New Position at work. Dress me CEP!

[NewOrleans]

It sounds like you need Ann Taylor Loft.  I dress very professionally for work and almost my whole wardrobe is from there.

[mrsukyankee]

Skirts with nice tops (sweaters incl) for every day and dresses for meetings.

[Scout'sHonor]

White House Black Market!

[underwaterrhymes]

Boden has some very flattering professional dresses. I'm also only 5'0" and they have petite sizes.

I also like The Limited and Banana Republic.

[josieposy]

Dec 31, 2015 11:50:35 GMT -5 Scout'sHonor said:

White House Black Market!

Yes! Their pants are awesome.

[ijack]

congrats!
I basically have 2 pants/top styles I wear to work
A blouse like this with a nice skinny trouser
Flare/bootcut pants with a blouse like this
Also I wear a lot of basic dresses like this or this

[bimbi284]

Congrats!!! What an awesome opportunity!
Ann Taylor Loft is a good option. I know some people also like New York and company for some variety that can be had much cheaper cuz they have sales all the time.
Go on the hunt for a couple of good blazers that fit you really well in black and one other neutral that you like that goes with the majority of your wardrobe (I like gray and navy).
Then consider bottoms. Dresses are also great, especially simple styles that can be layered with Blazers, sweaters, scarves, etc. Find a shape that works best for you, and rock it!
Same goes with pants/skirts. I love skirts, but realistically, pants or dresses are more practical for me. If you get a blazer, you could get a set with matching pants/skirt/dress or combo of those, and then mix and match to your hearts content!
Also shoes. Comfortable, classic, simple are your friends.

[foundmylazybum]

Dec 31, 2015 11:53:15 GMT -5 ijack said:

congrats!
I basically have 2 pants/top styles I wear to work
A blouse like this with a nice skinny trouser
Flare/bootcut pants with a blouse like this
Also I wear a lot of basic dresses like this or this

This is a very versatile wardrobe.
You could basically buy two pairs of each of these pants and like 5-6 shirts, and then maybe two cardigans and be good for daily wear and then the dresses for specialty stuff.

Also, that second shirt is awesome. I want it.

[ijack]

Dec 31, 2015 12:01:16 GMT -5 foundmylazybum said:

Dec 31, 2015 11:53:15 GMT -5 ijack said:

congrats!
I basically have 2 pants/top styles I wear to work
A blouse like this with a nice skinny trouser
Flare/bootcut pants with a blouse like this
Also I wear a lot of basic dresses like this or this

This is a very versatile wardrobe.
You could basically buy two pairs of each of these pants and like 5-6 shirts, and then maybe two cardigans and be good for daily wear and then the dresses for specialty stuff.

Also, that second shirt is awesome. I want it.

it's on sale.....

[NewOrleans]

Dec 31, 2015 11:51:37 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Dec 31, 2015 11:49:36 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Skirts with nice tops (sweaters incl) for every day and dresses for meetings.

Are skirts and dresses viewed as more professional than pants?

I don't think that, but they can be viewed more formal, perhaps (depending on the dress of course).  My wardrobe is about 50% dresses/skirts and 50% pants. 

[Scout'sHonor]

Dec 31, 2015 12:11:49 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Dec 31, 2015 11:50:35 GMT -5 Scout'sHonor said:

White House Black Market!

I feel like I have not had good luck here but I'll give them another whirl.

I also love colour so I will wear a red skirt with a navy blouse. Or if I wear a black top and pants I will wear aqua shoes.

I could see that in some seasons.  They only showcase one pop of color at a time.  Also, the shirts do fit weird sometimes, so I never buy online.  But the quality is great.

[berrysweet]

Do you have any sense of what the VP and/or President of the company would wear to these meetings? My advice would be to match them in terms of dressiness, even if it means you're in a suit rather than business casual.

In terms of whether skirts are seen as more professional than pants, in some more traditional offices, especially law offices, it does seem to be the expectation/preference that women wear skirts rather than pants--I'm watching The Good Wife on Amazon, and there was an episode recently where a (male) judge commented that he expected female lawyers to wear skirts in his courtroom. I feel like that's a sentiment that I've come up against in real life, whether or not it's spoken. I'm not saying it's right, or even that you should follow this unwritten rule, I just think it's important to acknowledge that it exists.

[compassrose]

I have and love an older version of this landsend dress (thanks to ML):
www.landsend.com/products/womens-34-sleeve-ponte-sheath-dress/id_289900?sku_0=::BLA


I love the Target ponte blazers and pair them with brightly colored blouses and chunky necklaces:

www.target.com/p/women-s-ponte-tailored-blazer-merona/-/A-17189694#prodSlot=medium_1_1

[dancelnow]

I just wanted to say congrats!
I think blouse, blazer and slacks is a good day to day look that will also get you through the pop up meeting and be adjustable for chilly offices. Cardis are nice, but blazers are dressier.

