oh please help me change my image for work!

[choolie]

Have just gone back to work and all my old clothes just don't feel right after a year of jeans and combats and flats! I work in the public sector in a management position, so need to look semi formal, but my suits just make me feel frumpy and old fashioned now.

Can anybody suggest how I can update my look and make me feel like myself again? I put a suit on and just don't feel like I know who I am! Am a 10-12, fairly curvy with the obligatory pot belly post-lovely-baby, so nothing too tight fitting around the belly.

Has anybody gone through this and managed to update themselves and give their confidence a boost? I just don't know where to shop anymore - any suggestions for trendy, work-but-practical-for-baby clothes most welcome. I mostly shop in Next or M&S. Please

I'm sorry I can't offer any advice but I'm in exactly the same position as you at the moment. I opened my wardrobe last week and realised that I don't actually like anything in there! Will watch this thread with interest!

I always find Gap really good for work. A trench coat, white shirt, large handbag, ballet flats can never go wrong.

h+m is good if you have the patience. lots of tat and cack but also a good number of nice things which won't cost the earth. What's your budget like?

high street budget, enough for 3 outfits really (work 3 days a week!) happier if I can mix and match with non-work stuff - not demanding am I .

Will have a look at gap stuff thanks, - don't live too near a good shopping area, so it's mostly internet shopping.

Got fed up of the suits option myself a year ago and started buying smart dresses (Next and M&S v good for these). You can wear your suit jackets with them, but also cardigans (I'm not old, honest!).

I did it slowly (wore a dress one day a week, then two days, etc) until I built up my confidence. I got so many positive comments and I stopped feeling like I was putting on my armour/uniform to go to work. (Also as I always wore trouser suits, it was nice to be a bit feminine again).

Bizarrely I found it easier than wearing seperates or suits (no more does this top go with this bottom or does this collar sit with this jacket?). Dresses can also be sympathetic to bellies - another reason why I loved it!

Unfortuantely now I'm 24 weeks pregant, I can't fit into any of my dresses anymore....

I think if yuo want to stop feeling frumpy and old fashioned, steering WELL CLEAR of M&S and Next will help. Honestly, I know people do shop there but they are full of the most godawful crap in horrible fabrics, frumpily cut. Please. Stay away.

Try Gap, Zara, Jigsaw. Ted Baker for women is on a real roll at the moment (I think they got a new designer a couple of years ago) - the quality of fabrics etc is 100x better than next and prices are really good. You need a nice pair of black trousers, a couple of good well cut shaped jackets (ted baker did some LOVELY wool fine herringboney tweed ones with nipped in waists and great detailing on the pockets) and some plain well cut tops underneath. Then a skirt or two - again these don't have to be frumpy badly cut M&S pencil skirts - something a bit more unusual and with some colour can work well with a good dead plain fitted top, and be fine for the office, esp with nice boots. Actually M&S IS good for cashmere v necks and roll necks, they do a nice cable knit roll-neck cashmere sweater at the moment in a dove grey which would be perfect for the office with the right skirt.

Just look around at some different shops and try lots and lots of things on, and get your eye back in again. You might be surprised at what is out there.

this is a fantastic skirt in the flesh with black opaque tights and boots and a black top for eg

I agree with Princess. I went to M&S the other day and their stuff ( old convert here) at the mo is awful.
It would make anyone feel even more frumpy and uncool.
I have a wrap dress, that skims tummy that could be very flattering for you.
I do end up wearing my black wallis trousers and a top - I must, must stop this.

what about something like this :dress
I know, I know, it looks a bit minging, but these kind of things often look really good on.
Plus, the jersey material, means it would be a bit thicker and would cover tummy, without clinging to it.