The Budget Fashionista

Hey-

I'm a 20 year old rising junior in college and just landed a killer internship. I need help on ways to get affordable but fashionable clothing that would suit a dressy-casual work environment. I don't have tons of money to spend on clothes and I'd love to incorporate my younger funky style into a dressy casual environement. HELP!!!

Kimberly

<!—quoteo(post=340:date=May 21 2007, 05:30 PM:name=NJkimberly)—><div class=“quotetop”>QUOTE(NJkimberly @ May 21 2007, 05:30 PM) [snapback]340[/snapback]</div>

Hey-

I'm a 20 year old rising junior in college and just landed a killer internship. I need help on ways to get affordable but fashionable clothing that would suit a dressy-casual work environment. I don't have tons of money to spend on clothes and I'd love to incorporate my younger funky style into a dressy casual environement. HELP!!!
Kimberly

Try Bananna Republic (sale of course).style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

You could go to outlets (JCrew, Banana (as previously mentioned), Burberry, Off Saks, Neimans (last call)). You could also try to head to TJ Maxx and Marshalls (get a few items there and pair them with some H&M and Forever 21 to make it young and funky yet work appropriate). Where will you be working (what type of industry and what location)?

Don't forget your dept stores like Lord & Taylor - you can get some serious deals when shopping with their coupons & for basics I would also hit up stores like Gap for the sales racks. This weekend [Memorial Day] if you get the chance I would hit the stores because most will be having KILLER sales!!

This past weekend a NY&C in one of the malls I go to had 50% off all clothes & 75% off all accessories [store is supposedly rennovating] PLUS I had a 30% off coupon. I got some nice capri pants, terry hoodies, & other stuff. Point being, you never know when you will hit an un advertised sale plus ALWAYS keep your coupons with you!!!!

Def. try JCrew or Banana Republic and look at a suit. Buy the pants, skirt, and jacket, and alot of times they offer a dress in the same suiting fabric. You can really mix it up, you don't even have to necessarily wear a full suit, but buy a few nice blouses, and pair it with the skirt and pants and voila you have a whole lot of outfits. You could even wear the jacket with jeans if you have casual friday. A suit is an investment, just remember that when you see some of the prices. But I'm a cheapie so maybe it won't be so bad for you.

NY&Co is a great place to get inexpensive basics for work - button-down shirts, pants, blouses. You can't walk around downtown Chicago without seeing woman after woman wearing their clothes. Of course, if you don't want to look like a clone, be creative with accessories, which you can really find on the cheap just about anywhere that's having a sale. Good luck with the internship!

I'm also a rising junior in college and I landed an internship last year. It was my first "office job" and I didn't have that many business clothes. My recommendation is to spend a little bit of money on just basic shirts and pants, maybe a suit if neccessary but don't buy stuff because you need stuff. Just buy enough so that you are not wearing the same thing everyday, and slowly shop of work clothes. I dislike shopping for work clothes, but I need to keep in mind to look for shirts or pants for work as well as t-shirts and jeans.

As for stores, Banana and JCrew are pretty conservative. If you want something younger you can try Express, but it depends on how conservative your firm is. I find that NY& Co.'s fits are for older women. Although they may be inexpensive, you may not like the fitting of their clothes.

I am not sure what an older woman fit is but each brand is cut differently. I don't have much in the trunk area so I like the NY&C pants I got plus their tall pants typically are a perfect fit.

I am 5'10 & look for pants with a 34" inseam. I typically hold pants up & if the cover the front of my shoes that is a 95% chance they will be long enough. But again I always try them on & know how long they need to be for me to be happy.

A little sizing trick - if you hold the waist of pants up & wrap around your neck [think bib] that pretty much guarantees that they will fit.