What should I wear with my lovely new work dress?

[NorkilyChallenged]

I finally got my Christmas present from DP, he got me this dress that I had been eyeing up online (but was too intimidated to even go into Austin Reed to try on).

Obviously I don't stand in that pose when I wear it.

It's a much nicer colour than it looks online, it's a kind of purpley/pinky colour (hence the name "damson").

It's a huge step for me to go out of my comfort zone of black/grey for work but now I'm feeling a bit stumped about what to wear with it.

I usually would wear a long sleeved top under a dress for work. Or would a cardigan over the top be okay?

Any suggestions on what to wear with it and in what colours - I'm really not sure what colour would go with it as I'm not used to doing colour!

LOVELY DRESS!

That's exactly the sort of thing I would want to wear if I were still working.

I think long sleeved top under would be fine (poss even a very fine poloneck - try the uniqlo heatech ones.
But poss smarter and better would be a cropped cashmere cardi - try pure collection or brora.
I have the cropped pure collection one and can vouch for fact it is not TOO cropped (have heard boden one is too short for some people)

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Oh glad you like it Eshermummy. I was a bit worried by the amount of frumpy stuff in the shop when I tried the dress on, but I do think it will be perfect for work.

What colours would you wear with it? Either for tops underneath (I have heatteach, in black or dark grey, so that's a good idea) or for cardigans over. I'm not sure what will go but have been edging towards a light grey maybe?

I've been looking at cardigans. I think I actually probably want one that is really cropped to look neat and show off the dress as much as possible. However, the Boden one is only available in quite strange colours.

Years ago I had really fine knit ribbed cropped cardigan with silk in it, it would have been perfect as it was really fine and fitted (it was a kind of oatmeal/beige colour). But obviously now I can't find anything like it anywhere

I really like it. I've only recently discovered Austin Reed dresses. I haven't got one (yet) but I have been eyeing up their work dresses. That's exactly the kind of thing I like to wear to work.

I agree with Eshermummy. I'd wear a long sleeved (probably black but you could experiment with a nice complimentary colour like a soft pink) top. Uniqlo heatech polo necks are great for layering under dresses. On a really cold day I'd also wear a cardi.

Opaque tights and a nice pair of work heels.

I think light grey would go. A cream cashmere cardi goes with most things. From the picture the dress looks quite grey but you say it's a damsony colour. If it's damson I'd probably stick with grey or black but I'm not very adventurous with colour!

Rosa, yes it's not really grey at all in real life, more of a purple with some pink through it.

I also tried on the Damson check dress which was lovely too but less stretch so a bit less comfy - but both were £72 which is a good price I think. You should go and try them on!

The dress is quite dark which is why I'm thinking about lighter colours. Might try to find a nice cream cardi. My office is really over-heated so don't need it to be really warm, just a layer on my arms (to hide my horrible upper arms more than anything else!). I have heatteach polo necks but think they would be too warm.

I'm going to try it with black and see what I think too.

Am wondering about this in the flannel grey but it might be too warm for my office.

Yes I like that check dress but I'm trying not to buy anything at the moment (on the "use it all up thread") so I'm not even going to look

that dress is lovely! you must have a good job as that is way too nice for our skanky office

Oh Rosa, I will not put temptation in your path then! I am in full admiration of that thread (but after 3.5 years either pg or bf'ing and not buying anything that I could pick up in Tesco I am finally enjoyed shopping again so cannot join in!)

Southeastastra - don't say that I'm worried it's too much now! I work in a really laidback office. Some people in jeans. Most of the men at my level would wear shirt & tie but not suit. But I made a decision when I returned to work to dress more smartly for work (to differentiate from my days at home with toddlers). It is a bit of a change for me though.

Don't worry...the fact that I'm still hanging out on Style and Beauty goes to show that I'm not exactly over my shopping habit/clothes obsession

Don't worry about it being too nice. Lots of people wear jeans to my office too. In fact, I'm wearing jeans today. But I still like to put nice work clothes on too, especially if I have external meetings.

