Work clothes?

mood

Hi, I'm looking for a new office based job and need to update my warerobe (on a budget) as I intend to dress smarter. Any suggestions as what to wear? Don't want to look boring or middle aged (I'm 30). If you have seem any good articles and pictures in magazines I would love the name.

Lainabaina

Haven't got any articles to offer but i always felt that accessories could make a really plain outfit stand out, so that you could get plain or pinstripe trousers/skirt with a plain jumper/cardi in a nice colour and jazz it up with beads or bracelets from Accessorize or Dorothy Perkins.

DP do a good, affordable range of knitwear (what a middle-aged word for jumpers and the like!) in fashionable cuts so they aren't that plain, and Dunnes has a young professional range that's grand for basic skirts or trousers.

taram

New Look have some lovely stuff, really pretty work blouses and nice pinstripe suits.

Creamy Goodness

male/female?

no point people recommending you buy a skirt if your a guy unless you work as a log thrower in scotland or a complete fag like david beckham.

Seoid

You don't need suits for every day probably - shirts and plain or pinstripe trousers are always good - Dunnes are great if you're on a budget. Knitwear (i.e. thin jumpers) are great for this time of year - again Dunnes is good - and you can wear them over shirts for added bulk. If you're female, AWear have some good options as well.

mood

Good point! I'm female.

ladyella

Seoid wrote: »

You don't need suits for every day probably - shirts and plain or pinstripe trousers are always good - Dunnes are great if you're on a budget. Knitwear (i.e. thin jumpers) are great for this time of year - again Dunnes is good - and you can wear them over shirts for added bulk. If you're female, AWear have some good options as well.

+1 for Dunnes. They have decent black, brown or cream trousers for 15 euros! They are perfect for work

theo2008

Dunnes really are great. Their clothes are reasonably priced and very long lasting. I personally love M&S and Next for smart workwear. They have really well tailored clothing and while a bit pricier than Dunnes etc it's good to invest in a few nice skirts and shirts.

glitterbugs

I have to say go to dunnes,,,most stylish at a very resonable price,,,their savida range can be good.Im lucky my boss is not very strict can wear pretty much what suits me.

golden gal

I would suggest get two well fitting pairs of black trousers and a black high waisted skirt to start you off. H and M have a gorge high waisted jersey skirt in at the mo for only e14.90, and Dunnes or DP do reasonable trousers. Then get three different coloured shirts,loads of places are doing deals on shirts now like DP have 2 for £20 http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?parent_category_rn=88619&top=Y&langId=-1&storeId=12552&catalogId=20552&categoryId=88625&beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=true . Then try to be creative with the outfits. A nice shirt can be worn closed with a nice necklace, open with a vest top or jersey top, closed with a scarf, closed and under a cardi and loads more ways. You can alternate the tops with the skirt and trousers to really different looks. Like the skirt can be work with the shirt tucked in one day and out the next etc. Here is a fab dress that could be formal enough for work but also for a night out http://www.awear.com/Dresses/Belted-Jersey-Cowl-Neck-Dress/invt/10400773 and its only e40

Zippie84

my favourite for work suits is next but their prices are not for those on a budget (hence why i've only ever managed to buy about one out of there!)

secondly, i love new look.... look smart and really really good prices, but they don't seem to have as good a selection as they used to.... and more and more their suits are plain black, whereas they used to have some stuff that was way nicer.... maybe in the bigger stores it'd be better...

dorothy perkins is great for workwear.... good selection.... smark looking, and really decent prices... peronally i can find them to be funny fitting though sometimes, so make sure to try on first..... funny fitting doesn't seem to be as bad as they used to, but maybe that's just my body shape changed!!

finally, i never would have thought of marks and spencer, but in december i got a few gorgeous suits in there at decent prices, that everyone complemented me on when i wore them, so m & s definitely worth the look....

i see a good few people recommended dunnes.... i agree on prices, but take a suit from one of the above and one from dunnes, and you can even feel the difference from touching them, dunnes feels like such a lighter material etc. if you are only going to wear the clothes occassionally i wouldb recommend dunnes but not if you're wearing the clothes all the time and want them to last... edit: i haven't tried dunnes savida, and i'm sure they are a better quality

dunnes grand for shirts, jumpers etc. though just not suits


as with anything really, but for all of the above stops, since you're on a budget, must better trying to get up to Northern Ireland to purchase if it is feasible for you to do so, as you will definitely notice the savings..

ArphaRima

Get a few copies of GQ for ideas.
Actual shopping you can do online. If not I think H&M do a good line of designer styled, but high-street priced gear.

yellowcurl

asos.com have loads of work-type clothes. You can try them and if you don't like them, you can send them back for a refund.

idontknowmyname

I find you can get some nice pieces in A-Wear. Next is a staple for work gear- all my suits come from there. I go to their sales at 5am and get what I need and for a fraction of the price. New Look have good pieces, topshop and oasis would be my main places to buy work gear.

stylist

mood wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking for a new office based job and need to update my warerobe (on a budget) as I intend to dress smarter. Any suggestions as what to wear? Don't want to look boring or middle aged (I'm 30). If you have seem any good articles and pictures in magazines I would love the name.

hi there!
workwear on a budget is very difficult as you should always dress for the job you want and not the job you have! anyway, next is best value for suits and shirts considering fabric, cut and durability. buy one black/dark grey suit and 2x same suit trousers. your jacket won't wear as quickly. alternate trousers every day to prolong life and hang jacket on wooden hanger. shirts in next are good also but remember T K Max!! they do fab designer shirts for the price of next etc. quality is amazing. i must add though that your GROOMING is what will make you look very professional. hair, washed blow dried every day, nails perfect, make-up...less is more, and shoes; buy the best you can afford. keep jewellery to a minimum though. anything else?