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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

500 bucks and 0 clues.

purple8

I've lurked before but this is my first time posting.

In December, I changed jobs from 15 years in a VERY casual environment (jeans, sneakers) to a more traditional job. My new job is more conservative and more formal, although not to the "wear a suit each day" level. Sleeveless is not ok, nor are jeans or shorts.

Winter dressing was easy, but I have NO IDEA what to wear to an office in spring. I set aside $500 to shop this weekend. I'm ok on bras, shoes, handbags, so don't need that stuff.

I'm 5'3", a size 10 (trying to lose kid weight but can't wait on clothes) and kind of an hourglass I guess. Big chest and booty. Chubby all over. Open to any suggestions except I hate khaki capris because they make me think of tv moms using a swiffer or spot treating laundry.

Help!!!!

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from purple8

Catnip

Veteran

Welcome! You will get lots of good ideas here. Why not take a look at Angie's outfits.

adorkable

Veteran

Do you have good thrift stores or something like TJ Maxx or Ross near you? If you have the time and patience (and I completely understand if you don't - I often don't myself!) you can get about a million new items of fun workwear and have a lot of options.

purple8

There is a TJ max and a Ross near me, but their clothes are always dirty (like makeup stains and grubby finer marks) for some reason. Maybe I'm going on the wrong day.

Alassë

Veteran

Welcome!

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

I'm an hourglass, and I might recommend shift dresses. They can be flattering and simple and tend to skim the body. Something like this maybe? (Although that does not have 3/4 sleeves like they say it does. They look full-length to me...)

Hmm...I rather like this one too, but I love Mod...and it would need a jacket or cardi of course for your workplace. But navy/orange!

However, you and I would both be better off looking for petite versions of most things (but the Roy looks like it would be more modest on a petite...). I just wanted examples of the styles I was referring to.

http://www.overstock.com/Cloth.....594531/pro

http://http//www1.macys.com/sh.....ategoryID=

Liz

Veteran

I think your timing is perfect for this, as this is when all winter clothing is going on super clearance. I have a similar work situation and a very small clothing budget. This time of year, I have success finding work appropriate clothing on the clearance racks at stores such as Dillards, Macy's, Loft, and Banana Republic. If you look for the lighter fabrications and colors, a lot of winter cardigans, jackets, and tops now on clearance will work just fine for spring.

For what it's worth, I've totally given up on Ross and mostly given up on TJ Maxx -- it's just too hit or miss.

Sona

Veteran

Try Ann taylor loft and ann taylor. also express. They are great for work wear at affordable prices.

catgirl

Veteran

People here also rave about Express pants. Angie has posted about them too.

deb

Veteran

Welcome!

purple8

I'll have to check out express. I may have unfairly written it off as too young (I'm 36) because that's what I wore in my clubbing days 15 yrs ago, lol.

Ambergreen, I love that dress. The link for the second one isn't working, but navy and orange sounds nice.

I need to revisit Ann Taylor. I went three weeks ago and it was some sort of messy clearance of bulky beige things, but maybe it's changed over to spring now.

I am such a wuss about shopping. I have all these good intentions, then I get overwhelmed and skulk away with another sad pair of black pants.

Glory

Veteran

Welcome. Congrats on the new job. I would try to read some of Angie's posts and get an idea of what you like and what suits your work environment. Perhaps start by making a list of things you will need to make enough work capsules and go from there. Good luck.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Many of us in our 40's have Express pants. I have silk shells, a sweater dress, and a full suit from them, at almost 44 Price is pretty good, too, along with frequent sales.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

Ah, sorry for the second link issue--YLF has an http:// thingy in its form that didn't go away when I added the full link. Oops.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Welcome! Shopping really can be overwhelming at times -- but I recommend taking a look at Angie's capsule work wardrobe posts from last spring. Here's one, and in the left sidebar you'll see links to others. Also, do a bit of online sleuthing first to get a sense of the general landscape. Another option -- if you live near a Nordstrom's -- would be to get a stylist's help. In some stores they are free and that could cut down your searching a bit.

DonnaF

Veteran

Hmmm. If it were me, I would first assess what I have that might also work in spring. You also mentioned that you were set for shoes. This is great because footwear can easily consume a budget. With your shoes and current wardrobe in mind, you might want to think about *your* neutrals and proposed color palette and the holes in what you own. If you search the archives, Angie has some ensemble blog posts showing smallish and larger work capsules; I think this was a year or two ago.

At 5' 3", you sound like you are at the cusp of Petites and Regular sizes. If one size doesn't fit, you may want to try the other, or maybe you are a Petite on top and Regular on the bottom -- or the reverse. Some stores only sell Petites online, but if you order from the store you don't have to pay S/H.

