What to wear to work

[TommyGirl]

Thank you, girls ! Yes, I´m under thirty, in my mid twenties. I´m going for shopping at the weekend, and try to find nice pieces, which fit together. And I try to avoid black and white, those colors really wash me out. And yet, half of my clothes are black. Thanks for the tips !

 

[Evy]

I'll start working soon as well!!

I really need to buy a nice suit... but I'd like to find something unexpensive. I was thinking about Zara, as I love the fit of their jackets and blazers.

I'm thinking about getting a skirt suit, with a pretty short skirt, as I don't like long skirts and I'm too petite to wear them anyway. Do you think it would be ok or a bit "too much"?

 

[dumbfairy]

^I personally don't reccomend super short skirts for work. A knee length pencil skirt or similar is a safe length. I save short skirts for outside of work

In the next few weeks i'm going to update my work wardrobe for summer (Here's hoping for some sun!) and might try wearing high waisted trousers too for when it's not so sunny (most of the time then!)

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I agree with that ... knee length shows plenty o' leg when you sit down and cross your legs, you don't want to go any further than that ... unless of course your goal is something other than advancing your career

I also would spend a bit more than Zara on a suit if you at all can.

I wear unmatched suits usually, but it does take a bit of skill with separates to do that. It gives you exactly what you want, plus there's a bit more creativity involved. I hate feeling all matchy-matchy.

 

[Evy]

^ I agree with that ... knee length shows plenty o' leg when you sit down and cross your legs, you don't want to go any further than that ... unless of course your goal is something other than advancing your career

Hahaha oh nonono I don't intend to seduce my boss or anything !

I just see suits as a uniform and find it hard to come with something different. I don't see short skirt suits often, that's why I was thinking about it. I am also very petite and longer skirts dont really look good on me.

High waisted pants are also a good idea. Would you wear them with a blouse or with a jacket dumbfairy?

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ You should try putting a 'suit' together from separates ... definitely more interesting, and no one else will be wearing the same thing. I posted the jacket I just bought in the 4-5 piece French wardrobe thread ... with it I'm probably going to do a pair of Dries black pants I found on sale. Both fabrics are black with a little silver sparkle. The jacket had a matching skirt, but it really wasn't to my liking ... it had a ruffle too to match the peplum/ruffle on the jacket, and it was really too much. Plus I wasn't crazy about the length of the skirt.

 

[dumbfairy]

I'm not sure what I'd wear with the high waisted trousers. I'm lucky that I'm not required to wear anything too formal (If I was just in the office all day,there are no uniform rules at all,colleagues often go in wearing jeans and hoodies,everyday is casual friday ), but I'm out and about a lot meeting people so I want to look smart regardless of what the rules say,or lack thereof. I think I would be able to 'get away' with a fitted white vest top and perhaps a jacket.

I definetly agree about putting suits together from seperates. I don't know why but I find it a lot more personal. When I wear top to toe togetherness,I feel almost in a character,like i have to be professional to the point where I can't let my guard down. Sounds silly I know.

As for jackets,I am desperate for this Vivienne Westwood one (Out of my budget at the moment sadly )

net-a-porter.com

Evy,if you're petite I think try a knee length skirt with a high yet comfy heel,I don't think you'd look swamped that way.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ A chunky heel, platform, or wedge are the best ...

I like that Westwood jacket ... it looks like something you'd wear to tell chimney sweeps what to do And I suspect it would be quite impossible to conform while wearing Vivienne ...

I think my issue with a lot of matched suits is I cannot do ugly, and unfortunately a lot of them are. I also prefer to wear just a single piece from a designer or label at a time, and of course a matched set of anything violates that rule When you do find something good enough to wear head to toe, the expense is then likely to make you feel quite faint ...

 

[Deborah]

Aaaah I love the Vivienne westwood skirt suits. They are my dream tiem if I ever get a job where I need to look smart and also for the amount of times you could wear them I don't think the price is too bad.

 

[Jenna-maria]

i am lucky that i can wear pretty much whatever i wanna at work.
im working at kinder garden so comfynes is the key word.
leggings with longer tunics, cropped jeans and loose t-shirts and flats, dresses, skirts, whatever we want...but ofcourse we cannot walk there half-naked!.
and i have young co-workers so we can share style tips and say nice words from each other outfits HAHAH.

 

[Milada]

I'm having a problem with button shirts, where they'll fit or even be a bit baggy. But then if I maneuver the wrong way with my arms, it makes the divide stretch out exposing the underneath. Does anyone know of any brands that do smaller, more fitted button downs, or good dress shirts for the office. I just have the unfortunate paradox of drowning in a top while looking strained. I can take a picture.

Also, in long-sleeved button downs, I'm always drowning in the sleeves. Aside from the office, my boyfriend loves a button down on a girl, but I just can't pull off the look or find the right brand.

 

[Evy]

^try posting a picture. I have the same problem with the sleeves of my button-downs. My arms are really slim and I drown in them.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I'm having a problem with button shirts, where they'll fit or even be a bit baggy. But then if I maneuver the wrong way with my arms, it makes the divide stretch out exposing the underneath. Does anyone know of any brands that do smaller, more fitted button downs, or good dress shirts for the office. I just have the unfortunate paradox of drowning in a top while looking strained. I can take a picture.

Also, in long-sleeved button downs, I'm always drowning in the sleeves. Aside from the office, my boyfriend loves a button down on a girl, but I just can't pull off the look or find the right brand.

Curvy girls can't really wear button-front shirts, except for the ones that are smocked. My sister has one & I've seen them in photos, but I never seem to find them in the store. I've given up on them altogether, and I still have a perfectly satisfactory life

 

[Evy]

I came across those pics of Mena Suvari and this is the type of outfit I would go for at work.

skinnyvscurvy.com

 

[luluposh]

^ I love that look, blazer + jeans and often wear it on "dress down Fridays". I guess it would depend on what area you were working in, as to whether or not you could get away with wearing jeans everyday. I am in an environment where it is strictly suits and not trying to be "fashionable" = law :/

 

[Deborah]

Milada and Fashionista-ta - bravissimo do shirts especially for bigger busts. They ship worlwide too.

 

[dumbfairy]

I'm pretty certain that I have seen very recent photos of Amy Winehouse wearing that VW jacket on her return from St Lucia,or on her way to the divorce court or something,and now I am unsure if it is something I wish to wear to work :haha

Evy,I like what she is wearing there too. It is something that I could wear out and about but only if I knew the person I was meeting relatively well. Otherwise for me,I think it's a little too informal.

 

[Milada]

Milada and Fashionista-ta - bravissimo do shirts especially for bigger busts. They ship worlwide too.

Bravissimo is the name of an elaborate ice cream shop/restaurant in Chile, hehe. But I'm back in the U.S. and I guess it's an American company? Yay for no more international shipping.

Edit: or is it UK?

 

[fashionista-ta]

Bumping for Gleam--this thread may have some ideas for you.

 

[Gleam]

Ah, thanks again, fashionista-ta. Off to do some reading in this thread now.