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2018 Update: This was such a great discussion we decided to update it in 2018 — here’s our latest discussion where we asked the readers, how much do you spend on work clothes? Along these cost-per-wear lines, you may want to check out our more recent post where we asked the readers: how long do you expect your clothes to last?
Reader S wrote in, wondering about how to spend money on clothes for work — particularly, whether she’s spending too much or too little ..
Given some of the comments re: the price of the interesting Tahari dress/suit last week, I thought it might be worth doing a poll on actual price ranges that people think are appropriate for certain items. Sometimes I would like to know where I “stand” amongst women in how I budget my clothing purchases. For example, I try to keep my shoe purchases around $100 or less, even though I COULD spend more, because they get ruined so fast from walking around the city, esp in the winter. But I would spend more on other things. Am I totally normal, or a total cheapskate? How many people buy bags that are over $1K?
There really are no right answers as far as how much to spend on clothes for work, but it does strike us as an interesting discussion. There are two kinds of price points to talk about, though — one is what folks expect things to cost (a good pair of work pants), the other is what folks will pay. As we’ve mentioned, we like the sales — but we don’t buy things because they cost “$X,” we buy them because we like them and we think they’re of an acceptable quality for the office. For example — an $8 t-shirt isn’t something, generally, that we would say is acceptable for the office. But we’re happy to buy a $34 t-shirt at $8. So, that said, we’ve listed below (after the jump) the price points that we would generally expect to pay for something for the office. For almost every price we’ve listed here, we would absolutely consider something marked at a higher price, but a) only if they look amazing on, b) we’re acquiring a “name” to add to the closet that we’ve lusted after, or c) … c) would be if we had a specific event to go to and knew that in order to run with the chicks who were there we’d need to put our best fashionista shoe forward. (For example, just for kicks, let’s say we were to have a meeting with Erin Callan or some other CFO who is notorious for wearing amazing stiletto shoes. You can bet we’d be there with our best newly-purchased shoes on.) By the same token, we probably would consider things in a lower price range, also, but only as “need them now” splurges or “I don’t quite know why but this cheap dress looks amazing on me.”) (But we wouldn’t wear them to a meeting with a fashionista.) Pictured: Does “sale” mean lower prices or does it mean “get outta here”?, originally uploaded to Flickr by sylvar.
UPDATE: We’ve been busy with this whole “job” thing but we are told you guys miiiight be misreading the post. All prices we list are the 100 percent price — we don’t actually pay that — in keeping with the example above, it’s the $34 price — not the $8 price. And so while a lot of bags are in the $600-$800 range, we actually pay more like $200….
- Pants – For basic khakis or whatnot, a cotton/lycra blend should probably cost around $50-$100. (Although, man, we just had a flashback to an amazing pair of basic DKNY pants we owned that were originally like $225 like ten years ago. God, we loved those pants.) A pant in a wool or a crepe or something like that, we would expect to cost upwards of $100, probably up to $350.
- Skirts – This depends on the brand and the design. Most basic skirts we own cost around $80-$300; if it’s more of a designery design (like a Trina Turk print) we’d expect it to cost more like $125-$400. (Particularly with patterned skirts — more expensive ones have seams that line the pattern up far better than lower-priced ones.)
- Blouses/Tops – This is probably the widest variety for us. We try to avoid buying cheap shirts for the office, but we’ve worn shirts that cost us anywhere from $30 to something like a $225 blouse from Thomas Pink.
- Sweaters – We will almost always buy a black silk sweater on sale — but otherwise we try to focus our sweater purchases on lux fabrics like cashmere, wool, etc. We generally shoot for sweaters originally marked in the $150-$500 range — if we’re buying in person and can feel the fabric against our skin we might go lower (or higher).
- Dresses – If it’s a basic sheath dress, we would expect it to be marked around $125-$350. For a dress with a print or a more intricate design, we’d expect it to cost anywhere from $350-$850.
- Suits – Again: totally depends on the brand and the design. Most of our “good” suits probably cost in the $300-$600 range. We know a lot of women who swear by the Theory suit (which does not do favors to our curvy frame), and regularly pay $800+ for a suit.
- Bags – For whatever reason, our price point seems to be around $600 (give or take $300) for a handbag/purse, although yes, we have bought bags that cost more than $1K. For a tote we tend to consider anything from $50-$200. Again, if we’re buying something in person and can assess the leather and the stitching, we’ll go lower.
- Jewelry – We do our best to avoid buying cheap jewelry — if it isn’t real gold or silver we generally won’t look at it. A “spur of the moment” purchase on jewelry could be anywhere from $350 downwards (this is the sale price we’re talking about — sometimes jewelry prices are so inflated, and it sounds laughable to say that we’d buy an $800 necklace on the spur of the moment); we’ve spent a lot more than that on planned jewelry purchases. (Tip: if it’s worth more than $1500, get a separate insurance policy for it — your home owner’s or renter’s insurance generally only covers up to $1500 per item for jewelry.)
