where to buy work suits- confidence boost ?!

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'Im going back to proper work for the first time in nearly 6 years and need to buy a couple of new suits and badly need that confidence boost so I feel good on my first day and forget all the anxities that are going with my return to work (children, childcare, have I still got a brain etc..!) ! I'm struggling to find anything that isn't too young/trendy/old or very expensive - any ideas welcome..?!

What's your budget. Zara are good at the cheaper end, Austin Reed if you are looking for good quality to last years. TM Lewin have a limited range of women's suits that are priced somewhere in the middle.

I got some nice bits from Hobbs Outlet....Hobbs quality - last season's stuff I think but nice suits / smart dresses / shoes and big £ reductions. Also do home delivery and free returns.

www.hobbs.co.uk/outlet

Next suits are lovely

If you have the budget, Hobbs and Jigsaw do lovely suits. They never fit me (even with alterations) as I am so short and have a small frame, but they look lovely on loads of other people! And lots of variety too.

I am not a suit person anymore - I'm more of a dress and a cardi girl now. I buy stretchy dresses in places like Phase Eight, sometimes M&S (but not often) and put a nice cardi with it and wear that cardi open.

Need to know your budget and shape but I find Hobbs suits brilliant, classic and long-lasting, so worth paying for. They fit my average height, distinctly curved but slimish shape brilliantly. I find many other places too 'youthful' to accommodate my child-bearing hips and small waist (though I've been this shape since early teens), they're all too straight up and down - it was a big relief when my age finally matched some retailers' expectations of my body shape.

Do people really still wear suits? I've been for several interviews at various places lately and no one was in a suit. I started work last week and attended an away day and all the women were in dresses. I can't recall one suit. Ten years ago, everyone would be wearing skirt suits or trouser suits, but worth checking your industry as I guess it might differ hugely.

It depends on the industry I think. I somehow imagine city types, lawyers, accountants wear suits. My industry dress code is casual and lots turn up in jeans and black tshirt (software). So I don't own any suits.

YEs, I guess so. Though my mate is a lawyer and a suit doesn't appear to be part of her wardrobe!