Where's good on the high street right now?

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Not too badly off for shops - but can't stand the whole fighting through a jumble sale sensation, so want to have an action plan for Friday when I go shopping for work clothes BECAUSE I'VE FINALLY GOT A JOB HURRAH. Ahem.

I don't want to be spending too much - partly because we'll still be skint broke until the first cheques come in (and for a while after), but also cos I'm losing weight - trying to keep it between 1 and 2 pounds a week so it stays off. So I'm treating the clothes as maternity-wear in reverse IYSIM.

Looking for smart stuff - I love a good skirt or trouser suit but the jacket has to cover bum. Am hourglass with most sand at the bottom but good shoulders. Somewhere between a 14 and a 16 I think - am having fun going through old clothes and seeing what I can get into next. Thighs to scare horses with but knee down isn't so bad.

So just a few outfits before I move onto the next size down really. Oh, and some flattering jeans - especially dark dirty blue.

Oh, and I start Monday, so I've only really got one day to get sorted in (paperwork today, child stuff tomorrow, panicking at the weekend).

Realise I should have said 'thanks in advance'. Sorry, bit distracted.

Bumping for the stylish evening crowd.

I will flatter you mercilessly if you help me...

How smart do you need to be for work? Is it suit territory? But you also mention jeans...

How many days a week are you working?

I work in a semi-casual environment though I try to be smart for work (not suits but anything up to a suit in smartness iykwim). I managed for a while working 2.5 days a week with:

2 pairs black trousers,
1 work dress
3 short sleeved shirts/work tops (when was warm)
3 long sleeved shirts/work tops
An existing collection of cardigans

I found H&M good for cheap-ish things good enough for work and a bit different. Definitely worth a look anyway.

Yes suit territory, but prob dress down friday. But I need a new pair of jeans anyway

I'm thinking I should start with pair good black trousers, couple of shirts/smart tunics (pref long), poss a cropped cardi (have a nice b/w dress which fits again - hurrah) oh, and good tights - pref 30 denier suck-you-in. I have a black skirt suit which almost fits again, and would pref look for stuff in navy, dark brown or dark grey, as I'm coaxing myself away from solid black. Babysteps...

You're a very wise MNetter and your norks are superlative

I think Wallis is ok for reasonably priced work stuff, also M&S autograph range

Yes, Wallis, though sometimes I've been unimpressed by the shininess/yuckiness of things in RL that look lovely online there.

Debenhams? They have good sales on from time to time though think you've just missed one.

What kind of budget? Assuming you don't want to spend much, H&M definitely good start though for tops more than for trousers (I find their trousers too long and too skinny for me).

I got some great work shirts from TM Lewin, when they were doing a 3 for £75 offer and then I got a voucher code and paid £60 total for them.

Also, for ease, I would probably suggest M&S (many would disagree I know) as they would have a selection under one roof (including suck-you-in tights and everything you mention). Trouble is I find you can't guarantee that a "size 14" in there will always fit, with trousers in particular I have to try everything on as some styles fit completely differently to others (I've ranged from size 8 to size 14 in there and am usually a 10/12).

Maybe trousers or suit in M&S, tops in H&M, cropped cardi (hmm, Monsoon don't have much this year I have a nice one from there a couple of years ago).

Oh, H&M also do a nice waterfall style cardigan that I wear for work, they do a waist length and a longer length for £14.99 and £19.99. I have it in grey though I'm sure I've seen other colours.

I have two naughty adorable ill children up at the moment but will come back with more ideas soon...

I was wondering about M&S, but I looked at the website and they're selling plastic shoes . Can I trust them?

You have a Very Good username btw - I imagine you to be ultra stylish with a touch of cynical chic

I got some good but trendy work wear in the limited section of M&S recently.

Jeans is always top shop or uniqlo.

actually laughed out loud at suggestion of me being stylish. Or chic.

