Cheapest/best value office clothes store (ladies) for basics in First Job?

jobbingmusician

Maybe a hint for later - if she is in London there is a stall on Church St Market (off the Edgware Road, Saturdays) that does fab suits for about £35-40. They often still have the labels in - obviously defaced to prevent returns (Debenhams, Next, M & S, even Monsoon sometimes). On the L as you walk from Edgware Rd.

newmumincov

A lot of law firms aren't that formal any more, so she might be perfectly presentable in smart black/navy trousers/skirts and a selection of smart blouses/sweaters, rather than having to go for suits. Shift dresses and twin sets are also quite common from experience.

Charity shops can be very good for classic work clothes and this way you can get high quality stuff for very little. I've had "new" shoes for as little as £3 for example and got a great plain black handbag for £2 a couple of week ago.

There's loads of sales on at the moment as well, and it's always worth looking at clearance places. I use crazy clearance - when I first got an office job, most of my clothes came from these online stores (I'd been wearing a uniform before this so had nothing to wear at all), and you can occasionally get fantastic bargains from them.
http://www.crazyclearance.co.uk/

wombles_forever

Hi. please don't discount charity shops as a source of decent work clothes,

I volunteer in a charity shop and we regularly sell really good quality work suits for around £10 and blouses etc at £2-£4. Some are brand new and all are hardly worn at all. Anything that is not 100% perfect is consigned to the rag bag. I know that with a bit of looking around I could kit out a work starter for around £50 which would include everything needed as well as a decent bag and possibly a coat or warm jacket.

Best of luck and enjoy the hunting around.

poppy_f1

primark trousers are ok i've had a few pairs for a couple of years and they still wash and iron good
most of my work stuff i get from primark or dorothy perkins tbh

i would say she needs 2 pairs of trousers
1 skirt
5 tops/shirts
and 1 pair of shoes and boots to start off with
the rest she can get as she gets paid like winter coat cardigans etc plus by then she will know what her colleagues wear

newmumincov

Oh and don't forget to try TKMaxx - I know they can be a bit hit and miss because it depends on what they've got in at any one time, but I've had some lovely work blouses from them, and their formal dresses can be very nice. Plus their stuff tends to last very well.

Mischa8

From trial and error over the years I've found these places to be best for workwear:-

1. H&M - Good for blouses/skirts and suits, reasonable quality, seems to last.
2. M&S - they do a cheaper range but their suits tend to last well and also their shirts are nice and smart too.
3. Jones Bootmaker - if you can afford it - decent shoes and great bargains in sales
4. My colleague uses F&F at Tesco - another option - very reasonable.
5. Next - if she's feeling brave open an account or use someone else's - just be careful to pay balance off every month or only carry a small amount over. Ideal for footwear, suits, blouses, coats. Great quality and good bargains - especially in sales both instore and online.

Have to say never tried Primark, nor Matalan. TK Maxx does seem nice too but a bit hit and miss.

I'd avoid like the plague:-

• Zara - this may be unfair but the few skirts etc I've had from there the hems fall down really quickly. I also don't feel it's worth it for the money, to be honest.

If this an option see what can be borrowed, bought as a gift etc. I was really lucky and for my first job my mum bought me a lovely pinstriped skirt suit. I also got a hand-made grey wool skirt suit as a present from a friend (they'd had it made for them years earlier). I borrowed my mum's handbag until I bought my own. etc.

My first few salary cheques - where I could afford it - I built up a work wardrobe, gradually, skirts, blouses and then when I had more money, suits etc.

anyway best of luck to your relative.

Mischa8

Oh - I was just thinking?! What did your relative wear for the interview?

Because if a suit - whether skirt/trousers and jacket with shirt/blouse then that's one thing to wear in and out.

So if say a skirt suit with blouse was worn then that's one outfit you can wear in day in day out mixed with other items *and* you'll know it looks smart as it got her the job!!

I really would not worry about knitwear for now. Not even a cardigan - wait until September at least for that. *unless* you find cardigans/sweaters in Next etc sales now.

Also - I would get your relative to do a quick glance through her wardrobe - is there the odd cardigan etc she could use from there?? Maybe some smart trousers or a smart black skirt she wore for going out but a sensible length/style to wear to the office?

Good shoes, I forgot - M&S do basic good shoes. The Foot Sole (is it called that?) range is great.

And I forgot - if you google Clarks have one or 2 factory shops dotted around great bargains there and good value, smart work shoes. There's one in Elephant and Castle and one north London - maybe Camden Town way.

asparagusnextleft

Not so long ago I got a dress, trousers and suit jacket (all the same range so I can wear the jacket with the dress or the trousers) from Debenhams (it was in the 'Collection' range) for about £70. They look a lot more expensive than they were and are definitely what I would class as 'business dress'. It might be worth her having a look, they had a lot of ranges of matching separates at a good price.

lynzpower

For handbags, ebay is really good, you can pick small office handbags for a couple of quid.

theoretica

I find fewer good quality items are worth it. She could start work with one good outfit and a couple of shirts to swap out. In my experience office colleagues are a lot more tolerant about wearing the same thing than school girls were...

It is really worth keeping an eye on charity shops and also ebay. I started using them to dress above my means as a student and have never seen a reason to change. With charity shops you need to go round lots and be able to check for wear/faults as well as tell good quality work from poor. With ebay if you try something on in the shops and it is too expensive go online and see if someone is selling it cheaper. Even shoes. Interestingly, sometimes smaller expensive brands are cheaper on ebay than common highstreet brands as fewer people are looking/interested.