The Life of Bon: 8 Tips to Dressing Like a Professional (Without Breaking the Bank!)

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

8 Tips to Dressing Like a Professional (Without Breaking the Bank!)



One of the hardest things for me when starting my first legit job was finding legit clothes.  Years of college meant my wardrobe was well stocked with great looking jeans, hoodies, and baseball caps.  When it came to dressing professionally, I didn't have a clue where to start.  I was overwhelmed and frustrated- not to mention totally broke.  Was I going to afford a whole new wardrobe?

Luckily, five years later, I have figured it out.  (I think!)   The hardest part about getting a cute, professional wardrobe for me was doing it without going broke in the process.  Sure, J. Crew and Banana Republic have plenty of drool worthy merchandise, but I can never justify spending that much money on my clothes.  I have found the trick is to get a few expensive "staples" and supplement the rest with cheapo skirts and blouses from Forever 21 and Target and call it a day!  Here's how I do it!

CATEGORY ONE:  THE SPLURGE ITEMS
The key to having a great professional wardrobe is having key staples that everything else can rely on.  I am all about saving a buck or two, but there are a few items that you just have to pay a little bit more for.  They will be worth it in the long run, though, as these are the items that last you YEARS and they make the rest of your wardrobe look sharper.

1.  Have three to four pairs of nice dress pants.  I get all of mine from Express.  They're around $80 a pair normally, but you can almost always find a sale to get them cheaper.  Right now Express is giving $30 off if you spend $75, and their pants are also buy one get one 50% off.  Combine the deals and you spend $45 per pair of pants instead of $80.  It's still expensive to me, but it's worth it because the pants are not frumpy, easy to clean, and last forever.  I love the "Columnist" pant- they are almost more of a skinny pant and they give nice shape to your rump and legs.  I also have a few pairs of "Editor" pants, but they flare out too much at the bottom for me.  I ain't tall enough to pull that shiz off.

2.  Invest in one nice white button up shirt:  I paid $50 at Banana Republic for a beautiful white button up my first year of teaching and I have used it ever since.  My only regret is that I didn't get the non wrinkle version- the only thing that ever prevents me from wearing this is I'm too lazy to iron it.  Still, I say it's way worth the $50 as it's a total staple and I use it often.

Favorite white button up on the right- it goes with EVERYTHING.

3.  You should at all times own a black pencil skirt:  I bought mine from Express, and I think I spent about $60 on it.  That was four years ago.  The zipper doesn't go up all the way anymore without sucking in, (oops!) but other than that it is in perfect condition.  I wear this probably at least once a week.  It does not look worn or faded at all even though I've probably washed it 100 times.  Worth the money for sure!
Favorite black pencil skirt on the right!  

CATEGORY TWO:  Items you should have a lot of but not spend as much on:
ONce you've invested in your key staples, it is time to knock yourself out by supplementing with any variety of blouses, skirts, flats, etc.  This is where I add my color and fun- I keep the staples simple and jazz it up with my accents.

4.  Stock up on flats!  (My personal rule- never spend more than $20 a pair):  For most professionals it's pretty hard to wear heels all day, but we still want to look professional. That is why I have about 15 pairs of flats.  Just about every store sells them and you can find them in any color or pattern.  I have a red pair and purple pair that get WAY more use than I would ever think.  Whenever my outfit is in muted colors I wear bright flats and it helps to brighten the whole outfit. My all time favorite place to get flats is called Forever Young.   They have so much variety, the flats run around $20 a pair and I've never seen the store not have a buy one get one half off sale going on, meaning the flats are only $15 each.   If you are in the Utah Valley area there is a store in the University Mall.  (They don't have an online site so I don't know what to tell the rest of you... does anyone know if this is just a Utah store?)

