I am bored of work wardrobe - how much variety do you have?

[EnergySauce]

Not sure what I am asking, perhaps some perspective…

I have always been a conservative dresser with my own style, I like Reiss / VB / Mango sleek minimalism with occasional dab into 70s vibe for smart wear. Still wearing heels for work, especially on the flares day 🙈

I went from one or two days in the office to full week in July, so bought a few more items. It’s very cold in the office (long story) and it’s modest dressing dress code. Everyone looks smart but not fashion forward. I have neutral 3 blazers and 4 trousers that I mix and match, jeans sometimes. I prefer short sleeve shell tops / whitest shirts under blazers to push the sleeves up, so my sassy silk blouses are now for weekend, it’s too cold for blouses only.

I came to feel bored of what feels like wearing the same thing, those 3 damn blazers. I don’t feel smart in knitwear, so don’t wear cardigans or jumpers at work.

What should I do, buy more blazers, perhaps experiment with colours, textures, shapes? Will they still feel like wearing the same thing? I like the concept of uniform, less decision making on what to wear but also feel like I am a bit resentful of repetitive dressing.

Just wondering how much variety others have in work dressing and if you try to buy the best you can afford, how much workwear do you have? Do you accessorise more for variety? It should not matter, work is just work, but it’s long hours and makes you feel good to enjoy what you are wearing…

I wear the same clothes for work to the extent that I have four identical plain black work dresses and another two almost the same, which I bought when the shop (which I think was ASOS - I've had them over ten years) changed the style very slightly. I keep them all together so I never have to think about it and I've only ever deviated on days when it was so hot that black was too uncomfortable to wear.

I love clothes and would rather concentrate my time, energy and money into things to wear the rest of the time . Provided I'm clean, tidy and appropriately groomed for work I don't really care what I look like.

I'm retired now so it doesn't really feel my place to comment much, but I do look back at my own wardrobe and wonder why I had such a dismissive 'It's only for work' attitude when I spent 3-5 days every week there. So I'm going to argue that work is a big part of life for many people and so, if you're into clothes, and assuming you have a choice about what to wear, then why wouldn't it matter?

As time has passed there is less diffentation between what I wear to work and not. I wear whatever I feel like wearing that day from my wardrobe. It obviously helps that there's no dress code in my office.

Try a few statement blazers. They can switch up a look and can be worn with neutral trousers and tops.
I’m a big fan of knitwear at work. Have you tried more structured types such as jumpers with collars and buttons?
You could also try long sleeved tops or shirts under dresses and layering. My office is also very cold so I need to wear layers!

I am in management but not on the board. 48. Size 18. Interested to hear you’re thinking about this as it’s on my mind.

I work in a casual office environment so I wear dark jeans and trainers with a ‘nicer’ top, whatever that means. I’m thinking about how to make my knitwear more interesting and intentional and am looking at necklaces. Being big of norkage, I don’t wear longer ones as they just lasso one of them and it’s distracting… so it’s shorter and colours and texture there for me.

With the silk shirts how about a really thin thermal underneath? Uniqlo are excellent for this. Or scarves over the top? I love a scarf because I am menopausal and they work for my fluctuating temperature.

Or… a fancy silk scarf over knitwear? Maybe?

You could try the John Lewis fashion / clothing style service? That’s what I’m planning on doing for Autumn, my favourite style season!

@ChristmasLightsLover I am 48 too, petite 8 and management. Hard to find not expensive blazers that fit, in decent quality, all mine have to be petite. I love small dangly earrings, have a short haircut, plain gold in all colours and pearls, have a few options. Try to coordinate shoes and belt, though not always match. One work bag, black Bayswater, under desk all day, so not really in consideration.

I am going to look into thermal, good shout, if I can find deep v necks to wear shirts unbuttoned.

One brand that does stunning, not dated necklaces with faux pearls in Majorica. It's Spanish and not officially distributed in the UK, but you can find if travelling in Europe.

