Work dresses which aren't too smart

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Lily
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Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Lily »

I've got a load of these and they don't suit me. They are so comfy and convenient for work (and in general) but I also don't want to look like something out of French and Saunders.


Sorry for the grumpy face, I'm just tired.

I love wearing them with my Snag tights.

Can anyone suggest anything else please? Thanks.

Oh FFS the bastsrd things are still the wrong way around. I give up
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Luna
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Luna »

Oh Lily, your grumpy face did make me smile ! There’s nothing wrong with that shape and if it’s comfy then crack on. The only other style I’d suggest would be a wrap style dress.

This from Unfolded pops up a lot on my feed
3409DFC1-9866-4309-9335-938BAEC81E77.jpeg

And this website has a lot of cute dresses.
C98448C1-68B4-49E9-AB4E-CAD9B29339D3.jpeg
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geek_kitten
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by geek_kitten »

Your grumpy face resonates deeply with me, Lily!

I wear a lot of "comfy, not too smart" dresses for work, so if it's helpful: I'm curvy, not tall, proportionally have wide shoulders and a wide back with a defined smaller waist, wide hips and a weightlifter's bum and thighs. In certain things I look blocky (not that I particularly care, it's just an observation). I have no idea if I'm in any way stylish (I suspect many of the young people I work with think I look vaguely frumpy!).

If I want to look not blocky, I usually go for:

"Fit and flare" dresses or whatever they're called now. Caveat, anything with a defined waist can make your shoulders appear wider and I remember you saying you were self conscious about yours. Frankly I think wide shoulders are awesome and should be celebrated but if you really want to minimise the visual impact look for dresses with a v or scoop neck, or wide shoulder straps, and think about sleeve length (avoid cap sleeves). A full skirt can also help balance your silhouette if that concerns you.

Wrap dresses as Luna suggested - I love them.

Fine knit jumper dresses, going for something lightly fitted rather than loose (although they can work with a belt).

Are skirts an option? I wear a lot of full jersey skirts with fine knit fitted jumpers.
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H1ppychick
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by H1ppychick »

I think there are some good suggestions above and I don't actually think the dress you're wearing is that horrendous, particularly if you had some chunky jewellery or something to take it a bit further away from leisurewear. I don't think the grey is a particularly flattering colour on you - your colouring is similar to mine, are the other similar dresses you refer to in brighter colours? I think you probably suit more of a jewel tone palette if you're like me.
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Luna
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Luna »

Yes, dark reds, greens and pinks would look great.
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geek_kitten
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by geek_kitten »

Yes, that's a good point. That particular grey is quite neutral so you could also add something near your face in a jewel colour - a scarf is the old standby (are those tights deep pink or burgundy? If so I'd go for something in a crisp lime colour, perhaps with chocolate brown boots). I like the idea of chunky jewellery too.
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Lola »

I like dresses I can just throw on with tights or leggings underneath so I’d also go for fit & flare as Geek suggested, preferably jersey. M&S are good for this type of dress.
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by emma_p »

The dress looks fine, Lily. Wear it if it's comfy and you love it!

For summer, how about a jersey dress like this: https://www.hush-uk.com/elisa-jersey-mi ... -4317.html

I like the black version but I think you'd look nice in the pink!
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sally maclennane
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by sally maclennane »

I was going to suggest Hush too for comfortable jersey dresses which look smart. I also agree about you suiting bright colours, I am very pale with dark hair and I stick to jewel colours or black.

I also think that midi length looks better than knee length. I've gone right off knee length dresses these days, I'm often a late adopter with fashion though so midi dresses might not be that current :lol:
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Lily
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Lily »

Thank you all. This has been really helpful. I didn't really think about colour, I just grabbed the same dress on eBay as many times as I could find it. :lol: It's interesting what you say about waists: I've always thought I need to define mine because I have a small one and it balances my :bite: shoulders out. I have never thought about midi length dresses either. I don't need many, just a few to make myself feel a bit smarter. I will look some out tomorrow and ask your views (probably going second hand for them).
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Lily
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Lily »

Also - I do like skirts but very few suit me. I have some ruched ones from Baukjen which are the only flattering ones I've found - I can't wear pencil skirts as they're too tight over my hips. I try to find tops to go with them but I don't really know what goes with anything - for example can you mix textures? If the skirt is tight the top should be loose or I look like mutton dressed as lamb?

