A lot of people know where to go for inexpensive professional clothes — and then they know the brands that celebrities wear. But the middle ground for professional clothing brands can get confusing for people — particularly, how to step up your game when it comes to fashionable workwear. We talked a few weeks about what the next step is for furniture (based on a commenting thread a while back), and this week I thought we’d talk about the spectrum for professional clothes. (Obviously, some of these brands could fit in multiple buckets — any big disagreements, though?)
Readers, where did you shop when you started your careers — or when you need budget pieces? What was your next step, and the step after that, and the step after that? When did you notice a big change in quality? Am I forgetting any brands? What are your top 3 in each bucket?
{related: workwear stores off the beaten path}
Bucket 1: Budget Fashion
- Dorothy Perkins
- Express
- H&M
- Loft
- Modcloth
- New York & Co.
- Old Navy
- Target
- Zara
Bucket 2: Midlevel Professional Clothing Brands
- Ann Taylor
- Anne Klein
- Banana Republic
- BCBG
- Boden
- CK Calvin Klein
- Club Monaco
- J. Crew
- Jones New York
- Karen Millen
- Kay Unger
- Lands’ End
- Lauren Ralph Lauren
- Limited
- Michael Michael Kors
- Pendleton
- Tahari (I would put all lines except Elie Tahari in this bucket)
- Talbots
- White House | Black Market
Bucket 3: Upgrading Some Items
- Agnes B
- Austin Reed
- Boss Hugo Boss
- Brooks Brothers
- Classiques Entier
- Diane von Furstenberg
- Elie Tahari
- Equipment
- Kate Spade
- Lafayette 148
- LK Bennett
- Milly
- Nanette Lepore
- Pink Tartan
- Rachel Roy
- Rebecca Taylor
- Reiss
- Smythe
- Theory
- Thomas Pink
- Tory Burch
- Tracy Reese
- Trina Turk
- Vince
Bucket 4: Getting Fancy
- Armani
- Black Fleece
- Hugo Boss
- Isabel Marant
- Marc by Marc Jacobs
- Max Mara
- Missoni
- Ralph Lauren
- St. John
- Victoria Beckham
Bucket 5: Money is No Object
- Akris Punto
- Alexander McQueen
- Donna Karan
- Escada
- Jason Wu
- Michael Kors
- Roland Mouret
- Saint Laurent
- Stella McCartney
- The Row
- Zac Posen
Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Maryna Pleshkun.
NotLawFinance
How do the rest of you feel about Tier 3 quality over Tier 2? I’m so often disappointed after I bring a more expensive item home and take a good look. Skipped stitches, hanging threads, poor fabrics, lining shaped differently from the actual garment. I have a pair of wonderfully fitting Trina Turk pants sitting in their original bag waiting to be returned because the fabric turned out to be half rayon (and half other synthetic), which, as we know, stretches out of shape and snags easily. The inner seams are poorly finished and are already shedding long shaggy threads onto the lining just from trying them on. I expect rayon pants from Express for $40 but not from Nordstrom’s for $150. No matter my paycheck, I hate feeling taken advantage of. Just me?
Stephanie
I treated myself to a Kate Spade bag this weekend. I’m firmly in the “tired of those huge logos” camp and wanted something polished and high quality.
I’d love to get more Banana Republic suits, but in petite sizes they only make two colors of suits – both of which I have. The quality at Ann Taylor has decreased, and I need to find somewhere else that makes a perfectly-sized-for-me size 8P curvy!
My shells under suits, my cardigans, and accessories tend to come from Target and its ilk. I saw a lovely scarf the other day, but FFS who spends $80 on a piece of fabric??
balletgirl1980
I am definitely a solid bucket 2/3 shopper.
Preschool tuition does not bode well for my shopping budget :)
I hit the consignment and thrift stores alot, I like the hunt for a great deal. I also shop a lot online and at outlet stores. For bucket 4, I find local boutiques or shop when I travel to Europe.
I think I am all over the place for casual/after work/weekend wear to soccer games and ballet class. I feel guilty for buying Bucket 4 and 5 clothes though. This might be a factor of growing up poor. I don’t know. Maybe because I feel that I can get good, quality, last forever pieces in Bucket 2 or 3.
I do have a Kate Spade Black Leather Briefcase that I bought 3 years ago for a good bit of money but it’s classic, easy to carry, fits everything for work and kids, and still looks good.
Elizabeth
For non-logo bags, try Gigi – it’s made in the USA, is less in cost than Coach and is made of a wonderful, durable pebbled leather!
I bought their Taylor tote last year (full size) and LOVE it. Numerous friends have purchased this bag and it’s big enough for legal files and lots of letter-size paper. I throw a wristlet in it daily (as a wallet) and use the Taylor tote every day as a purse, and don’t hesitate to take it with me to court – I’m an associate at a boutique firm in a large Southern city. I splurged and had Gigi stamp my initials in gold foil on the bag (it’s unobtrusive) and elegant…and it’s MY BRAND. :) They offer monogrammed initials on all of their bags.
I second an earlier comment regarding quality…natural fibers and items that are well made stand the test of time.
I have learned so much from this post and appreciate everyone’s time and thoughts!