg trousers in short leg. Flattering, smart, comfortable. Chuck on a big necklace.

I always approach work dressing like a man -good few basics and variation on a theme .I dress totally different when I am off duty

Private client law firm. Quite a few of my colleagues wear stuff like this. Others are a bit less conservative /conventional/more individual. Dresses and skirts probably in the majority for both groups.

Nobody wears suits.

https://www.meandem.com/dresses/workwear-dresses

I love all these ideas for general corporate dressing, thank you. Still trying to figure out this specific meeting though. Interested to hear that navy and black is seen as ok, always thought that was a no no. I was looking at camel chinos but I can't find any I like and feel they don't suit my colouring anyway.

Nothing wrong with navy and black.

Navy and cream goes nicely imo.

Agree in principle but cream washes me out terribly. Looks amazing on others!

Can trousers wash you out, with navy closer to your face they would be fine?

I would not pair navy and black. I would make sure whatever you wear you feel comfortable in it. My go to would be a dress with a jacket.

Black trousers are OK, but you could look for navy trousers with texture, or navy with a pinstripe

Hobbs sale is on, their petite range is very good. Lots of trousers. I just bought another linen suite from there.

Next has some really nice navy trousers

On another thread someone has reminded me about Plumo. Plumo and Colenimo are worth a look

https://www.plumo.com/collections/dresses?page=5

https://colenimo.com/

I work in a law firm so I suppose technically our dress code is business professional. People tend to be pretty relaxed day to day but a bit smarter when seeing clients (I say people - I guess I’m talking about women as the mens’ outfits are obviously pretty generic and irrelevant for this post). I agree navy and black is absolutely fine - I practically live in navy and black at work. Having a bit of a go to formula is useful. For me having a nice blazer that goes with whatever outfit I’m wearing I find really helps me feel more put together, smart and professional (also the pockets are then invaluable). I think you’ll get the gist of what the actual vibe is once you’re there but for this first meeting what you’ve described sounds absolutely fine.

I know we're all different but if someone turned up to a work meeting dressed in the Plumo suggestions - well, I'd struggle to take them seriously.

Btw I am not dissimilar size/shape colouring to what you’ve described. I have quite a lot of trousers from Saint and Sofia - jersey (so not super super smart but I hate ironing and I hate being uncomfortable), widish leg and in cropped styles. V often wear a pair of those with trainers/loafers a nice top and a blazer.

Having said no suits, this is fabulous

https://colenimo.com/products/scottish-merino-wool-trouser-grey-herringbone

https://colenimo.com/products/scottish-merino-wool-blazer-grey-herringbone

I don't have anything from Plümo (yet) although have Colenimo. I wear clothes similar to Plümo. I also wear Cabbages and Roses, Casey Casey and Palava to work.

I'm in a very senior position. I can assure you people take me very seriously

Friday I wore this top

https://envoyofbelfast.com/collections/ricorrrobe/products/hb-cotton-blouse-black
with this Comme des Garcons skirt
https://envoyofbelfast.com/products/peplum-embroidered-t-shirt-white

and a fitted navy crepe wool Cabbages and Roses jacket.

I’d get some navy M&S trousers -probably a tapered leg and go safe for the first time to check out the vibe and then buy a capsule work wardrobe around that.

Thanks everyone, some great advice and suggestions. I like the idea of some navy trousers with a texture or pinstripe, I'll have a look for something like that. I don't think Plumo is for me although I can imagine some women looking utterly fabulous I think I'd look like a little girl trying on her mum's clothes!

Colenimo and Envoy of Belfast are gorgeous but sadly a bit out of budget. To be fair I didn't mention a budget but although I'm fairly senior I'm not in a law-firm-salary type industry plus childcare costs are crushing me right now 😭 maybe in a few years once my youngest is at school!

Good luck for the new role.