Keeping up with the latest fashion trends in the office can lead you to really hurt when it comes to your budget. The same can be said of finding a new job that requires your wardrobe to have a few new items! There are ways that keeping your work clothes up to date and looking good won’t cost you a bundle though. As long as you’re careful with what you buy and know how to shop for the right products you may be on your road to saving a little money. However, with these easy to follow tips you’ll be able to keep your wardrobe looking amazing while keeping your frugal sensibility about you! So, don’t let the new job set you back or the change of the seasons force you on a shopping spree! Simply take these tips into consideration and let the compliments pour in!
1. Signature Pieces
When it comes to any wardrobe a couple signature pieces can actually make it seem as if you have more clothes than you actually do. These items don’t have to be suits or even the crucial aspects of your wardrobe. Instead, concentrate on blouses or button up shirts that add some flavor to your look while showing off your personality. You don’t have to spend a fortune on these pieces, but you do want to consider how you will feel about them in the long run. Signature pieces can range in color and pattern so have a little fun with it without making it too casual. By shopping for signature pieces you can actually avoid buy office sets which tend to get bland and force us to do a bit more shopping. The pieces will keep your look more versatile so you can avoid seasonal shopping as well!
2. Go Generic
There’s a lot of people in the workforce that believe they only way they’ll look successful is to by the top brand goods. This simply isn’t the case, especially when it comes to buying suits and other office attire. There are a lot of clothing lines out there that don’t boast the brand new which make stylish clothes that you’ll like wearing. Generally, you can find these items in department stores or warehouse clearance stores, so you won’t have to spend a lot of money on them. This also means you can buy a bit more so you won’t have to shop for clothing as often. Generic brand clothing are often modeled after the expensive suits, but only cost a fraction of the price so you can keep with the season’s fashions without feeling total buyers remorse when the fashion trend ends.
3. Shop Discounts
Although it might sometimes be unavoidable, you should try to refrain from shopping unless there is a sale happening. Don’t fret though, as there are often sales on clothing thanks to holidays or closeouts in the fashion world. Try to subscribe to your favorite stores newsletters to find out when they’re having sales on office attire. You may also get lucky enough to find a store that is constantly offering coupons, which may make it possible to shop outside of sales. Typically you should start looking for new looks when they’re major sales like Black Friday, Memorial Day or even back to school shopping sales. However, if you want to maximize your savings then try to refrain from shopping outside of January and July. These months offer the best savings as stores as pulling the old lines off the rack to make room for the new season’s fashions. This will allow you to stock up on clothes that still look amazing at a fraction of the price!
4. Avoid Dry Clean Only
One thing that usually puts a hamper in office attire is the dry cleaning tag. A decade or so ago most clothes you picked out for the office called for this service, but there’s actually a lot of pieces out there now that don’t require this service,which is a huge bonus for you! So, when you go shopping make sure to check out the labels before you pick out an outfit. Clothing that can be cleaned in the home won’t just save you time, but it’ll save you money too. Dry cleaning can get expensive, especially if you only have a couple pieces of clothing. This pricetag will add up over the months and will cost you lots of time waiting in line and traveling to and from your dry cleaning place. So, shop for items that can be thrown in the wash with your normal clothes. This will ensure you can more for what you pay for and won’t cost you to sacrifice free time that could be used on you!
5. Neutral Colors
You’ll be amazed by how much you can do with neurtal colored clothing. If you’re looking to turn a small wardrobe into a big fashion statement then this is the way to go. You should always shop for your suits in neutral colors as this will allow you to match any blouse or button up top with them. Neutral suits usually come in the classic office blue as well as browns, beige, blacks and grays. These pieces will pair well with colorful pieces as well as designs, so you can mix and match to make your wardrobe go much further for the budget. You should also shop for items like bags, shoes and belts in neutral colors. This will all you to wear them everyday without having to worry about what is going to clash with your style.
