Help me (girl in 20s) figure out office-wear? (UK)
July 30, 2016 6:19 AM   Subscribe

I'm in my late 20s and have been a bit of an eternal student, but I'm finally graduating and hope to find a job soon. I don't know what field it'll be in at this point, but office work of some sort. I don't enjoy shopping but I know I will need to look appropriate. The problem is that I don’t have a clear idea what I should be wearing, or the best shops (I’m in the UK) to go to.

(This is a long post with lots of questions, so if you can only answer a few points, I still really appreciate it :) )

Here are some of my constraints:
• I really prefer natural fibres (mostly because I want to be eco-friendly). Where possible, I'd much rather wear wool than acrylic, cotton than polyester. I don’t know how possible it is to be picky like that though. I'm at the point of reluctantly accepting that I may have to wear things with a bit of elastane in if I want to look appropriate.
• I would rather wear "ethical" clothes. Unfortunately, this tends to end up with me either not buying anything or looking like a hippy. I can reluctantly forgo this principle, since it's so difficult to achieve :(
• I'm quite slim, typically a UK 6-8 for my top half. Size 10 for bottom half. I think this disparity might make dresses quite difficult? And some shops don't carry size 6.
• I hate being uncomfortable and often feel like girls' clothes are designed to be uncomfortable. Some examples of "uncomfortable": trousers that dig in and prevent me from moving freely, tight non-stretchy shirts that restrict my movement, high heels, clothes that are too skimpy (I easily get cold, and I often wish that shirts were longer on the body, because there's always this cold gap between shirt and trousers if I crouch or bend or stretch), things that are itchy (I have to cut some labels out, and I can only wear some wool - I get eczema when I wear things that are too itchy). As an example of pickiness, I think 100% cotton jeans are quite restrictive, and I think jeans in general are typically suffocating and sticky when it's warm, but not warm when it's cold. I’ve noticed that skinny trousers and jeans are colder than ones that leave a layer of insulating air.
• I live in Scotland. It's really cold and windy outside a lot of the time. (An office environment might be quite warm though, so I might do best with outfits that could be breezy-cool when stripped down, but could be layered on top of.)
• I cycle around a fair bit, and I'd probably cycle to work too. The wind really cuts through; I have to be able to be reasonably warm.
• I have an olivey skin tone and dark hair and eyes. The colours that look good on me tend to be strong colours (which I don't think are typically office colours?) - things like dark red, purple, dark green, burnt orange. Black also looks good, though I'd rather not wear black all the time or too much of it, as colours make me happier. I'm prepared to wear pastels or whites if that's what it takes to be office-appropriate, but I'd rather wear colours that suit me.

All these constraints have tended to make me give up in despair, and so I've tended to completely ignore style :/. I've tended to wear T-shirts (often men's ones) and tracksuit bottoms most of the time, with a thick fleece on top (not natural fibre but it's really hard to find thick woolly sweaters that aren't too itchy). Occasionally I've worn fleece-lined tights under skirts. And I pretty much wear one pair of trainers all the time. And I don't really do accessories. Oh, and I skip wearing a bra as often as possible. So I’m pretty clueless.

