Wellllll, if you ever decide to make it this way, I know we have them in Indiana. I'm sure there's probably one somewhere in Indy somewhere, but I don't know where... But I do know there's one in Carmel, that's the one I go to when I'm in the area.

Maybe the website isn't up to date, but there are several NY & Company stores in Illinois, including one in Champaign. I get a lot of my clothes here, and to echo what others have said, they do have nice, inexpensive clothes.

I know that you've said that NY & Co isn't in your area, but if you're able to find one, their prices are pretty affordable. I buy pants there because they have good deals like buy one, get one half off from time to time. I like to buy blouses at The Limited - and then sometimes I buy camis to put underneath them. I also like Ann Taylor Loft.
I'm now realizing how much I need to go shopping myself and buy some new work clothes.

The big bust problem has an easy solution... buy silk and cotton tank tops to wear under your suit jacket. You don't need to wear a conventional button-down blouse.

I would suggest buying good quality "classics" in a natural fabric. Don't buy "trendy." Yes, these classics may be a bit pricey, but they don't look cheap and never go out of style. Better to save your pennies and own just a few suits to begin with to mix and match. You'll have them for years and years. More economical in the long run!

A good lightweight wool gaberdine is virtually seasonless. Believe it or not, Lands End has some beautiful suits.

Also check out Talbots. They have incredible sales where you can get beautifully made high end clothing at a fraction of the price.

Some good, basic pieces to begin with:

Black dress pants

Black skirted suit

(black goes with virtually anything, so you can add a colored blazer to the black pants or skirt for a different look)

white shell

Then add:

your choice of pink, red, camel, and creme blazers.

Keep building up your wardrobe with classics. Add camel wool pants, a nice linen (or linen blend) jacket. (Remember that linen wrinkles like crazy!)

You can get an expensive look by wearing a classic suit and adding an inexpensive cotton tank top. Buy lots of these for a variety of looks.

Look here:
http://www.landsend.com/cd/index/fp/...93521826137000

and, I would recommend this as your first suit:

http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/0...93521826137000

And guess what? Talbots is having their amazing twice a year sale RIGHT NOW!

http://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/index.asp

This is a beautiful summer jacket in linen.
ttp://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=P54687&PFID=529&BID=S2006180234 83939C539CE81AA46E5A953A3&h=M


Don't forget to accessorize too. Invest in a good silk scarf, a nice gold necklace, and pearls.

Again, do this gradually. Take your time and look for quality.

One trick is to go into a very expensive store like Barneys of NY or Neiman Marcus to educate yourself on quality. Look at the fabrics. Feel them. Look at the tag and learn about different fabrics. Study how the seams are sewn. Take a look at the buttons. Then you can go to a less expensive store and look for the same details.

Happy shopping!

I did indeed make fun of you, but if you find me that awesome penguin shirt, I'll forgive you!


Now, back to the original poster:

Go to The Limited. Try on the Drew pant. This is cut more narrowly in the hips than their other pants. GAP can also have great pants and they have a few different cuts now.

Go to a Marshall Field's or Carson's/Bergner's/whatever it is in your part of Illinois and look in the Nine West section. They have great separates that they do in "collections" so just about everything from the collection goes with each other.

I get a lot of stuff on clearance from J.Crew and Banana Republic. If you have outlets near you, hit those up. The outlets in Aurora are supposed to be great, I haven't gone yet though.

I think the stuff blueangel is recommending is nice but some of it sounds a little old for you - you're my age and I wouldn't wear some of that.

I've got enormous boobs and have found that Lands' End shirts usually are long enough - I get mine at the outlet for $19.99. I also get a lot of button-ups from GAP or Limited and just wear a tank or cami underneath to avoid dealing with the button issue.

I personally think the quality of NY&Co blows, but to each their own.

GeekyPenguin,

You have to remember that she is in banking and IT. The banking industry is traditionally very conservative. There is nothing "old" about a skirted suit or a nice pair of dress pants and a blazer. I've been wearing them since I graduated college.

