Firstly I'm talking about how sporty is not a swear-word over on Any Other Woman. I wrote this on Sunday whilst watching Andy Murray trounce the smooth Swiss cheese to get gold in the tennis, and I'm pretty sure I missed most of the match because I was getting so het up about my feelings towards sport and people's hang-ups/hidden potential. So you have to go and read it, just to make all that worthwhile.
Secondly, after 2pm my latest music ramblings will be up on Florence Finds which this month was really hard to whittle down to just four because there seems to be so much amazing music around this summer. Lots to get stuck into this month. And on that (musical) note, I will have more soon...
In other news, I am now into my final week of "old life" work, having handed my notice in pretty much everywhere (that's quite a lot of places when you're freelance). People's reactions have varied wildly, I can honestly say that only one person sounded genuinely pleased and excited for me. Perhaps I should just be pleased that my contributions are valued, even if it's a slightly back-handed compliment.
So! A week tomorrow it all begins.... time to start thinking about my working wardrobe too. My sewing lesson has left me with one very nice and work-appropriate dress but I have little else, and zero experience of dressing for a formal environment. What do you office-workers throw on in the morning? I already have my eye on this Zara bag for starters....
I tend to wear skirts and dresses to work rather than trousers. Not sure why! I don't spend too much on mine, usually from supermarkets, H&M and Oasis sale for smart dresses. I think anything goes now though. I see a real mixture of workwear, really depends on your office and how smart you like to be.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am very happy for you!!
My teacher friend was singing the praises of Florence and Fred/Tu et al for workwear, I keep meaning to go and have a look. Funnily enough I'm really tempted to go for a masculine look with brogues and trousers as I'm very much a skirt and dress person in normal life. I guess it's nice to feel work and play are different looks!
DeleteThanks Linsey.
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Ooh there are lots of variables - depends on how you will be getting to work (I wear different things now that I drive to work and don't have to walk miles to various bus stops), what your new colleagues wear (law firms = different to media companies, for example), whether you are able to fork out for a whole new wardrobe or if you can adapt things you already have.
ReplyDeleteI wear a mixture really - trousers with smartish tops/cardigans or dresses, mostly; I'm not hugely smart in my current job (no one here wears suits and I usually wear flat shoes) but in my previous job I had to wear a suit every day so I am rebelling against that slightly now. I tend not to spend very much and get them in all sorts of places - H&M (and Dorothy Perkins!) features quite highly but also M&S, Monsoon, Oasis, Gap etc (almost always in the sales). Brogues and trousers sound like a good plan and it's definitely good to have a distinction between work clothes and home/weekend clothes.
I don't think I said the other day but congratulations on the new job as well!
K x
Thanks Katy! It's an insurance brokers, so I think it'll be fairly formal. I'll be varying how I get there (sometimes walking the whole way, sometimes drive and walk or bus and walk) so thinking a combination of flat shoes and low heels - I'm useless in high heels anyway! Am looking on the Dotty P's website now and amazed at how much nice work appropriate stuff they have - thanks for the tip!
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I wear a bog mixture to work as well, I guess the best thing to do is err on the side of more formal till you've started and get a chance to clock what everyone else is wearing. More and more I find myself wearing dresses or skirts and tops, I walk / use public transport to get to work and cannot stand wearing trousers if it's raining! Next have a great range of work dresses and H&M can do some fab ones too, H&M is pretty ace for little blazer jackets to dress up a work dress too :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck for your first day! x
I do not wear a bog mixture to work!! *big
DeleteA bog mixture sounds like something not entirely work appropriate! Definitely need to buy something extra smart for my first day while I get a feel for the place. hadnt thought abour trousers and rain- good point! Can't abide a soggy hem.
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Warehouse is great for work clothes that you don't sigh about having to put on in the mornings. Some days I go ultra casual at work - some might even say scruffy, but others I go for pencil skirts (my favourite things at work), heels (not high though, incapable on those), blazers. The best purchase I made in the last year though were my brogues.
ReplyDeleteSo some chinos, cardigans, couple of dresses, couple of skirts, some blazers, and lots and lots of tops.
I peeked into Warehouse today and there were some nice things! I'm going to hold off spending any more money until I've sussed exactly how formal the office is... I love your work style Katie, you manage to look cool and still really smart. I want some brogues but a bit worried they might not be formal enough so am holding off... if they're OK they'll be my next big purchase, along with a good blazer! I think preppy is the way forward for me, definitely.
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I always wear skits and boots on rainy days. And I like trousers in Spring. I get stuff from all over the shop, but am currently eyeing up banana republic (though expensive) for a nice trouser suit. I will second the Florence and Fred recommendation though. I got some wool trousers from there for £12 when I was a student in Leeds and they lasted up to a few years of living in London.
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