What do you people who work in slightly more 'traditional' offices wear?

[Themasterandmargaritas]

I have a new job and I haven't worked in an office for a long time. What staples do you buy and where from?

I think if it's formal you have to have a jacket.

I am wearing a lot of little black dresses with a jacket in a contrasting colour at the moment - purple jacket from LK Bennett is my fave. I work in a city solicitors' office.

and never ever bare legs....

Black trousers most days (have various pairs) - occasionally grey ones!

Short sleeved black tops with coloured cardigans over them or shirts with tank-top over (to hide button-strain!) or black or grey v-neck 3/4 sleeve jumpers with a nice necklace

Have selection (well 3 pairs) or shoes - flat and heels, depending on how I feel (and which trousers are clean!)

Not very adventurous so doubt I have inspired you!

Get most work stuff from M&S, Next, Dorothy Perkins and Tesco

Would like to dress more like Janeite but never quite manage to get my act together

No one has mentioned jewellry. Interesting necklaces and or a pair of earrings make it look as if you have made an effort even if your just wearing a teeshirt. Doesn't have to be expensive but not tacky.

Thank you Bluejeans. My stuff sounds much nicer written down than it ever looks irl though.

I am finding that pencil skirts and dresses make me look and feel much smarter than trousers ever do though, if that helps?

So more dresses then. Can anyone link a few ideas?

I tried to link to the black and white M&S one I mentioned but can't find it. There is a thread on here somewhere about it, which I think that perhaps Cyb started. I tend to go for failry fitted, waisted styles with a scoop or v neck and then layer them over a close-fitting t-shirt and top with a cardigan.

I get my t-shirts from M&S Limited Collection as they wash well and don't go saggy. I think they must be a mix of cotton and elastane maybe?

T-shirts I have got them in short, three quarter and long sleeved versions, each in black and white.

Excuse typos. I was trying to save my cake but I have killed it.

Black trousers, or black pencil skirt with a variety of tops and a black and cream jacket (one summer weight, one winter weight) . Boots in Winter, open toe courts in summer (

What's that about bare legs? Do people (men) get frightfully confused if they see a bare leg? What if you had bare legs and if someone pointed it out you could say "it's very fine, exquisite silk tights. Touch 'em and see." You'd get away with that, surely.

I think the perception is that bare legs or flip flops or jeans etc is just too informal for a formal office environment where sobriety and staidness are meant to be what you're aiming for. Some law firms - esp media ones - are much more laid back about stuff like that but the older fashioned ones are most definitely not.

How about something like this? I wear dresses like this for work every day and am very much hoping they will work in Nairobi .

I always where black skirt suits to my v traditional office in the UK. I have three diff skirts and two jackets all from Jigsaw. They are the same weave & colourso I mix and match. On casual days I wear black suede ballet pumps. On smart days I wear heals. I always wear tights and never wear open toed shoes. My office is uber traditional.

When working abroad in hot climates I have two dresses from Fenn Wright and Mason which I team with a short, tailored, cream linen jacket. I have a small tatoo on the back of my left shoulder and I always ensure my work outfits hide it.

Our office is fairly informal. A few examples of outfits:

LK Bennett wrap dress, with Zara cotton 3/4 sleeves cardi & either ballet flats (French Sole) or high heels from LK Bennett;

Toast silk skirt & Calvin Klein fine knit top

Phase 8 wrap dress;

Nicole Farhi black trousers, Hobbs wrap blouse and cropped cotton jacket;

Black crepe dress with necklace;

Can't remember any more.... can't wear most of my clothes as I've gone up a dress size hence all the wrap dresses!!

I just wouldn't put bare legs in the same category as jeans and flip flops. And why no open toed shoes? There's this rule in the NHS (not quite sure why, I suppose in case a needle falls on your toes) but no big damage if a file falls on your toes, you're not going to get infected.

I have to admit I too am quite surprised at the no bare legs and no peep toes. Both are obviously far too sexy for the average male city solicitor to handle.

I have now realised that my environment-to-be isn't quite as traditional as I thought.

Bare legs and open toes are ok where I work. Obviously the male solictors aren't as excitable

Some of you appear terrifyingly organised and stylish with your workwear!

I work as a senior psychologist in a large organisation. This presents the dilemma that half my day can be spent rolling around with a three year old and all that entails (yes, often getting weed on!) and the other half at some staid town hall meeing talking about policies and budgets.

After several years of trial,error and, one terrible discovery about the harm that playdoh can do to a Paul Smith silk sweater, I now have a washable, no need to iron smart work wardrobe.

Mostly M and S shift dresses, Phase eight and LKBennett wrap dresses and the odd skirt with smart top. I find that dresses, especially with heels and smart accessories look smart but are very comfortable,especially the jersey ones.

Agree about Next btw- I once went down a plastic slide in Next trousers and actually got a static shock!

We have the no open toe rule becuase I have to go in the lab sometimes so I need my feet to be covered.