Obviously, we’re generally content to wait for sales on quality clothes rather than have a constant stream of lesser-quality clothes coming into our closet. This is for environmental reasons (we’ve read that better fibers and fabrics break down better), a general dislike of knock-offs (for a variety of intellectual property and sociological reasons), as well as for closet concerns — we live in NYC and our closet is tiny. But we’re curious — how does it break down for you guys? How much do you spend on clothes for work? Perhaps we should follow this up with a post we’ve been wanting to write for a while — a discussion about when to splurge. (Update: here’s our more recent post on the best splurges we’ve ever made!)
Social media images via Stencil.
LYA
I can’t pin down price points on clothes. I wear everything – Forever 21, Target, BCBG, Marc Jacobs, Thomas Pink, Theory, etc. etc. I try and purchase the bulk of my clothing on sale, but I also live in a fashion forward area where the selection is rotated quickly in stores; thus, sales merchandise often times is still very in fashion.
I DO spend $$$ on handbags. At least 3 of the bags I own are over 1k (I budgeted for ’em!). And since I’m tall and not the thinnest thing in the world, I need a quality high-heel. I’ve purchased two pairs of Prada shoes, 1 pair of Jimmy Choos, and a pair of Taryn Rose flats – all on sale I might add ( for under 300$). I’m eye-ing some Louboutins, but I want to find a work-worthy pair on sale. ;)
Also, I wear a Cartier watch daily (probably the best gift I’ve ever received !) but I <3 my fake 3ct CZ studs. =P
Jenny
I am also a big *sale* person. I never buy clothes or shoes at full price. I do most of my shopping at Nordstrom Rack- thanks to them I have a closet full of prada, ferragamo and manolos that I got for about $120-250. The handbags I like are never on sale, so that is usually a splurge or something I get for christmas/birthday.
jcb
My price points are about the same as C’s, though it seems like nice dresses seem to go a little higher pricewise these days. My main expense lately has been shoes. I have slowly started upgrading and wow, nice shoes are expensive. I am buying classics that will last forever, though, and my feet are thanking me. Yes, Louboutins cost as much as three pairs of regular shoes, but they also stay on my feet all day, even under the desk. So comfortable and supportive, and always flattering.
I agree that there’s no need for a constant stream of cheaper things. Just a few nice items per season works fine once you have the basics. I do tend to buy less expensive jewelry each season to update the look though. Banana Republic/J Crew usually have some good, inexpensive trendy pieces that work. Also, you can usually find good, inexpensive layering tees there.
J
Wow, I’ve found this discussion to be incredibly interesting!
I’m in BigLaw, but in a non-NYC market with a lower COL. I own a home in the city, and I will admit that I spent more on clothing before I had a mortgage payment. I have $150k of law school debt (and so does my fiance who is currently unemployed). I max out my 401k every year and have additional savings on audo-deduct. That said, I “feel” like I live paycheck-to-paycheck. I know that I could save less and have more wiggle room. I’m not a “natural saver” though, so the automatic route is the only way for me. That leaves a small budget for clothing. Luckily, when I was first starting out and building up my wardrobe I was still renting. Now I’m just adding to my wardrobe as fashion changes and replacing as things get worn out — and that’s cheaper to do than starting from scratch.
For me, it’s not about what the “retail” price of an item is because I rarely pay full price. I enjoy getting a good deal on sale. So my price ranges are what I’d pay on sale or otherwise. In the past year, I have begun to recognize that sometimes it’s worth it to pay more (although still get it on sale). I have a DVF sweater dress that I feel like a million dollars everytime I wear. I bought it at Nordstrom Rack for $180, which at the time seemed insane (and is the most I’ve ever spent on a dress) — I believe that retail was upwards of $350. I can’t think of anything except a suit that I would pay more than $250 for. I like quality, but if I wait for a sale I can get even high quality skirts, tops, dresses, and shoes for (less than) that price point. Even at the $250 price range, I would expect it to be on sale from a higher price and be really spectacular.
I love clothing. If I had more money (or less debt), I imagine that I would spend a little more.
JD
As a young, west coast associate, I make under 100K a year and am currently the sole breadwinner for my family. The price tags on even the Friday “bargans” often shock me. Just to pick one item as an example, I would NEVER spend more than 50$ on shoes I didn’t plan to wear daily.
K
Wow. As a 2nd-year government attorney making $50K, with over $150K in student loans, I can’t even conceive of spending ANY money on clothes. It’s just not in the budget. Currently, my work wardrobe consists of a couple of suits purchased at extreme outlet discounts, and some pants and tops left over from when I weighed 15 pounds more (binder clips and safety pins work surprisingly well for “tailoring” a too-big waistband, and they don’t show when you have your jacket on!). I do have some nice-ish shoes, because fortunately shoe size doesn’t change much when you lose weight, but I’ve never spent more than $200 for shoes, and that was for the La Canadienne suede boots that I live in during the winter.
