Work Clothing Suggestions - Ladies
 

I need some ideas of what stores to shop at and what brands to buy in regards to work clothing.

I work at a bank but am in the IT department so I need to wear business attire, but usually also pants as I carry computers around. I'm also 22 and would like to look adult, but not wear clothes too old for me.

The challenges involved here:

1. I'm average-sized, but have a large chest so many shirts are either too revealing or end up being to short, even with high-waisted pants.

2. I'm rather broke. I'm willing to splurge on a good pair of pants, but then I need cheap tops.

3. The variety in Decatur, IL is not large. I am however willing to travel to shop- St. Louis, Chicago, Indy. But east/west coast stores are not in the cards.

4. I'm not good at this whole fashion thing. I do better with seperates that I can mix and match.



Someone help me!

I would look for classics at stores like Ann Taylor, AT Loft, or sometimes Express has good professional stuff. Ann Taylor tends to have lots of nice sweaters and shirts that can look professional and not draw too much attention to your chest.

Online shopping is your friend. Seriously. I live near a million stores, but I hate going to them.

If khaki-type pants aren't considered too casual for your bank, I'd suggest that. Jcrew has decent pants and I swear GeekyPenguin totally made fun of me for shopping at a teenager store, but I got some cheap as hell pants from Alloy and they fit me VERY well (so if you're like me and have no hips/ass, it might be worth it) and I don't know, but I think they're really cute, too.

I probably dress more casually than you do for work, but I'm a big fan of wearing tanks (the ones from Old Navy are fine, and at like $7 I kind of consider them disposable and/or great for working out, too) under cardigans. I like tanks better than the little sweaters that match cardigans because they tend to be longer, which eliminates the boob/short shirt problem.

Thanks for the tips so far. I have a sweater from ATLoft and it's fantastic!

I wish I had any of those stores (except OldNavy we have that) nearby.

I'm a little gun-shy about shopping for clothes online. I have that, no two pants fit me alike thing. (No real hips) And besides the boobs, I have broad shoulders. I guess I'm concerned it won't fit me right.

I know AT is having free shipping until the 4th of July on their website now. They do in-store returns. You could always order some things offline and return what doesn't fit you. My mom hates shopping in stores and loves AT so she always ends up doing that.

J.C.Penney has some nice business attire and separates that are trendy and affordable so you don't have to break the bank!:) Also Dress Barn caters to plus sized women.

I fine New York & Comany has really good work clothes. The pants fit me well (I have a small waist and <compairitivly> bigger thighs) - and don't make me look like I have wings sticking out on the side of my legs. Plus, most pants are avaliable in like 5 colors...haha, so I buy one of each...the tops are nice too. They have button ups in lots of colors and some nice t-shirt type shirts in solid colors...in winter they have great turtle necks. I'd check there if there is one around...

I *love* Anne Taylor, but it's soooo expensive. I just can't bear paying $50 for a sweater or a top. Plus as a teacher, clothes often get marked on, etc...so I don't want anything that would make me cry if I ruined it! :p

Ann Taylor definitely tends to have steep prices, but they have great quality. I only buy from there when stuff is on sale. (Or if mummy pays ;).)

A lot of websites have sizing charts. It's still not the same as trying something on, because you can't really tell if the pants or shirt is a suitable cut for your figure but at least you can get an idea of if their sizes run big or small.

Hm, it sounds like you're shaped like I am. For pants, avoid Ann Taylor -- maybe try Victoria's Secret, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters, or Old Navy (although I think their non-jean pants aren't the greatest), in addition to Jcrew/Alloy/anywhere else designed for "younger" people, because stuff tends to be less, um, hip-py. Low rise or even ultra low rise is your friend, not to mention it's just more flattering than higher-waisted pants. You should be fine with tops from any of those stores. As long as you stay away from more high-end designer stuff, the boobs/shoulders shouldn't be much of an issue.

I like the lower waisted, but I then get stuck with the "don't raise your arms" issue with shirts! I need a professional dresser!

I second the NY&Co. suggestion if you have one nearby. When I got my current job, I needed a lot of staples since my prior job was a jeans and t-shirts kind of place. I got a ton of pants, shirts, skirts, dresses, sweaters, etc. without breaking the bank and without looking like I'm wearing the same thing every day. The pants fit me well, which is unusual since I have a 36 inch inseam. Their long pants sometimes come longer than they're supposed to, which I love ;)

As much as I hate shopping in JC Penney, they do have some decent pants, too. You can order from their catalogue, too. Those are the only 2 relatively inexpensive places I can think of off the top of my head. I enjoy Ann Taylor, but the prices are a little out of my league. I prefer NY&Co. where I get discounts all the time from their postcards and with the account I opened with them.

Don't know where the nearest one is, but I have friends in St. Louis, Springfield, Peoria, etc... I'll find one :) Thanks!

I checked the NY & Co. website, and they don't have any stores in Illinois.

I thrid the NY & Company - affordable, work-appropriate clothing. I feel your pain in the shirt department. I finally realized that I should buy button-ups in the size that fits my boobs and take them to a tailor to bring the waist in to be fitted. If we can bitch to the shorties to go to the tailor, I guess the juggs girls need to go, too! ;) :p

I also think Target has some great, affordble stuff. Especially in the tops arena - lots of twin sets and nice "dressy" t-shirts.

