Professional clothing for a 30-something female

[Anonymous]

Thirty-something female in a professional setting. I need a new work wardrobe from scratch after this baby. I'm looking to spend maybe $50-$100 per outfit. Where do you shop?

[Anonymous]

New York and Co.
TJ Maxx
H&M
Gap (they have great coupons online)

[Anonymous]

Ann Taylor (yes, I know....) when they have 40% sales, which happens fairly often

[Anonymous]

Target Merona line (similar in quality to any of the mall stores IMO) and the J. Crew factory store. Honestly, more than half of my work wardrobe is from Target.

[Anonymous]

Where are you located, and how much free time do you have? In DC, I've done very well for professional clothing at Martha's Outfitters, 2114 14th NW, and Georgia Ave Thrift, 6101 Georgia NW. Neither has a changing room, but they allow returns for store credit, so if you have time & are close by, you can buy, return, repeat--and get entire outfits for under $30/each.

[Anonymous]

Ann Taylor Loft Outlet in Leesburg. Call to see if they are running a 40% off sale. Also Nordstorm Rack.

[Anonymous]

Depends how much time you have. I've had luck at Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor loft, New York and Company and Nordstrom Rack. I've recently become a fan of White House Black Market but you have to catch the items on sale or it is more like $250 for one outfit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New York and Co.
TJ Maxx
H&M
Gap (they have great coupons online)

No. Ny&co has really gotten cheap quality wise.
Try banana republic with coupons and their outlets

[Anonymous]

I find most of my work clothes (suits and dressy business casual) at tj maxx and marshalls, with occasional trips to nordstrom rack and the outlets in leesburg or potomac mills. It takes a little experimentation to find the tj maxx & marshalls stores with the best selection of professional clothing that suits your style. But I routinely get compliments about my wardrobe and people would be surprised at how little I spend per item. Ideeli.com (flash sale site) also usually has at least one sale per week from business clothing lines.

[Anonymous]

Macy's, with a (free) personal shopper.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all! I'm living in PG County. And no, I don't have any time. Does that mean places like Ann Taylor are a bad idea, because I'd be hunting for a deal? I probably would wind up shopping with an infant. BAH! Maybe a relative could come with me. My husband also likes to shop, though he gets lots in the clothes section and comes out spending more than me while I watch the baby. LOL.

16:41 - Yeah, I have usually stocked up with Target clothes. I think that I've been trying to make the Merona line fit my body type for awhile. Maybe I just wasn't picking up the right pieces. I'm in a totally different head space about clothes now. So, I should still take a look.

[Anonymous]

I personally hate Ann Taylor Loft. The quality of their clothes is horrible.

[Anonymous]

I am in the same position. I like Loehmann's in addition to TJ Maxx and Nordstom Rack. You can find some high quality pieces for great prices. I have been buying dresses that have some stretch so they will still work as I continue to los weight and that can be altered later on.

[Anonymous]

Talbots has gotten a lot younger-looking and has good sales. Anthropologie also has some very forgiving tops that can work for the office if your dress code isn't too formal - again, good deals if you can catch a sale.
As other PPs have mentioned, Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx.
Otherwise, I would head to one of the outlet malls for reduced prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New York and Co.
TJ Maxx
H&M
Gap (they have great coupons online)

Yes - New York & Co or H&M. or a dress at the Gap.

You could also try the Limited.