You are all so wonderful - it's like the most warm fashionable hug ever!

Sounds like edged up suits are the way to go here. I am going to try Theory but suspect I may be too petite for the pants. Any other brand ideas? Perhaps I could splurge on a Helmut Lang jacket.

I LOVE the idea or edged up suits. Helmut Lang sounds perfect for the occasion! And shoes - you can use shoes to channel that UWP spirit!

Congratulations again on the job, I am sure you will be great in your new position.

Sorry about your friend and all stress you had last week - HUGS!!!

Is that important for you dress UWP for work? I mean I wear hospital issued unisex scrubs and clogs. I just go all out on my off days.
I trained at a site that required professional dress under a lab coat. I wore a lot of Club Monaco, great pants. If I ended up back in a situation where I had to dress professionally I would just do it because I'm there to do a job and would rather be judged by my work than my dress.

Anna, it's not THAT important, but having just figured out my style recently and gotten a handle on it, I'd like to find a way to transition some part of that to what I have to wear 5 days a week. Edgy menswear suits would definitely fit the bill, if I can only find the right one!

Hugs, Una! So sorry about your friends, but so excited about the new job!

I definitely think edged up suits are the way to go. Bold colors, bold shapes, fun textures, funky shoes! I have had good luck with Express pants.

Mary, I just tried on 4 pairs (2 styles, 2 sizes) in Express pants and they all looked horrible! I struggle so much with dress pants... Am ordering some from Theory, and wondering if maybe j. crew will work also.

I have a pair of J Crew Minnies and I love them. Don't know whether cropped pants will work for you but I recommend them highly!

And also? I tried on like 8 pair of Express pants before the ninth pair turned out to be my very faves ever.

Una, Don't worry about having your new look all figured out when you start the job. You have plenty of great looks already....and with the addition of a suit you'll be fine to start out with. After a few months on the job you'll have a better feel for what you need to tweak or add to your wardrobe.

Sending you and your friend hugs. So very very sad.

Una, what trousers from which stores have worked for you? It will help identify cuts and fits. I know we are both IT tending.

Una, I'm so sorry about your friend's loss. Hugs to all of you as you move through these final days.

You will ROCK the suits. Wow - I can't stand how fab you will be. Love Rae's link. And I know you've already got some outfits put together that will work in the meantime. Maybe go thru your past pics and choose some that will help you transition, and you won't feel so lost.

What Nancy said. This will be a fun thing to figure out when you have the time and the energy; absolutely no need to figure it all out now.

So sad about your friend. My heartfelt condolences.

Hi Una --

Again, congratulations on the job and condolences on your friend; so tough to have such divided emotions swirling around.

Because I think you've been running running running for months now to support your friend and the family, get the new job, and take care of your commitments,I'm going to be a little tough love-y and directive. Feel free to ignore....

1) Focus on getting your work clothing together for the 2-3 months, not worrying about what you'll be wearing for the next 5 years. If you can incorporate favorite items/stealth style persona stuff in what you pull together, great. If not, re-evaluate as fall rolls around in light of what you've learning about your environment.

2) You drop a lot at Nordstrom. Make an appointment with a personal stylist, and take anything that may be remotely work appropriate in with you in case she can help you find friends for items you have. If they have suits that work for you, awesome. [You do wear dresses a fair bit, so I wouldn't rule out getting a pantsuit with a matching sheath in there.]

If you didn't have such sad stuff going on with your friend, I'd have no hesitation saying, "Woman, you need to focus! Get a 2-week capsule that makes you look like you embody the qualities for which you were hired and figure out if you can personalize it later!"

So let's pretend all the hard stuff isn't going on -- because to those who don't know you (aka all the new job clients/colleagues) it isn't. And they will be checking you out from every angle...appearance, attitude, work product.

Meanwhile, if you're anything like me you and most you'll be a mix of invigorated and drained (intellectually/emotionally) from the whole starting over thing. You'll be grateful for your capsule, trust me...the control thing YLFers mentioned above will be in play. Plus I bet you'll enjoy the challenge of taking the conservative items in another direction if/when you can.

Good luck!

Hugs Una!

I think there are some fabulous ideas here already so I just wanted to add that I really love your UWP style and I really do think you can find a way to make this work in your new working world - I can't wait to see how it happens for you!

Oh and.. not sure anyone mentioned this, but what about getting some items custom made for you?

Una, you are such a good friend. I'm sorry about everything sad that is going on in your life right now and I'm sending you hugs as well.

Congratulations on your new job! How exciting/scary/invigorating/frustrating that you have to come up with a work capsule. I have no doubt that you will rise to the challenge and now only find a look that passes muster, but will exceed everyone's expectations, including ours. Hang in there girlfriend!

You are expending amazing energy right now --- new job, intense and sorrowful times with your friends, and more.

Looking good and feeling like yourself in your clothes probably adds to your strength for the day, which may be why a need to create a "professional" appearance is so discombobulating!

I'd encourage you to take it one day (and one outfit) at a time. What about creating some FFBO for that you truly love and feel are a good fit with the environment? You could repeat these often at first, until you feel like you're off and running at your job. You may feel differently, but I'd have a hard time feeling confident and prepared at a new job if I were wearing clothes that didn't somehow feel like "me."