I have lots of variety in my work wardrobe. 3 days a week in the office, I love clothes, I err towards being a smarter dresser anyway and am a rarity on SLT being by far the youngest and one of v few women - so being beautifully dressed is partly armour, partly my playing up my differences.

My workwear is in 3 buckets:

Masculine (smart)

• Coloured trouser suit, blouse / t-shirt, slingback pointed flats
• Poloneck or high-collared shirt, tailored wool trousers, plain blazer (statement coat) or statement blazer (plain coat), slingback pointed flats

Casual

• Cashmere poloneck or crew cut jumper, tucked in to trousers, great belt, loafers, statement coat
• Silk blouse, jeans, great belt, loafers, statement coat
• Leather pencil midi skirt, cashmere polo, boots or pointed flats
• Mid-calf pencil jumper dress, flat knee-high boots

Feminine (smart)

• Leather or silk or wool pencil midi skirt, silk blouse, oversized blazer, plain City coat
• Coloured (block colours, no prints) midi dress (shirt dress or tailored mid-calf dress) pointed flats, silk or suede trench

I mix and match depending on my day and how I feel. I love an all-one-tone day (chocolates or creams or burgundy or rust or tan/camel or muted teal or black) but also have a soft spot for an all black outfit with eg a black and white oversized houndstooth blazer.

ETA: also go bold on the jewellery in golds and pearls. I have naturally big hair and eyes so think it matches!

Intimissi https://www.intimissimi.com/uk/product/modal_cashmere_ultralight_long_lace_shirt-CLD28P.html?dwvar_CLD28P_Z_COL_INTD=198K thermals are brilliant for layering, I really like the lace edged ones as then if they show at the edges it looks intentional, but they do plain ones too. Not at all bulky or itchy

@CMOTDibbler thank you, love the colour too!

@HeyPrune thank you for sharing, that is a well considered wardrobe. Would you mind sharing the brands you love, especially footwear and pointy flats? I am struggling with wide toes and dainty ankles to find stylish options, the thought of pecialist shoes really feels me with dread.

Whilst I wouldn't say your style aligns with these brands broad aesthetic, a selective browse of both Hobbs and Boden could be worthwhile. They have big petite ranges which I use for dresses, tops and blazers for senior corporate workwear as I am disproportionately short in the torso and arms. Ignoring the brighter colours and patterns in both brands ive found some really well tailored gems in block navy, grey, burgundy and muted teal colours.

The tailoring and fabric quality is a cut above the average highstreet offerings (Compared to m&s or next). I recommend an online sale haul and once you know your sizes vinted offers some great bargains from these brands.

I'm a 'dress and heels' person. I enjoy choosing what I'm going to wear.

I would say my work wear doesn't 'mingle' with my other clothes though. There's a distinct line for me.

My office is a real mix - some people still 'dress up' but some wear dark jeans! I could never do that!

Wear whatever makes you feel good!

@CaptainDelphineAngua Thank you. Hobbs used to be great before pandemic, I made my career thanks to their pencil dresses (only half joking). Right now I find it shocking that they charge close to £100 for a polyester shirt, when you can get a Sezane silk blouses for less. Very sad to see much loved brands do that.

@EnergySauce of course! I have a similar problem re fit and narrow heels, which is one reason why I like slingbacks so much - even if I occasionally have to get an extra hole put in the strap by the cobbler.

Shoes (slingbacks): Roberto Festa, Sergio Rossi, Boden
Boots / brogues / loafers : Russell & Bromley
Blouses: Reiss, The Fold
Cashmere: Joseph, M&S, Uniqlo
Shirts: Bourrienne
Midi dresses: Wiggy Kit, Usisi Sisters, The Fold
Belts: Dehanche, Sonia Petroff
Trousers: M&S, D&G, Etro
Jeans: Paige, J Brand
Blazers: Me & Em, & Other Stories, Boden
Suits: Hugo Boss, The Fold, Reiss
Midi skirts: Emilia Wickstead, Vivien of Holloway, Mint Velvet
Coats: Max Mara, Cos (capes), M&S
Jewellery: antique (1900s), vintage ('50s to '80s)

ETA: I use quite a lot of the above for my social wear too.

