New work wardrobe - YouLookFab Forum

Hi y'all. I have found this site immensely helpful in figuring out fit and style and was hoping you might be able to offer some advice to my mom. She is in her fifties and trying to enter a different field of work (long time coming) and it will require a more business casual wardrobe. She is trying to get a few workhorses for interviews and then build up the rest of the wardrobe later. The hunt is currently on for tops that will work for spring/summer when it eventually warms up. Any advice would be appreciated.

Particulars:
Pear shaped, XL on top ( not really in plus size, the worst in between zone)
Proportions are on the petite side for tops.
Sleeves of some sort are a must, preferably at least elbow length or a little shorter.
Stylistically something more conservative but also something that would give her confidence walking into an interview.

Lastly, we are in Canada and international shipping is the worst so any suggestions for brands or stores in Canada would be great.

10 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I am not familiar with Canadian brands.

Do you have a Talbots, Banana Republic, or Ann Taylor near you?

Dimity

Active Member

Best wishes to your mum in her new adventures. When I lived in Canada, I regularly tripped to Michigan and New York state because the choice and prices were so much wider. Perhaps it's time for a mother-daughter weekend away!

Tina

Good luck to your mom. I'm in my 50's and I work from home so have a limited "client meeting/professional event" wardrobe that is a little more pulled together than I normally wear. I always feel more professional/polished if I have a jacket or at least a cardigan on over my top, even with jeans and a t-shirt. (This is especially true since I can't wear button-up shirts — they either don't fit in the shoulders or they don't button). Also, shoes with closed heels look more professional than sandals, sling backs or mules and heels aren't necessary no matter how stylish if she doesn't normally wear them.

The most important thing -- she needs to decide what FEELS good as well as LOOKS good. If she's uncomfortable but looks polished, it's going to take away from dazzling in an interview.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

I was just at JC Penneys and was struck by how fashion forward their Worthington line had gotten for business casual workwear, and they have a lot of petites. Is there a similar store in Canada? I'd want to go to somewhere similar, a department store, and just try on a lot of things and see what works. Does she need suits for interviews, or will separates work? If she doesn't already have a couple pairs of well fitting slacks, I'd start there. If she's an XL in tops, she might want to try any local plus size stores just in case, like Avenue or Lane Bryant.

Daria

When we were living in Canada, my mom would shop at Reitmans every time she visited. But she is a teacher so her style is probably more casual than what your mom is looking for.
Talbots is a good advice for classic good quality business wardrobe but not sure there are any locations left in Canada (the only store in Montreal closed few years back).

DonnaF

How about Cleo (or is it Clio?) Petites? Our Transcona Shannon has purchased a number of fab dresses from them.

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