Building A Career Wardrobe You Don’t Hate
Posted on | February 22, 2010
If you tuned into to Good Morning Texas this AM you likely heard me talking about buying career pieces on a budget (for under $100.) The most important element of a work wardrobe on a budget is make sure pieces have versatility. I believe everyone should have the following versatile pieces in their work wardrobe to be mixed and matched to extend the number of looks you can create with the wardrobe you have. If you are on a budget or like most people don’t want to spend your hard earned money on “work clothes” start with these items and build out. You’ll be surprised how many looks you can create.
And I want to encourage you to create looks for work that you don’t hate. You likely spend most of your life working, you should spend it in clothes you love. Very few jobs still require a boring one color suit with hose. So spice it up a bit and show your co-workers that just because you are at work doesn’t mean you can’t still have style.
10 CAREER WARDROBE MUST-HAVES
1. LITTLE BLACK DRESS
You know I couldn’t recommend a wardrobe without a versatile LBD
Black Dress- Lucy & Lau $24.99 at TJMaxx
Black Studded Sandals- Michael by Michael Kors at TJ Maxx
Black Dress- Lucy & Lau $24.99 at TJMaxx
Black Studded Sandals- Michael by Michael Kors $69.99 at TJ Maxx
Hot Pink Jacket- Harve Bernard $24.99 at TJMaxx
Black Studded Belt- Betsey Johnson $7.00 at TJMaxx
2. BLACK PANT
My favorite this season is a black skinny
Black Pant- YMI $16.99 at TJMaxx
Blue Coat- Hazel $39.99 at TJMaxx
Black Patent Heels- Tahari $39.99 at TJMaxx
3. CRISP WHITE SHIRT (long sleeved)
Crisp White Shirt- Limited $7.00 at TJMaxx
Black Patent Heels- Tahari $39.99 at TJMaxx
Black Dress- Lucy & Lau $24.99 at TJMaxx
4. CRISP WHITE SHIRT (short sleeved)
5. WHITE FITTED TEE
Black Pant- YMI $16.99 at TJMaxx
White Tee- Liz Lange $10.00 at Target
Yellow Cardigan- 525 America $15.00 at TJMaxx
Black Patent Heels- Tahari $39.99 at TJMaxx
6. NEUTRAL PENCIL SKIRT
My favorite is charcoal grey
Grey pencil skirt- Thalian $20.00 at TJMaxx
White Floral Tee- Queen Esther $12.99 at TJMaxx
Grey Bootie- Guess $29.00 at TJMaxx
7. CLASSIC BLACK HEEL
My favorite this year is a black patent stacked platform pump
8. BLACK BLAZER
My favorite this season is a shrunken black leather version but as long as it is clean and tailored to fit well most any black blazer will do. You can even roll the sleeves to be on trend with the “boyfriend jacket” styling
White Floral Tee- Queen Esther $12.99 at TJMaxx
Grey Bootie- Guess $29.00 at TJMaxx
Black Pant- YMI $16.99 at TKMaxx
9. DRESSY DENIM JEANS
If you have a casual work environment or “casual Fridays,” a “dress” jean. Typically darker, with no wear and similarly my favorite this season is a skinny jean.
10. NEUTRAL SANDAL
My favorite is a strappy leather version with a chunky heel and a luggage tan coloring
Everything else can be filled in with trend pieces or other staple pieces in your wardrobe. If you don’t have any of the above 10 pieces, whatever is missing should be the next thing(s) you buy. In the following looks you’ll see we used one or more of the basic pieces in each look. With just a few trend pieces (and very limited financial outlay) we were able to create quite a few looks, and with more time many more looks could be created. I strongly urge those of you on a budget to steer clear of prints and extreme trend pieces but if you absolutely must indulge invest a very limited amount in a piece with a lot of punch. For example you’ll see this awesome Calvin Klein dress which is completely on trend with both it’s bright print and blue coloring. You’ll see it here in a second look where it has been paired with a black blazer and a fun black studded belt and sandal to give an otherwise girlish dress a little edge.
Colorful dress- Calvin Klein $49.99 at TJMaxx
Black Studded Belt- Betsey Johnson $7.00 at TJMaxx
Black Studded Sandals- Michael by Michael Kors at TJ Maxx
10 WORK APPROPRIATE TRENDS FOR SPRING
1. Studded belt
2. Chunky black sandal
3. Anything blue- shirt, jacket, pant…my faves a handbag or shoe (buy something that can be worn in the Fall as this trend will carry over)
4. Anything multi-colored, I recommend versatile scarves as they add a great change to a look and can be picked up easily for under $10
5. Skinny jeans…if you haven’t bought any yet, invest in some…they will be around for awhile
6. Leather jacket…don’t have one? Pick one up. Leather is sticking around for awhile too and you’ll be surprised how much wear you can get out of it. Make sure it is fitted and styled to fit your body. Nothing bulky or designer for outerwear. Something you can pair with a cocktail dress.
7. Sequins for day. Yes sequins is hot in a major way but be sure to wear it minimally, one piece at a time and I recommend pairing a sequins top with a blazer to avoid the disco ball look in the sunlight.
Gold Sequins Top- Essentials by Milano $5.00 at TJMaxx
Grey pencil skirt- Thalian $20.00 at TJMaxx
Black Studded Sandals- Michael by Michael Kors at TJ Maxx
8. Colorful dress. Printed dresses are all the rage though unfortunately print limits the number of times you can wear something. Pick a print you love in a disposable price point, say under $50 and maybe share it with a similarly sized friend once you’ve gotten a few wears out of it.
9. Boyfriend jacket…if you haven’t bought one yet buy one in a versatile (read: neutral) color and wear the heck out of it. Pair it with everything. It’s been decades since a blazer was “cool.”
10. Accentuated shoulders and general detailing…If you find a piece with great detail on it, go for it. The extra thought counts this season and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Check out the great shredded roses on this neutral tee. A great accent to an otherwise basic top.
Final piece of advice for shoppers on a budget. When you are out shopping and find something you “have to have” ask yourself “what are at least four different ways I can wear this piece (regularly.)” If you can’t quickly think of four ways to wear a piece put it back. The budget wardrobe needs pieces that are above all, versatile.
Comments
3 Responses to “Building A Career Wardrobe You Don’t Hate”
February 22nd, 2010 @ 12:37 pm
LOVE the looks and how versatile you made all of the outfits. You have an amazing eye for that. I especially admire how you found all of these big designers at TJ Maxx. I do my hunting at this store as well as Marshalls and believe that if you have the patience and determination you can really score a great look. I just recently purchased a Cynthia Rowley top at Marshalls for $16 and was over the moon with that find!
March 1st, 2010 @ 10:53 am
Which TJMaxx do you prefer. I never find the great pieces. Please share.
March 1st, 2010 @ 11:28 am
I hear there is a really good one in Plano but to be honest no matter which one you go to I feel you have to hunt to find the great pieces. I have found nice designer pieces at most of the local Dallas area stores. Also love the ones in LA.