Re-entering the workforce? Fresh out of college? Here’s a foolproof guide for building a work wardrobe from scratch and marking every dollar count
CHOOSING YOUR CORE COMPONENTS
1. Read fashion magazines to check out the trends. Then avoid them. “If they are showing very skinny things…take three steps back, but not completely opposite,” says fashion consultant and author Leah Feldon. “Modify the trends so they will last longer and so you don’t look like a fashion victim.”
2. Try on designer suits at a good department store to see what high-quality fabric looks like and how a well-cut garment drapes.
3. Buy the best neutral-hued, three-piece suit (jacket, pants and skirt/dress) you can afford. These are the anchor pieces of your wardrobe and should be your biggest investment. Select a narrow jack silhouette but avoid anything too form-fitting, too long or with big lapels or shoulders, says Feldon. Choose a mid-weight fabric for versatility. If classic styles make you shudder, try a zip-front jacket or one with a tie belt. The skirt should be flattering in length for your legs; the pants a classic, slim straight-leg style. Expect to spend from $180 to $550 for the suit.
4. Build on your suit basics with several pairs of small-check trousers, a good knit cardigan (to stand in for the jacket), several knit tops and a few vests that coordinate with your suit.
ADDING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE
You don’t want to feel like a corporate clone when you get dressed in the morning. Here’s how to liven up the basics and inject personal style into your wardrobe. Don’t spend a lot for these accent pieces or accessories. They’ll probably be out of fashion next year. Try shopping for them in a discount store.
– Tie on one of the colorful new silk or chiffon neckerchiefs or scarves.
– Add color with a sleeveless or short-sleeve top. If your office is casual, a cotton or stretchy rayon T-shirt also will work.
– Consider a bright silk vest. “You can leave it open over a shell or T-shirt or wear it on its own, which formalizes your suit a little bit,” says fashion consultant Leah Feldon.
– Try wearing a chunky amber of faux crystal necklace, ethnic beads or a faux tortoise shell cuff bracelet. “In jewelry you can get the same (expensive) look inexpensively. I don’t think you need to spend a lot of money,” says Mary Schakowsky, manager and buyer for Art Effect, a Chicago boutique.
– An exception to the scrimping rule: Invest in a good watch ($70 to $150). “I like a watch the combines silver and gold. Then you can wear it with anything,” notes Feldon.
SHOPPING SMART
You don’t have to go it alone when building a wardrobe. Notice those around you who could become a style mentor. Or hire an image consultant. A more budget-minded option: a fashion-savvy sales associate or personal shopper.
Here’s how to find a good one and how to get the most out of the experience.
– Ask people whose clothes you like where they shop. Check out the store and see if the prices match your budget. Then make an appointment with a sales associate. If you choose a department store, ask if they have a personal shopping service and make an appointment for this free perk.
– Expect at least an hour of personal attention in which you discuss where you work, your personality and the best styles for you body type. “You should expect the utmost attention and interest in you,” says Diana Elias, a sales associate at Ann Taylor’s store at 500 N. Michigan Ave.
– Look for someone who is interested in helping you, not (just interested in) wanting to sell you something,” says Elias. If you don’t feel comfortable the moment you are approached, move on to someone else. Don’t tolerate snooty behavior or allow anyone to make you feel you’re not spending enough.
– Before you try on options, be sure not to neglect what you wear underneath. “Get a good seamless bra with good support,” says Leah Feldon, fashion consultant and author.
If she doesn’t offer, ask the sales associate to keep track of your purchases so she can coordinate any future pieces you buy with your existing wardrobe. Also, ask to be contacted when styles you may like come into the store.
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Resources: Rayon/wool/nylon plaid jacket, $248, sleeveless dress, $168, pants, $148, short-sleeve silk blouse, $39.90, blue bodysuit, $24, cranberry ribbed T-shirt, $58, leather belt, $38; all from Ann Taylor. A-Line by Anne Klein blue cardigan, $128, matching shell, $78; from Marshall Field’s. Chocolate pants, $176, blue mock-neck sweater, $78, necklace, $99; from Studio 910, 910 W. Armitage Ave. Copper cotton shirt, $165; from Bigsby and Kruthers. Leopard neckerchief, $24, faux tortoise bangles, $10-$22 each, gold/silver watch, $128; all from Art Effect, 651 W. Armitage Ave. Brown ankle boots, $225, brown pumps, $148, brown handbag, $195; all from Browns Shoe Shops.
