Ladies, help with a work wardrobe!

[ChloeTheGreat]

I just got offered a job and will be starting soon...I need work clothes!

When I was there for my interview, the office was very business casual. A few of the women I saw there were bundled up in sweaters (I guess it gets cold in the office!)

What should I buy to start off my collection of office-appropriate clothes? Are there any pieces that you think are a MUST for a working woman? (I do have a very nice suit that I wore for my interview, so I will have that when I need it.)

Also, if it matters, I do not wear skirts and dresses. Hope that's not narrowing it down too much! And I have a tattoo on my right arm, so I prefer to keep it covered in the workplace and don't want to go shorter than 3/4 length sleeves.

Please help!

 

[allycat0303]

No skirts ever? I live in skirts. I would have suggested a black pencil skirt, because it looks great on nearly everyone.
A really great tailored black pant suit and and a really nice grey pant suit. I would purchase both, and then break up the pieces as separates or together when its a more formal occasion (I actually don't own a pant suit as I'm a skirt girl, but I do this with the normal skirt suit).

 

[ChloeTheGreat]

Thanks for the advice, ally cat!

I'm really just NOT a skirt person. I didn't even wear one when I got married! They are not comfortable for me.
The suit I have is gray, so I will look into black also. I like the idea of mixing and matching (I thought a suit was just a suit! Lol) I like how my gray suit jacket fits me, but the pants are not so great, so I'll have to look for some coordinating options.

 

[ame]

I hate skirts and dresses. Hate. And I hate Capris and shorts too. None of them are even reasonably comfortable to me.

My daily wardrobe is a damn snore. Some variation of either dark trouser jeans, cords from Old Navy, Cargos from a number of places--my favorite are 2 year old ones from Target I wish I'd doubled up on, dark gray and navy trousers I got at Nordstrom and Khakis. I wear jeans on fridays that are my normal jeans, dark wash. The tops are typically a cardigan and a lace trimmed cami, a 3/4 sleeve cardi usually, or some kind of fitted target vneck-lace trim cami combo. I have a fitted sweatshirt thats like a motorcycle jacket that is navy that I sometimes wear on colder days in place of the cardi. I bought a few button up shirts that I layer also. On colder days I layer a cami under two layered long sleeve tshirts.

ARE YOU BORED YET? Im already half asleep and drooling

Its days like this I miss the other place because I could've gone in my damn underwear and no one would have known any better.

I think Express has great workwear coordinates, in the suiting area, as does Limited and NY&Co. All of my lace trimmed camis are teh 14/16 size from Lane Bryant and I have an ALARMING collection.

 

[ChloeTheGreat]

Ame, I'm glad I'm not the only woman in the world who hates skirts!
I'm a shorts kind of person either, but I bought a couple pairs this past summer because there's just no avoiding the 110 degree summers here. Ugh.

I figured I would stock up on sweaters I could wear over other shirts so my large arm tattoo will be covered.

 

[movie zombie]

also not a skirt/dress woman. its been years since i've been in such a thing.

nice slacks, 3/4 sleeve sweater or long-sleeve blouse with a sweater/coat type thing for cold days in the office. accentuate the feminie with simple jewelry and quality shoes.....

i also buy more than one if the item works well and comes in different colors. my wardrobe does not change much day-to-day or from day to night. i do liven things up with scarves, though. as a short, round AND old[er] woman i just don't take much pleasure in the fashion scene....give me practical, made well, don't break the bank, and comfortable clothing, thank you.

 

[tuffyluvr]

I LIVE in skirts, dresses and tights because I am a freaking giraffe and it's hard to find pants that are long enough! I don't like spending a lot on my work clothes because I only ever wear them to work. I have to dress professionally for work, so I like the Limited. The pants fit me well and they're not too expensive and they often have some 'buy one get one 40% off deal'. The stuff seems to hold up pretty well too. I also got a couple of silk blouses off the sale rack at Banana Republic last weekend for about $40 each.

