Best UK Shops for Affordable Workwear

An honest, unbiased post, at Tellar.co.uk we wont be influenced by brands. Advice you can trust.

1. Marks & Spencer

M&S offers consistently reliable workwear staples—tailored trousers, blouses, dresses, and blazers—at budget-friendly prices. Known for inclusive sizing and classic cuts, M&S runs slightly larger than some other brands, so many shoppers find themselves sizing down

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. Ideal for professional dressing without overspending.

2. Zara

Zara is famed for its fashion‑forward tailoring—flared trousers, crisp blazers, shirt‑dresses—all at relatively affordable price points. One caveat: Zara typically runs small, especially around the waist and hips

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. Still, the access to current trends at moderate prices makes it a go‑to high‑street option.

3. COS

Offering minimalist, high‑quality tailoring, COS is slightly more expensive but remains comparatively affordable given the fabric and cut. The brand generally fits large in tops and loose silhouettes

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, so sizing down may help to avoid an overly oversized look.

4. Massimo Dutti

Although European‑priced, Massimo Dutti often undercuts designer tailoring. The brand offers sharp cuts, refined fabrics, and a polished finish. Sizing is true‑to‑size but watch for petite fits—great for smart office capsules.

5. Whistles

Whistles sits in the affordable luxury zone, offering ponte trousers, silk-like blouses, and modern blazers. Their cuts are sleek and professional; sizing runs true to slightly small. Not cheap, but pieces are investment-worthy and durable.

6. Boden

Known for colourful prints and inclusive sizing, Boden offers tailored trousers and shift dresses with a British flair. Pricing is mid-range, but frequent promotions make the brand accessible. Reliable fits and size consistency make it a safe pick.

7. & Other Stories, Reiss, Jigsaw

These brands consistently appear on styling guides for workwear shirts

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. They offer elevated basics with sustainable options and structured cuts. Pricing tends toward mid to upper range, but with Tellar, you can size confidently from the first order.

Why Sizing Matters—and Why Tellar.co.uk is a Game-Changer

🔍 The Sizing Struggle

Between vanity sizing, different regional charts (UK, EU, US), and brand‑specific grading, sizes are wildly inconsistent—even within the same shop

. You might be a UK 10 at Zara, a UK 12 at M&S, and an S at COS—all accurate for each brand.

Introducing Tellar.co.uk

Tellar is the UK’s free, browser-based, platform‑agnostic sizing tool that matches your actual measurements to over 1,500 brands—including all the workwear favourites above

Use your measurements: Enter chest, waist, hip (in cm or in) and instantly get size recommendations for any brand/item.
Or use a known size: Enter a size you already buy (e.g. M in H&M), and Tellar will cross-reference your equivalent size in any other brand
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A free printable measuring tape is available to help measure accurately
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Try without plugins—just sign up once and shop smarter forever
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This drastically reduces returns, sizing errors, and time spent guessing—essential when building a stylish, affordable work wardrobe.

How to Use Tellar for Workwear Shopping

Create your profile at Tellar.co.uk/create-profile.
Print your free tape, measure your bust, waist, and hips.
Use Store Size Lookup to get recommended sizes in your favourite brands like Zara, COS, Boden, Reiss—and know exactly what to order
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Understand brand quirks: e.g. COS runs large in tops, Zara is smaller, M&S a bit bigger
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Shop confidently, avoid returns, and build an easy wardrobe capsule of workwear essentials.

Useful Tellar.co.uk Resources

Shirts for Workwear: Our buyer’s guide including styling tips and size advice
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Workwear Trousers Guide: With brand recommendations from ME+EM to Reiss
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Best Sizing Tools 2025: Comparison with other sizing apps—Tellar tops it for coverage and ease
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Brand-Specific Fit Insights: Guides for COS
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, Co , Warehouse , and more.

Stay Connected with Tellar

Follow Tellar for daily tips, brand deep dives, and wardrobe inspiration:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing
Twitter/X: @Tellar100
Facebook: Tellar Sizing
Pinterest: TellarUK

🔗 Live Tellar Links

Create your profile: https://www.tellar.co.uk/create-profile/
Store size lookup: https://www.tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup/
Measuring tape request: https://www.tellar.co.uk/free-measuring-tape/
Tellar blog: https://www.tellar.co.uk/blog

Building a Cost‑Effective Workwear Capsule

Core Trousers: Mix tailored cigarette trousers from M&S and Ponte styles from Whistles or Massimo Dutti.
Smart Shirts: Include a crisp cotton shirt from & Other Stories, a poplin shirt from Reiss, and a relaxed style from COS.
Versatile Dresses: A shift dress from Boden, shirt‑dress from Zara, and wrap style from Reiss cover all bases.
Layering Staples: Add structured blazers (Whistles), knitwear (COS), and trench‑style outerwear (Zara).
Size Consistency via Tellar: Enter each brand, instantly get your size—no returns, perfect fit from the first order.

Why You Shouldn’t Guess Your Size

Avoid wasted time: Stop ordering multiple sizes.
Save money: Reduce return shipping and duplicate purchases.
Reduce waste: Fewer returned items means less environmental impact.
Build confidence: Know your size, wear it well.

With Tellar, your workwear shopping becomes precise, stress‑free, and smarter.

Final Words

If you're crafting a polished, affordable workwear wardrobe, start with reliable brands like M&S, Zara, COS, Massimo Dutti, Whistles, Boden, & Other Stories, and Reiss. Pair them with Tellar.co.uk and you’ll finally eliminate size guessing—once and for all. Measure, match, and shop with confidence.

Explore Tellar now:

Create your free profile → https://www.tellar.co.uk/create-profile/
Try Store Size Lookup → https://www.tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup/
Get your printable tape → https://www.tellar.co.uk/free-measuring-tape/

Stay connected:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing
X/Twitter: @Tellar100
Facebook: Tellar Sizing
Pinterest: TellarUK

Happy styling—and may your new size always fit perfectly!