Another work one - induction day on Monday..

[MyLuckyPeachOtter]

I have been at my firm for about 2 months and have an induction day in London on Monday. It’s for all the new joiners in the past quarter, none from my office and I think only one other from my service line.

So I have no idea on what to wear! The official dress code in the firm is smart casual but dress for your day.

I had planned a cardigan, slim fit trousers and ballet flats but it feels very boring.. I feel my trainers would be too casual but anything smarter might feel too smart? I’m also thrown by London being much warmer than what I’m used to up here in Scotland 😂 but the office will be heavily air conned.

My wardrobe in general is lacking so I think I’ll be doing a mad dash to Oxford St on Sunday afternoon.

Any ideas on what others would wear would be much appreciated!

Unless you are so innately stylish that you would never consider looking to MN for style advice - I’d suggest you do not wear a cardigan to introduce yourself to new colleagues.

I also suggest you do not go to Oxford St. If you have a High St budget Covent Garden is good for mainstream stores. (Google tells me the Cos has closed but Arket remains.) There is apparently a Cos on Regents St. If you’re used to spending a bit more, Marylebone High St would be worthwhile.

A cotton shirt, lightweight (twill not satin) wide trousers and neat loafers should be safely unremarkable.

Pick a shirt, add trousers:

https://www.cos.com/en-gb/women/shirts

Cardigans vary and can look matronly, and it's not cardigan weather right now.
A slim fit pair of trousers might be ok, can't say without seeing them.
Slim fit shirt should be fine.

I don't like ballet flats or wide trousers , if that helps.

(Regent St, apologies for typo.)

I am London based and our office has what sounds like a similar dress code (and aggressive air con).

Pretty much all the women are in some kind of summer dress, ballet flats or dressy sandals with a cardigan they can put on and take off at will.

Thanks it’s this cardi - https://riseandfall.co/products/silk-cotton-cardigan-drift

I don’t particularly want to wear ballet flats either, but that is what I have and I don’t really want to spend excessive money on shoes for one day. It’s these in case that helps - https://www.geox.com/int/suede_ballerina_pumps-beige-marsilea_woman-D45W6A02111C8156.html

Thank you I’ve actually got a nice striped Sezane shirt I’ll try on this eve.

What’s wrong with cardigans though, I love them.

Thank you that’s helpful! I will check the sales for dresses when I’m down on Sunday afternoon, I did look before but I’m so loathed to spend on an outfit I won’t wear again 😆 we’ve had about 4 days above 22c all summer where I live.

Surely you have something in your wardrobe rather than get something new. I reckon a dress would be fine or trousers and a blouse or top. If it was cooler then you could wear a trouser suit but it is still hot.

Thanks ☺️ my wardrobe is very small atm and I’m working on rebuilding it but that takes time. In particular I don’t have a lot of summer stuff as not much need for it here - I actually don’t have any summer work blouses. I miss living down south!