I am feeling a bit bored with my workwear but have a general theme I stick to. I love more of a statement blouse - Damson Madder or Cos with a non traditional sleeve/collar or similar.
I also like a selection of shoes in bolder colours if the outfit is plain - pointed maybe patent flats for example.

I do wear skirts and dresses too, I used to love a dress and shoe boot combo but that’s quite outdated now and I need to upgrade those so looking at the autumn options.

I’ve retired now so also a warning I’m not so up to date. I used to wear lots of skirt suits and some trouser suits or dress and jacket combos. I preferred shorter jackets mostly (many from
Hobbs) and skirts of varying lengths, although at least knee length at work. I find that a colourful blouse makes similar/the same outfit look very different. Also statement jewellery , mostly costume, from a range of places. I mostly wore block heels, although I suffered with stiletto or kitten heels in the old days, as we all did (with flats in the handbag 😄).

Tops included good knitted or silk t shirts as well as blouses and shirts. Shirts can look very stuffy on some people if they are structured.

I don’t really have differentiation between workwear and social wear personally, I work in a really casual office - am often in wide leg trousers and a shirt, or jeans and a jumper, or a dress and tights and boots etc. I do have a few things I avoid wearing if I’m meeting people or am at an event but generally what I would wear to the pub or out for lunch or for a walk through the woods, just somewhere casual is pretty much the same as what I’d wear on a normal office day.
Appreciate of course that not everyone works in a casual office but I’m glad I do and that I don’t have to waste money buying ‘work clothes’ that I wouldn’t wear for myself.

Last time I looked there were lots of Hobbs dresses on the Vinted site. You could get them for a good price.

Im just buying my work wardrobe. Going to go for a uniform look this year as I just can't be bothered with picking things. Most of it is very plain, coming from 'the set' at next with a new nicer bits and some nice jewellery. I'm a fan of whistles jersey blazers.

I thinking about this thread, as I can’t sleep. The suggestion re JL shopping appt is good. You can try new brands and styles and get one or two things. But even better, you will know what size you are in them and can hit up Vinted and EBay for new styles to experiment with, but at bargain prices. Go for things that are not brand new and the price drops. It’s my fave way to experiment.

@CaptainDelphineAngua Thank you, it’s a good idea, I have only bought and sold a few bits on Vinted but always had good experience. Not sure what your health situation is, lack of sleep and raging PMS hit me hard in 40s, went on HRT in April and I am like a new woman, the cascading effects with good sleep have been amazing.

I stick to a work " uniform" of wide legged neutral trousers, in black, navy or chocolate brown along with either white or monoblock colour tops and then change it up with tonal tweed blazers ( m and S, Vinted and Me and Em ) or colour/pattern silk shirts with a blazer that matches my trousers . In winter it is monoblock cashmere jumpers usually M and S or Uniqlo. Shoes are mary janes when I am in the office with not much walking/travelling or loafers, brogues or boots if I have walking/travelling/driving to do ( have gammy ankles). I use a black or navy Longchamp Le Pliage large as my work bag as it fits my laptop and all other items in very well, the camel handles on either tone in well.
If I am at a conference or any other public facing then I tend to do dresses and matching coat/blazer or a trouser suit again Me and Em or Boden. I am going to investigate The Fold also via Vinted this autumn, also going to look at a burgundy based uniform to the rotation I think.

Wanted to say thank you to @HeyPrune, appreciate your detailed response and it's not just the OP that's going benefit from your approach. Some quality brands there I've never heard of and am excited to try!

I don’t work in an office, I am an NHS hospital consultant so I guess it’s a different atmosphere. I love wearing a nice wool kilt of different lengths with a good quality shirt and a nice cardigan or a jumper. I tend to wear flats or brogues. It’s a different look to what you wear, of course, but maybe worth a thought.

I get my kilts normally from Celtic and Co but I covet Claudia Winkleman‘s kilts that she gets from the expensive brand Le Kilt.

Love this