Valkyrie - I love the idea about a tank under a cardigan! I never thought of that and I'm always hiking the undershirt part up so the creepy guys at work aren't looking down my top as they stand over me! :rolleyes:

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 :)

I've bought a few pieces there and they just don't hold up for me - nothing too major, just loose buttons or threads. My big beef with them is their patterned tops aren't lined up on the seams - I don't know if that makes sense, if it doesn't, I'll try to explain it better.

Their website is not working. It works if you do zip, but not state. There are NY&Co's in Champaign, Peoria and Alton, IL. I think they are a great budget conscious choice for work clothes. If you are going there, go to their website FIRST, join and get an instant 20% off coupon that works, even on sale and clerance merchandise. They will then send you coupons by email or mail. I shop there often but NEVER without a coupon! I would also suggest the sales sections of AT or AT Loft for deals. Like NY&Co all three stores put together color schemes and collections so it is easy to but pieces you can mix and match.

I haven't been home in forever. Is the NY&Co at the new mall out on War Memorial (see - new mall, been forever)...??

LOL I'm going to have to agree with GP on the age/clothes issue here (although for the record, I am muchmuchmuch less conservative clothes-wise than she is). I'm in my thirties and wouldn't even consider shopping at Talbots. I don't wear blazers or anything that could be referred to as a "shell" -- that's something my mom would tell me to wear and I'd ignore it.

Of course I would wear a suit to a job interview. However, most jobs do not require or expect such formal clothing on a daily basis. I've been dressing in a manner that I'm sure many would consider very casual for years, and I've never had any problems with being taken seriously. Also, dressing casually does NOT mean I come to work every day dressed for the club. I might wear some khakis, a tank, and a cute hoodie, with sandals. I haven't worn hose in YEARS -- and I appeared in court almost every day for a year and a half. Nobody cares.

I wear Talbots, so therefore I dress frumpy?

Nobody said you had to dress like a pastor's wife, nor did I ever imply you wear skirts that go halfway down your calf. You apparently have not been to Talbots as you claim.

I'm not 22, but I have pretty nice legs from all of the years of being an athlete. You might want to be a bit more careful writing things that can be construed as agism.

Note too, that I pointed out in one of my posts to the original poster how linen wrinkles, which is why I also suggested a "linen" blend. I would agree that silk would be inappropriate for her job, although she certainly could wear a silk shell under her blazer..

As stated, you certainly-- as a student who says she has learned how to dress in school-- have every right to disagree with me. I'm just offering suggestions from my more than 20 years experience in the professional business world and as my position as someone who hires people.

Maybe you have much much longer legs than I do, but suits at Talbots are very long on me - to the point where alterations wouldn't help. In addition, most of them are not cut to flatter women with a larger bust as many of their jackets are one-button. If you like the clothes there, that's great, but as a 22 y/o woman who dresses professionally on a regular basis, I don't. They do have some great cashmere occasionally and good oxfords, but they aren't the place I'd start wardrobing. They are also VERY costly compared to other stores where a more youthful high-quality product could also be purchased.

I wore lots of Talbot's suits when I was in my 20's, and now that I'm in my 40's I look at much of their selection and think "My mom would love this!"

For professional wardrobe, Ann Taylor is always my best answer, but it sounds like fit is an issue. My co-workers and I have discussed this before, and it seems like there are two distinct groups: those who love and wear Ann Taylor, and those who can't and find that Jones of New York has the best fit for them. If there's an outlet store anywhere nearby, it could be worth a trip.

I've also picked up some good looking pieces for work at Target recently. Some of the sweater sets don't hold their shape, and I've already had to re-stitch the inseam of one pair of pants. They're not investment quality, but then neither is the price. Target.com is having free shipping on clothes purchases over $50 for now too.

Good luck!

My mom used to love Talbots clothes about 8 or so years ago. Now she looks at their stuff and says its too frumpy and "suburban housewife."

I stalk Ann Taylor sales-- eventually everything goes to 40% off. Once, I actually had a friend 4 states away mail me a sweater she found on sale. It cost $79 at my Ann and had been reduced to $19.99 at hers. That's extreme, but check out their outlet stores.

If there's an outlet mall nearby, Ann Taylor and Banana make great clothes that last a long time and are good quality. Regarding your chest-- I have the same problem-- XS everywhere else-- I find that it helps to wear petite sized button down shirts because the buttons are closer together. Try that and see if you can keep the girls undercover! Avoid scoop neck tops. What looks great on your B-cup sized co-worker will make you look like the office tramp, no matter your intentions. If you want a lower neck and the tops are cropping because of your longer torso, try a few neutral colored shells-- like bra shelf tops with spaghetti straps (Express, GAP, etc.) and wear them under those shirts. Clever layering and you can wear the same clothes as everyone else. It will also look nice and fitted.

I'm 5'3! I shop in Talbot's Petite department. This is why I'm not convinced you've actually shopped there.

Yes, they are very costly, which is why I specifically recommended she try the twice a year sale which is going on right now.

I'm curious.. what exactly do you consider "more youthful?" A classic suit is a classic suit.