What’s On My New Job Wishlist?
Cashmere T-shirts, seersucker shirts and some ’90s-style slingbacks.
So… I officially have a new job. As of 1 August, I’m no longer a full-time writer – I’m an operations manager and executive assistant for a luxury headhunting agency (yes, it’s a bit of a mouthful). I won’t lie, the past few months have involved a lot of deliberating about what I want out of my career and life in general, and after hitting a bit of a low I eventually realised I’d fallen out of love with journalism. It was a big decision, and while I’m only a week into the new role I couldn’t be more certain that it was the right one.
The only downside – or upside, depending on how you see it – is that I need some new clothes. Desperately. This new job isn’t quite corporate, but it will involve meeting up with clients and I’d prefer not to do so in trainers and tank tops, which is pretty much all I’m wearing at the moment. I’ve also realised that as I’m approaching 30, my tastes are changing. I’m tired of the oversized, boyish thing I’ve been doing in my twenties and would quite like to look like a proper grown-up woman now.
In short, this summer I’ve gone back to the drawing board and asked: what exactly do I want from my workwear wardrobe? It took some time to figure it out, but below are the pieces that feel right for this new era.
Staud turtleneck knit
£285
How utterly divine is this top from Staud? The colour is gorgeous and a bit unexpected for workwear, the silhouette couldn’t be more my vibe, and it’s made from a heavenly 100% merino wool too. I especially love how I could wear this to a client lunch, to dinner, to a birthday party. It’s a total all-rounder.
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Theory checked jacket
£395 (on sale for £158 – or £126.40 with code SUMMER20)
Bar my beloved Wales Bonner tracksuit, which is far too casual for my new job, I’m pretty low on jackets. I’ve always been drawn to this sort of silhouette over blazers, simply because they’re a bit less dressed up and you can throw them over T-shirts and jeans at the weekend. I also love how it’s checked which will liven up a plain outfit.
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Aeyde ankle boots
£330
I’ll be selling off my Chloe Betty boots (they’re fabulous and get a tonne of compliments but don’t work for my life right now) and eventually trading them in for these from Aeyde. They’ve been lingering in my Net-A-Porter wish list for well over a year now – although I’ll probably hold out until they go on sale / beg my YNAP friends to help me out before I take the plunge.
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The Frankie Shop shirt
£182
WNU is my forever go-to for shirts (I’ve got a big back-to-school roundup of their pieces coming soon), but I’ll also be adding this Frankie Shop number to my roster. I had a feel of it in Selfridges and the cotton is perfect – lightweight and casual but still crisp (there’s nothing I hate more than a crappy-quality shirt). The plan is to eventually invest in the matching trousers too for a failproof set I can wear with a smart shoe to meet clients and then with sandals on holiday.
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Aeyde slingback pumps
€345
Another one from Aeyde. I’m an unashamed heels lover and would wear them more often if I had the occasion to. However, I’m also a big believer that you should only ever wear shoes that you’re comfortable in, and this is the sort of height I can bear for a day of back-to-back meetings around town. I’m completely obsessed with the shape, too – there’s something about a slingback that will always read infinitely more modern and cool to me than a classic pump.
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Cos cashmere T-shirt
£135
I’ve become obsessed with brown clothes ever since buying the Rejina Pyo Tilda last autumn, and now I want to swathe myself in the shade head to toe. I also love the idea of a cashmere T-shirt – it’s less obvious than a classic long-sleeve knit and more elevated than a cotton tee. (Theory also does a great one.) And as usual, Cos’s styling is exquisite and is tempting me to add the matching jumper to my basket too.
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Joseph textured trousers
£475 (on sale for £190)
I’m perpetually on the hunt for the perfect pair of black tailored trousers. I like them mid-rise with a subtle wide-leg, and for the vibe to be put-together but not corporate. So far, I have one topstitched pair by Arket that are by far the most worn item in my wardrobe, and I’ve yet to find anything else that comes close. However, after much browsing, I’m thinking that these by Joseph might be my next investment – I love the texture and the fit, and the fact you could very easily dress them up for evening.
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Nanushka seersucker shirt
£345 (on sale for £175)
I’ve been eyeing up this Nanushka shirt for some time now (see above on chocolate brown) and as if to lure me in even more they’ve gone and put in on sale. Once again, it strikes the perfect balance of being smart enough for work but laidback enough for everything else, and I know I’d be getting plenty of wear out of it to justify the expenditure.
Shop here
… and a couple repair jobs
I’m an ardent believer in investing in clothes you love and then repairing or altering them when needed, whether they’re high street or high end. I’ll be practising what I preach by sending these boots from By Far that I’ve had for four and a half years to a service called The Seam. (They tidied up a pair of Neous heels for me before a wedding in May and I couldn’t recommend them enough.) I’ll also be taking these Frankie Shop trousers to the Sojo stand in Selfridges to adjust the fit slightly – I had a ME+EM tank shortened by them over summer and was very happy with the results.