I have got a couple of scarves but not bright colours so maybe that would help. I don't have any chunky jewellery!
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Luna
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Luna »

Do you follow any fashion influencers on instagram? Although they present an unachievable lifestyle a lot of the time, they are useful for inspiration and how to put an outfit together.
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Luna
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Luna »

Back of the wardrobe 70 is a good one and I think she has codes for Baukjen :wink:
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sally maclennane
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by sally maclennane »

I think pencil skirts can a bit tricky for work, they make my arse look enormous and I always feel a bit exposed in them, in the same way I would if I had (accidentally) worn a low cut top at work.

I have a couple of work skirts like this but not leopard print. I wear them with a fitted black top or a fine knit jumper.

https://www.roman.co.uk/animal-printed- ... cIQAvD_BwE
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by emma_p »

Also look at how outfits are styled online. I love a midi skirt with a t shirt and there are loads of examples of that and the shapes that work together on the Hush website: https://www.hush-uk.com/clothing/skirts/midi

I wear a lot of t shirts actually and think they are very versatile. I've got a meeting at a fashion PR firm later so made more effort today and wearing a plain black fitted one today with a short black cotton jacket and jeans plus loads of jewellery (gotta rep for the brand ;) ) and feel pretty put together.
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by emma_p »

Oh and I am very into chunky jewellery, especially bracelets and necklaces in this kind of style: https://www.orelia.co.uk/products/emera ... gIVtvD_BwE
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Disco »

Definitely agree with Emma. I'll wear a t-shirt with different shapes of skirts, cigarette trousers, trainers, brogues and add a boucle little jacket
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by geek_kitten »

Big fan of tee shirts or very lightweight knits too. Zara sometimes has good tees (I have some stripy ones which are ancient and have held up well for years).

I mostly only wear pencil skirts for work and then only when I want to look more formal (I might sometimes wear one with a slouchy jumper and biker boots or a weird tee and trainers at the weekend). The kind of thing I had in mind was a flippy jersey skirt (kind of like the ones from Snag I guess). Very easy to wear with a tee shirt tucked in.

On me the fit of the jumper (loose, slouchy, fitted, whatever) matters less than the point at which it finishes. E.g. a loose hip length top over a skirt makes me look the same width as my hips and shoulders all over. However, wearing a top that finishes on my natural waist, or is belted, or tucked in (partially or otherwise) gives the whole look more definition by drawing the eye to a narrower point, and also visually elongates me. If that makes sense....!
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Lily
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Lily »

I really wish I had some of you closer to me! Especially Geek - I always love your style.

I have tried cigarette trousers and really wish I could wear them, but I have never found a pair to suit me. I really like this https://www.hush-uk.com/raquel-midi-car ... -0408.html but have always thought something like that would be shapeless on me. I've been taught to show my legs off a bit to make up for the bulkier bits upstairs :look: and I feared a midi skirt would make them look short and chunky but I always think they look lovely on other women so maybe I should give them a shot!

Let's assume I need a whole new wardrobe but I don't have much money so what should I get to create a capsule wardrobe and get several nice oufits out of?

I currently have ALL the jumper dresses. I got them simply because of the style. :))
I have two pairs of jersey trousers from Baukjen which are snug but are probably on their way out. I also have a pair of Hobbs trousers which are smart.
I wear these with long sleeved Oasis tops and scarves. I have two blouses. I did have a tunic thing to wear with jumpers but I just looked at it and realised how utterly shapeless it is.
I have the two ruched skirts from Baukjen which I adore. Their new style aren't as good so I am searching for a black size 14 on eBay.
I have got a real Thing about ensuring that my waist is tucked in because otherwise I look very bulky. So I never know how to wear a T-shirt or anything loose with a loose skirt like a Snag one.
I have lots of Snag tights and love wearing them so more ideas of how to wear skirts or dresses with them would be great.

I don't go on Instagram anymore; the problem is I see things I like, try them on and look ridiculous as they're not made for my body shape but I don't know what does.
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Disco
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Re: Work dresses which aren't too smart

Post by Disco »

French tuck a t shirt in to see if that gives enough sight on your waist.
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