Is my wardrobe substandard for my position? Most definitely. Am I in a position to do anything about it right now? Absolutely not.
S
Okay, I’m not sure if you’re kidding about the binder clips. If you are, you got me. If not, and if you have NO budget, please try removing the stitches and doing the mending yourself. It isnt hard, and really binder clips and safety pins are SO not a good solution.
Violet
Don’t fret: I interviewed for my public defender job in a $6 garage sale suit. It will get better with time!
female banker
don’t worry. i interviewed for my job in a 50$ suit from a cheapa$$ store and now i make >100k out of school. it gets better
Midori
Gosh, I must be cheap. I’ve never dreamed of spending most of those figures on those items. Hope my husband appreciates. :-)
I work in a small firm where the associates make less than the media would lead people to expect lawyers to make, and we all dress pretty frugally and don’t judge. You can look nice on less if you need to, and re-wear your more expensive items frequently. Each of us has one or two “court day” suits, and no one blinks that it’s the same one every time, even if there’s court three days in a week.
lawdiva
What an incredibly interesting discussion! I’m starting in Big Law next week and just spent the last year in a clerkship making $60K. I have no law school debt and am married, so I have more discretionary income than most. Even so, for the majority of my life I have shopped at Marshalls, Ross, or other outlet stores. In the last few years, I have upgraded to Banana Republic, Limited, Express, Macys and Lord and Taylor. In preparation for my new job, I recently “splurged” at Nordstrom on some really beautiful pants and skirts, but spent no more than $120 on a single item. Here’s my breakdown:
Suits – less than $200, purchased most on sale at Lord & Taylor
Shirts/tops – $30 – $70 (I just bought a Classiques Entier shirt at Nordstrom for $70, the most I have spent for a shirt ever)
Pants – $60 – $120
Shoes – no more than $75
Skirts – $30 – $130
Dresses – $60 – $120
Bags – no more than $50
I think my purchases on bags on way off compared to most of the posters here. I like nice bags, but I tend not to take good care of them and am scared to purchase a really expensive bag that will end up getting torn up. Now when I read these posts, I wonder if I should reconsider.
At any rate, this post has given me a lot of food for thought.
Karen
Well, I’m sure I’m a cheapskate here, but the most I’ve ever spent was $350 for a law-school interview suit (same amount I spent on my wedding gown). More typically, I’ll spend $100-$200 for suits, and up to $100 for a nice outerwear coat. Everything else is under $75/item, including blazers/jackets.
I especially love inexpensive “costume” jewelry from $10-$30 from places like Francesca’s Collection (mostly beaded necklaces), which is a lot nicer than “cheap” fake silver/gold jewelry.
Sharon
I think two things are being conflated here — spending a lot of money on clothing, and looking / coming across to others as though you spend a lot of money on clothes.
Karen
Very true. The items I love the best are ones that are just that little bit nicer than what you’d typically find in a lower price range – the basic shoes with the really high quality leather, the jacket that hangs and fits just perfectly, the jewelry that completes the outfit in just the right understated, yet interesting way. For me, it’s not about showing off diamonds or having the latest fashion item. Even though some of the pieces I wear cost more than most people on this site seem to spend, I doubt that people notice them and think “wow, she spends a lot of money on her clothes.” I hope they look at me and think that I look put together and professional.
BTW, I’m sure if I had more time and fashion sense (and a different body type) I could look put together and professional on a lot less – I don’t mean to suggest that those who aren’t spending the $ don’t look that way.
B
I am a JCPenney, Kohl’s, Marshall’s, TJMaxx, and Nordstrom Rack shopper. I rarely spend over $100 on a suit and usually spend under $50 on separates. I’ve been out of law school for a long time, but chose the slow/non-career track, so don’t make that much money. Nor does my husband. I’d say I spend maybe $1500/year on work clothing. Maybe even less.
We sock away about $1000/month in savings, which doesn’t include retirement accounts (those are maxed out pre-tax). I have a lot more money in savings & investments than I do in my closet.
EM
FWIW, on a salary of $60,000, spend between $100-$400 per suit, BUT never bought more than 3 per year, AND they were mostly St. John’s that I got either on ebay or at consignment shops. (The best purchase was the $1200 suit for $120.) Moreover, my body hasn’t changed in years, so I actually haven’t needed to buy ANY suits this year, as two years ago, finally bought the last missing piece for my wardrobe!
Unfortunately, now I need to replace my cashmere sweaters and silky Ts that I wear under suit jackets. My last bunch of sweaters came from Lord & Taylor 5 years ago, and the silky Ts from Brooks Brothers that they no longer make. I really like the shirts from anueligne.com, but think they are way too expensive for lycra.
