Amy,
I recently discovered your website and have really enjoyed it! I am also an Aldi fan and am trying hard to live within my means. I have a problem I was hoping you could help me with. I am returning to work very soon and after years as a stay-at-home Mom, suddenly find myself without any decent clothes to wear to a job. Faded blue jeans and old t-shirts have worked okay at home but they aren’t work-appropriate!
Whenever you post a picture on your site you always look so pulled-together. Can you help? I am going to be working in a business casual environment – even a well-fitting pair of boot-cut dark wash blue jeans would probably work on Fridays. Other than that – where do I start? I have about $250-$300 to put towards new clothes. Any suggestions??? Maybe even some websites that could help?
Congratulations on paying off your debt and cutting up those cards!!! Your party must have been so much fun!
Thanks,
L.
Well, it has been about four years since I have been out in the trenches of the working world, but I will do my best to answer this question. If you are a working woman of the world and have had good success shopping anywhere, please let our sweet reader know so she can do some hunting.
Since this is an office-casual environment, I think it will be a lot easier to tackle than the more formal office wear. Here are some of my suggestions for a great work wardrobe.
Bottoms-
Apostrophe Essential Pant- I have actually worn these and they are an amazing fit! They are a lightweight material that doesn’t attract pet hair or look wrinkly after being worn all day. They also look seamless, with no distracting pockets or details that seem to draw your eye towards the problem areas. The material is lightweight and these could be worn through all of the seasons. They have these in black & gray- both are great choices for work. I just really love these pants and they are a steal at only $24.98 each!
Tops-
apt. 9 Herringbone Blazer- This blazer is great for summer and you could transition it into the fall with the addition of a long sleeve t-shirt. This would look great with a pair of black slacks and a cute camisole or even could be paired with a pair of jeans and ballet flats to dress it down. I wear this style of blazer a lot and I just love how versatile it is! They have a similar style available in black as well (which could pair nicely with a gray pair of trousers or jeans) Currently on sale for $29.99.
Xhiliration Dolman Sleeve Top- This would be a great addition to a work wardrobe too. I love the style of this top because the sleeves make it dressy enough for work or you could wear this on the weekend with a pair of cute sneakers. I love the Kelly Green & the Black for basic pieces.
These are just a few examples of great items that would work. For a starter work wardrobe, I would recommend:
1. Two or three basic pairs of flat-front trousers (black, gray, khaki)
2. Two or three camisoles for layering (white, off-white, and black- Target offers these at affordable prices in the lingerie section of the store)
3. A short sleeve blazer (could be a basic color or a fun print that would work with neutrals)
4. Two or three long-sleeve or short-sleeve basic shirts for layering (I love the Old Navy or Mossimo brand for these) that could be layered under blouses and jackets. Pick your sleeve length based on the season.
5. One or two blouses (You could keep these basic in black, white, or pink and use hair and jewelry accessories to switch these up or you could go with fun prints and and use a basic black blazer to tone down for a different look. Look for the cap-sleeved shirts, as they are popular right now and make a blouse look a little more girly)
6. One pair of dark-wash jean,for the office casual environment. I love jeans from The Limited, Old Navy, or Gap.
7. A pair of basic black ballet flats, black heels (to dress up your jeans), and one pair of fun shoes (fun print or an unexpected color)
8. A nice neutral handbag
When I was trying to help my husband with his work wardrobe, I would actually look in his closet and piece together things that he didn’t put together. This can be fun to do with your spouse, if they have an eye for what looks good, or a good friend. Invite someone into your closet and have them look at what you have and your new pieces and have them come up with ideas for things that could work together too. Sometimes it takes a new pair of eyes to see all of the possibilities
Finally, if you are really short on cash, ask if you can raid your friend’s closets to help you until you get those first couple of paychecks. My best friend and I exchange clothes often for special events and occasions and it has saved me more money than I can begin to tell you. My wardrobe has great pieces and her wardrobe has great pieces. Together, we create an ultimate wardrobe that makes life events like these a little easier.
Sound Off: What are some places that you would recommend shopping for a work wardrobe? Are there any basic pieces that you would add to my list?
HI!
I like a simple black wrap dress. I have found that wrap dresses tend to hide the areas on my body that I am not so fond of. Also, Kohl’s has some great shirts that have a fun print on them. These can be worn with kakahis or black dress pants. Personally, I like the fit and comfort of Dockers. These can be found at either Kohl’s or JCPenney’s.
All the Best,
Jodi
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I think your list is pretty complete, Amy. I work in an office casual environment, and struggled when I went back to work after maternity leave when I was still carrying a bit more baby weight than I cared to admit…I borrowed some tops from my mom and some friends (great suggestion!) and I went to Sears and Kohls and bought some flat front pants (kahki, navy, and black). With a little patience I have found some very nice pants in the clearance sections at Kohls, Sears, Elder Beerman, and Macy’s. I try not to spend more than $20 on my work clothing, because though I am required to wear business casual, I work in a shop environment and have ruined more clothing than I care to think about. By limiting my spending on individual pieces, it makes me less frustrated when something does get damaged. Best of luck going back to work!
Stephanie
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Great post — tons of good advice! Another person who has advice to give is Mir at http://www.wantnot.net You can search her site for a post she wrote on this very same topic. She also posts deals quite often.
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I think your list is pretty good, Amy.
When I was a working girl not too long ago I bought a bunch of my stuff from Kohls or Penneys. They have the best sales/coupons!
And Walmart’s newer “George” line has some pretty cute pieces that could jazz up those wardrobe basics for cheap. I love their hypoallergenic jewelry too..so cute and so cheap! I think it is all about the accessories when you dress up.
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I think you did a great job. I work in a very casual office, yet I still want to look nice and professional. I’m almost 39 so I don’t want to to look too trendy. I like the classic pieces you mentioned. It’s nice to have some fun trendy jewelry to spice up the classic pieces. I’ve also found some great deals on Ann Taylor, GAP, Banana Republic staples at Goodwill. I also do quite a bit of my shopping at TJ Maxx.v
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Steve & Barry’s…but watch out for the trendy stuff.
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I do really well at higher end thrift shops – like Junior League and Buffalo Exchange (a chain). I’ve also looked online at eBay (got a Jones New York suit NWT for $25 there!) for stuff. You can also periodically check with your area dry cleaners – they will sell stuff that has not been claimed for 6 months for the cost of the dry cleaning. Got a Dana Buchman sweater there for $3.50!
Stick with basic colors and classic cuts and your work clothes will last for many years. Avoid trendy things like bell or flare pants, wide lapels, or patterns that are hard to match.
And remember, it’s really always better even in a “business casual” office (who EVER came up with that!?!? Impossible for women to gague what is in or out) to be overdressed than under-dressed.
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I am a plus size and often had a hard time finding nice dress clothes. My FAVORITE pair of dress pants are Jaclyn Smith from Kmart. I have them in black and gray and paid $15 each for them 3 years ago. They still look very new, didn’t shrink and aren’t dry clean only. I also hit sales at Fashion bug(there’s one now for BOGO for $1) and Old Navy for separates. Good Luck and Congrats on your new job.
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Look for the book “It’s So You” by Mary Sheehan Warren in your local libary. It’s a fun read, and she gives advice for putting together a basic wardrobe using only 8 pieces.
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Pam nice idea I agree with you
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