Also, don't expect to build Rome (or your wardrobe!) in one way. Shopping is HARD work!!! Please don't be tempted to settle. I do most of my shopping online, then do my returns at the brick'n'mortar store. I do this because I often miss fit flaws at the store, plus I may not be able to tell how well a piece goes with the rest of my wardrobe, esp. proportion-wise, until I actually try it on and play around. When I make my return(s), I may take print-outs of online stuff that interests me so I can check out the fabric, color, etc. at the brick'n'mortar store.

Thistle

Veteran

Love dresses and skirts,e specially if your top and bottom is close to the same size for the dresses.

I would try AT Loft when they are running a sale. I would also try Land's End, when they are running a sale. I would start with staples - black trousers, black pencil skirt, etc. and tops. Not sure if you prefer knits or wovens, but either way, I would start with neutrals.

Good luck!

purple8

This is all very helpful. I never knew about capsules...thanks all!

cheryl

Veteran

JCPenney and Old Navy are also great options for affordable items and lots of choices.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I am 5'3" but wear regular bottoms if this is the same for you, don't underestimate wholesale clubs like Costco, Sam's and BJ's. I have found everything from dresses,dress pants, sweaters ,ponte knit blazers and best part is all were $25 and under...

rabbit

Veteran

It kind of depends what kind of a shopper you are. There are many approaches I've read here, but one thing seems to be that there tend to be many who fall into one of two camps.

Minimal purchases, carefully planned ahead of time to fill specific item holes in an existing cohesive wardrobe, highest quality (ergo may be on sale, but may not be). This may net you five to fifteen items for your 500$ depending on your price points. Shopping experience is online or in a well-organized store with a current season collection. Frustrations might be that you can't find the exact thing you are looking for and need to try multiple stores. If that feels about right - go for it.

Opportunistic purchasing - you go in with an idea of colors, tops/toppers/or bottoms, styles/cuts and materials you are interested in, but you are opportunistic, you try on lots of items to see what works best and are open to discovery in the moment. Often linked to shopping sales and clearance and off price retailers. Your 500$ could go much further. Frustrations - you need to be comfortable shopping in clearance environments, and disciplined in only bringing home pieces that fit your needs and are good quality (not have sale goggles). Also you still might have a wardrobe hole or two when you are done.

It's all what you have the time and tolerance for, and what meets your needs right now better.

I'll add that it is possible to do both at the same store, especially a big department store like Dillards or Macy's. The Nordstrom near me only has big discounts at the Rack which is all the way across town with no parking

Adelfa

Veteran

A lot depends on how hot it gets where you live. Where I used to live it got so hot in the summer that all I could bear to wear was a skirt with a lightweight top. Where I am now I expect to be wearing rayon/cotton dress pants, silk or cotton shirts, and maybe even a lightweight jacket because my office is so cold.

If your office is the type of place where a nice tee is an acceptable top, it's easy to find inexpensive new ones in nice neutrals and pretty colors to go with skirts or pants. Add a necklace or a lightweight scarf and you have an outfit!

Makrame

Veteran

I would also try a couple of places for online shopping - Nordstrom (on sale) and Banana Republic when they run 35% off or 40% off promotions (seems to happen often). I can often find good quality tops (cotton sweaters etc.) for $25-$35, pants for about $40-$50 in both places. I have not had luck with Express pants (but many here like them) but I like BR Sloan and Martin pants from BR and Halogen Taylor pants from Nordstrom. For Nordstrom, if you put an item on your wish list, you can see when the price drops. I am also a big fan of Halogen skirts for office wear, for example this one looks good http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ha.....in=related

April

Veteran

Express does have young, club-style clothes, but they do great professional pants styles as well. Lots of lengths and cuts, and they're machine washable.

Anonymous

Welcome and congrats on the job!

It sounds you're very similar to me age and body-type wise (although I'm shorter). Looks like you're getting lots of good advice, but I wanted to second the recommendations for dresses in particular. They're incredibly easy to throw on and let you look put-together without much effort, and they look great on hourglasses.

In addition to the sheath styles Ambergreen linked to, I like fit-and-flare styles. AT, Loft, and Nordstrom usually have some good ones, and Target also has some nice inexpensive options. I have this one in black and a print for example, and also like this one. I also like wrap dresses (the Gemma dress at BR is pretty and comes in lots of colors).

purple8

I'll look into all these suggestions. I found a site with dresses I like, reiss.com. Does anyone know if they run small/short/big etc.? Is quality nice?