If she were in Public Relations or Interior Design, I would agree that my suggestions wouldn't work for her. But she's working for a banking company. The idea is to look professional and be taken seriously. That doesn't mean she has to wear support hose and ankle length skirts! You can look professional and still have wonderful style.

The rule of thumb is that you always try to dress one level above the job position you hold now.

Here is a very good article about "dressing for success"
http://www.selfemployedweb.com/dress-for-success.htm

She might also want to read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/044...lance&n=283155

(New Woman's Guide to Dress for Success)... I read the original after graduation, and it helped me tremendously.

If you can make it into Peoria, Northwoods mall has Famous-Barr and Maurices.

Also, Fashion Bug has started to carry more career-type stuff, and they're pretty cheap. They have a store in Decatur.

ETA: Disclaimer: I am sitting at my job right now in a pair of jeans and a STG White Rose Challenge T-shirt.

I don't dress up to quite that level yet. But thanks! I do already wear tanks underneath my shirts but I hadn't thought of transitioning that to blazers.

See, I need another solution. I took several shirts to a tailor to get them taken in around the waist, but they are still too big in the shoulders. I look like a linebacker.

I went to business school and am in law school. I understand that her industry may be more conservative, however, I think that Talbots is old for somebody our age. They do have some nice things, yes, but I think of Talbots more as clothes for my mom (who is in her early 50s) than clothes for me. Their suits are not cut in a very stylish fashion and if she did have to wear suits (which it sounds like she does) I think it would be much more appropriate for her to wear a knee-length one with a more structured jacket, rather than Talbots suits, many of which I feel are actually in pretty "unprofessional" fabrics - silk georgette, linen, and matte jersey are not my idea of professional.

No suits yet! (though I own a Don Caster one... thanks grandma) I do get by with a nice top and pants. But working up to suits would be nice as one of the other women in my department alternates between suits and the top/pants.

We'll just have to disagree. I've been in the professional world for many years, and do hiring for my staff, so I do know what is considered "professional." I have seen young people fresh out of college dressed appropriately for the interview, and then I've seen others who looked like they were ready for a night out clubbing. Guess who I would be more inclined to hire and promote?

What students wear in business school and law school are different from what is worn in the working world. Even jeans and t-shirts are acceptable in the university atmosphere, but certainly not in a bank.

I also disagree with you about Talbots clothes. I'm NOT in my 50's, and in fact have purchased from Talbots since I was in my 20s. The clothes are "stylish" but not "trendy".. big difference. Talbots does have some clothes aimed at "older women"-- but also has a very good selection for young professionals. Don't judge Talbots on what your mother wears.. take a look at their catalog, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Silks and linens are certainly professional and are recommended in John Molloy's book. He has done extensive research and testing on what employers test well to.

You don't have to agree with me. What you feel is appropriate to wear in the business world is certainly up to you. I'm just speaking from years of experience and trying to be helpful to the original poster.

Hmm, really? While they certainly aren't the highest quality, I'd put them on par with Gap stuff. I've had no issues yet...knock on wood. :o

They TEACH us how to dress in school. I guess maybe since you went to a state school you didn't learn this - insert Rudey joke here.

I have been in Talbots. I walk by a Talbots almost every day. Their clothes are cut in a very frumpy fashion. When you are 22 and still have a narrow waist, don't wear a suit that gobbles it up. When you have long, pretty legs, wear a knee-length suit, not one that goes midway down your calf.

Silk georgette doesn't belong in the courtroom. Neither does linen, which will wrinkle everytime you stand up or sit down. As an IT professional, the OP is going to be doing a lot of moving around - both with computers and with server equipment. Linen is not highly conducive to a physically active job.

I think it's pretty funny you're acting like I dress trendy - I'm a very conservative dresser and have run seminars on business apparel for members of my sorority.

I don't dress trendy - I dress my age. There is nothing worse than a young lady looking like a pastor's wife.

My mom shops at Talbots too, and I'll occasionally get leftovers, so to speak.

My biggest problem with them is cost. And I think their store in town trends toward the older women because of its location and clientele.

ETA: While I am in IT now, and will probably be throughout graduate school, I'm actually going to be a Licensed counselor. These same tips will be useful then too, but just thought I'd clarify :)