Careers
Dress for Success -- for Less
You don't have to spend a lot of money to look great at work. Follow these seven tips for buying professional attire on a budget.
By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com
September 27, 2007
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You've probably heard it 100 times by now: If you want to make the right impression at work, you need to dress for success. But what exactly does that mean? And how are you supposed to look successful on an entry-level salary?
Thanks to outlet malls, Overstock.com, consignment shops and designer lines at discount stores such as Target and Kohl's, there are plenty of ways to find affordable work clothes. The key is to buy the right attire so you look like a polished professional and not a junior assistant in cheap clothing.
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A few ground rules
"Image is the first thing people notice, says Alison Doyle, the About.com guide to job searching. "What they see is what you're wearing." That's why it's crucial to project the right image if you want to get a job and get ahead. If you don't, you might not just be hurting your chances at success -- you might be killing your career.
Follow interview attire dos and don'ts. If you're searching for an office job, be sure to dress conservatively (think coat, tie and slacks or skirt and jacket) when you meet with a prospective employer.
Cover tattoos and remove unconventional piercings if you can. Keep jewelry to a minimum. And don't were cologne or perfume. Doyle says she knows employers who won't hire anyone wearing a strong scent during an interview.
Dress for the job. Just because you're part of the working world now doesn't mean you're stuck wearing only black, blue and gray suits. Nor does it mean you can wear grungy sneakers and ripped jeans in a casual workplace.
Look at what your supervisors and co-workers are wearing, read the employee manual to see if it spells out a company dress code and do your best to look like part of the team, says Doyle. "You don't want to wear a suit if everyone's wearing khakis," Doyle says. "But if there are customers or clients coming in, you don't want to look like a slob. You still need to be neat and put together."
Don't be too trendy. Remember, you're going to work, not a fashion show. You'll impress your boss more in conservative, professional attire, and you'll get more wear out of it.
A trendy piece will stand out, making it wearable only once a week -- maybe just once a month. Besides, Doyle says, "It's more cost effective to go with a classic look than something that will be out of style next season." Flip flops, short skirts and exposed undergarments, cleavage and midriff are off limits -- even in a casual workplace.
Seven inexpensive ways to look successful
When it comes to dressing well on a budget, Kathryn Finney wrote the book -- literally. "You don't have to spend a lot of money to look great," says the 31-year-old author of How to Be a Budget Fashionista (Ballantine Books, $10.36 at Amazon.com) and creator of The Budget Fashionista blog. We interviewed Finney to get her tips:
1. Get the basics. When you're first out of college and don't have a lot of money, buy a few staples that can be mixed and matched. Finney suggests a suit that includes a skirt and pair of pants for women (guys, just stick to the pants) and two shirts. You can get up to five or six outfits with these five articles of clothing. Keep to dark or neutral colors so your colleagues won't realize you're wearing an item more than once a week. "This will get you through the first couple of months until you have money," Finney says.
2. Focus on quality. If you don't have a lot, you want to make sure what you have is good. Men can find quality, inexpensive suits at K&G Fashion Superstore, JCPenney and Target.com. For shirts and slacks, Finney recommends the Lands' End line in Sears stores, Kohl's and the Kirkland brand of shirts at Costco. Women should check out Ross Dress for Less and Target's Merona line. Both men and women will find quality threads that will fit into their budget at Marshalls, T.J.Maxx, Loehmann's, Filene's Basement and major department stores' outlet shops.
3. Determine cost per wear. Finney says most of us are used to looking at the price instead of value, which often leads us to shying away from a pricey item that will last a while and, instead, buying an inexpensive piece of clothing that will fall apart after two or three wears. "You don't need a lot of cheap stuff in your closet," she says. To determine the true value of an item, divide the price by the number of times you will wear it in a given time period (usually a year). For example, if shirt is $100 and you will wear it 20 times, it will cost $5 every time you wear it. When you're starting out, look for items that are less than $3 per wear.
4. Dry clean suits once a year. If work clothes weren't costly enough, there's the added expense of dry cleaning them. Finney says you can save money -- and your garment from damaging chemicals -- by sending your suit to the cleaners just once a year. In between, use a bottle of Febreeze. Test first on the underside, then squirt your garments down to keep them fresh and use spot treatment for stains.
5. Fake it 'til you make it. So maybe you don't have a lot of nice things in your closet, but your friends and family might. So borrow from them until you have enough money to buy your own high-end threads -- no one at work will know, Finney says.
6. Outline yourself with expensive and color in with cheap. If you're working in investment banking on Wall Street or at a law firm and need to act like you have money to look successful, you can get status symbols without paying status symbol price, Finney says. For men, it's watches, and women can achieve the look of status with a nice handbag and pair of shoes. You can snag deals on these accessories at outlet stores or online at Overstock.com. People will focus on these "expensive items" and look past your $20 pair of khakis.
7. Consider thrift stores and consignment shops. If you're on a budget, you have to think outside the box. Consignment shops are better than thrift stores because owners are more selective about the clothes they accept and sell, and you can find designer fashions there. Or check out MyGirlfriendsCloset.com, where you can buy slightly used clothing.
A final note
Finney says it's important for young people to realize there's plenty of time to get fashionable work clothing and develop their style after they've been on the job a while and know what the culture of their office is. "It's better to go safe before coming in as an ultimate fashionista," she says. Besides, you'll be more thankful if you have the basics in your closet at 6 a.m. so you don't have to worry about picking out an outfit.