I have some specific thoughts and questions:
• Bras: do I really need to wear a properly fitting one? I got sized as a 28D, but before that I wore a 32B, and the 28D was really tight and uncomfortable. The main reason I have to wear a bra is so nipples don't show through, and my 32B prevents that, so... is that enough? Is the 28D necessary to make my posture generally look as good as it can? My boobs are small and reasonably perky on their own. Can I wear pretty/lacy stuff under work clothes or does that tend to show through or be uncomfortable? Do you tend to find wireless or wired most comfortable? And cotton or non-cotton - does cotton tend to get damp and chafe or itch? Cotton vs non-cotton: I guess I pretty much can't have a bra that is natural fibre and pretty and supportive and comfortable. It's just not a thing, is it? I've found some mostly-cotton T-shirt bras (wired or unwired), and some pretty bras that are not cotton. Does lace itch?
• Dresses/tights: Can I wear dresses, given my top and bottom half size difference? If I can, I guess I pretty much need to team them with fleece-lined tights in order to be warm enough for a Scottish winter? Or possibly multiple layers of wool tights? Or thermal leggings? Do tights basically need to be black, or if not, what are the rules about coloured or patterned ones? Dresses are (I think) typically sleeveless, aren't they - what could I wear on top of a dress to be warm? Where would I even find work-appropriate dresses?
• Shirts: so I figure T-shirts are not appropriate for work. I guess that means I need to wear woven shirts? I'd really like mine to fit well but not be constrictive when I try to move. I'm guessing the way to achieve this is by buying fitted shirts that are mostly cotton but have some elastane in (as 100% cotton shirts would, I expect, be either too baggy or too constrictive?), but any other ideas would be welcome! Should I be thinking about getting shirts custom-made so that they are long enough on my body and fit well? (Either I have a slightly longer body than normal, or I'm more annoyed by cold gaps than most people.) Shop recommendations? Can I wear rich colours or will I be wearing pastels? Am I looking for collared shirts? Is the cami-and-checked-overshirt combination that I see some girls wearing inappropriate for work? Should I be wearing a cami under my shirt and wearing the shirt open, or is it better to just wear a shirt? Long or short sleeves? If I do get stretch shirts, do they need ironing / can they be ironed? (I’m not keen on the idea of non-iron cotton shirts, because of the treatments that are used to make them non-iron.)
• Trousers: do they need to basically just be black? How do I find trousers that fit nicely and comfortably (and ideally are natural-fibre)? What kind of fit is appropriate? Are skinny trousers appropriate for the office? How can I be warm outside when wearing skinny trousers?
• Skirts: my preference is knee-length, which I think is also office-appropriate. But other than length, how do I figure out what makes a skirt office-appropriate or not?
• Shoes: does shoe choice depend on whether I'm wearing skirt/tights or trousers? What shoes can I wear if I don't like heels? Do shoes need to be black/brown? I have slightly unusually shaped feet: quite wide toes - so often find that trainers or men's shoes feel most comfortable. Again, any recommendations would be great. Am I looking at getting a different pair of shoes from the pair I cycle to work in?
• Warm things: I already asked what to wear over a dress. So just, what warm things do people wear in offices more generally? Ideally, if I were wearing cardigans (not sure if cardigans are office-appropriate), it’d be nice to wear ones that were made of soft, non-itchy, 100% wool. That sort of wool does exist because I have some yarn like that, but I don’t know where I’d get office-appropriate (presumably fine-knit?) cardigans like that.
• Accessories: do I need them? If so, what do I need? I have long hair that tangles easily and am a bit worried that necklaces would get stuck. I do like earrings (though don't often wear them).

Any help much appreciated! Thank you!
posted by tangerine_poppies to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (23 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
Ok, there's a lot here but I'll try to field some.

Color: Please wear the colors you like and look good in. A bright orange color is office appropriate, even if a few people will make comments on it. It's professional to dress in the colors that flatter you (but maybe not neon or 20+ colors). Please wear any color trousers you'd like. Please wear any color shoes you'd like. Please do not combine 10 colors in weird ways though. If you're wearing a bright color, the rest of the outfit needs to 'go' and not clash and at least one neutral (shirt/pants or leggings/shoes) is good. (You can probably get away with wearing a red dress and blue shoes or purple shoes though).

Dress + sweater is a great combination. You can put some warmer tights in the winter. If you have really different sized top and bottom half you may have to do some tailoring (sorry). Or you can buy skirts and shirts separately. Knee length is totally office appropriate. If you're going to wear a thick legging underneath you can do higher but please don't go tooo tooo short. Longer is always office appropriate but may or may not be on trend depending on time/location.

I wear leggings in the cold pretty regularly. Thick leggings can get me through a 10-15 minute ride with a coat.
posted by Kalmya at 7:19 AM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]


I think you need to wait until you know more about your field and office before you go buying a bunch of "grown-up" clothes. What I wear in my current office is completely different from what I wore in the office before that. You might do the exact same work in a bank as you would in a tech startup, but the wardrobe will be very different.

Also, you don't actually need all that much clothes to put together a work wardrobe - two or three skirts/trousers and 4-8 tops, mix in dresses if that's your thing. Ta da. Find a pair of trousers you like and buy one gray and one black.

(I bicycle in skinny trousers all year in a much colder climate than anywhere in the UK; I guess I put rain/wind trousers on over them on very cold days? It's not the best look in the world, but it gets me to work.)
posted by mskyle at 7:22 AM on July 30, 2016 [5 favorites]


Bras: I'm roughly the same size as you, and where the 28D was very tight feeling until It stretched but the 30C made a noticeable difference in how clothes fit. Now I tend to get 28D or 30C depending on the particular cut of the bra.

Lace doesn't have to itch depending on the kind of lace, you'll figure out what works for your skin. It can sometimes show through clothes, just wear heavier shirts when you want to wear pretty bras.
Try Bamboo for bras, particularly non-wired. It's a pretty, natural fiber, that more companies are using, that's also sweat-wicking.

• Dresses/tights: Thick (but not fleece) tights and knee high boots are pretty functional depending on how long you need to be outside (Canadian here). You can add a pair of tall socks that are easily removable one you get in the office if you want a quick extra layer. If it's really cold, I'd just straight out wear pants under a dress to get to work, slip them off in the washroom and have cuter tights underneath. You may find fleece tights too warm in an office so get something practical and change when you get there.

• Shirts: You can get work appropriate knit shirts depending on your industry. Especially if you pair them with a blazer or cardigan.

• Trousers: I have a lot of grey, because I wear a lot of black tops and all black starts to look funereal.

