Where to buy basic clothes for office job?

[orangehandles]

Adult dd has asked me to go shopping with her for some basic office workwear, she will be starting another job soon and up till now has been in uniform, so needs a few things to get her started. I've just retired and am not up to speed with what people in their 20's wear to the office, so I'm looking for some advice please!

She will be on a fairly tight budget. Any ideas of what to buy and which shops to go to would be most welcome. What's the term - capsule wardrobe, that's it!

TIA

Sainsbury’s (large branches) and large Asda stores have basics that can get her started, she can then add pieces over time. A pair of sensiblish shoes is a good idea eg M&S

It’s a good time to shop with the sales on!

I buy a lot of my workwear from M&S or next as it’s decent quality and they both have sales on - I also get bits from new look too.

it depends on how formal it is where she’s going to work x

Supermarket clothes for sure. Tu at Sainsburys, George at Asda both have good quality, cheap office wear.
I buy a lot of my clothes from there because I really like the clothes.

Thanks.

@Besidemyselfwithworry It is a non-customer facing role in an office in a bog standard town so unlikely to be that formal, just reasonably smart.

M & S sounds like a good idea for shoes, too.

Also try Vinted - I get most of my smart work clothes from there, look for brands like Hobbs, Reiss and LK Bennett for decent tailored work dresses

Office workplaces have become a lot more casual in general. I wouldn't go overboard getting stuff until she gets the lay of the land. I think just no blue jeans, ripped stuff, slogan things.

Wide leg trousers with either a co-ord top or smart tshirt would be a good start. Tesco had some nice stuff in last time I was there.
Once she’s in she’ll have a good idea on what others wear and can build her wardrobe up depending on the level of smartness needed.

Dorothy Perkins are good for office basics.

Offices are much more relaxed nowadays. I usually wear a blouse, black jeans or black linen trousers and trainers. Will she be in the office every day or can she work from home some of the time? That obviously reduces how many outfits she’d need.

Next have a brand called the set you might find some good mix and match pieces in there.
www.next.co.uk/brands/the-set/f/gender-women?p=2#1447.7111930847168

Uniqlo

Uniqlo have good affordable semi-smart clothes (wide legged trousers, nice shirt, long skirts etc)

Uniqlo

Zara, H&M

In the office full time for a few weeks to start with, then hybrid after that.

Plain black trousers is a good shout. She's not really one for dresses.

I’m surprised people are recommending M&S (and pre-owned Hobbs, etc) to a young woman in her 20s.

Surely she would go straight to Uniqlo? (As others have suggested.) She’d be able to get everything there,@orangehandles, and look contemporary at the same time. (Especially from the Collab collections.)

New look or h and m?

black trousers
5 shirts

I work in a legal office and our dress code is casual or Dress for your diary. I have sheet back trousers from next on today, a basic pink v neck to short and a casual black blazer. I am wearing trainers though. If I wfh I wear loungewear as no one sees me above the waist.

They all go to Uniqlo round here.

Ifbyoure on a budget:

I got some bits recently from primark, pleasantly surprised and so far has washed well. This was for vest tops and a skirt.

Used to get work trousers from h&m, but m&s have at the same price (29.99) and much better quality.

My basic black cardigan is h&m though and has washed incredibly well.

Tesco also good range and price

Uniqlo wide or barrel leg jersey trousers in black or navy and a plain white t shirt/couple of cotton shirts will do her for the first week until she figures out the dress code.

Wide leg trousers and fitted tops are very much the office uniform where I work. Both young and old wear this sort of thing. Also barrel legs.

Uniqlo or M&S

Don’t go crazy.

I remember showing up to my first office job in a blouse, skirt etc and everyone else was in jeans and trainers.

Just buy a couple of smart bits and then see how it goes.