6. Second Hand Stores
One way to ensure you won’t go overboard on shopping is to look at second hand stores. This is a great way to start out a wardrobe on a budget and will help you get the pieces you need to look good for your job. If you’re in a hurry to find a few pieces then your first step should probably be your local thrift stores. You should be able to purchase at least 5 various suits for less than a $50 if you know what you’re looking. You might have to go to a few different stores, but once you’re finished shopping you’ll be impressed by the bargains you got! If you’re looking for clothing that are a bit newer or more fashionable then a consignment shop or auction might be what youre looking for. A lot of consignment shops will offer clothes that look brand new or clothes that are made by local artisans. The price tag might be a bit more expensive, but it’ll give you a more unique look. Auctions like Ebay generally have a good selection too and you can always stop bidding when the price is uncomfortable for you!
7. Avoid Shoe Shopping
When it comes to shopping for work, shoe shopping can be one of the biggest money pits for a lot of people. It’s hard to say no to a cute pair shoes that you know will match one of your outfits. Even when there’s a sale on shoes a lot of people will come home with a few pairs that they’re not actually going to wear very often. So, instead of going shopping anytime a shoe sales call for you, try to avoid it altogether. There’s actually no reason to have more than a couple of pairs of shoes for the office so be very careful when you go shopping. For women, it is always good to have a pair of heels to wear to important occasions. Although, when shopping for these you should always keep the neutral rule in place as it will help you make the shoes a lot more versatile with your wardrobe. You should also have another pair of shoes that fit comfortably for days that you’re going to be on your feet a lot. These shoes should also be able to match the variety of your wardrobe. As time progresses you may want to add in a third pair to keep your wardrobe fresh, but try to keep the number low.
8. Accessories
Although office attire might not be our favorite thing to wear, we can really spice it up with accessories that show our personality while still respecting the dress code of the office. However, it is also easy to go totally overboard when shopping for accessories. One way you can keep yourself from overdoing it is to make rules for yourself. You don’t need a jewelry box full of items to look at the office, so limit yourself to a few necklace. This will allow you to mix it up without wearing a new piece of jewelry every day of the year. A watch is also a crucial piece for the office, but you don’t need more than one of these, so refrain from buying more whenever possible. Another great price to have for the office is a set of go to earrings. These earrings match everything, flatter your style and don’t weight a lot. With only these few pieces you can look great without emptying your wallet on pieces you don’t need.
9. Toss Out the Old
One major problem many people face is having a closet that is too full. This can cause a person to never be able to find what they’re looking for, thus forcing you to go out and do some more shopping to get what you need. You may be surprised over the high quality clothes luring in your wardrobe. One way to remedy this problem is to actually go through your closet. Pull everything out and look at the quality of the clothes as well as the styles. Everything you don’t wear, is out of fashion or doesn’t meet your standards can be put into a pile. Once you’ve got your keepers back in the closet you’ll be able to tell the clothes you actually need to purchase, if any at all. The clothes in the pile can easily be donated for a tax deduction later on, or you can sell them to help buy yourself for more clothes right now. As time progresses try to keep your clothes cleaned out, so you won’t keep buying items you don’t actually need.
10. Trade
Chances are you’ve made friends with a few of your colleagues. You probably also have friends and family that work in an office setting. So, why not trade clothes to help benefit everyone’s wardrobes. When you’re bored of an outfit then add to the pile of clothes you’re willing to trade. Then ask a friend to bring over their pile and see what you can do for one another. This may become so much fun that you might consider making a club so everyone can enjoy the experience. When you stop letting your clothes collect dust and pass them on to someone that likes then you’ll feel a bit better about shopping. You may not have to buy new pieces as often either which means you’ll save a lot of money. You might also ask around friends and family to see if they have any hand-me-downs you can have in order to save. These trade offs will ensure you have a lot of fun with dressing for the office without worrying about how much you’re spending on clothes in the process!
Dressing for the office doesn’t have to make you hurt for money. Instead, try to follow these suggestions so you can enjoy finding new clothes to wear to work without breaking your budget. With these tips you’ll have confidence in the way you look and may even impress your boss enough to earn a promotion!