• Skirts: Office appropriate checks I use: Can I sit, bend, walk without worrying about things showing? Is it a really flippy/cut material? Once you start somewhere you can get a sense of what the other women are wearing for office norms.

• Shoes: I like oxfords, and there are a lot of nice flats out there. You can definitely keep work shoes at work and change once you get there.

• Warm things: Cardigans have been the answer in every office I've worked in. If your office is more formal, blazers. There are also a lot of drapey shawls out there that look good. Keep a pashmina (or similar) in a colour that tends to go with most of your clothes at your desk for days when the AC is just a little much.

I'm not going to be much help for shops in the UK, but if you browse online a lot of websites will have a Workwear section that can help give you an idea of what's generally appropriate (it will depend on your industry, but you can start looking for ideas).

Lastly, when my friend was in the same space, she found a store whose clothes she generally liked at a non busy time who had a stylist on staff who basically picked her out an entire wardrobe in one afternoon that was put together so that she basically could pick any one top and bottom and it would be fine. There's probably a store in Scotland that offers similar services.
posted by platypus of the universe at 7:45 AM on July 30, 2016


Ooh! Ooh! I am also a late-20s female with olivey skin and dark eyes and hair, bigger on the bottom than I am on top, and I love bright colors, and I recently moved to the northeast US where it was between 4C and -23C this winter. This year was my first at an office job - I was previously in casual retail and had to switch pretty suddenly from cutoff denim shorts, sneakers, and band t-shirts to skirts and blouses and stuff. So it sounds like we have a lot in common there and I hope I can help! :)

NATURAL FIBERS, SIZING, COMFORT
I like H&M for both office and casual clothes. Their blouses tend to come in lots of white and light blue, but also sometimes vibrant colors or stripes, and the latter is what I always go for. They carry UK size 6 to 20, looking at their website; and their non-polyster items usually have "wool" or "cotton" in the product name. And you'll see a green "Conscious" tag if the item is ethically made. I've found that their more formal shirts and blouses have some nice give and aren't stiff and restricting like other brands.

Since H&M's stuff has some nice give while being generally figure-friendly, I think you could find a size 8 dress that is flattering up top and not too hip-huggy on the bottom that would fit the bill. They have a very nice return policy (at least in the US) so you could always try one or two styles of dress or blouse and return what doesn't work for you.

Now I am done being an H&M enabler... I wear other brands too obviously, but the only one I know US and UK have in common is H&M.

COLOR
I love, love, love bright colors (I recently had pink hair, and purple before that) and I know what you mean about them not necessarily being office-friendly. So at work, I like to dress in a relatively dark palette (navy blue, heathered grey, black) with one or two pops of color. Dark trousers, orange blouse. Dark skirt and blouse, mustard yellow cardigan. Dark everything, super bright patterned scarf. It helps keep me sane amongst the sea of formalwear.

Your preferred "strong colors" seem to be very reasonable for the office, though. I think you could certainly wear a purple top and dark green bottom and look very appropriate.

MORE ON COMFORT
I wore tights or sometimes long thermal underwear under my jeans all winter and was well-insulated. I do prefer skinny jeans and had a good coat that covered the tops of my thighs (more on that below), however.

I find that you can look nice for the office and be comfortable without necessarily wearing the usual "ladies office outfit" look. I never wear high heels, but I do have extremely cute boots with a very small chunk heel, cute boots with no heel, and flats.

If your workplace is conducive to you keeping some stuff at work (maybe a cute cardigan and a pair of cute boots/flats), wear something comfortable during your ride and then change on after cycling there? I walk to work and have to wear colossal arctic boots to get around in the winter, but I take them off as soon as I get to the office and change into boots/flats/etc.

re: gap between shirt and trousers -- wear a camisole or tank top under your shirt and this will never happen!! This happens to me all the time (because women's shirts are cut so high and trousers so low, argh) so I usually wear a camisole underlayer and tuck it into my trousers or skirt. If I match the camisole to the shirt/blouse (or at least match light-light, dark-dark), I find that it doesn't look weird when I bend or stretch, and it's certainly better than getting an unexpected blast of cold air to the small of my back.

The jump from T-shirts and athletic bottoms to officewear needn't be that big, either. You can still wear pretty basic, comfortable tops, perhaps with some nice pants or a skirt. And the tunic-length top with leggings look (while it doesn't work for my body) is pretty accepted as okay day/work wear, I think.

WARMTH
Layer. Layer. Layer. Layer.

In addition to the camisole trick, LAYER! So say your base outfit (on top of your underwear) is a camisole, and maybe tights if it's really cold out. Add blouse and skirt/trousers. Add sweater/cardigan. Add scarf/gloves/hat. Add coat (a waist-length one will show off your outfit if you care about that and provide more mobility on your bike ride; one that hits at your hips or thighs will help keep you warmer). Oh, and then shoes, obviously. This way you can peel off layers bit by bit as you warm up at the office, instead of just taking off your one warm outer layer and having to go from comfortable to freezing.

