Dress me for work?

[Gerbera55]

I’m retiring to my job as a primary school teacher after a year off on maternity and none of my pre-pregnancy clothes fit right. I haven’t gone up a dress size, it’s just that my body has changed shape!
I’m looking for some capsule items that I can put together to create outfits I feel confident in!
I’m a size 10/12 hourglass, only 5ft 3in. I’m a deep winter, mid 30s. I tend to favour skirts and dresses over trousers.
Being able to layer is important! My classroom goes from being as hot as the sun to freezing no matter the season.

I’ve been searching for weeks but I’m just so lost on what to buy. I’m definitely high street, not high end - I tend to get pen/paint/glue on something at least once a week!

Ideas much appreciated, thank you!

Well -

Tights
Vinted skater dresses
Vinted cashmere or wool wraps

Long print or maxi dresses layered with tops and jumpers
Boots

How does that sound?

I wear this sort of thing. I have some loose trousers which I wear with walking boots, long sleeved tops and jumpers, but mostly I layer dresses with tights and jumpers. I like feeling free and am hourglass like you.

Good luck and I hope your return goes really well.

Definitely returning not retiring…wishful thinking?! 🙃

Wide leg trousers, brogues, T-shirts/tops and shortish jackets or cardigans. I’m an academic this is pretty much my uniform. Tu at Sainsbury’s have some good quality basics that can be supplemented with H&M, Zara, and M&S.

I know you said no trousers, but Uniqlo barrel leg trousers are ace - school scuzz comes off well, no ironing required. I wear with trainers and a t-shirt or cropped jumper (with vest under).
I also keep a playground coat, cardis, scarf and gloves in school all the time.

Walking boots won’t look great in September. Brigues are a bit heavy too.

I think I’d go for tapered trousers. My dd is your shape and wears wide trousers with heels but tapered with flats, eg loafers. Chelsea boots work in winter. Dd has waisted dresses or ones that can be cinched in. Don’t discount M&S these days for good clothes at reasonable prices. I’d avoid short skater dresses but any skirt and blouse can look great. I’d shop on line and return what is not right. Vinted is a faff really.

On a general note, I keep a wrap at work. It’s smart, was not much off Vinted, and perfect for when you just need a little warmth/comfort.

These are some ideas from
m&s. I’d look at various tops, including good quality t shirts with a variety of trousers and shirts. Try and find a shape that suits you regarding a skirt and trousers and then add a variety of tops.

I think these looks might suit you too.

Dresses are the easiest way to look put together and can be layered with tights, boots cardigans in coooler months or worn alone with sandals or trainers when it's hot.

Patterns hide splashes of glue etc more than block colour, so I would definitely get a core of patterned dresses, with some trousers (not wide leg - easier to trip over things in classroom - better to have tapered ones) and some patterned tunics or blouses that can be layered with cardigans or tees underneath.

Machine-washable skater-style dresses. Boden usually does them.
I'd look at M&S, New Look, Zara, H&M, Primark, Seasalt, Joules, Uniqlo and Mango.
I'd also look at Sainsbury's Tu.
If you like patterns, try the high-street shops like Fat Face, White Stuff.
Opaque tights, boots or flats you can be on your feet all day in.

Where have you already looked, @Gerbera55?

I’d have said Uniqlo would be the best place to start - and right now, especially this collection, available late August:

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/women/special-collaboration/uniqlo-and-comptoir-des-cotonniers

The culottes seem to fit your brief perfectly. In your position I’d consider getting them in every colour.

They're sold out.
Also
I tend to favour skirts and dresses over trousers.

They’re not available yet!

And yes - the OP said she prefers skirts and dresses; she may perhaps find a pair of culottes very similar to a skirt and practical in a classroom. If not - Uniqlo sells an awful lot of other things, which I’m sure she has the wit to find, if she’s interested.

I didn't like them anyway.

😂

I would have a look in the supermarkets for Primary school suitable clothes. They tend to be washable, non-iron, you can try them on in the shop if you like, or take them home and return any that you don't like. If you have an hour glass figure, make sure to emphasise your waist, non- waisted clothes make hourglasses look fat.

But I do imagine for a primary school classroom it would be useful to have a uniform of good plain hard wearing clothes - rather than the more fancy stuff one might wear for social life.

So perhaps a mixture of Uniqlo and

https://communityclothing.co.uk/

which has a small number of shirts, skirts, dresses (and trousers) that meet exactly that description. But at a higher High St price because of their provenance.

I do normally love Tu but I’m struggling at the minute, I think it’s the colours - I’m shopping at an awkward time of year really!

To be fair barrel would work well depending on the length, I’ll have to have a look. I didn’t think to look at Uniqlo.

Thank you - I’m not convinced on the colours but I suppose it’s that time of year isn’t it?!

This is pretty much why I try and avoid trousers! I’m a liability in anything that could possibly wrap around my feet. I’m forever covered in bruises just from bumping into table legs.

Culottes are actually a good shout! It’s the length of trousers I struggle with, petite doesn’t tend to fit well at the waist but I would need it for length so culottes could negate that!

I’ve looked in a lot of places but I think I’m just getting overwhelmed.

I'd say yes for office or secondary school, but for primary I'd probably go for clothes I'd not be too bothered if it was in the washing machine a bit more often than I'd like.

Community Clothing is not that expensive if you take into account the provenance. It compares quite well price-wise with brands like Boden.

@Gerbera55 , gaucho pants are back in. With colours, go for the ones you like, and look at pre-loved for previous season's colours if those suit you better.

Are you having a contrary day, @VoteForCountBinface? (It is very hot …)

I really don’t think we disagree - so I’m a bit puzzled by your responses. I suggested the brands I have done precisely because they should be able to withstand relentless laundering. That’s part of what I meant by ‘hard wearing’.

No, not particularly. It's hot here and the lumpy-looking culottes in dreary colours didn't even look good on the models.
Uniqlo generally is pretty good, and i normally like CdC. I don't like the current styles though. I'm about the same height as OP and the wide/cropped/oversized styles would make me look like a cube.

I'd feel peeved if my Community Clothing dress was in the washer every week but not if it was a wash-and-wear item from New Look/H&M/Sainsbury's.

Many of the replies were for trousers, and OP said she favoured dresses, and she's a deep winter so the jewel colours probably suit her, and they don't seem to be around.