Heidi
I think this is so incredibly dependent on circumstances and style. There are times in my life when I wouldn’t have dreamed of spending this much on clothes, and other times when this would have seemed like a low-ball list. It also varies so much by city and type of job. Here in the midwest I have an enormous closet and make use of every inch, which also means I buy cheaper clothing that is more “disposable” than when I lived in NY and had a tiny closet. I think Corporette’s ranges are reasonable for a big city corporate woman. Furthermore, I’m interested in workplace style and fashion. If I weren’t, I wouldn’t read this blog. So if you’re upset about the type of clothing that is featured here, maybe this isn’t the site for you. If you like it but can’t afford it, maybe you should start a blog that features less expensive items that are appropriate for where you work. I think C does a great job for the niche I’m in.
Karen
I agree – for those of us in positions of authority in law firms, accounting firms and large corporations, our image is an investment. I think it would somewhat defeat the purpose of this blog for C to ignore those of us who are willing to drop some cash. Others may not be able to spend that much but may still want to hear about the expensive items so they can try to approximate the look for less. I, for one, don’t really read this blog for the purpose of identifying specific pieces. It’s more to get a sense of what C and others think about what TYPES of clothes are work appropriate, how to accessorize, etc. So whether the clothes are above or below my target price range for an item (and C features both), I still get something out of reading about them.
JD
I am a younger associate who can’t afford most of the items listed in the blog, but I do read it for EXACTLY the reason you suggested. When a female partner sent the link to this blog to all the female associates, I saw that I could be work appropriate and tasteful without wearing a suit every day. Although I have never actually purchased an item listed on the blog, reading it has helped me design work outfits that I can be sure are tasteful and professional, without having to stick solely to suits.
Anonymous
It was said at some point in this thread but it is worth pointing out again, particulary to those who are disparaging C: the price points she listed are her general ranges for the *non-sale* price of the clothing. She noted the not-unheard-of phenomenon that often price correlates to quality, which can mean a lot with respect to how clothing looks. C very cleary stated that she shops the sales and, thus, in many cases is likely coming in under her stated ranges. In the end, everyone makes their own choices, informed by their own personal circumstances, on whether their purchases have worthwhile value to them and work to their advantage (i.e., conveying what ever message you want your clothes to say about you). Don’t hate. Uniformity is boring.
p.s. I’m a slightly older, 2nd year, big law associate with a medium COL and six figure loans that match my six figure salary. I’d say my targets for *original* priced items are the same as or 20-30% less than C’s but, currently, it’s a rare day that I am willing to pay full price on anything and actually spend much less than these ranges would suggest. Once my loan-to-salary ratio drops, I’ll be a lot more comfortable buying items not on sale (particularly because sale shopping takes up so much damn time and, sadly, I have little access to outlets). Woohoo, there goes 0.3.
Sharon
I think a lot of it also has to do with how you started out — what basics. I know as a twenty-something young corporate woman, I was fortunate enough that my parents bought me several classic suits and the appropriate accessories to start me off with, and then I got a lot of hand-me-downs of some very nice quality (Escada, St. John, DKNY, Anne Klein, etc). So when I bought my own workwear, I was filling in gaps or responding to pieces I liked instead of starting from scratch. Some other women on here may be starting from scratch.
FrugalShopper
Heidi, I’m interested in workplace fashion too. I love reading Corporette. And, I am a careful shopper like B above. These things are not incompatible.
FWIW, my work wardrobe is mainly from Ann Taylor/Loft, Banana Republic, and Target. Occasional purchases of stuff from Express, H&M, Zara and on rare occasion eBay, Gap, Old Navy, MetroStyle, or JCPenney.
I make one exception: I buy only classic real jewellery: gold, silver, and/or semi-precious stones. e.g. pearl strand, black pearl strand, jade, amethyst irregular cut strand, coral earrings, and so on that I match with the color of my top.
I dont wear suits at work, only business casual. Pencil skirts, cardigans, dresses, shirts, knits, formal trousers, occasionally blazers.
Here’s my budget:
Tops/sweaters: usually buy stuff for around $30 on sale.
Pants and skirts: skirts always under $50, pants around $50-$70.
Dresses: Target dresses under $50 or Zara or other dresses slightly more (but under $70).
Blazers or other choice pieces I really like: $50-$70.
I use pants and skirts for a few years and they dont die, so I buy only 1 or 2 a year. Tops I buy often and (since they rarely last more than a season or two, and because I get bored and do not really want them to last forever) cheap.
And I dont really care about bags.
My salary before tax is over $100K but below $200.
Sharon TN
I don’t buy a lot but I do buy good items. Here is my list of items and what I am willing to pay for them:
Handbags: Carry Coach, LV, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Desmos. Gifts from husband and younger sister for my special occassions. But, I would pay $800 – 1k for a bags and….a Birkin is on my wishlist.
Shoes: I refuse to wear cheap shoes. Still, I never pay full price even for expensive shoes. My motto is: “If I like a shoe at $400 – $1k then, I will absolutely love them when they cost $200 – $500.”