BRAS
I would get sized again and tell them that the 28D was too tight. Maybe go to a different place this time. Different stores size different ways. Wear what makes you comfortable (wired/wireless, cotton/non-cotton). We can't tell you what will fit right for your boobs.

The showing through depends on what you choose for a work top. Are you wearing a low-cut chiffon blouse in white or cream? Then yes, it will show. Are you wearing a button-up top with elbow-length sleeves, in a solid or dark color? Then no, it won't. Try on a few work tops with your favorite pretty/lacy bra and see how it looks, both in bright office/fitting room light, and when you are sitting, or when someone taller than you is standing close to you (I had to learn this the hard way...). Cardigans can help hide bra straps if you're wearing a sleeveless blouse, too.

DRESSES
I am sure you can find dresses with sleeves, ranging from cap-sleeve to all the way down to your wrist. Tights and leggings are your friend. If the hem of the dress is super short, you could even wear jeans under it and pass it off as a long top. Wear what colors/patterns please you -- though as Kalmya said, tons of patterns/colors don't often go together well. A plainer dress with patterned tights, or a patterned dress with solid-color tights, should look great. Modcloth, another favorite of mine, has bold patterns and colors and is a bit on the pricier side, but everything is extremely cute and I find that the skirts/dresses are often a more work-appropriate length than what I find in stores. Read the reviews, because the community leaves great feedback. And they ship to the UK.

SKIRT LENGTH
Again, it depends on your office. If you work in an office full of hip young women, you may find that a shorter skirt is cool. But in my experience, it should be just above your knee. Try this old test from my Catholic elementary school: when you're standing up with your arms hanging down, is the hem of your skirt higher than your fingertips? If so, it's too short. Wear what makes you comfortable (and be aware how the people around you dress).

.......In fact, that's a pretty great rule of thumb for all of your questions, and almost makes me want to delete my entire post!! I would say buy one or two nice outfits based on my above advice for your interviews and job-hunting. Then, once you know where you'll be working, take a look at how the other women at that office are dressed. Are they wearing knee-length skirts and short-sleeved blouses, or trousers and collared shirts and blazers? Do they only wear navy and black, or are some of them wearing lime green and hot pink? Are they wearing clean sneakers, or flats/heels? What's appropriate for your office will be dictated by the specific office, and by what the existing employees are wearing.

Good luck and MeFi mail me if you want to talk more! :)
posted by wintersonata9 at 7:58 AM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]


My first question is - do you have an interview outfit? I'd focus on that first.

A lot of this stuff you will figure out through trial and error. And a lot of it will depend on where you are working. In my office, polo shirts and tees (like this for example) are acceptable and jeans are not. I have never worked in an office where cardigans are not considered appropriate.

Since you don't have a job yet, you don't really know what you need yet. Don't make yourself crazy. Go shopping, perhaps with a supportive friend. Be patient and take things slow, don't buy a ton of stuff out of a sense of "OMG HAVE TO HAVE CLOTHES". So make conservative choices that fit you well, that you feel comfortable in, and that will work in a lot of offices. At this point I would stick with just enough to get through the first week and in mostly neutral colors. Based on what you've said, perhaps 2-3 pairs of pants in neutral colors (black, gray, navy or brown), work-appropriate tees in colors you like, and a couple of cardigans or blazers.


Heels - depends on the office. Some women wear flats on their commute and keep a few pairs of heels at work. There are definitely work-appropriate flats out there.

Bra - I'm not sure if your first fitting is wrong or if you just got used to wearing a looser fit? I'd get re-fitted at a different place just to confirm. Bras shouldn't be uncomfortable, but they should fit firmly enough to support you. They're not just there to prevent your nipples from showing; they're also there so your breasts stay more-or-less in place as you move around. Going braless in an office is not something I would recommend. You could however look at sports bras, some women find them more comfortable and there are some sports bras that can work with office wear.

As much as you say you hate shopping, I'd start now so you can do it slowly and in brief bits. For now just go try things on. Try different styles in different shops. If you find something you love, make a note of the brand and the fabric and what you liked about it. Consider buying it if the price is right. While you're out shopping, get coffee in a business district where there are a lot of office workers out and about. Look at what other women are wearing. Look for women with your body type or sense of style and see if anything they're wearing clicks for you. Remember that some of these people may be overdressed or underdressed for their office so don't assume everyone else is an expert at dressing (a mistake I have made). Again, I'd go for conservative choices.

Once you get a job, discreetly observe what other people at your level and the level above are wearing, and make a few more purchases if you need to.