Am probably cynical though

Am ignoring supervising my toddlers watching some nonsense about soup, mice and princesses. Sigh.

M&S are just so convenient when in a hurry and needing to try lots of things on. If you don't want to shell out loads of money just now (love the idea of maternity wear in reverse) then it's a good idea. Just steer clear of the plastic shoes and you'llbe fine.

I have a marvellous work dress from M&S that only cost £35 (bargain!)

If I were feeling more brave, I may even dare suggest Next but I fear the wrath of S&B for such an outrage There are some nice things among the polyster shiny trousers and awful patterned tops.

If your suit does fit you, you're halfway there probably (though maybe not if you have 5 days a week to dress)

Nice colour, nice price Could wear with grey/brown/black

Still reeling from all the shiny satin at Wallis but this is nice. Obv wear with something underneath

Well I don't mind wearing the same suit as long as I've got stuff to go under it (which covers the inconvenient bummage). Have looked online at their suits though, and they're all either waist-skimmers or black. And the suit that does fit is from there - just from about 7 years ago when they had a brief fit of genuine classicness (knee length slim skirt, long length single button jacket - v flattering).

How about a boyfriend blazer? Know any good ones?

And yy to avoiding shiny polyester [shudder]

I know a while ago Zara had blazers in but I'm not a blazer person so can't tell you any more than that

[http://www.marksandspencer.com/Single-Breasted-Longline-Stripe-Jacket/dp/B002I63S4O?ie=UTF8 &qid=1260392713&categoryNodeID=42967030&ref=sr126&page=3&node=43102030&sr=1-26&mnSBrand=core&rh=n% 3A43102030%2Cn%3A43103030Any good length-wise?]]

bum-coverage?

Maybe, given that you're probably going to going down a size soonish and it's cold just now, you could get away with a longline cardigan/wool jacket type thing just for now? That waterfall one in H&M is definitely nice and would cover bum.

Then go for a suit/jacket when you can feel it's worth spending a bit more on it as you're at your optimum size?

Something like this

Oh bugger, will try to fix that first M&S link. Computer being all slow.

again that first link

Ooh, teal is one of my favourite colours you clever thing... not so sure about spots - but thinking about stuff to wear underneath, where's good for long-sleeve tshirts that won't stretch and bag? I'm thinking about something to go under those shorter sleeved jumper dresses...

OK OK you've convinced me. I'll go to M&S...

There are some threads on long sleeve tops.

I have heat tech from Uniqlo. Nice, and v warm.

I have some from Top Shop, stretchy but v thin and not fantastic (though only £10 each).

Some from H&M that are a bit too tight in the arm but otherwise so far good with stretch and not bagging.

Spots nice. Though lacking in colour.

Or this rather than jacket? also in grey, black, brown... If you are determined to hide your bum (is this really necessary?)

Then with your figure, you should wear something with shape under, to show your waist a bit. Like a fitted shirt or something. That's why I'm not really linking to tunics just now.

Mm - shall try Top Shop. Am avoiding online till I get a new credit card sorted (DH has just consolidated for us - sigh)

I like this, shame it's only in black

I've looked at that and I think I like it, except it's a bit too showy for everyday for me...

Good luck with your shopping tomorrow! Let me us know what you get.

I looked at the video of that last "waterfall jacket" thing and decided that, even on skinny model, it made her hips look ginormous and was Not Flattering anyway.

Esprit have good dresses atm - hundreds online and a few in my local department store concession. Lots of good ones to go with opaque tights and reasonably priced.

Also shirts and lightweight jumpers.

Likewise Kookai have lots of drapey cardis in dark neutral colours.

My feet hurt. I am depressed. I started at M&S (thinking they were solid) and quickly decided that their style guru this season must be Irma La-fucking-Douce.

But, I did get a decent pair of black trousers from Debenhams, a couple of tops from Wallis, and a couple of bits from Hennes.

And M&S didn't even have decent tights except for XL and S sizes - ffs...