Bit of an update, and WIW first week back at f/t work - YouLookFab Forum

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Bit of an update, and WIW first week back at f/t work

anne

Veteran

So, I have now been back at work in the city for 2 weeks. My job is going well and I have been able to handle it, despite not doing that type of work since 2004!

On the clothing front, the first day, as I posted earlier, I had to borrow clothes from Mum. I have also included clothes from my first week. My photos fell down after that (because DH came back, along with heaps of stuff and I couldn't find room to open the door enough to take a pic) but I repeated day 2 and also wore the suit from 3 again with a teal PB blouse

I am not happy with outfit 5-6 - very bad PPL for one thing

I have since discovered Friday is casual and we can wear jeans. I am even seeing people wearing leggings as pants!!

Your critical comments are most welcome. I am open to developing my work wardrobe so suggestions for other items are welcome too.

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18 replies

Latest reply was from

Asingh

(website)

Veteran

Anne, outfit no.1 looks good. It's got a bohemian vibe!

anne

Veteran

Thanks asingh it is the least my style though being all mum's clothes. I was abit hot too and took off the scarf

Lyn D.

Veteran

Hi Anne, outfits 1-4 are lovely- good that you are getting wear out of the white jacket too.
Agree about the pants in 5-6- maybe you could keep to wear with flats in a casual setting instead?
Great that you can wear jeans on Fridays, you will look super Fab along side leggings with pants people!
I like your suit in 3- looking quite professional there.

Lantana

Veteran

Hi Anne, it is so good to hear the new job is going well.
The white jacket with grey top/dress(?) is a lovely colourway on you. The suit looks good. Can you mix and match the white jacket with the suit skirt? And the suit jacket with the red dress? It seems you have lots of possibilities here. Would you achieve PPL with the pants in #5-6 if you wore them with the flats from #3 ?
At this stage of the year it's probably not worth developing your winter work wardrobe; are you starting to think spring? I am!

Moe

In pic 2 I can't tell whether it is the grey shirt or white jacket or both but the color combo looks fab on you. It really brings out your eyes. Not a fan of the pants in 5. I personally discovered with work wear it is much easier to find ppp skirts than pants. PPP work pants are the hardest thing ever! Congrats on your return to work and hope you and the family are holding up well in the transition.

kkards

Veteran

glad the 1st week went well. love the blazer in #2. and the red in #4. the color is fab on you. have you tried that dress with the blazer from #2?
so jealous that you get to wear jeans on fridays!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good job, Anne! You made it through the storm!

You did a stellar job raiding Mums closet, you know. You look stunning in that shade of blue matched with red. For future reference!

#2, #3 and #4 are great!

And perhaps a pair of longer trousers on your shopping list

Anne, you are looking so fit, happy and beautiful.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Anne --

I think new jobs are always tough, so congrats on making it through the first few weeks of a new job + move + re-entry into the workforce after so much time off!

I really like all of these looks for the "modern office," so to speak, even the unloved #6 since with a small adjustment/swap to longer length it would be fine.

Agree that the color of the grey dress in #2 looks gorgeous on you, as does your mother's scarf in #1. More of that when you start building up your wardrobe, please!

Given what you've said about office, your preferences/coloring, your busy life, and your budget I'd think of trying to build a "travel capsule" as a foundation. You'll just be traveling to work.

I'd pick two neutral shades (maybe that warm grey and navy?) and try to buy some good basics in those shades.
Since I know they're harder to fit for you, don't worry about buying pants.
Look for skirts, dresses, cardigan/vest/blazers, and sweaters/blouses that are in your chosen solids and/or have one of those colors mixed into the print.
Wear workwear when you shop (and if you can drag along more, even better) so you can try things on and see how they look together in terms of texture, color, and proportion.

I know it seems a little boring, but you can add interest with scarves, jewelry, and so on and then expand out your color range.

If it helps any, here's a post I wrote about the 10 new pieces I bought to help me expand my spring/summer workwear.

My warm weather (mostly) work capsule

Beth Ann

Veteran

Congratulations, Anne, on embracing the challenge with everything you've got!
You're making great use of your boots, and your fits (with the minor issue of leg length in the pants) are looking good, too.
I
Being able to wear jeans on Friday is a plus, since it allows you a little more of your week invested in smart casual items that you could enjoy of your off hours, too.

anne

Veteran

Thanks for all the feedback! I should say for the sake of honesty that the scarf in pic one is actually mine. And yes Angie teal and red has been a favorite combo of mine for some years now!