Also - I've seen people dress absolutely horribly for work. Too much cleavage, leggings as pants, dresses that are obviously intended for cocktail parties and not office wear, jogging pants, wrinkled shirts, etc. And I've made plenty of workwear mistakes myself. The repercussions have been minor - I've never even seen anyone asked to go home to change (except once, when an an unexpected event that required more conservative attire came up). So relax and give yourself room to be flexible and make adjustments as you go. Assume you'll probably keep tweaking your wardrobe for several years and don't have to get it all nailed down by the first day of your first job.
posted by bunderful at 8:10 AM on July 30, 2016 [3 favorites]


Some of this depends on how formal your office culture is, and what your position will be in that office. Because you don't even know where you'll be working yet, you might want to wait on purchasing an entire wardrobe. Start by buying an interview suit, then purchase the rest of your wardrobe once you understand the office culture of where you work. That said, I've tried to answer your questions below as best as I can!

The colors you mentioned are fine for all but the most conservative offices. Pastels are not inherently more office-appropriate; most colors can be fine as long as you avoid neon or aggressively trendy/bright patterns, and so long as you pair them with black, navy, or brown skirt or trousers.

A word on fabrics: you'll want to pay attention to the quality and thickness of fabrics you buy. Thin or sheer materials are generally not office-appropriate; stretchy fabrics can sometimes become see-through in certain lights or hug your body too much. Some high-quality fall and winter fabrics to look for are cashmere, merino wool, wool crepe, ponte knit (a very thick, figure-skimming knit fabric). Some high-quality summer and spring fabrics are silk, rayon, linen (though beware of wrinkles), or cotton (look for cottons that are thick enough not to be see-through in the light). In all cases, synthetic (polyester, elastane, etc.) fabrics will be cheaper and easier to wash than their natural equivalents -- but they also won't wear as well, breathe as well, or last as long. Before committing to a 100% natural fiber wardrobe, you should ask yourself how much you have to spend on this wardrobe, and how much time you have available to deal with special cleaning instructions. An all-natural-fiber wardrobe can run you into the thousands, and incur lots of extra dry-cleaning costs and/or hand-washing time -- so check the cleaning labels and consider your wallet! One compromise might be to invest a few high-quality natural-fiber blazers and skirts, and buy cheaper semi-synthetics for items you wash more frequently, like shirts and underlayers.

Bra: yes. It sounds like you don't know your size, so get a proper fitting at a specialty shop. I can't predict what you will find comfortable or uncomfortable, as it is very personal, so it's important to try on many different kinds of bras (wired and unwired, various materials) in the correct size, and choose the one you prefer. At least for the bra, you absolutely must prioritize comfort over any ideals about the material it's made out of -- a miserable, poorly fitted bra is not worth dealing with for any reason. Be prepared to spend a little more than you feel comfortable with to get 2-5 excellent bras.

As to the question about whether lace bras will show up under your clothes -- it depends on the texture of the lace and the fabric your clothes are made of. A heavily-textured lace will show up under thin, stretchy material. A very smooth lace will not show up, especially if your shirts are thicker material and not stretchy. You might wish to bring a few shirts into the fitting room with you to see what different combinations look like.

Dresses with a full knee-length skirt are perfect for your body shape. Look for "A-line", "midi" or "fit-and-flare" shapes (though beware, fit-and-flare dresses sometimes hit mid-thigh, which is too short for most offices). Avoid dresses that fit tightly below the waist (often called "sheath" or "shift" dresses). If you absolutely must have a closely fitted dress, you'll have to buy it to fit your bottom half, then bring it to a tailor to do extensive (and most likely expensive) alterations to make the top half fit.

Tights possibilities will vary depending on the formality of the office you work at. Sheer nude pantyhose are the most formal option; black or navy wool tights are somewhat less formal; black or navy thermal leggings and fleece-lined tights are even less formal; and patterned or colored tights are the least formal. In the winter, I often wear two layers of tight-fitting black thermal leggings under my skirts. Paired with warm knee-high boots, that keeps me quite warm in anything but the harshest weather -- however, my office is quite informal. If you work in a more formal office, you might consider putting on a pair of thermal leggings or woolen leg-warmers over your pantyhose for your commute, then removing them once you get to the office.

T-shirts and checked overshirts are not appropriate for anything but the most casual offices. Generally, wearing a cami as an underlayer (for warmth or modesty) is fine, but leaving most of the cami visible is quite informal. Long or short sleeves are both fine; sleeveless is quite informal.
Office top staples include:
- Woven blouse (add a cardigan or blazer for warmth)
- Collared shirt - though, with your body type and preference for longer shirts, you are going to have a hard time finding shirts that fit. If you can afford custom shirts, that might be a great investment
- Fine-knit sweaters or twinsets (a light sweater plus a matching cardigan). Cashmere is lovely if you can afford it.
- Dress + dress cardigan (these end at the waist to work better with a skirt -- I think with your body shape, you'll find they work well)
- Blazer or jacket

Trousers are most versatile in black or navy. Skin-tight is not typical for anything but an informal office. Unless you can fit a thin pair of thermal leggings under your skinny trousers, or pair them with a very warm pair of knee-high boots and a long coat, I don't think you can be warm with them.