Skirts: I wear more skirts than suits and love a well-made, well-fitted classic skirt. Will pay up to $300 on sale.
Suits: Tahari, Ann Taylor, Banana R, BB, Talbot’s and a few Barrie Pace. Would pay up to $500 but have never paid that much for any suit.
Shirts/Blouses: Must be tailored cottons and/or silks. $40 – $200.
Sweaters: Cashmere, fine woolens and linen/silk only. $40 – $200.
Jackets: I will buy “special” jackets separately and pair them with my skirts. Up to $400.
Coats: My favorite everyday coat is Cashmere and retailed for $1700 but I bought it for $400 from SierraTradingPost.com in July, four years ago.
Jewelry: I own some good costume pieces but mostly wear 18k gold and pearls. When I wear a watch, it must be a man’s watch. I like how large men’s watches look on a woman’s smaller arm.
I like higher end items but…..am not a snob about how little I will pay for them. In fact, until a year ago I would never have set foot into a Good Will except to drop off donations. Then, one day I had a conversation with the Receptionist manning the desk in the lobby of my building and she started telling me about how many “nice” things she found at one of the local Good Will stores. So, one day during a long lunch break, she took me to that Good Will. At first, I was like, please God, let me out of here. Then, I found a large 4-ply Cashmere Shawl in perfect condition. Good Will wanted $6.99 for it. Since I had purchased the same shawl in a different color during the winter clearance a couple of years previously and paid $80 for it, I snapped it up. Since that time, I have visited the Good Will on my own and….while I do not find bargains everytime like the bargain I found on my first visit, I have supplemented my high-end closet with some very nice items for practically nothing. And, I tell myself that I am actively being green by purchasing “recycled” items at this Good Will. (Smile)
Anonymous
I generally spend a lot on investment pieces, but other things I get super cheap. I’ll spend around $500-$750 for a suit, but I only own 6 (each including pants, skirt, and blazer, and some also including dress). I spend around $100-$300 on shoes, because a pair of basic work pumps HAS TO be comfortable, and nicer shoes wear so much better. I also spend a fair amount on handbags (most are Coach, but I have a big Marc Jacobs that I use most days, which cost over $1,000). You can find great deals on work tops–I wear these little scoopneck short sleeved sweaters I got over the summer at Old Navy constantly. I also buy a lot of cheap dresses that can easily be dressed up with a blazer and wear them on days I don’t have to be in court or have a big client meeting.
Sharon
Seeing C’s update about being a sales hound … So, what’s the best deal you’ve all ever gotten on a great piece of clothing?
Mine were:
– 2 Escada jackets, one $1000 retail and $1200 retail, for $200 apiece
– Prada flats, $450 retail, for around $80 at DSW
– Missoni flats, $400-450 retail, for around $50-60 (also at DSW)
jcb
Clearly I need to start shopping at DSW. Nice finds!
EM
Once, I got dressed for work and looked in the mirror. I realized I was wearing a designer suit (bought for $120), my Kelly (bought for $1000 at auction), and my pearls (also bought at a steep discount)…in fact, I was wearing close to $10,000 worth of sh*t. I tried to think how this made me feel, because it certainly felt weird. Undeserving? No…. Decadent? No, (not with the discounts!)… Superficial? Perhaps… It’s been years since I obtained most of my investment pieces and it still shocks me EVERY SINGLE DAY when I wander into my closet to get dressed in the morning.
Amber
I’m obviously late to this discussion, but I don’t really understand the animosity toward C’s spending plan.
Some people are talking about how no one notices if you spend less on clothing and that folks who spend more are wasting their resources on something that doesn’t even matter and is silly. Aren’t those posters wasting their resources (their time and sanity) fretting that other women appear ostentatious?
We all have things we choose to spend our money on. If a woman enjoys a designer pair of pants, then why can’t she choose to spend her money on those (even at *gasp* full price) without other women judging her so harshly?
Corporate type
I agree with Amber. I thought Corporette had an appropriate response. She’s obviously someone for whom fashion is important, and she spends to get quality (and knows a good sale when she sees it).
There’s something to be said, as you progress in your career, for dressing with predictable quality. I started in BigLaw for a half dozen years then switched to a corporate position. Nearly every day you’ll see me in a St. John tweed jacket (but nearly always bought on sale), silk blouse or turtleneck, nice slacks, and some pearls and gold chains or an interesting scarf. On casual Fridays, I tend to wear a twin set (usually Land End cashmere) and trouser jeans (Tahari makes good ones). My jewelry is understated, and always real (gold, pearls, etc.). I have a few really good handbags (Dior, Carlos Falchi), and then some perfectly nice bags for travel (Furla, Michael Kors). I don’t go to court, so formal suits are necessary.
I realized awhile ago that although I enjoy fashion and love looking at the new collections and fashion magazines (and really enjoy Corporette), I’m also the “face” of my company. A reassuring corporate image is classic and assumes reasonable quality. I think cultivating this style has been very helpful in moving up the ladder as time goes by. It can be helpful for your superiors in the company to feel that you’ll always look dignified and appropriate for the context.
