Help - smarter work clothes for short apple figure

[wouldthatbeworse]

Please help. I have a new job where I'll have to meet a lot of new people, have new reports, speak at stuff (not sure why I've taken it now) and need to smarten up my work look. I'm mid 40s, 5 foot 2, apple figured with a BIG tummy.

I like print dresses but they can't be too flimsy as they cling to the bumps, trousers with a bit of give, blouses. I think I'll need jackets (which I haven't worn for 2 decades). Environment is pretty formal, I don't want to be dressed too loud - for the first year anyway. I look better in black, navy, green. Can't wear white.

Thank you stylish mums netters for your help salvaging my new job,

https://www.whistles.com/product/avery-smocked-dress-38559.html the length will closer to your ankle than this model, I’m 5t
ft 3 and get lots of compliments in this dress. If it works they do it in different colours & you might find on Vinted too! It’s got two layers
so doesn’t stick. Good luck

You don’t say what clothes size you wear?

Nor what sort of budget you have.

If I needed a new wardrobe for speaking events not in a courtroom I may well consider this - even though I don’t generally like waisted dresses or fuss. But it’s so beautifully made and wouldn’t require a jacket to convey gravitas. (I’m just under 5’3 and always factor hem shortening or any other alterations into my clothing budget.)

https://gb.maxmara.com/p-9226066106067-smmadagio-dark-red

This is fabulous (scroll to close up of fabric) and a bargain. (If I didn’t already have something similar I’d buy it myself.) Again, may need shortening, but well worth it.

You Must Create black dress

Oooh, that's nice! Think the OP might need to take about a foot off - but as I'm tall (& my tummy is larger than I'd like!), I may just order this ...

I was about to suggest Whistles as it has a decent petite range. This dress comes in pale & bright blue in petite - but the black doesn't, which seems a bit daft!

For separates … If you’re not larger than a size 12, this shape of shirt might be excellent as there’s plenty of swing, front and back:

https://www.studionicholson.com/products/vega-shirt-in-black

I can think of several other brands and items but am hesitating as your budget isn’t stated.

As others have said, you haven't mentioned your dress size or your budget, OP? Where do you usually shop for clothes?

What is your colouring - if green suits you, do you mean khaki/olive greens, clear spring greens/emeralds, or dark forest/bluish-greens?

If you have little to nothing in your existing wardrobe that will suffice, then I suggest you try & make up a capsule wardrobe for now - & invest a bit in key items if you can (whether that's new or eBay/Vinted etc). Then you can gradually add to that. It might be best to start off with mostly plain clothes for now, as they'll be easier to mix & match, plus you (& other people!) won't get sick of the same patterned dress being worn three times a week ...!

If cream/beige are fine on you, you could mix some bits in with your base colours of black/navy/green. And perhaps add bits of red (whether burgundy or scarlet, depending on your colouring) as occasional accents. Chocolate brown is everywhere right now, but it's not my preferred neutral so I've mostly avoided it. I do like tan (bag, footwear etc) as an accent as well - it goes very well with most reds.

Do you already have a work bag, shoes/boots, jewellery?

If you're starting imminently & you're in the south, you'll probably need fairly light clothing til October-ish. Otherwise I'd go for mid-weight, seasonally transitional pieces - it's easy to layer them when it starts to get a bit chilly.

Hi op - am similar to you but a bit taller. Started a new job last year and also wanted to tone down my normal style to fit in at first.

what works for me is a uniform of black and navy separates, with one colourful or printed highlight (shirt, jumper, jacket). For the basics I go to m&s or Uniqlo. Saint and Sofia also have some brilliant black trousers. Then I get shell tops or vest tops with a bit of give in them in dark neutrals. And then I spent money on things like shirts and jackets.

my budget is not massive so by ‘spend’ I mean I’ve been picking up items from cos, marimekko, Gudrun sjoden and toast from vinted. Look for structured shirts and longline jackets.

Thanks everyone. Sorry for missing detail. 12-14 but sometimes struggle to get trousers that fit round my large waist that don’t look ridiculously baggy on my legs.

budget can stretch to whistles and Hobbs if it needs to . I’m generally bad at spending money on myself.

Love this. The two layers thing is exactly what I’m after. But worried about length. Maybe what I really need is a friendly alterations person

Thank you. And I really didn’t mean to be evasive. I’m pretty pale and white. All greens look good but creams and reds don’t. I probably could wear brown but never have. I do ok in mustards.

i have a full wardrobe of corporate clothes but most are either heavily worn, out of fashion or not quite as smart as they should be. I’m not a “put together” person and get irritated by jewellery so would really like good clothes to carry me here. And my winning personality of course .

Thanks for taking the time. I do really appreciate all the responses