Knee-length skirts are definitely office appropriate, and shouldn't be too tight or have high slits. Pencil skirts are an office classic; A-line skirts also work. As with trousers, black and navy are the most conservative and versatile colors. You'll probably want to avoid skirts that are overly fluffy, ruffled, patterned, or otherwise frivolous-looking, though skirts in solid, muted colors (maroon, brown, dark green) can also work just fine in anything less than the most formal office.

Black or brown leather shoes, either flats or low heels, are generally the most versatile & acceptable in most offices. Some very formal offices may require pumps, but -- you probably don't want to work there. I find that I really like Clarks shoes -- they're office appropriate, they offer extra-wide sizes, and they're comfortable enough to walk or bike to work in.

Warm things = cardigans, scarves, and underlayers. On the cardigan front, it sounds like you're describing cashmere or merino wool -- which are expensive and often a pain to clean but lovely to wear. If you can afford them, by all means buy them! Searching for "cashmere" and "merino" will help you find what you want. As I mentioned above, look for dress cardigans -- they stop at the waist and so tend to look better with most skirts. You could also look for cardigans with waist ties, which also harmonize well with skirts. As for scarves, these can help with warmth. Depending on the time of year, you may wish to wear a cashmere, silk, or cotton scarf. Often scarves can be an office-acceptable way to add some color or pattern to an otherwise conservative outfit. For underlayers, check out Uniqlo's HEATTECH line -- I've heard that these are great layers for cold winters.

Accessories are up to you! In the most formal offices, accessories basically mean pearl necklace, pearl studs, and a conservative watch. In a less conservative office, pick 1-3 items you like. Simple gold, silver, or pearl jewelry will match most of your outfits. However, if you feel like getting creative, this can be a place for you to show some of your personal style.

I don't know of many UK shops, but these are online shops that offer UK shipping and that have lots of office-appropriate clothing.
Lands End (see their dress cardigans)
J. Crew
Clarks Shoes (including wide-fit)
Modcloth (for dress cardigans)
Uniqlo (check out their HEATTECH leggings, camis, and underlayers)

And, a few other resources ... Here's a fairly good, short guide to business casual dress for women. Corporette has lots of workwear fashion guides and advice.
posted by ourobouros at 8:45 AM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]


Comfort: knits - ponte for pants; jersey; wool blends. You can get pieces (dresses, skirts, tops) that are more tailored. (Maybe forget about super high quality right now, though. That's for later. Blends are easier to care for, anyway.)

Get a few outfits that meet "business casual" criteria. I.e., A couple of pairs of pants, a skirt; tees and a cardigan to wear with those; a midi dress (will be comfy if it's a knit. Also, highly recommend belted shirt dresses). Get a 3/4 length wool coat (that's longer than your dress), a decent purse, and decent shoes (+1 oxfords & boots, maybe a comfortable pair of flats to wear at work once you've settled in).

Stores: I liked Oasis for office wear when I was in the UK; might be a little too tailored for your liking, though. I think you have Banana Republic? That is like Business Casual Depot. They will have knits, and you can usually get things on sale (actually, never pay full price at that store - sign up for their coupons, etc).
posted by cotton dress sock at 8:58 AM on July 30, 2016


Definitely don't buy too much until you get a job! Offices vary so, so much. In your position I'd want to buy one pair of pants, one pencil or A-line skirt (if you like skirts or want to try them; otherwise a second pair of pants), 3-4 blouses that are comfortable and have a couple of different sleeve types, a cardigan, and a blazer which matches one of the pairs of pants. Within this you should have an interview outfit (blazer, pants, the dressiest blouse--maybe a solid colour button down?) as well as enough put together outfits for your first week-ish on the job. That'll give you time to see what other women in the office are wearing, and then you can build from there.

A couple of other thoughts:
Shopping: While I know shopping sucks, maybe spend a couple of afternoons cruising stores that sell women's workwear. I don't know what those would be in Scotland, but find them and just peruse the goods, without any pressure to buy or even try on anything. Different stores have different styles, and once you find a couple of places you like, you can focus your shopping-energy on a real buying things day towards those spots.

Cardigans: absolutely office appropriate. It is going to depend a little bit on the office, and if your industry is super formal and you are aiming for high level positions maybe blazers are the way to go, but honestly I've worn cardigans at every job I've ever had (from upscale receptionist to financial office to small business super casual and several spots in between).

Bras: You need to wear a properly fitting one, meaning one that is comfortable for you and looks good (eg. no bumpy boobs). Take fitting advice with a grain of salt, and maybe get a second fitting. Try on lots of sizes and wear what's comfortable for you. Different sizes may fit best in different styles/brands.