Amy
I’m an undergrad, going into graduate school for pharmacy next year. Professional dress (business casual) for most days from then for four years. What pieces can I splurge on (and my splurge is like 1/2 or 1/3 your normal range, at this point), what what pieces should I buy cheaper?
I’m pretty stain-prone, and scoff my shoes terribly. And I’m lusting after a Burberry scarf, which I know I don’t need. I never throw anything away, but things wear out for me rather quick. So what stuff will last?
I need to start to dress up now, to get used it it. I only have a few months to go!
That, and once I graduate I’ll join you gals, more or less (but obviously, with the out-of-school drains on funds).
DW
Amy,
Firstly, congrats to entering the medical/pharma field; it is always exciting to be at the launch of one’s professional career, and that you wish to look the part at this stage of your career, thus embracing your chosen field bodes well, too! I am a senior attorney, carrying brief cases and wearing suits all through and even before commencing my law studies, so I understand completely (and while you might be questioning as to why a lawyer might “pick up” your query, my spouse is in the medical field and hence I thought I’d take a stab at it, certain that others here will pipe in to “correct” me should I in any way steer you wrong ;)
As to the original post, and keeping in line with what has already been suggested either directly or indirectly, you will want to spend within your budget of course, and that you are starting to collect pieces early allows you to do so at your convenience, well on your way to having a proper professional wardrobe before you actually need it, which is a very good thing. Elsewhere on this blog you can read about sales, depots and other relevant information so as to scout out the sales and end-of-lines which will no doubt be of great interest to you, along with other tidbits of very excellent and useful information (which I wish I had known when I was first starting out, and especially back then when on an articling student’s salary, which in the first year of legal practice keeping in mind in Canada where I practice we also must purchase our “court dress” consisting of barrister’s robes and waist coat, court-striped trousers, patent leather shoes, legal tabs and wing collar shirts — in both summer and winter weight wool, and before we are even called to the bar — on the other hand, it makes the practice rather easy so far as one knows what they are going to wear when seeking an audience before the court, but add to this the need to wear semi-formal business suits, etc. when not at court, well, a blog and advice on how and wear to shop etc. would have come in most handy back then, indeed!). That said, my spouse would argue that dressing for the medical/pharma field is no less intimidating when first starting out, realizing that he could not forever attend to live in his scrubs, and that is because we, as professionals, regardless of our chosen profession or calling, well understand that in doing so we’re taking on a professional “brand”. That you understand this early on in the game is outstanding, and once again bodes well for you and all others who no doubt are reading this blog (go forth and conquer, ladies!); indeed, understanding that people’s perceptions of us are affected by our clothes, such that our clothes in turn must represent the image that we as a “brand” (meaning, our products and/or services) are trying to convey is half the battle, and once realized it’s not intimidating any longer (so many young women today who may not have had the good fortune to have had a professional mother to “groom” us from birth as so many young men in our society do and often take for granted, I agree) .
In the case of law, for e.g., the “image” is rather a traditional one, meant to convey knowledge and authority and reason why most lawyers stick to well fitted suits (be they skirt suits or pant suits) and dark colors, and reason why I personally spend much time, effort and money making my clothing reflect my goals and personality. (In keeping with the OP’s question, I am at that stage in my career where I personally wear Armani black label, for I enjoy the well tailored “power suit” with Hugo Boss long-sleeved shirts and blouses, and I find they suit my trim, athletic frame perfectly, with outerwear by Burberry and Christ, and my shoes/boots for the most part are handmade in England (yes, I spend a lot on quality clothing, then, these are timeless pieces in classic colours (namely, black, charcoal and gray, tan/beige and navy), which I “freshen up” with coloured shirts and blouses, so as to keep the “look” updated – which for me at least I find is best and easy to do, thus reflecting my “brand” as a lawyer but at the same time my “personality” and style — in terms of the cost, as a senior lawyer, I can well afford it and enjoy quality for its own sake but also see it as an advertising expense so far as my clothes are (it bears repeating) reflect not only upon me but also how my firm is perceived in the eyes of my clients and the public.
Of course, when one is first starting out, no one expects you to wear top drawer brands, nor would it be reasonable for them to do so, but that is not to say that you can’t achieve that look or even find exceptional deals on designer clothing on a budget (even a student’s budget), because you can, and what this wonderful blog will indeed help you with (indeed, this blog is quite wonderful really, and must say I am enjoying it immensely).
Before heading off on your shopping spree, however, you must first (in my opinion) understand for you what it is that you wish to convey — in other words, your “brand” which depends in large part on what it is you are doing and what it is you wish to convey.
In the case of the medical/pharma profession, I should think that, like a lawyer, you will want to appear knowledgeable but, unlike a lawyer, you will also want to convey an image of being helpful and approachable, and this I believe is readily achieved by choosing your colours appropriately.