Gap Outlet has great flats (I scored a couple of pairs for $8 each last fall.  You just gotta hit the sales!) and Target can really surprise me with their flat selection as well, although they can be a bit overpriced.  One of my very favorite pairs of shoes is this scrunched nude flat from Target.  They are super comfortable and look great with seriously every outfit in the world.  The icing on the cake is is they are only $17!

5.  If you live in a cold weathered area, invest in tights for the wintertime.  This is a winter necessity for us Utah folk!  I don't always like wearing pants to work, (something about skirts makes me feel like I'm the boss!) but there is no way I'm going bare legged in the winter.  The solution is tights.  My nude fishnets are perfect for any hard-to-match outfit and I have found navy tights to be pretty much essential as well.  I've got black stripes, black fishnets, black eyelets, etc. Bright colored tights can be way fun too, but it's harder for me to figure out colors- I'm always going way too loud with them.  I have a red pair that's just been sitting in my drawer for two months while I figure out how to wear them.

The tight queen is Forever21.  They easily have the best selection and best prices.  Their tights get runs very easily though, so beware.  As soon as you take your shoes off, take your tights off!  Target's tights are a bit more expensive and they have less variety, but they last longer.  And I'm sure you could always spend $30 for a pair of tights at Nordstrom, but I like to keep mine in the $5-8 range.  I'm certainly not going to blow my retirement on tights!

So many tights, so little time!

6.  Don't forget the cardigans!  Again, this is probably more specific to cold weathered places, but I feel like almost any outfit can have a cardigan thrown over it and then if you need to take it off during the day, take it off!  Cardigans are perfect for layering and for when it's 7 degrees outside but in a room with 40 horny seventeen year olds it's 83 degrees.  Gap has great cardigans, although a bit more expensive.  ($30 range) Target usually has cardigans for around $20 but I find they look kind of dingy after three or four months of wear and washing.  (Also, in general my opinion on clothes from Target is that they are not worth the price if not bought on sale.  Target's clothes are cute, but the quality is not great and they charge as much as higher end places like Gap or American Eagle that are generally going to be much better quality.  That's just my two cents- I only shop clothes at Target if they're on sale.)

I have heard the Old Navy has a good supply of cardigans, but I can't vouch for this myself.

Middle cardigan is from J. Crew Outlet.
Right cardigan is from from Gap

7.  Buy cheap skirts.  I know a lot of women aren't crazy about wearing skirts and dresses to work, but I love it.  It makes me feel just a tad bit dressier and it is SO much more comfortable!  Again, the best place for me to pick up cheap skirts is Forever 21.  Most of their skirts are under $10- WOW.  The coral skirt and the turquoise skirt below are Forever 21 picks.  This year they have an incredible selection on any kind of skirt you could want.  (Here and here and here and here and here!)

Left and center skirt are both from Forever 21 and under $10.


8.  Top it all off with a few maxi skirts and dresses. I've just become converted to maxi skirts and dresses within the past year or so, but I can't get enough of them.  Not only are they stylish and professional looking, but they are insanely comfortable.  I could wear them all day!  I like to have a few dresses anyway to kind of round out my wardrobe, and lately any dresses I have been buying have been maxis.  My long black maxi from Downeast Outfitters (middle picture) is one of my all time favorite dresses.


Alright, there you have it!  I know a lot of you are big shoppers so I want to know where you score your best deals- especially for professional type looking clothes.  Tell us all your secrets!


39 comments:

  1. LOVE THIS! You have such great taste!

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  2. I love those Forever 21 skirts, they are my favourite thing for work- so comfy and so cheap (even in Canada they're under $10). I do basically the same thing for the more expensive stuff wait for a sale- or make sure it's something I really want! Great tips!

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  3. If you are into sewing even the littlest bit, you can crank out a pencil skirt in 30 minutes, so that is a easy, fun, and inexpensive way to add to your wardrobe. You can do basics (like solid colors or polka dots) or more fun patterns! Also, I love Old Navy for tights. They usually have lots of cool colors and a few pretty patterns too. I love Forever 21 for tights also :) And I'm with you about Target. I do like a lot of their stuff, but I feel like it's over priced sometimes. I often wait until what I want goes on clearance to buy it. I have to really, really like it to buy it before that.