Wool: Is it possible you are allergic to wool? This is a thing and maybe a possibility you should consider. If wool bothers your skin, you might not want to force yourself to wear it. I am allergic to wool, and the longer I wear a piece with wool in it the worse my skin feels. Even that sweater that felt soft and non-itchy in the store starts to feel awful about 2 hours into the day, for me. Definitely consider this and if you're determined to try wool, give it a shot with a less-expensive item first, and I would suggest that it not be pants, which I find the most irritating.
posted by snorkmaiden at 9:01 AM on July 30, 2016


By the way, I have a tip for the "cold gap" you describe when wearing button-down shirts. Wear a long cami or undershirt beneath your top, and tuck it into your trousers or your tights. You can even tuck it into your underwear if you really want it to stay put. That way, even if the shirt on top moves around, you'll still have a layer covering your middle.
posted by ourobouros at 9:09 AM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]


Bras: generally I find that you can wear pretty lacy stuff under looser woven tops but not knit tops. So there’s a tradeoff there in terms of comfort (lace doesn’t have to itch, the lacy Natori Feathers bra is my go-to everyday bra). Sizing wise—people will tell you not to size up in the band, but I’m a similar size to you on top and our ribcages just aren’t as padded as larger folks. I size as a 30B but always buy 32A (I have compared the two sizes in store and preferred the 32 band), and my “shape” is perfectly normal. The only difference is that your bra will be less supportive, which isn’t a problem for smaller-busted folks. I would recommend trying to get used to a 30C before going all the way up to 32B, though.

Also, I can get away without wearing a bra under a FEW work-appropriate tops or dresses, but it’s hit-or-miss and hard to shop for. So I’d find some bras that are comfortable and assume that you need to wear them.

Do you consider rayon or tencel/lyocell to be a “natural” fiber? (They are manmade from natural materials.) If so, that will expand your work options a lot in terms of tops. Rayon is stretchy and drapey and comfortable on its own.

Dresses: Look for fit-and-flare or A-line cuts! They will flare out at the hips so it doesn’t matter what size you are on bottom.

Shoes: look for wide sizes, and try to have at least 2 pairs of dress shoes that you rotate between. They will last longer than just wearing out one pair.
posted by serelliya at 9:24 AM on July 30, 2016


I know exactly what you mean about the need to be comfortable - your description about what you can and can't stand to wear sounds exactly like me. For natural fibers, you will probably really like the tops from woolovers. You have to buy them online but they are great about returns and they stock lots of colours in each style. They have cotton and silk, not just wool, and lovely blends of these and no polyester.

I really like the non-underwire bras from uniqlo as being much more comfortable than the normal underwire stuff, plus they are slightly padded so nipples won't show. Lace is itch and uncomfortable and I would avoid it.

You will need a different pair of shoes for the office rather Han wearing cycling shoes, if only to keep your office shoes looking good. Ecco does great shoes, and Clarks do too. Hotter shoes are very comfortable (except the weird very high heels they've started doing) but I don't think they're well made anymore so don't tend to last.

Finally, it depends on the office, but generally I've noticed that people in Scotland tend to wear fewer bright colours and dress in a it more of a drab way than in America. If I were you I'd buy an interview outfit, a skirt, a pair of trousers and two nice knitted tops. Then wait to see what everyone else is wearing before you buy more.
posted by hazyjane at 9:44 AM on July 30, 2016


Your idea of office wear sounds fairly conservative. It depends heavily on the industry and the office itself but I don't know many offices where (for example) strong colours or non-black trousers would be frowned upon.

For examples, look at stuff like this: http://www.redonline.co.uk/fashion/what-to-wear/our-summer-workwear-edit#image=15

Mainly, before you actually get a job you need an interview outfit. For this, one of my friends who is a professional type, swears by getting an appointment with a personal shopper at a department store. Debenhams do them and there is (genuinely) no obligation to buy anything. They will just help you to find stuff that suits you and matches your criteria.

For bras, I would suggest you get measured at Bravissimo. They are the best fitters ive ever heard of (short of Rigby and Peller).

Finally, if you know the industry you want to work in, I would suggest going to x offices at about lunchtime and watching what the people coming and going are actually wearing.
posted by threetwentytwo at 9:57 AM on July 30, 2016


Lots of good advice above, so I'll just throw in a brand reccommendation - Howies are a sports-focused brand with an emphasis on organic, ethical, recycled, UK-made, etc.

Because it's sporty the fit tends to be relaxed which isn't super smart, but always worth looking out for good quality basics e.g. this perfectly work appropriate polo. As a short 10-ish I go for the small, if you're comfortably an 8 then you can probably opt for XS because of the more relaxed fit.

Oh! And edited to add that they're good for the colder weather gear too, obviously!
posted by AFII at 10:06 AM on July 30, 2016


I have never, in my 30 year career (spanning trade publishing, IT, law firms, nonprofits, universities and military contracting) found an office environment where flats, comfortable black or gray trousers, a high quality, brightly colored(!) natural fiber(!) t shirt and a relaxed blazer was ever inappropriate. Scarves are a great cold weather accessory for the office, and a nice body temperature adjuster.

