Work requires expensive tailored clothes

[PriscillaPartridge]

I work at a very traditional law firm. I earn very little compared to the partners who impose this policy. Work clothes must be of good quality fabrics and preferably fitted by a tailor/adjusted to fit. I asked if M&S was ok, but was directed to more suitable brands such… some places are £300 a skirt. Any ideas on where to shop for expensive looking but not big ££ clothes?

MD uses the same tailors as Zara and is astonishing bad value. Uniqlo and Cos often offer the same designs as MD for a fraction of the cost (and much better quality). Alternatively there are Indian alternatives if you aren’t overweight and for the price of one suit you could get 3 suits+ tailored fit+premium fabric+express international delivery.

I'm a lawyer and have never heard of such a ludicrous policy (not doubting you, just saying the firm are bonkers). If anything, dress codes have become more relaxed since the pandemic.

Seriously, look for another job at a different firm. Any firm would be better than this.

Vinted. Or go to an outlet mall.

Yes to Vinted. Lots of people seem to be clearing out their old formal officewear at the moment.

Then investigate whether your local dry cleaners does alterations. Ours does and they are very reasonable indeed.

How on earth can you pay £300 for one skirt? I would just go with M and S . Their Autograph brand is very good.If anything is said ,say straight out (not rudely) that you simply dont have that sort of budget!They will either have to put up with it or give you a raise.

Is there a good T K Maxx near you?

Otherwise, develop your eye for tailored stuff in the basic dress shops such as Primark (yes they do do tailored stuff!) and H&M.

Look for lined jackets. And look at the fabric mix. If your budget stretches buy wool or wool mix, ditto linen or linen mix. Avoid polyester and other artificial fabrics as much as possible- they’ll look battered very quickly.

One good jacket (wool) over dresses, skirts or trousers will immediately make everything look more smart. Also, I find wearing dresses rather than separates immediately looks more “put together”.

Hunt out the best quality fabrics you can find - cotton over polyester for shirts/tops.

Or learn to sew? Or find a local dress maker who can do you a capsule wardrobe - jacket, skirt, trousers and dress that all co-ordinate in high quality fabrics - you can buy lovely wool suiting for around £15 a metre if you know where. 4 metres will get you trousers, jacket, skirt, then the cost of making up - you’re looking at maybe £300 So it could be a good investment.

Yes, yes to Leicester as a fabulous place for fabric.

A family member(now a partner in a “Golden Circle” firm) did this when she started out. Went to her father’s tailor and had a jacket, skirt, and trousers made. It’s perhaps a relatively hefty single cost, but in terms of value per wear is very economical. Just ring the changes with different shirts etc.

This is the content I came for.

Just go to M and s!

I'd look at department store sales and places like tkmaxx, the one in the City of London for example used to have some tailored pieces. You could also look on the outnet or ebay as suggested or charity shops in posh areas.
If you have a local dry cleaners, ask if they do tailoring and if you pick up something cheap that needs adjusting often you can get it done cheaply there. Get plainer suits and then accessorise with scarfs etc which you can get cheaply and jazz up an outfit.

I know of a financial services firm where the boss cuts ties off that he suspects aren't silk. And it's white shirts only. Hardly any women work there so don't know what ridiculous rules are imposed there....

I had a job where it was all high end tailoring. Almost all my clothes were second hand and great quality - either from a local second hand shop or ebay.

First of all - I have NOT rtft so apologies if this has already been suggested.

isn't it possible to claim a tax allowance for 'uniform '? If you are required to wear clothes that you would not wear in your 'normal' life it may be possible. You should look into that if you haven't done so already.

Also it depends very much what your role is. If you are junior and expecting to earn more in a number of years, expensive clothes can be seen as an investment. If however you're clerical and salary unlikely to increase except by inflation then you can only dress with the expendable income you have. if they insist on a certain brand or level of dressing for company image, they need to provide a clothing allowance.

Nah this is a wind up

But I am very much enjoying all the dress code recommendations which have come straight from 2012

EBay outlets for sure - my husband gets a lot of his work smart stuff on eBay and is regularly complimented for looking sharp 😂

Also, buy stuff gradually. Said husband changed jobs a year ago from a jeans and shirt environment to a smart suits for big meetings environment. He’s always had enough shirts, but has gradually upped his suit game (searching for bargains/the right thing) over the last year. He’s now pretty much sorted and will just need to rotate shirts as they wear out.

Has he been brought up on assault charges yet?
Its not actually allowed to do that to someone.

I used to work in finanical services where I was required to be smart for meetings - I used to get lot of my workwear from here as I prefer dresses or separates rather than suits.

https://www.finerylondon.com/dresses/midi-dresses#?page=2

M&S and cut the labels out.

Good quality accessories make a huge difference to the impact of your appearance as do hair, makeup, nails etc

Check Asda - yes I mean it. Their workwear (when they have basic suits) is very good and you'd have to really know your stuff (and look closely) to see the differences. Especially if you get a seamstress at a dry cleaners to put actual pockets under the flaps.

Otherwise M&S or Next - this is where all the junior men will be getting their stuff.

If looking second hand, also look for dresses by Winser. Not many makes of dress are cut in a way that makes them look right in v trad settings, but this is one that does.

is it in your contract? negotiate a clothing allowance
if it isn't in your contract wear what you want. And if someone comments - well you're a lawyer, argue your point that it is batshit, backward and they don't pay you enough.

I would have a quiet word with them and advise them that they don’t pay enough to allow you to purchase clothes that expensive so do they provide an allowance, otherwise you will be purchasing what you can afford, which will be M&S which is perfectly smart

No - the rules on that tightened up significantly a couple of decades ago. If it's branded/logo'd items or specific safety items (clogs, hard hats...) then yes. But suiting? No, not any more.