New Job New "professional" wardrobe

[Rache]

I am about to start a new job in September and have been promoted so will be classed as a manager it is likely I will have to attend meetings with much senior management and suppliers as well as do presentations. I am not yet thirty and am a very girly girl with a huge interest in fashion - some of my skirts would be too short and I need some new outfits to take me into this new area. The suits I have seen seem rather classic and oldish so i was wondering if anyone had any ideas about alternatives to suits or where you can get suits that would be young / trendy I may just stick to trousers and tops and there is a jumsuit in River island which is adorable but thought id ask around if anyone ahs any ideas??
Thanks

[Penny Golightly]

Hi Rache - congratulations on the new job!

I've found that bigger branches of TopShop are good places to look for tailored jackets that don't have the middle-aged thing going on. A couple of smart jackets might be a good idea, as it can give you a bit of authority, or maybe a waistcoat. Longer skirts are definitely worth looking out for rather than mini-skirts - maybe spend a little extra to get a couple of good ones that will last, and maybe think about some wide-leg trousers (try them on with the shoes you're going to wear them with to make sure they're the right length). You could start with some of the boutiques in Debenhams, or House of Fraser (try their Linea own-brand range) to see what suits your personal taste.

A mix and match capsule wardrobe will give you lots of different looks. Now's the perfect time to put one together, as the stores are having final reductions this week. If I see any bargains I'll come back here with more ideas.

[Rache]

oooh never thought of waitcoats or wide leg trousers I used to have a gorgeous pair - think i will def go for separates rather than the suit option.

What do you think of this (link below) its so fab even though I say I cant afford it I might have to have it - and pencil skirts never go out of fashion and black is always smart and its not a boring skirt and its trendy and not everyone will have one in my office......

http://www.karenmillen.com/fcp/product/ ... 3000052876

if you check out river island website the section with playsuits in item 1 on page 3 is 49.99 grey jumpsuit with like a waistcoat top its totally smart.

Thanks for the tips Im off to look for wide leg trouses and possibly a black suit jacket!!!!

[Penny Golightly]

Hi Rache,

That skirt does look pretty. I think you've already made up your mind about it too... It's OK to spend a bit extra if you know it's going to last a long time and get worn regularly, so if you can say that then you'll have a relatively low 'cost per wear'.

Playsuits/jumpsuits can be great fun especially if you're working in a design/fashion-conscious environment, but might need to be dressed up a little with heels/belt/big necklace for the office. The only other thing to watch out for is sleeves dropping into the pan when you go to the loo! Sorry to be a bit cheeky there, but it has happened to people I know.

Good luck with the shopping!

Penny x

[emmacossey]

I think work dresses are a great way of looking smart yet stylish for work. You can smarten them up with a cardigan or blazer jacket for work, and then swap the shoes and jacket for something a little smarter for after work drinks.

Principles have two great work dresses on sale:

Pencil skirt 2in1 for £20 http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... 1034331_-1
Peplum dress for £20 (great with a white shirt underneath) http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... 1054814_-1

This purple shift dress (£35) from Dorothy Perkins is perfect day-to-night wear.

http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wc ... &langId=-1

This one (£28) from Dorothy Perkins would be great with a black blazer and waist belt:

http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wc ... &langId=-1

Plus this one (£28.99), which I love as it's really individual

http://www.missguided.co.uk/product_inf ... cts_id=401

Hope that helps!

[Penny Golightly]

Love that Missguided dress!

From Twitter, Rosie Lovell has suggested "bold pattern shift dresses and good coloured cardigans" and buying second hand designer clothes.

[Viviana]

Emma stole my thunder. I was going to say there is nothing better than a dress. I am a total dress addict. I love that I don't need a lot of components to match up.

The other advice I would give in planning a work wardrobe is stick to a colour palette and don't wear too many prints. If you stick to the palette, your clothes will all pretty much go together. The reason I don't do too many prints is because people remember prints so you will not be able to wear the same thing as much as a solid colour.

I hope that is somewhat helpful.

[emmacossey]

Sorry Viviana, Great minds and all that!

That's a great point about having one colour palette, and you can always add the odd splash of colour if you fancy a change. I have a stupidly large amount of grey and black dresses, but I have a trusty bright green cardigan, a detailed waist belt and lots of bright necklaces to make them look a bit different.

Also, one thing every girl needs: Gorgeous black patent heels. H&M and Zara do great ones that are comfy and classy rather than tacky!

[Penny Golightly]

Hello Viviana - thanks so much for signing up!

Do you want to go to the Le Cafe section on here and make a post on the 'Introduce yourself' bit? I'm sure other site users would be keen to hear about your blog and other exploits.

Good point about patterns too, I agree. If you are buying mix and match clothes for a capsule wardrobe on a tight budget, keep patterns either to the top or bottom half of the body - then you won't end up with a top that you just can't pair with a particular skirt or trouser.

Another tip: add pattern/colour easily with a silk scarf. Many branches of TK Maxx have brightly patterned silk scarves for £5-£7, that normally sell for about £25. My local branch is full of lots of cute Oscar de la Renta ones.

[EssexGourmet]

I've put on quite a bit in the past year, which is now coming off. Because I went up a dress size I needed new clothes although did not want to splash out, as I intended to return to my normal size.

I actually brought the bulk of my clothing from the following outlets, all exceptionally reasonably priced and all have lasted and washed well:

Tesco's (!) Florence & Fred Line -- some really pretty and attractive business clothing at a good price.
TKMax - More designer clothing ranges and serious bargains to be had.
Ebay - A lot of people sell clothes that they have never, or hardly worn. Don't be proud! I have brought some stunning and good value garments on Ebay.

I hope that is of some help & best of luck with your new role!

Sarah.