Get a couple pairs of trousers, five shirts and a two or three relaxed blazers. Wear a cami under the t shirt if it's v necked. Get the size of your shirt in the Tall option to prevent that gap!

Don't think of a "bra fitting" as a way to designate your size. Every time you go to buy bras, ask for a fitting. The bra lady (try for someone elderly) will get you a good, comfortable fit no matter what the labeled size. Get a fitter and buy three each time you go bra shopping for the rest of your life.

Keep the blazers and flats at the office.

I do not dress like this at work, I wear tunics and leggings, but the point of the Starter Pack is to get you comfortable with a baseline. You should never wear any uncomfortable clothing, ever. They ARE the patriarchy.

Then you see what other kinds of things you might like that will work and build towards a wardrobe you love and feel perfect in!
posted by The Noble Goofy Elk at 10:51 AM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]


I agree with those who are telling you to wait until you have a job. Different workplaces have different dress codes. Some are absurdly picky and conservative, but even the most casual workplaces can have unwritten codes, and there can be surprisingly little overlap at times. I've worked in some tech companies in particular where the only people who dressed in office type clothing were receptionists and salespeople, and the 'higher status' tech employees dressed like slobs.

But you should get an interview outfit, maybe a light wool suit and a couple of button down shirts or shells in silk or another silky fabric. One of the main reasons people tend to wear conservative colors in offices is that suits are expensive, so you end up rewearing them pretty frequently, and it's a little easier to fly under the radar wearing the same things a couple times a week if those things aren't orange or bright blue or something.
posted by ernielundquist at 11:28 AM on July 30, 2016


One thought on the ethical piece: if you buy stuff used, you can disregard a lot of that.
posted by salvia at 2:05 PM on July 30, 2016


Monsoon might be a good fit for you - bright colours, comfortable etc.
posted by Lotto at 2:19 PM on July 30, 2016


Accessories: Wear a watch, as ourobouros mentioned. A simple watch polishes most outfits and is a more professional, discreet way to check time than pulling out a cell phone. It just looks more adult.

When you can, invest in quality, well-made shoes and handbags - you'd be surprised at how much easier it is to pull off cheap H&M type stuff when you pair it with good shoes and bags.

And for goodness sake don't suffer uncomfortable bras. They'll ruin your day and make even a comfy, stylish outfit feel awkward.
posted by space_cookie at 2:35 PM on July 30, 2016


I've run an office in the uk for many years, and been married for more. In my experience women worry far more than they need to about office clothes. Very little is going to be "inappropriate", although your choices will be more about defining yourself than anything else. If you go bonkers with bright orange, tie-dyed or 'hippy' stuff, you're going to end up being labelled as such. In an office, people usually want you to appear reliable rather than 'quirky'.

If you take any reasonable amount of care about your appearance, it pretty much doesn't matter what that appearance is. Avoid t-shirts and track suits, sure. And, as said above, get an interview suit if you don't have one. Unless you're looking to work in a painfully up-to-the-minute trendy company, you'll be fine.

Get two or three outfits together that you reckon you could wear to see, say, the bank manager, and plan to go shopping after the first week once you've sussed out the lie of the land. Don't go spending more than you want to until you're sure it's the right thing to do.
posted by tillsbury at 3:19 PM on July 30, 2016 [1 favorite]


When you get the job, be guided by the dress and grooming of women a little older and little more advanced than you. Look the part of the person you want (professionally) to become.
posted by MattD at 4:57 PM on July 30, 2016 [2 favorites]


So, I don't know your budget, but John Smedley does really wonderful knitwear (sweaters, dresses, skirts, t-shirts) in the most wonderful merino, cotton and/or silk. Nice colors, good shape, excellent quality. The sales are usually very good too (lots of sizes & colors available and good price reductions). I got fed up with the international shipping (I'm in the US) but until I did I got some great pieces at a very good price on sale there.
posted by crush-onastick at 5:08 PM on July 30, 2016


I have wide feet, work in a UK office & have the currently unfashionable idea that I should actually be able to walk comfortably in my shoes. The best brand I have found for looking professional & being comfortable are Marks & Spencers Footglove Wide Fitting.

Also, in recent years in London at least, A very large proportion of people wear trainers to walk to work, then change into their office shoes (kept in their desk drawer) on arrival, then change back again to walk home / to the station st the end of the day.
posted by cantthinkofagoodname at 1:07 AM on July 31, 2016


Also, as someone else touched on above, second hand is excellent for professional clothes in the UK, which is probably ethically better than buying any brand new?. I buy all my office wear on EBay. You can get almost new, excellent condition clothes there, for 25% of their new price. I recommend trying things on in high street shops, so that you get to know which brands fit your shape, and which size in that brand fits you, then just go & search EBay for the relevant brands & sizes.

I think of reasonable price, UK shops for office wear as Marks & Spencers, Next, Zara, Dorothy Perkins, H&M.
posted by cantthinkofagoodname at 1:12 AM on July 31, 2016


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