Reader Comments (11)
Posted by: Steve Western at 10/01/2007 12:34:19 PM
I can't agree with the idea of dry cleaning suits once a year, or dousing them with febreze to can the odor. If you have 10 suits, one for every workday during a two week period, and rotate everyday, there is a good chance of the once a year deal working, but only if you give the suit, and wool only, a chance to dry from your body sweat, and regain it's shape. I have a $100 professional steamer I use before and after wearing any clothes, it's well worth the small cost to restore your clothes to looking fresh and clean. Steaming does help rid the clothes of odor. Only use light starch if you iron your own quality cotton dress shirts, and tell the laundry to do the same if you go that route. Starch builds up and ruins the feel and wearability of a cotton shirt. I disagree with the idea you can purchase quality clothes that LOOK just like department store designer brands. Outlets sell seconds, or clothes made for the outlets alone. Polo doesn't sell the same quality products in their outlet stores as they do in retail stores. Wal-Mart, Sears, JCPenny, and Target clothes look like Wal-Mart, Sears, JCPenny, and Target clothes. Ever wonder why an item you're attracted to in a retail store is the most expensive of the bunch? Quality is visible in a suit or a shirt and in slacks or shoes. How to save more than 75% and buy the best. You buy only top brands like Austin Reed and Polo, but you buy at seasons end, and save the items until the season comes back. Example: Right this very second Dillards is selling all their previously discounted clothes with an extra 30%; this means any Polo golf shirt in stock which because it's the end of the season at 75% off is now an additional 30% off. A $595 all Italian wool Polo blazer is yours for less than $70, if you wait until March to buy it. Put it away until September. The Polo chino slacks either silk/linen or all cotton sell normally for around $95, but with 75% off then another 30% off you pay $11 to $13. Dress shirts when on sale in the spring go from $85 down to $15. And don't worry about weird colors and odd sizes being all that's left. With high end clothes, people don't pay sticker price but wait until the sales, same as you. A beautiful sweater that Polo is famous for sells for $95+ in all cotton, or all wool, or even all silk, after inventory, the first of February sell for 50% then 75% off until at the last week in Feb they then sell for another 30% added to the 75% off. I have been in pharmaceuticals for 25 years, in the last 5, I have never bought anything for more than 75% off regardless of brand. And even though I live in Phoenix with dozens of Dillards I'd never been in one. Now once a week I go in and scout the place out. BTW, if you like the double mercerized Austin Reed golf shirts, which sell from $89.50 to $149, with the end of the month 30% off, added to the 75% off, you pay around $10. Polo Chino shorts in lots of colors sell for $59 to $65, now on sale for less than $10. Buy late, and save till the right season, and you will really save without giving up the feel of a high quality shirt. I'll never wear a stiff, blend dress shirt from one of the discounters you mention when I can get the best for $10 - $15. Make Sense?
Posted by: Mary at 10/12/2007 09:05:58 AM
The remarks by Steve Western hit the nail on the head. His way of shopping is the exact same way as my husband. We save a tremendous amount of money on my husband's clothes. I wish I can say the same for my clothes.
Posted by: Hyacinth at 10/12/2007 10:16:37 AM
I couldn't have said it better myself! We were definitely on the same page when reading this article. I would rather buy offseason and get the best for much less money. My husband LOVES the Dillard's clearances. He bought over $1,000 worth of clothes for just over $100. I can't seem to find quite the same deals, but still do well. My $250 jacket I wore the other day (but got for 70% off) got many compliments. I look better and feel more professional.
Posted by: Lizzie at 10/20/2007 10:37:42 AM
I think Steve Western has made fantastic comments. Thanks for taking the time! The article was useful to me, but if you compare it to Western's comments, you see a difference between perfunctory input and the advice of someone who lives the life.
Posted by: Anaerriex at 10/21/2007 01:26:12 PM
Was lookin' for this... I might even have to throw down a bookmark. Nickster _____________________________ Buy Iphone
Posted by: Jim at 11/13/2007 11:36:55 AM
We find the best buys for our family in Richmond, Va. at The Butterfly Consignment Boutique. It is the MOST UPSCALE consignment shop in Virginia.
Posted by: Mike Biever at 11/29/2007 10:01:25 PM
I work at an office with a casual dress code. However, sometimes it seems too casual. Most people wear jeans and everyday t-shirts. Even though I don't "dress-up" I sometimes feel over-dressed. I guess that comes with being more experienced and older: hopefully more mature.
Posted by: Sharon at 12/04/2007 12:33:50 PM
One source of quality clothing for inexpensive prices you forgot to mention is ebay. I gotten some beautiful items for an equally beautiful price.
Posted by: frani fisher at 05/13/2008 02:38:22 PM
Fashion in today's workplace has changed. Although women are no longer required to wear a skirt/suit, pantyhose, etc. I still think you should look professional at work.If you have some basic color pants,tops, and accessories, you create create many looks with some basic pieces. You should dress comfortable but not like you are going out to a club, or a day at the beach. Even if you do not always work with the public, the dress code should be consistent and create an atmosphere of positive professional employees.
Posted by: Macy\'s shopper at 10/27/2008 11:36:05 AM
Macy's is a great place to find good sales on high quality career and casual wear. Also, if you sign up for their credit card, they send you lots of coupons. Just keep in mind to pay it off within the month, to keep yourself on a budget.
Posted by: Clark at 04/17/2009 07:31:53 PM
Raising the Bar...As a Developer in Seattle most of my coworkers often don't dress well and sometimes have low hygiene. While being professional and skilled, it's not always a bad idea to dress a little nicer then the average person in the office. I have often seen other people try to emulate the more professional members of the team because most good workers strive to get good at what we do. While we often have that super-talented and socially abnormal employee that we never let the client meet, it's often a great leg up if you are professional and articulate. Having said that, no one likes "empire builders" who are all show and no skill. Your attitude and work is key to fulfilling this role. The last thing you want is to look like a fake.