Here's the good news: the tailored world of business is so conservative that looking bad in the approved business uniform is preferable to looking good in something else. I kid you not: you will be perceived as businesslike by other business people if you dress as much as possible like they do.
That said, here are a few things you can do to minimize the misery of having to dress like a businessperson. First of all, you don't have to tuck in your tops if you buy them short enough. The tops should cover the waistband of your skirt or pants, but only just. You will wear a jacket—that's business wear and there's no avoiding it. Make sure your skirts are plenty roomy for you, so there's no discomfort. Don't worry about what that does to your figure, just be as comfortable as you can within the dress code.
Try jackets with waists just slightly nipped in rather the boxy ones, and make sure your jackets run long to cover the untucked shirt and the front of your skirt or pants. It's a bummer to work all day while trying to hold you stomach in because your jacket leaves your tummy out there in the open, but you'd be surprised how many women go around all day without breathing properly just to try to look better. If your jacket is long, your top untucked and your bottoms roomy, you'll be able to breathe in a more relaxed manner, which means you'll be thinking better and probably feeling better too. Focus on who you really are, not what you look like in your business clothes beyond observing the solid color, no-frills protective coloration of the businesswoman out in the world. If you're worries about your image, cultivate something really pretty—wear fabulous shoes and hose, have beautiful nails and hands. Remember, you're more than a body; you're a whole person with a lot to contribute. The wardrobe is just for getting in the door.