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  4. As a recent college grad just starting to navigate my way through the professional world I found this post so helpful! Love your tips on investment pieces versus pieces you should save on.

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  5. Great tips! I'm fortunate enough to work in a "jeans and flip flops" office - and will still be working in that sort of atmosphere when I start a new job in a few weeks - but your tips are spot on. I had the same issue when I started my first job which was business casual. I had a lot of Nike shorts and sorority t-shirts but no dress clothes!

    Agreed about the Target cardis. I buy them, but I can never use them more than one season. Old Navy does have a decent selection, but I find they wear even faster than the Target ones.

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  6. This is the most random comment I think I've ever left but I wear a skirt every day to work and in the (Chicago) winter - tights are a must! The BEST tights I have ever found run about $8 and are the Vera Wang brand at Kohls. They last wash after wash, never run, are very opaque and have fun designs if you want them! I also love the Hue brand that's at Nordstrom but if you look, usually can find them at TJ Maxx/Marshalls. That is all! Love your blog!

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  7. YES! I think it's so important to invest in your clothes. You're exactly right that Target may have cute stuff, but if you can't wear it after a few months and have to re-buy it again next season then you were better off buying something more expensive that last years. I really love TJMaxx, Ross, and Marshall's for buying good quality, name brand stuff at a discount.


    I will say, I disagree with you about shoes! I think it's important to buy good quality shoes that are good for your feet and will last a long time. I love Merrells and Dansko.

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  8. This is so helpful. I'm going to be in grad school in a few months (hopefully), and I think I should try to dress better than I do as an undergrad.

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  9. I work at a bank so dressing professional is priority! I so agree with the cardigans and I almost feel like if I am wearing a shirt that is boarder line casual I throw in a cardigan and a necklace or a scarf and it pushes it just enough that I look comfy but professional! I love all the great tips for places to shop. I have a hard time forking out a ton of money for dress pants, but you are so right, if I have to wear them all day every day, might as well get some that are going to last! Love this post and will be pinning in for post baby shopping!

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  10. these tips are so helpful! I wish I had read these a couple of years ago when I started building my professional wardrobe.

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  11. I LOVE cardigans and cheap flats! Your advice is perfect since I'm in my first professional job since graduating college!

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  12. i look at clearance racks in the mall--my two favorites are Wet Seal and Papaya. I would also say get tunic shirts/shirt dresses and pair with leggings and high-heeled boots.

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  13. Forever Young is my FAVORITE! (So are cardigans and maxi skirts.) Love this post!

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  14. you are exactly right - it is hard to have a whole "work wardrobe" in addition to your regular "mom wardrobe" without breaking the bank. but it's also true - if you buy all cheap, low quality stuff, they won't fit well or last long and chances are you won't wear them anyway. i usually stock up on v neck t's and sweaters at target when they're on sale (as in, less than $10ish). i'm not a big f21 fan though....i just feel like i always have to dig through crap to find something good and i HATE that! lazy, maybe? i just can't do it. i have gotten a few pairs of leggings (a tights alternative) from f21 that i wear a lot with skirts and such. i would say old navy is a newer favorite for cheaper things (similar as target prices but i like them better). another more recent favorite is nordstrom rack. i didn't have one near where i live until a few months ago, so i didn't go much. but now, i go way more. you can find flats for $20ish range that are good quality and shirts/cardigans too. also - i just bought two pairs of jeans (first post-baby jeans i bought..eek!) from the rack and i LOVE them. and they were only $40/pair for super good quality/fit. there's my two cents :)

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  15. Can we just love closer and then we can do sharsies?! Thx. Actually, I clicked on this thinking. "Oh jeeze Bonnie, this will be a laugh." But I actually really liked your two cents. In fact, I'm gonna go do some online shopping while Leo sleeps. But seriously , think about moving closer please.