 

[ChloeTheGreat]

also not a skirt/dress woman. its been years since i've been in such a thing.

nice slacks, 3/4 sleeve sweater or long-sleeve blouse with a sweater/coat type thing for cold days in the office. accentuate the feminie with simple jewelry and quality shoes.....

i also buy more than one if the item works well and comes in different colors. my wardrobe does not change much day-to-day or from day to night. i do liven things up with scarves, though. as a short, round AND old[er] woman i just don't take much pleasure in the fashion scene....give me practical, made well, don't break the bank, and comfortable clothing, thank you.

That's exactly what I was looking for! I'm feeling much better about a shopping trip now that I have some suggestions.

 

[ChloeTheGreat]

I LIVE in skirts, dresses and tights because I am a freaking giraffe and it's hard to find pants that are long enough! I don't like spending a lot on my work clothes because I only ever wear them to work. I have to dress professionally for work, so I like the Limited. The pants fit me well and they're not too expensive and they often have some 'buy one get one 40% off deal'. The stuff seems to hold up pretty well too. I also got a couple of silk blouses off the sale rack at Banana Republic last weekend for about $40 each.

Ooh, I forgot about the Limited. I was going to start at the Gap. My suit is from Banana Republic, but their stuff might be a little pricey for me right off the bat.

 

[tuffyluvr]

I LIVE in skirts, dresses and tights because I am a freaking giraffe and it's hard to find pants that are long enough! I don't like spending a lot on my work clothes because I only ever wear them to work. I have to dress professionally for work, so I like the Limited. The pants fit me well and they're not too expensive and they often have some 'buy one get one 40% off deal'. The stuff seems to hold up pretty well too. I also got a couple of silk blouses off the sale rack at Banana Republic last weekend for about $40 each.

Ooh, I forgot about the Limited. I was going to start at the Gap. My suit is from Banana Republic, but their stuff might be a little pricey for me right off the bat.

Definitely check it out! I got a pair of slacks and a skirt the other day for about $100, and neither item was on sale. They had a ton of stuff on sale too. They have slacks called 'extreme stretch'(I think?) that are very comfortable and I like the cut of their long sleeve blouses--slimmer and 'younger' looking. I don't know if there is one close by, but Loehmann's often has some nice stuff (for nice prices!). I got a great double-ply cable-knit cashmere cardigan there for $80 last year.

 

[VRBeauty]

Pick ups some nice chinos and a crisp shirt or two for when the weather gets warmer. A crisp shirt (it doesn't have to be white) and nice slacks are a good "almost-suit" when you want to make a good impression. There are some great zero-ironing needed chinos and shirts available now (I've had good luck at talbot's and Brooks Brothers outlets.)

 

[stephbolt]

I love Ann Taylor and Loft for nice work pants - get a few pairs in black, grey, brown. I get a lot of nicer knit shirts/lightweight sweaters with 3/4 or long sleeves there as well. They always have coupons and deals online...I think everything is 30% off right now for President's day. I don't wear a lot of button down shirts because I hate ironing, but if you don't mind that those are another good option. I keep a big sweater at the office in a neutral color that I can wrap up in when it is chilly so I don't always have to dress warmer.

I wouldn't wear your suit pants with different shirts as a regular thing, you'll end up fading the pants from washing and then they won't match the jacket when you have a reason to wear the suit again.

You might want to start out buying only a few items (enough to get you through a week maybe?) and seeing a what everyone in the office wears on a day-to-day basis before building a bigger work wardrobe. You may get a different feel for what business casual means at this company after a few days vs. having been in there for just a few hours for an interview.

 

[ame]

also not a skirt/dress woman. its been years since i've been in such a thing.

nice slacks, 3/4 sleeve sweater or long-sleeve blouse with a sweater/coat type thing for cold days in the office. accentuate the feminie with simple jewelry and quality shoes.....

i also buy more than one if the item works well and comes in different colors. my wardrobe does not change much day-to-day or from day to night. i do liven things up with scarves, though. as a short, round AND old[er] woman i just don't take much pleasure in the fashion scene....give me practical, made well, don't break the bank, and comfortable clothing, thank you.

