How much would you spend?

[jcruisy]

Back to work at new company after two years home with DC.

Intimidated, anxious, and excited all at once as to be expected. Silly question, but clothing is part of that anxiety!

I am a couple sizes bigger than before pregnancy and need to get a new work wardrobe capsule. Dress code is smart casual.

How much would you budget for this?

What stores do you think would be best for balance of quality/longevity and value for money?

TYIA

I wouldn’t look at the finances, I’d look at how many outfits you actually need, and what you’ve already got. How many times a week do you put a wash on is a consideration too.
I like Next and M&S for trousers, tops can be got from anywhere. Think about work shoes too.

What's the dress code? Are you in 5 days a week or wfh/less days?

I would maybe just buy a couple of things for the first week so you can have a good look at what people are wearing. One company smart/casual if different to another's.

I like John Lewis for dresses. Their own label is good.

I don’t think what anyone else spends is really the issue, as we may have different budgets to you. I recently returned to the office after a couple of years out and I made sure I had at least five outfits. I tend to wear dresses so for me five dresses to start with, however if I wore trousers or skirts, I would have made sure I had five suitable tops and two or three bottoms.

If you look at places like Vinted you might be able to pick up quite a bit for not too much money, or a better label for a high street price.

Don’t buy too much until you see what the dress code is really like and what you will feel comfortable wearing.

In your shoes I would buy some basic work trousers from somewhere like marks and Spencer’s or Boden, and a few shirts from places like John Lewis, Hobbs, marks and Spencer’s etc. I need petite length trousers so it limits the leaves I can shop.

i do wear dresses to work - but that is a personal style and not many people do.

I am in the office three or four days a week and do a lot of in person meetings. Working from home I usually wear a shirt with leggings.

Dress code has changed dramatically since Covid - people are much more casual. I have noticed a few new people have gone very casual for in person meetings (jeans, trainers, sweatshirts). They see people online, at home and assume that is how they dress when they come into the office. It’s always best to be a little to formal rather than too casual.

My bosses still talk about they guy who turned up to an important meeting in a baseball cap and shorts!!

I’ve just moved into an office share with HMRC and we’re gobsmacked at the office wear - shorts, flip flops, sweatpants etc. we are an ALB and it’s smart casual with emphasis on the smart.

I go for M&S or the John Lewis’s own brands like Kin. I have a pair of ballet pumps and some brogues. Two nice blazer jackets, a couple of pairs of 7/8 trousers, a pair of navy chinos, and a few tops and shirts. All in various shades of navy and white as then things can mix and match.