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  16. Yes, Target used to have MUCH more affordable clothing- I felt like they were a hidden gem of cute, cheap clothes. Not anymore. Cheap quality yes, but not so much affordable. You will have to tell me the next time you see a great sale at ASOS. I love them but never buy anything there due to price!

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  17. Yes, the Forever 21 skirts are a gold mine! Thanks so much for commenting!

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  18. I am not into sewing at all, but it is totally something I would love to learn! Good to know about Old Navy for tights- I will log that away in my brain!

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  19. Thank you Jordyn! Also, I accidentally hovered over your picture while trying to respond to your comment and it says that you have commented on my blog 77 times. WOW! That's impressive! I think I need to take you to lunch for that!

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  20. YES on the Target cardis! So glad I'm not the only one who feels that way! One season is all they ever last for me.

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  21. Kaitlin- this is such an awesome and useful comment. I would never think about shopping at Kohls for tights but I am totally going to try them out this winter. Just the fact that you wash them impresses me- I'm always terrified to wash my tights because they fall apart when I do.

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  22. Great comment about the shoes, Jackie! I do think it's good to invest in a few pairs that are super high quality but my problem is I'm so fickle with my shoes- I always want a new pair and want to try something new, so I can't afford to buy expensive ones. I have a shoe obsession so to get the variety I crave I have to buy the cheapo ones!

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  23. So glad you liked it! Good luck with grad school!

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  24. dress pants are super annoying to buy. They're probably my least favorite purchase- nothing exciting about dress pants at all. They are kind of the necessary evil to dressing professionaly, though. You just gotta do it.

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  25. Thank you Ali! I would love it if you would pin it and then when you need to do some professional shopping again you will have it close by :)

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  26. congrats on the first professional job! That's so exciting!

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  27. I never have much luck with Wet Seal or Papaya- do you feel like their sizes run small? I swear, I try on a medium and still can't fit in it and then I just feel depressed that I can't fit into anything and I give up trying!

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  28. Forever Young FTW!

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  29. v necks are a great thing to buy cheap, I think! I never want t shirts for more than a season anyway, so I'm happy to buy three or four cheap ones. I totally get your headache feeling with Forever21- I almost always do my F21 shopping online because the store drives me crazy. Online feels much cleaner and easier to navigate. I have heard great things about Nordstrom Rack but never can find anything great there- kind of the f21 problem that it seems like a lot of digging and I can't ever find what I want. I should try them again- there is one right next to my work.

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  30. YES on living closer and sharing clothes. And I'm offended that you clicked on this post because you thought it would be a good laugh! Don't you take my shopping seriously?

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  31. Oh wow I didn't realized i had commented so often either, what can I say...I love your blog!

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  32. Ann Taylor Loft is a great place to buy professional clothes. I never buy anything full price, but if you go in the store, they always have great stuff on sale. They also always seem to have 40 or 50% off sales online, so you can get lots of things for pretty cheap!

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  33. I've never had that problem with them,,,,well, didn't....I still cant fit back into the pants I own from them....

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  34. I've been finding great cardigans at H&M lately too! I love a good scarf to dress things up too.

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  35. Thank you soooo much for this! How do you manage to organise your closet? I seem to have so much stuffed in there that I have clothes I forget I have and don't wear for months at a time until I'm digging for something to wear! Love all your bright colourful clothes - it just brightens anyone's personality don't you think?

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  36. This is amazing! I just started at my 'professional' job about a month ago, and this will definitely help me as I build up my wardrobe. And I'm IN LOVE with Express. The studio stretch material they use for some of the dress pants is AMAZING. I actually don't even mind wearing them!

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  37. Tights and cardigans really do help stretch your wardrobe!

    xx Kelly
    Sparkles and Shoes

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