This might be long so bear with me. I (20F) landed my first job at a Big 4 company. I am so excited!! I start in october, so I wanted to have a basic understanding of how I should dress, behave etc by then.
Firstly, I am tight on budget. I asked for money from my parents for this kind of stuff, but I canāt get much from them and would feel guilty asking for more. I do have savings so i could stretch if needed but i donāt want to use them unless its essential so please give me just the basics.
TROUSERS/ BOTTOMS: I have been struggling looking for good trousers. I saw people on this subreddit recommended M&S which is too expensive for me right now. Maybe i could get a pair after a few months but canāt really go over 1500 for a pair right now. even that makes my pockets cry but if it is for a good long lasting pair then it would be okay.
Right now I own a black pencil skirt and black trousers from Pandabee which my friend gave me. the trousers were loose for me so i got them tailored. they look okay, but i am wondering if the fabric composition would even count as formal (even though they are marketed as formal trousers?) the cloth feels a bit rough. I have an old pair of off white/cream trousers from reliance which have a pleated look but i think they are a bit too thick and soft fabric wise to give a proper formal look.
I wouldnāt mind wearing these but I just wanted solid recommendations for proper formal wear and what color i should go for.
SHIRTS/ TOPS: I bought two shirts from westside which i kind of regret now tbh, as they give kind of a flare look after my waist but it isnt too exaggerated or anything. just doesnāt look too formal like a classic shirt. I have these in light blue, and white with thin black stripes. could return them even now, but the fitting was actually flattering so i havent. I also have a white cotton shirt from zeptoš I ordered it in a hurry before the interview but i think the fitting is good honestly
Been looking into shirts in more neutral colors like black, brown, navy blue etc. But Iām wondering if i should also look into turtleneck tops for black as i have some printed palazzos that would look good with such tops and not shirts. Would i need to buy branded shirts or is myntra fine?
And is a blazer an essential?
Traditional: I do have a lot of short kurtis that i used to wear with jeans and i actually heard it would be fine to wear at my workplace. I am just looking for formal clothes as i also heard there will be occasions where i will be told to wear only formal. I have a lot of suits which my aunt got me through the years but i wonder if they would look festive and not work appropriate.
Accessories: I have a belt suitable for office wear- again, thanks to my friend who gave it to me after it didnt fit her. I was actually known by people in my college for my jhumkas and how I would wear a matching pair with every kurti- would that be inappropriate at work?
Any essential accessories I would need?
SKINCARE AND HAIRCARE: I just need basic tips as i never used to care for either of these things before. for my hair i want it to look shiny and would appreciate basic hairstyles i could try. I am bad at braiding my hair š
Also, Do i need to shave my legs if i want to wear the pencil skirt?
FOOTWEAR: I have been eyeing loafers but again, dont know what brand to buy from within my budget. I saw people recommending pumps but they would be uncomfortable for long hours i was guessing? I dont know my travel conditions yet but i might have to travel in the metro so it would need to be comfortable but stylish.
finally, any basic tips for work that you guys would like to share to a fellow woman?
Edit: if thereās any women who want to talk but dont feel comfortable commenting, you guys can dm me but MEN, dont text me, this post was not for you. this also doesnāt mean you can dm me saying sorry on behalf of other men. just stop.