Working PT at an office that has a professional dress code

[Anonymous]

I need some wardrobe guidance.

After almost 12 years of being at home with my kids, I finally landed a job that will work with my kids school schedule as my DH's travel schedule. It's in a professional office with a specific dress code. No jeans, no leggings (as if it's a thing) and no yoga pants.

My professional wardrobe dates back to the early 2000's and what little current clothes I do have is more evening attire and fancy dresses.

Can you all please tell guide me with some of your wardrobe wisdom on what I should buy? I honestly think I need to start from scratch! Did I mention, I'm only getting about $17/an hour? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Buy:

1 pair black slacks
1 skirt in whatever shape is most flattering to your body
1 basic white button down shirt
2-3 other shirts in various colors and styles
1-2 "wear to work" dresses
1 pair black ballet flats

If you're only working part time, you don't need a full wardrobe, just a few different things.

Surely you wear something other than yoga pants and ball gowns?

[Anonymous]

I would look into a "capsule wardrobe" and only buy a few select pieces that can mix and match. Your best bet for clothes is to go to the outlets and have a list in mind.

http://theblissfulmind.com/2015/08/17/capsule-wardrobe-basics/

[Anonymous]

How many days a week are you working? You need enough tops that you can get through at least 1 and a half weeks of work without repeating your top. Keep your bottoms basic: black pants, dark gray pants, brown pants and a skirt. Get good quality pants that fit you well. Spend your money on the pants so that they hold up well. For your tops you can get away with less expensive options. Make sure you have a black blazer/suit jacket that you can pair with your black pants.

You want to go for the "classic" look and avoid anything too trendy or you will need to spend more $$ on new clothes too often.

[Anonymous]

Don't you have any sweaters or casual shirts that are not yoga/sweats?

I'm a SAHM. I traded my work slacks for yoga pants but I still have a lot of shirts that could pass in a work environment. I also wear a lot of skirts and dresses and they are not all ball gowns. You could wear black cocktail dresses to work alone or with a sweater on top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy:

1 pair black slacks
1 skirt in whatever shape is most flattering to your body
1 basic white button down shirt
2-3 other shirts in various colors and styles
1-2 "wear to work" dresses
1 pair black ballet flats

If you're only working part time, you don't need a full wardrobe, just a few different things.

Surely you wear something other than yoga pants and ball gowns?

Ha, yes I do wear jeans, which is not allowed Thank you so much, very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many days a week are you working? You need enough tops that you can get through at least 1 and a half weeks of work without repeating your top. Keep your bottoms basic: black pants, dark gray pants, brown pants and a skirt. Get good quality pants that fit you well. Spend your money on the pants so that they hold up well. For your tops you can get away with less expensive options. Make sure you have a black blazer/suit jacket that you can pair with your black pants.

You want to go for the "classic" look and avoid anything too trendy or you will need to spend more $$ on new clothes too often.

5 days a week.

Yes, I have a couple pair of black pants but they are seriously from when I worked in 2005. They still look decent, and fit, but am wondering if materials have changed. I'll have to venture out. Thank you for your suggestions. I didn't think about the blazer but it makes total sense.

[Anonymous]

You can dress up nicer t-shirts and sweaters with scarves and jackets. You only need a few pairs of nice bottoms (black pants and skirts mostly).

[Anonymous]

Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, Thredup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't you have any sweaters or casual shirts that are not yoga/sweats?

I'm a SAHM. I traded my work slacks for yoga pants but I still have a lot of shirts that could pass in a work environment. I also wear a lot of skirts and dresses and they are not all ball gowns. You could wear black cocktail dresses to work alone or with a sweater on top.

Yes, I have clothes, they are from 2005. I guess I really just need a few fresh and updated pieces.

Sadly, I really got into the frumpy stay at home Mom wardrobe and didn't think or spend a lot of $$ on myself since 2005.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many days a week are you working? You need enough tops that you can get through at least 1 and a half weeks of work without repeating your top. Keep your bottoms basic: black pants, dark gray pants, brown pants and a skirt. Get good quality pants that fit you well. Spend your money on the pants so that they hold up well. For your tops you can get away with less expensive options. Make sure you have a black blazer/suit jacket that you can pair with your black pants.

You want to go for the "classic" look and avoid anything too trendy or you will need to spend more $$ on new clothes too often.

5 days a week.

Yes, I have a couple pair of black pants but they are seriously from when I worked in 2005. They still look decent, and fit, but am wondering if materials have changed. I'll have to venture out. Thank you for your suggestions. I didn't think about the blazer but it makes total sense.

I'm the PP who made the list. I work full time in an office, and one of the pairs of black pants that I wear on a weekly basis are pants I've owned since 2004. The good thing about black slacks is that they are about as basic as it is possible to get. I honestly get a lot of my officewear from Target. Their shirts are kind of hit and miss, but I've never had bad pants luck there, and they don't tend to be more than about $35 a pair.

I am not a fan of blazers in general, but I have a fair number of cardigans and forgot to include those in my list.

Congrats on your job!

[Anonymous]

To start, I would buy everything in one palette. I usually do black and grey in the winter, and navy in the spring/summer.

So I would buy:

Black skirt (I like the Halogen ponte pencil skirts at Nordstrom but they run big)
Black pants (I like trousers--not too wide, not too skinny)
Black wrap dress
Black sheath dress
Gray sheath dress

White button-down blouse
Colored button-down blouse (I like light blue, but take your pick)
Printed blouse or two (maybe in a softer texture)

Black cardigan
Gray cardigan
Pull-over sweater

black shoes (flats, or heels, make sure your pants are appropriately hemmed)

Statement necklace
Nice large scarf

black leather handbag

Congrats on the new job!

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much everyone. You all have provided some great suggestions which I will follow.

DCUM is very helpful in times like these

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't you have any sweaters or casual shirts that are not yoga/sweats?

I'm a SAHM. I traded my work slacks for yoga pants but I still have a lot of shirts that could pass in a work environment. I also wear a lot of skirts and dresses and they are not all ball gowns. You could wear black cocktail dresses to work alone or with a sweater on top.

Yes, I have clothes, they are from 2005. I guess I really just need a few fresh and updated pieces.

Sadly, I really got into the frumpy stay at home Mom wardrobe and didn't think or spend a lot of $$ on myself since 2005.

PP here. I'm a SAHM but did go back to work initially. You can get inexpensive clothes at H&M, Forever 21, TJ Maxx and Ann Taylor Loft. I bought pieces there for holdover work clothes when I was like 2 sizes over my normal size. Slowly I bought more clothes from Banana Republic, JCrew and Zara. I then bought an entire work wardrobe right before I quit to be a SAHM again. Go figure. I recently bought a new SAHM wardrobe. I basically wear Lululemon and Athleta mostly.

[Anonymous]

Your old black pants are fine. Get a skirt or two in black, a few tops, a few cardigans, and maybe a blazer. Add in a couple basic dresses.