I had hemmed the pants for flats, but forgot and because I took the outfit to the inlaws to stay the night I couldn't change when I tried them on. I don't usually wear them for casual but I could. I have noticed that this cut of trousers is very little seen on the young in the city - they go for slim cuts. However I don't think I'll be buying them with all my thigh and short leg issues. As Vix suggested, I'll keep way from pants!

Lantana - yes I agree, probably not worth buying any more for winter. There isn't that much in the shops anyway.

Lyn - I am certainly wear the white jacket as much as possible since it is a trendy cut and I LOVE wearing white. (PS you know what I wore on the Mon on the second week - will show a pic soon!)

Moe - think the photo with the white jacket may have looked better than the others because it was taken outside though. But I certainly feel more up to date in that outfit. And yes pants are a nightmare. I only buy them every 10 years!

Khards - good idea to try the red dress with the white jacket.

Angie - thanks for the boost!

Vix thanks for the advice. Interestingly navy and grey were part of the dress code at my previous job, and I discovered I had quite a bit in those colours.
I am pretty good at keeping in my colour palette I think (white, grey, black blue red and pink)
As usual. I Loved looking at your post Vix - really wonderful pictures. You also gave me the idea of trying out using a knot like you did to rein in some of my summer tops and make them suitable for work wear.

I am pretty keen to expand the wardrobe with as few pieces as possibly, partly because I am in more crowded circumstances now (DH and I have less than half the wardrobe and drawer space as we are in the single bedroom I grew up in). So I may not get anything but if I do.

I am thinking some booties (probably black to help mitigate the leg shortening effects) a patterned dress and patterned top - maybe a shell or perhaps a peplum top. I am very short on pattern.

anne

Veteran

Beth Ann - thanks - we were writing at the same time. I agree about the casual Fridays. I haven't bought any casual clothes yet this winter and this makes me even more keen to get something. Still trying to decide whether to get coloured or blue/ black skinnies.

I forgot to add above how please I was that I upgraded my black cardi to one in better quality (after 5 years) It has been a lifesaver especially with slightly unpredictable office heating.

Becky

Veteran

Hi, Anne! You've already gotten lots of great feedback, but I'll go ahead and share my thoughts, even though many of them have already been mentioned by others:

You look fab in red! One of my favorite colors too.

#1 is one of my faves even though they aren't your clothes!

I do like the blue and white combo in #2, but think I would prefer each piece with something more sleek so that their volume doesn't compete with each other. For example, the white jacket with the red dress in #4 and a cropped, shrunken cardi or cropped white denim jacket with the dress.

#3 looks very professional. I think I would prefer with the top tucked so it doesn't show below the jacket, but that is probably just a personal preference.

#4 is very nice, and would be even better with a shorter cardi, to my eye.

I like what you've done with #5-6. Can you swap the boots for black flats to get closer to PPL?

Great job putting together a work wardrobe after years as a motg! Our lives are paralleling in some ways: I go back full time next month after being at home since 2003. Think I have my work wardrobe sorted. Definitely a lot of dresses and skirts in addition to a few well-fitting pairs of pants.

Anonymous

Thank you for letting us know how things are going. You are doing a great job and looking professional.

unfrumped

Veteran

Really good outfits from your wardrobe and your mom's. I love how you stayed cool and made a great outfit at the last minute --i would have panicked!
Red is a super color on you. #4 is fab. I'd try pushing up the sleeves--that can help the proportions with the slightly longer cardi. It's almost impossible to keep all of the precise lengths of toppers for different dresses, skirts, pants.

I hear you on PPL's. I have a couple of pairs of pants that seemed to shrink upward even though I thought I had them hemmed for a slight heel. I can only wear the flattest shoes with them. If not able to do that with these, then plan for replacements. But I agree that you rock dresses, so maybe you'll just bypass both PPL's and the dreaded pants fit issue.

Keep up the good work and try some of the re-mixing suggested with your classic pieces.

anne

Veteran

Thanks unfrumped. I Hear you on the difficulty of getting toppers right. I do have a pleather moto which is a better length which I have worn before.
I am sure I have had your pants experience too!

anne

Veteran

Thanks joy and becky. Becky we really are twinnies aren't we.

anne

Veteran

I forgot to say that I agree with you Becky about outfit 3. It would look better tucked. However the skirt doesn't fit well enough in the waist to tuck andI haven't had altered as it is comfortable for a fluctuating waist size.

Anonymous

I'm so glad to hear your new job is going well, and that you are now joined by DH (and the heaps of stuff he brought, lol). You did a great job with what you had Anne. And your mum is much more stylish than mine ever was, lucky for you. Work wear is the hardest thing for me to get right. Vix had some really great suggestions. Now I want to go read her thread!