Like you, I feel like I spent so long on maternity leave, bfing, wearing jeans and comfy clothes...it actually feels like a nice change to look smart at work (and not have to worry about DD smearing food all over dry clean only clothes!). I get changed back into comfy clothes as soon as I get home.

Rosa - yes me too, it's like school uniform but in a good way! I have a small work wardrobe, fewer decisions to make and I love thinking about it.

Unlike my home wardrobe (yikes!)

S&B massively addictive. I am just glad that it's all on the internet and nobody realises that I am neither stylish nor beautiful .

Though I do have a lovely new work dress, don'tcha know

Norkliy - what about this one in damson (depends what size you are as not many left?)

this is the shape I was originally thinking of but none left in the sale - but they will have new stock in new spring colours shortly.

norkily - I love it. Totally gorgeous - I never have thought of looking at Austin Reed (and can't right now as I've sworn an oath to the thrift thread)

The damson is nice but might be too close to the dress colour (if they didn't quite match, might look odd?). I do like the Pure ones you linked to, I had seen them myself and was tempted but cannot really spend so much on it. Also, not sure I need the warmth - as I said my office is a bit too warm really.

I've still got that Woolovers one in my basket (would be half the price of the Pure one) but unsure about colour, would be better to see in real life wouldn't it?

I've found a grey/green crew neck silk cardigan from Jigsaw (years old) which I'm going to try with it and maybe wear on Monday. I would still prefer a lighter colour I think.

Or my other option is to wear with a light grey long-sleeved top under it.

No suggestions but just wanted to say what a great dress - I would love it if I were still working! Wonder if I could get away with buying it under the pretence I could wear it when I play 'offices' with DSs (they pretend to be daddy at work - which involves drinking coffee, playing on computer, eating and calling a few people on the telephone apparently! I get the role of fetching said coffee & food - but wouldn't I look good doing it in THAT dress??!)

Hellsbelles - yes it is lovely, thank you! I am delighted some other people like it too

DP is very pleased to finally have given me a present that I'm totally ecstatic about too

OlliWollie - yes I think you need this dress to play offices (ignoring the fact that it's £72 and dry clean only). That sounds like a very accurate portrayal by your sons of what your DH is probably doing all day.

At least that's how I enviously imagine DP's days at work while I separate fighting siblings or clean mashed in food from the floor or put the lego away for the millionth time

Thanks to everyone who advised.

Wore the lovely dress on Monday with a light grey long sleeved top under and the grey/green silk cardigan over it.

Sadly forgot that light grey can = small sweat patches so won't wear that colour again! Think I'll try with black long sleeved top under next week.

Loved the dress though, made me feel really all day at work. It makes me feel like ditching all my black work trousers for lots of more interesting things actually.

You could also wear a white/pale pinke/dark pink (difficult as I can't really see the colour) shirt underneath (like TM Lewin type shirt, IYSWIM?), or a chiffony blouse when it gets warmer.

Beautiful dress!

Ooh good idea Serenity, I do have a dusky pink fitted shirt that might work (the dress lining is dusky pink so that should match).

Would love a chiffony blouse, may have to hunt one out next time I'm in town!

Oooh - really nice dress! I know you say you are trying to get away from black but I think a cropped black cardi would look good over it - I have found nice ones in Coast before.

Gorgeous dress!!

i think it would be nice with purpley tights if you're brave.

I too must add what a fantastic dress it is.I would have snapped it up had it still been available in my size but have made a note of website.
Oh yes indeedy!

Moondog - when I bought it (last Wednesday), website said out of stock in my size (10) but when I went to the store they had more than one 10 there. Worth a try if you have a store near you?

Ah really? I'll be passing one very soon.Will pop in. Funny, would never have thoguht of looking there, thought full of boring frumpy suits for blokes.