Office fashion help for middle aged woman.

[Anonymous]

My wife (who is a lesbian, I'm a woman) just switched to a new job. She had worked in the federal government and was on the younger end of workers at 25-45. As was appropriate she wore trousers, suits, and office tops. Outside of the office her style is sporty and preppy but relatively feminine. Think the women's section of the Columbia factory store.

We met when she was 22 and newly entering the workplace. I've always shopped for her as she doesn't like to shop and she doesn't care about fashion, but we met as part of a coalition and I could see that her dowdy 20 year old fashion (inherited office-wear from her mom) was holding her back. She was grateful for my help.

Anyhow now she's moved from the federal government to a private sector employer. Other than the owner of the company, who is her same age, she's the oldest person in a 20 person consulting firm. My concern is that with her old look she looks even older than her 45 years. She says her co-workers wear shorts and tee shirts. I want her to look professional, on the move, trustworth and a bit younger (she could easily pass for 35 in younger looking clothing as she is slim and pretty and has good skin). So, I think it's time for a fashion update. She commutes to an office in the Dupont / Farragut area.

The problem is that I don't work in an office. I manage my own reselling business from home so I have no idea what young people are wearing to offices these days and thus what she should wear.

Currently she wears these shoes:
https://www.amazon.com/Clarks-Womens-Marigold-Slip-Loafer/dp/B006R4Q3SG?th=1&psc=1

I've just ordered her something more like these:

https://www.sierra.com/cole-haan-grand-crosscourt-coaster-sneakers-suede-for-women~p~4ccpf/?filterString=s~cole-haan-grand-crosscourt-coaster-sneakers---suede-for-women%2F

But what kinds of pants and tops should she wear with them? Or if those shoes are hideous and inappropriate, what should I get instead? Basically, I'm asking for you to give me fashion inspo to guide the office look of a 45 year old working with mostly 25 year olds. The people she's looking to impress should be fellow 45 year old and up, in the public and private sector people who would help guide her to the next level in her career.

[Anonymous]

Lol those first shoes scream practical lesbian! Look at Quince to start. Dress pants and a lightweight sweater or linen shirt are fine and will go with the upgraded shoes.

[Anonymous]

I'm no fashionista but I think the biggest challenge will be tops. Pants are basics. I'm not a fan of wearing shorts to work.

If you can find an entire brand/store (just like your Columbia factory store reference) that would help both of you.

How about looking at Ann Taylor Outlet at casual wear and maybe Madewell?

Do you think a look like this would work?

https://www.madewell.com/p/womens/clothing/pants/wide-leg-pants/the-zoe-relaxed-wide-pant-in-100-linen/NV126/?ccode=WT0152&sale=true

[Anonymous]

I like mm lafleur for nice workwear that doesn’t feel like fast fashion. For more casual, I like Everlane.

[Anonymous]

Go to Nordstrom and pay for a consultant.

Have her do one of those rent clothes things for six months.

[Anonymous]

As a fellow lesbian with practical aesthetics but a little younger in my 30's, I like uniqlo, quince, and even ll bean for business casual basics. Tommy Hilfiger has decent chino pants and the men sizes fit basically the same as women's but come in a lot more colors.

[Anonymous]

Ann Taylor
MM LaFleur
Boden

The bottom two are expensive but they have good sales. Try to build a foundation slowly-- a good blazer, nice tops. I agree with PP that pants are basics. But, maybe she'd should buy 1-2 nice pairs of slacks for client meetings.

[Anonymous]

I love athleta for casual work pants

[Anonymous]

I agree with Uniqlo.

I like the Cole Haan sneakers but the black shoes will age her.
For a more modern take, try a loafer.

Here are a couple of examples.
https://www.zappos.com/p/womens-dansko-linden-luggage-nappa/product/9962989/color/6846

https://www.zappos.com/p/womens-cole-haan-geneva-loafer-black-box-calf/product/9547011/color/7643?zlfid=191&ref=pd_search_1_sp_2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm no fashionista but I think the biggest challenge will be tops. Pants are basics. I'm not a fan of wearing shorts to work.

If you can find an entire brand/store (just like your Columbia factory store reference) that would help both of you.

How about looking at Ann Taylor Outlet at casual wear and maybe Madewell?

Do you think a look like this would work?

https://www.madewell.com/p/womens/clothing/pants/wide-leg-pants/the-zoe-relaxed-wide-pant-in-100-linen/NV126/?ccode=WT0152&sale=true

Yes, this is a lot like what she wears now. I think I just need to get her some work pants / slacks that look less 2005 and she'll probably be good.

Thanks to the Quince person above. I'll keep looking at the links / websites further down in the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love athleta for casual work pants

I also wear athleta pants to work most days. My office is really cold so I wear a lot of basic tanks/scoop neck solid t-shirts under a cardigan. A blazer would be out of place in my office. For shoes, I wear allbirds a lot. Both the basic sneakers and flats. A lot of women in my office are still wearing Rothys. Those first shoes OP posted are horrible.

[Anonymous]

43 year old woman here in tech who works in sales--so corporate, but "young" workplace. Sounds similar to your wife's employer.

I like the shoes you bought her. You will see a lot of people wearing that type of shoe--cleaner, dressier sneakers, in this type of setting.

I like the Uniqlo suggestion--they will have a lot of solid color basics. They also have a lot of better fabrics compared to other brands at that price point, like Uniqlo cashmere is good at its price point. You can get some wide leg pants, cashmere sweaters, and button downs there. They also have good solid color boxy tees for summer.

You can also find similar at Quince, as others have mentioned. I also still think J. Crew does a lot of pieces that work for this type of setting--for example, every fall they roll out some decent sweater-blazers, which are less formal than a blazer but dressier than just throwing on a sweater/hoodie since they have a collar.

[Anonymous]

I have no fashion advice but just want to say that you sound like a cute couple. I wish DH would watch out for me like that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with Uniqlo.

I like the Cole Haan sneakers but the black shoes will age her.
For a more modern take, try a loafer.

Here are a couple of examples.
https://www.zappos.com/p/womens-dansko-linden-luggage-nappa/product/9962989/color/6846

https://www.zappos.com/p/womens-cole-haan-geneva-loafer-black-box-calf/product/9547011/color/7643?zlfid=191&ref=pd_search_1_sp_2

Just to be clear, the Clarks loafers are what we are trying to move away from. I definitely see the problem there.

[Anonymous]

I agree try Quince or Everlane for a curated set of clothes.