Same here. I have multiples of what I like in multiple colors. I have like 5 of the same cami in white, 5 in lime green, 5 in teal, 5 in navy, and then at least two of each other color as backup. I keep two in my closet and when they look raggy I replace with new. I have a few patterend ones too. I did the same with cardigans, I found one I liked got it in bulk. Jeans I have several pairs of the same as well.

 

[Mrsacornblue]

I had to wear business casual while in school. I wear dresses occasionally but not often...mostly in the summer. I would suggest investing in pants in neutral colors. My basics are navy, khaki, gray, black and a subtle pinstripe. I got quite a few cotton blend pairs from Loft and Gap in straight and wide leg on sale. Great because they are wash and wear with just a little touch-up from the iron. I like tops with some print and detailing. Anthropologie,Loft, Boden, Gap, Macy's and Nordstroms are my go-to places. I prefer knits but a button-down would be fine also. I would also suggest a pair of trouser jeans in a dark wash. For layering, I have cardigans in every color imaginable. I'm not a blazer or jacket girl...my shoulders are too broad and my upper arms are quite...dense...for lack of a better word. If you can wear sandals, they are nice for summer with a pedi. Otherwise, I wear ballet flats, loafers or ankle boots. I accessorize with scarves and jewelry. I also think that a good, structured leather bag (such as a tote) and a nice watch are great necessities.

 

[Deia]

I wear dresses and skirts quite often. I have yet to find pants that are long enough for me and don't do this wrinkly thing around the sides of the zipper....I envy you girls that don't have this problem! I think it must be my protruding a**! But I still wear them when I can't be bothered to wear tights. I find that dresses make me look more polished than pants, but again I think it's because I don't like how I look in pants. Jeans I like.

I went crazy around december time at BR. Bought so much stuff. They seem to have awesome sales on line, register with them and have them send you emails, every week I think I get a discount code for 30% or more.

The Limited is pretty good too. But as I live in the UK I don't get to shop there often.

I have a hell of alot of grey stuff...gets pretty boring so I have some colorful and patterned scarves, and colorful cardigans that I wear with my grey work dresses.

I also like Hobbs.com (it's a UK shop) but they ship internationally and they have three lines of clothing. One more classic, a younger line and a "limited" line, which is a bit more fashion forward.

Anthropologie and Boden are good too.

I agree that you should buy a few key items and wait until you have started working to see how people come to work. It may be more casual or more corporate than you think.

A good pair of comfortable black heels/pumps/whatever you call them is also really important. I find that I look at people's shoes lol, and it seems I am not the only one... and kindda wonder why people are wearing really nice clothes with cheap/old/worn looking shoes! Cole Haan shoes are amazingly comfy, but expensives so maybe try an outlet store?

If you like to wear high heels, these shoes are AMAZING. I have them in the nude patent version and seriously it's like walking on pillows!!! I hate most heels too...http://www.theoutnet.com/product/249783

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I am a firm believer in having a capsule wardrobe, where everything coordinates and can be mixed and matched. Once you have that, you can expand in other directions.

I used grey/black and cream/camel as my neutrals and wine and blue as my colours, since they work best for me. My capsule was:

- Formal grey suit
- Black suit

- Herringbone fitted blazer
- Embroidered blazer

- 1 black dress (I never wore, though)

- Cream wool pants
- Camel slacks
- Black slacks

- Dove grey silk blouse (my indulgence)
- Wine silk blouse
- Basic tops: black, wine, blue, patterned
- 5 non basic tops

- Black pumps
- Brown ankle boots
- Camel heels

- a few scarves
- pearls

Now, my work wardrobe consists of yoga pants, fitted t shirts and a worn, stained, burned bench apron (which I am proud of). I sometimes miss dressing up and looking put together, though.