I would think neutrals (beige/tan, navy, etc.) give off this impression best, though by no means should this be taken by you (or anyone else in your chosen field) as a suggestion in any way to avoid the darker, more conservative/authoritative colours — if you are confident and feel great in darker colours such as black (which isn’t dangerous) or charcoal/gray (which connotes safety and tradition), then by all means run with it as what is most important of course is that you own it and wear it “well” (and only you know what that means; that goes for skirts vs. trousers as well, for above all else (it bears repeating) you are dressing to convey a professional “can do”/”I know” image, and this image will hardly be perceived by your client/patient/etc. if you are uncomfortable in your outfit no matter how splendid said outfit looks on the rack and/or its price tag.
This, in addition to the standard “rule” re: women professionals in general, be we lawyers and judges, investment bankers and/or corporate leaders, media/communications consultants to doctors and/or pharmacists, politicians or business magers in general, which is oft repeated here (and also told to daughters by their professional mothers, or should be) and simply: be neat in appearance, avoid revealing clothing (i.e., don’t show off too much arm, cleavage or the mid-riff so no tanks or halter-tops, etc.), as well as shorts, jeans and athletic shoes, with the latter caveat adjusted for your own particular field (i.e., in the case of the medical/pharma profession, slacks and khakis along with rubber sole shoes / trainers are very appropriate, and far more appropriate than leather soled boots or heeled shoes, and especially with all that running around from patient to dispensary etc. you’ll be doing). Otherwise, the whole gambit pretty much is open to you as your profession as you say calls for business casual, aka casual smart (namely, dresses, dress suits be they skirt suits or slacks, only instead of the suit jacket/blazer, you can of course don that trusty white coat as my spouse does – oh, have fun! ;)
As to how all of this cashes out, at this stage in your career, I’d be inclined to splurge on one nice suit jacket/blazer, with matching trousers and a skirt so as to have two suits in one, aim for a good quality pair of shoes also, and build from there. Of course, this is just my 2-cents, being based on my own experience when first starting out, keeping in mind also the differences of the “brand” as b/w the legal and medical/pharma profession, and what in turn is the image we as professionals are trying to convey in turn. As to fitting this and more into your budget (which I do appreciate), not to worry: depending on where you reside, there are readers here who would be very happy I am sure to direct you to outlets/factory stores etc. where you can pick up great bargains on designer clothes, where you can also have the benefit of trying them on for “fit” to see how they wear before you buy (note: if in the Greater Toronto Area or environs, for e.g., you might try Vaughan Mills, serving southern Ontario and upstate NY etc. where for e.g. Holt Renfrew’s national clearance and outlet center is located, among other great outlets and factory stores). Hope this helps, and best of luck to you in your studies and career! ~ DW
amy
Thanks so much!
I have 2 dress pants (navy and white-striped black), 1 semi-jean-type dark grey dress pants (thicker cotton material, in other words), and a blazer that’s ligher grey with stripes and gorgeous hand-stitching details that is however a tiny bit short (i’m 5’9), hence why i’m saying blazer rather than suit jacket. I have like 3 dress shirts, 1 regular, and two more teen-ish (my new one is summer weight linen, and pink!)
But I need better shoes, or maybe to sandpaper to sole or something. I just wore them last week, and the right on is perfect, but for some reason the left one feels un-broken in. I looked, and the right one was flat from use, but the left one, at the balls of the foot area, was still new-ish, still uncomfortably rounded (I use the balls of my feel to walk, versus just lifting my feet completely off the ground).
Sorry, going on a rant there.
Thanks again!
(btw, i’m in NJ. But i have an aunt in Canada; she works with carcinogens, so has the special gear.)
And my mom isn’t the best person to get an idea of professional dress from, considering she wears t-shirts to work! Guys wear ties, girls were anything they want at her workplace… ??? (I have no idea why either). (She’s a computer programmer/analyst/developer, whatever the title is nowadays, so that could be why.)
Mandy
I live in a rural community, and have been a public defender for almost 10 years. Prior to that, I worked in federal court in the city. As I told my new colleague from a DC suburb who was worried about clothes, “as long as you put your teeth in here, you’re fine”. A few years ago, I would go to Lord and Taylor and get really nice suits, etc. I’ve realized that as long as my clients are wearing pajamas and butts that say “Juicy”, I could probably get away with a snuggie. I shop ebay religiously. I don’t have label pressure so it’s fine. I do love me some cashmere and Fluevogs, though!
