Wardrobing: What trousers should I wear to my first proper job?

Q I'm just about to start my first proper job out of college and I need to buy some trousers for the office. It's not a corporate job, and the dress code is smart-casual, but I still want to make a good impression. Those straight-up-and-down office trousers never work for me because I have big hips and thighs. Help. Caoimhe, Dublin 8

A Congratulations, Caoimhe. You are one of the lucky few to get a job straight out of college. How nice it is that trousers are the most pressing of your worries. Get it? Because your trousers are "pressing"? Right. Never mind.

I assume you would like to keep this job, so fold the skinny jeans away. They are for after work and the occasional casual Friday. Don’t bother with straight-up-and-down pants; they’re for straight-up-and-down people.

Nor should you heed friendly advice to go for flares or (shudder) bootcut trousers. The hems will get wet on soggy walks to work. They also make distracting swooshing sounds against carpet when you walk from one side of the room to the other, and you don’t want to be the new girl who keeps making that annoying noise (unless it is your job to make annoying noises and, if so, please keep me in mind for any future vacancies).

Instead, go for wide-legged trousers with a pulled-in waist. Pair them with a crisp white shirt to avoid looking too much like an old-timey hobo. Think Marlene Dietrich, not Charlie Chaplin.

Topshop Boutique has several pairs of beautiful menswear- inspired trousers. A striped pair (from Malene Birger) will break the office monotony. And if black is too black, a pair in a neutral tone such as camel will work just as well.

(L-R) Twill trousers by Melene Birger, €240. Camel high-waist trousers, €50 from Miss Selfridge. Wool trousers by Topshop, €110