[debatethis]

Congrats! I like Limited and Talbot's for workwear. Talbot's might seem a little pricier but their sales are pretty awesome and the pieces hold up well. (Plus Michelle Obama shops there, so.)

ETA: Speaking of Talbot's sales, they have their Red Hanger sale going on now and they have a lot of blouses and sweaters in the $30 range.

[NitaX]

Dec 31, 2015 12:21:51 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Dec 31, 2015 11:59:44 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Congrats!!! What an awesome opportunity!
Ann Taylor Loft is a good option. I know some people also like New York and company for some variety that can be had much cheaper cuz they have sales all the time.
Go on the hunt for a couple of good blazers that fit you really well in black and one other neutral that you like that goes with the majority of your wardrobe (I like gray and navy).
Then consider bottoms. Dresses are also great, especially simple styles that can be layered with Blazers, sweaters, scarves, etc. Find a shape that works best for you, and rock it!
Same goes with pants/skirts. I love skirts, but realistically, pants or dresses are more practical for me. If you get a blazer, you could get a set with matching pants/skirt/dress or combo of those, and then mix and match to your hearts content!
Also shoes. Comfortable, classic, simple are your friends.

Thank you!

I love the blazer advice! I've wanted to wear jackets and move away from cardigans but I've never made the leap. 2016 is the year!

Did someone say Blazers?! Ditto the LOFT for pants. Lately, LOFT has been blah in their colors, so I haven't shopped there much.

The Limited is my go to for business suits and blazers. The Limited should be having their suit sale soon - buy a jacket and get the pants or skirt free. Keep that on your radar.

[asdfjkl]

Dec 31, 2015 11:51:37 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Dec 31, 2015 11:49:36 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Skirts with nice tops (sweaters incl) for every day and dresses for meetings.

Are skirts and dresses viewed as more professional than pants?

It depends on the skirt/dress and what you pair it with.  

[sfy]

Congratulations !

When I have to go in for work, I have three types of attire. Meeting with just my group means I can wear anything (at least half are bound to show up in workout/yoga clothes).  I can relate to your situation, because the other two types are business casual and traditional business attire.

For business casual, I tend to do any one of the following looks:

• Pencil Skirt with top (see below for specifics)
  
• Sleeveless, short sleeve or long sleeved dresses, usually sheath style, and very occasionally, fit and flare
  
• Slim cropped pants with form fitting sweater or a loose top and blazer (I usually get the cropped pants from J. Crew. I know many people love the Minnies, I find them just okay, but you should definitely try to see if you're in the group who loves them).  As you may recall, I only have two pair of traditional work trousers lol.
  
• Wrap dress (really partial to DVF for these)
  

For business attire, I can and do wear suits, but more often, I opt for sheaths and jackets. I splurge a bit more for this group, particularly because I like to get jackets that are a bit different in terms of the tailoring.

A few examples of the dresses:



(I have a couple of these in different colors and fabrics and sleeve lengths)



(First time seeing this, will likely order later lol)

Wrap dress:


Fit and flare I'd wear to work:



Pencil skirt:


This is J. Crew's No. 2 pencil skirt, which they offer, depending on the time of year, in variety of fabrics and colors. I have some in wool, cotton twill, tweed. In the cooler months, I pair with a more form fitting sweater, heels.  Sometimes, I add a scarf, other times, I opt for a necklace. When the weather is iffy, I usually go with button up shirts with 3/4 sleeves that I tend to roll up. In warmer months, I go with tanks, some loose, some form fitting, paired with cardigans. Sleeveless tops also work. I've done the right plain t-shirt with a floral cotton twill one I have and a pair of sandals. I pair these with peplum tops and sweaters, too. Basically, almost everything works with a pencil skirt. A few examples:










This blazer is sold out, but this typical of the kind of shape I like to pair with a sheath (or with the loose tank and the cropped pants):




Lastly, if you're not into accessories, do get into them.  They're a game changer.  HTH .

Eta - I would steer clear of the cropped pants at 5'0".  Sorry. 

Scarf tying - Mostly, I pull the ends together and make a small knot. Put it around my neck and then loop it over my neck again so that it looks like this:

 

[fuckyourcouch]

I'm no fashionista but I wanted to say congrats! Lady Geologist high five.
Which is more of just a fist bump, you know, fist = rock.
Lol

[secretlyevil]

Congrats on the new position!

[bronxgirl]

I don't have any advice, but congrats on the new position. You're going to do awesome!

[noodleskooze]

Lurking from other boards on the app and just saw this...congrats on the new position!