How to dress for work without spending a fortune – or sacrificing personal style | Fashion
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This time last year, I was a full-time student, donning the requisite leggings and an oversized sweatshirt for evening classes and late-night library sessions. This year, I joined countless others in office life, darting in and out of conference rooms and joining video calls for interviews and meetings. I love any excuse to go shopping, but many office-appropriate pieces, including expensive blazers and crisp button-down shirts, are way out of my price range.
But maybe my work wardrobe doesn’t have to break the bank.
Recently we wrote about how New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wore the economic suits he wore throughout his campaign. And it inspired me to look for affordable ways to build my office wardrobe.
Read the full story here: How Mamdani Makes Affordable Suits Look Expensive — and You Can Too
So I asked stylist Samantha Elise how to dress for the office without racking up a hefty credit card bill, sending us back to the ’80s, or sacrificing our personal style.
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I don’t have a full-length mirror in my apartment, so I put Elise’s advice to the test in a walk-in closet near the Guardian’s New York office (as you can see in the image above).
Invest in high-quality basic products
We’ve all been tempted by a pair of cheap pants or a t-shirt that costs less than a cup of coffee – even though we know the devastating environmental costs of fast fashion. Elise says we should spend a little more on wardrobe basics, like black pants or a trench coat.
“I would invest in pieces that you can pare everything down into, because that’s what creates that reliable foundation in your wardrobe,” Elise said.
She says the best way to identify high-quality pieces is to touch them. “Nine times out of 10, feel alone lets you know quality. I know I’ve encountered good denim when it’s thick and sturdy.”
Brands like Aritzia and Madewell are some of Elise’s go-tos for well-made basics. (We checked and they both have easy return policies if you plan to do the touch test at home.) For those of us lucky enough to be able to wear jeans to work, she recommended Citizens of Humanity and Agolde for better quality denim.
Don’t go Also business
When I think of office outfits, I can’t help but imagine drab pencil skirts and lots of beige. But even on a limited budget, there are strategies that can elevate your ensemble while remaining professional.
“Find things that are unique to you, like a pattern or a pop of color,” Elise said. She also advised experimenting with different silhouettes, like white tees that hit below the elbow or balloon pants.
Buy second-hand trendy pieces
“Go to Depop and find something for $20 instead of spending $400 on a designer [striped shirt]. All stripes look the same. Let’s not waste money there, because then you have the striped shirt and no pants to wear it,” Elise said.
Shop your wardrobe with fresh eyes
Elise advises you to find inspiration to breathe new life into what you already have. She uses Pinterest as a starting point to create her outfits.
“There are a lot of doubts when it comes to [putting together outfits]. You have more answers than you think. So trust yourself and be creative,” she said.
And to spice up an office outfit without spending too much money, Elise recommends playing with layering, like tying a sweater over your shoulders or a blazer around your waist.
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