Rachel
I’m a student and unfortunately I am really limited in what I can wear due to my spine. I can only wear pants with an elastic waist. I have ten pairs of Juicy Couture track pants which run $100+, but I have been able to get some on sale. I would kill to be able to wear a pair of True Religion jeans, but wearing denim is extremely painful, even with narcotic painkillers. All my tops have to be really stretchy or I can’t get them on. I really like hoodies and open cardigans. I spend a lot on make up. I love mac. I have a large collection of fine jewelry thanks to my grandma and fiance. I used to buy cheap shoes, but I bought one designer pair and I can’t go back. They are just so much more comfortable. I love Stuart Weitzman. I abuse my purses so I rarely spend more than $25 on one. I have got good deals on eBay. I just bought my dog a designer dog bed, but she loves it so much it was totally worth it. I pick out nice clothes for my fiance, but he hates ties and hated spending money on them. $50 for a tie is so stupid. I found some ties at the dollar store and he gets compliments on them all the time!
Anonymous
I have an overflowing walk-in closet with probably 50 pairs of high heels and maybe 15 boots/booties.
I love a good sale as much as anyone and probably 1/4 of my items were sale purchases. I also love online shopping.
My cheapest handbag is a $398 leather juicy couture bag. My most expensive is a $5k python fendi.
I own, probably, 25 or 30 dresses ranging from $65 to $800 (most clustered around 100-250).
Since I’ve moved to a cool climate I’ve spent, probably. . .$7k on warm clothes (including a long cashmere coat, a couple of loro piano items, but no fur).
Shoes and boots probably average out in the $twohundreds.
I’m in my early twenties.
Hanna
As a personal shopper for mostly, corporate women, I loooooved reading this post. Thanks to all those that contributed! I will say, I was suprised how “low” many of you women are buying- just for the reason of cost per wear. But it seems to be similar with what my clients want spend (I am not buying couture for any of my women.) I cannot imagine many of you have the time to go out, often and keep purchasing tops/jackets etc that lose shape. Don’t get me wrong, I buy and love Banana Republic for my clients, you can make it work. But I also encourage and hope many of you are investing in pieces you can wear often and are staples to your wardrobe!
And, I must say- I have purses from my grandma (Chanel and LV) that I inherited, and they are very worn in but 15 years later, I have them and am very fortunate for her having such beautiful taste. I also have much of her wardrobe (she kept sizes 2-18) totally extreme situation here and probably unhealthy, but it goes to show that quality LASTS. Seriously that size 4 YSL skirt she had probably in her twenties, fits me 45+ years later and is still in style?! Talk about craftmanship.
Out of curiosity, do you spend on other “frivolous” products aka are you all buying inexpensive makeup and hair products? Drugstore brand lipstick versus higher end?
Amy
You know, when I first found this site, I was one of those that said, i’d rather have many to choose from than just 1 expensive suit, or pair of dress shoes, etc. since then, I’ve gotten older (no longer a teenager, w00t), and my views have changed.
I have multiple pairs of shoes, for example, but I’ve found myself coming back to my Naturalizers over even sneakers for classes and whatnot, they are that comfy – and I like the look of the leather a lot. I’m more willing to spend closer to $100 for something I know I’ll use over and over, or at least keep around.
Of course, in terms of dress shirts mine are still cheap – I’m one of those people who cycle through color schemes. I still have pinks, and blues; did not buy any in my green phase, now I’m more into purple. Probably will buy a shirt or two, I look good in purple :). So yeah, some things I’m willing to pay a lot for, but some things…eh. I’ll only wear it maybe 6 months every 3 years, it’s not worth it to pay for quality. Especially since my washing machine puts holes in things, and I keep tugging at threads instead of taking better care of my stuff. But I’m saving up for a good wool coat right now, looking at around $100, or higher for a good quality and brand one (Burberry, drool).
Anyways, later, girls!
Amy
And by cheap for dress shirts i mean like $20 ($40 original price, I shoot for). I’m a student, I wear one exactly once a week, so I only really need one or two anyways.
CK
Is it just me or is anyone else blown away by these salaries? I work in California as an engineer and I am shocked at how little I make in comparison! I didn’t think I was uninformed about the law field because I have a cousin who is a lawyer and based on posts on this site in the past, I thought the hollywood stereo type of lawyers making big bucks was 1% of lawyers out there! Is 175k +/- per year typical for a lawyer or are these numbers being thrown out there skewed because most of you are in the top bracket of lawyers who work for Big Law and have been at the job for years? Props to you ladies earning top dollar but now I am reconsidering my career choice lol. A little insight on these insane numbers I’m reading would be helpful.
Btw, I’m am 3 yrs out of college, in engineering making $65k per year. I spent about $3,000 on clothing and makeup this past year but mostly because I needed to build a professional wardrobe and I prefer quality over quantity.
Amy
3 years out of college? 65k is a respectable amount, if it’s undergrad only. If you have a PhD…
You gotta remember that on average, people have worked what, 10 years or more? Plus there’s all that overtime… At least you won’t have too much overtime!
I’m getting a PharmD. 100k+ baby (minus insurance, etc.). That said, i think my clothing cost will mostly be on the white coats – 50 bucks a pop, and they get dirty so easily! (The ones I have now bleach yellow, yuck!). A suit jacket can last a couple of years. A white coat…eh, maybe 3 months.