Hello!
As VSs might potentially be in person this summer, I’ve realised I desperately need to update my wardrobe.
Does anyone have recommendations for good places to buy office-wear clothing, particularly for women? I know Zara, H&M and M&S can be decent low-cost high-street options but I worry that the quality won’t be as good? Is this something that other people notice as well (just bc I’ve heard of stories of people judging others for not wearing a tailored designer suit lol)?
Also what is appropriate clothing generally for the office? I feel like it’s harder for women because although there’s more choice, there’s also potentially more ways to go wrong! Are coloured suits/shirts acceptable? Boucle jackets? A nice midi dress? What is too casual? I feel as though I’ve seen a mix of those amongst professionals but at the same time have also seen a lot more formal attire…
Previous internships I’ve experienced were a lot more informal in comparison to commercial law!
It would be so great and helpful to hear suggestions - I’m someone who enjoys fashion/dressing nicely but I’ve never really shopped properly for professional clothing (as you can likely tell)!
Thanks so much in advance!
I am a career changer from a low-paid industry with limited wardrobe requirements (think Mickey Mouse T-shirts, Converse and many frumpy colleagues) but I have also worked in luxury brands. It's fantastic that you are thinking 'buy once buy well'. The general idea is to think of '30 wears' as the number to aim for as a minimum. BUT there is also a difference between buying to keep yourself confident in a vac scheme/interview and investing in a good wardrobe over time. It need not be expensive but it's difficult to do overnight. So prioritising a few basics as suggested above is exactly right. Yes to your bouclé jacket, midi dress etc, as long as you like them.
The point about dressing well is that, arguably, it reflects how you approach your work. Dressing with care and making the most of yourself shows that you are ready to make an effort to be put together and polished. There is a difference between cheap (tacky, poorly made) and inexpensive. Buying designer does not guarantee you will look good!
Some High Street stores are working really hard to have a more transparent supply chain. But it's also good to experiment with other budget-friendly solutions.
1 - my top tip remains eBay. The most worn piece I own is a black Moschino blazer with satin lapels that I have had for maybe 10 years, bought used from eBay (c£35). It's incredibly durable and is instantly smarter than a floppy cardigan. But I've also got tops from Zara that I've had for years, that wash really well and have been looked after. My finest lockdown scores have been a black Max Mara lightweight wool suit for £30 and a Prada cotton navy suit for £20. I know my size in those brands, I use the sniping tool Auctionstealer which saves any stress about paying too much: you literally put in your max price, say a random £43.26, and it bids for you. Great tailoring brands when you get your mojo include Armani, Cerutti, Max Mara - you don't need to pay. But equally, these aren't necessary, and it can be risky when you are new to the game.
When buying vintage there are clear rules - don't buy anything stained; or with buttons missing (check again on arrival); ensure the seller has great feedback and responds when you write for measurement; go for classic shapes (single-breasted suits, for example). eBay is great for High Street brands with strong tailoring like Mango, Me + Em, Zara, Reiss, Whistles and M&S.
The other way to go on eBay is higher-end. DVF wrap dresses are a favourite of mine: they are usually made from silk jersey, so stretchy and great all year, and they are really flattering. I'd expect to pay maybe £30-£55 depending on the print. DVF wrap tops are also brilliant: you can wear them over a Uniqlo thermal polo neck in winter. I did buy a travel steamer as I'm a fan of a well-cut white shirt, but I'm not keen on ironing.
2 - use accessories to work with what you have! Missoni scarves can jazz the simplest of looks up (Zoom too!) and change the mood completely. You can also find vintage silk scarves like Dior, Oscar de la Renta and YSL in fantastic colours for very little - say £5-15 or in a job lot so you can give some to friends. You can experiment at home - no one wants to look froufrou, but a bit of colour and texture can work wonders.
3 - sample sales! They used to be the one-off samples made by the designers to see if the products worked or needed adjustment. These days it's just last season's stock. Chicmi is a good platform, as are Showcase, The Music Room and My Little Bird. Yoox and The Outnet are outlets for the Net-a-Porter group. You can save items to your wishlist if you aren't feeling flush or want to reflect. You can find beautiful pieces at a fraction of the original retail cost.
4 - general sales. Fenwick is amazing; Selfridges can be (less so online) and John Lewis carries some really budget-friendly brands with panache. Look at Boden, Max Mara, Massimo Dutti and high street brands as above.
5 - charity shops - as someone said earlier. You will get to know your local ones. Oxfam has turned this into a fine art so in West London, they have a dedicated designer Oxfam, and similar online. There there will be a bonanza in the autumn, lots of spring cleaning having been done over lockdown.
6 - find a great tailor. Your dry cleaner can take up and let down hems for a very small amount, though taking in a dress or lined blazer is more skilled. What
@HorsesForCoursesNeighNeighNeigh says about M&S end of sale dresses is great advice
7 - Overall, you can go a very long way with a few simple pieces that just fit you well. Sick with neutral block colours for your main pieces, like navy, brown or black, and add colour with a top, or a scarf. Get a Topshop or M&S blazer that fits you and upgrade later when you're ready to move on.
@Dheepa's list is ideal (you really only need a few options) - also consider a sleeveless tailored blazer for summer.
8 - For general styling, it can be helpful is to generate adjectives you are hoping to project: elegant, smart, structured, understated, that kind of thing. In fashion, 'edgy' is great but not so much in law - though no one wants to be 'flashy' 'staid' or 'mumsy'. If you aren't sure about a piece, see if it fits those adjectives and if not, move on. It's also fun to find an older, professional style icon and think, would (say, your glamorous aunty/Gina Miller/Rachel Weisz/Emma Watson/whoever) wear this for work? How can you emulate those clean lines? Definitely not too much flesh on show. Wider trousers and longer skirts are easier to move in. Black opaque tights hide a multitude of sins.
9 - Regarding shoes, comfort and fit are key. No one will care that you aren't wearing heels but if you are distracted by painful feet, that's unhelpful and unprofessional. Loafers are versatile and structured? Stick to closed toes eg slingbacks in summer. Russell & Bromley (in the sale), M&S, Office and Dune have some great styles (and I think Office have a student discount). It's better to get one great pair to wear for years that make you feel like a real lawyer than several uncomfortable pairs that are too high and poorly fitting and look like you borrowed them. (I've always loved shoes... Clergerie, Nicholas Kirkwood, Charlotte Olympia...)
10 - be your own 'judge'. Don't worry about being judged. If you have dressed with care and thought, in clothes that fit you and reflect who you are albeit in a toned-down form, you will feel confident and good about yourself. And if they are really going to take this to the wire, as with
@Jessica Booker's shoe debacle, then you don't want to work for them anyway.
