Building Your Professional Wardrobe: How and Where?
At the start of your legal career, there is a lot to look forward to and having the right items in your professional wardrobe can be a powerful tool to help you feel comfortable and confident as you make your first impressions in your new role. But where do you start? And what do you need? Well, the answer to these questions can vary, but there are a few basic items that most everyone will need in their professional wardrobe:
- Suits/Blazers: Invest in at least one nice suit in a classic color like black, navy, or dark gray. You will need at least one for interviews or formal meetings. Then, find a few blazers in different colors to mix and match the items in your wardrobe to create different looks that you can dress up or down.
- Shirts/Blouses: You will want a few button down shirts or nice blouses in neutral colors to pair with other items in your wardrobe.
- Pants/Skirts/Dresses: You will need a few pairs of dress slacks in different colors. If you wear skirts or dresses, you may also want to find a couple of knee-length or longer skirts or dresses to add to your closet.
- Shoes: You want to find comfortable, closed-toed shoes in neutral colors and at least one pair of closed-toe dress shoes for more formal occasions.
So now that you know what you need, where do you start to look for these items on a law school budget? Here are some of the spot that Kaplan students have had the most success finding professional clothes to add to their collection:
- Amazon excels in its vast and diverse selection, offering a wide range of clothing options and sizes for every style and budget. This is one of the better option for finding basic button down shits and professional pants like slacks or chinos.
- Ann Taylor specializes in professional attire for women, including suits, blouses, and dresses/skirts. Ann Taylor is typically in the mid-range to high-end price range. They alos have great options for petite sizes.
- ASOS offers a little bit of everything that you need for your professional wardrobe for both men and women. ASOS is also a great place to find trendy or unique pieces if you want to add some personality to your outfit. The price range here caters to different budgets, too.
- Banana Republic caters to the modern professional with a focus on business-casual and professional attire, including suits, blazers, and dress pants. This is a mid-price retailer.
- Belk offers affordable professional clothing options and is a great option for mensware.
- Burlington offers discounted professional attire, particularly business casual options, although the selection favors women's attire and can be limited.
- Eloquii specializes in plus-size professional clothing for women and is typically in the mid-range to high-end price range.
- Express is another option for trendy pieces in the mid-range price category. This is a great place to find options for tall women or for a nice suit.
- Forever 21 is a budget-friendly option for affordable shoes, blazers, and blouses.
- Goodwill and thrift stores offer sustainable, budget-friendly secondhand professional attire. The selection varies by location, but it can be a great place to find professional shirts, blazers, blouses, and dresses.
- H&M is known for its affordability and trendy selection. This is another great place for staple button down shirts and professional pants.
- J.Crew is a great place to find suits, shirts, and dresses. Many peices can be dressed up or down based on the dress code in a particular office. Typically, pieces are in the mid-range to high-end price category.
- JCPenney's offers affordable professional attire that can be dressed up or down for work. They have everything including a wide selection for men and women. Prices range from budget-friendly to mid-range, but check the clearance racks first for the best deals.
- Jos. A. Bank specializes in high-quality men's business attire, making it a top choice for men looking for pieces in the mid-range to high-end price category.
- Lands' End focuses on casual and outdoor clothing but offers some casual professional attire. This is a great option for those seeking blazers and dress shirts while prioritizing comfort and style in the mid-range price category.
- Macy's has a wide selection of professional attire, from budget-friendly to mid-range. Check the clearance and backstage section first. They also always offer sales.
- Marshall's, Ross, and T.J. Maxx are known for their discounted prices on business-casual clothing. They have everything, but particularly this is a great place to find professional pants, dresses, and blouses; however, the selection can be unreliable.
- Men's Wearhouse specializes in men's business attire, with a good selection of suits, shirts, and accessories in the mid-range to high-end price range.
- Nordstrom Rack has a little bit of everything if you are looking for designer professional attire at discounted high-end prices. They also always offer sales.
- Rainbow offers budget-friendly professional attire and it is a great place to find shoes and blouses.
- Rothy's are a great option for sustainable, professional shoes including flats and sneakers.
- Target is a great place to find staple pieces in your wardrobe for both men and women like basic tees, tanks, and shoes. Target also offers full suits as well.
- Zara offers professional clothing typically in the mid-range price category and their pieces can last for years.
Ultimately, you want to find pieces that make you feel good so that you can focus on performing at your peak in whatever situation you are in as a new professional. Remember, it is always better to be overdressed, than underdressed (you can always pretend like you were coming from somewhere more important if you find yourself wearing a full suit in casual interview 😉). And if you are starting a new position, review the office dress policy or check in with your supervisor for clarification on what to wear before you start. That is a completely reasonable questions to ask before going in to a new situation and if anything, your supervisor will be impressed that you were considerate enough to ask.
Worried about being able to afford professional clothing? Check in with your school's Career Services Office. There are often non-profit organizations, like Counselor's Closet at the University of Memphis, providing free/low-cost items to law students and your Career Services Office can connect you to these resources.
What do you think? Is there anything that we forgot? Do you have a favorite spot to find professional items? Is there an item in your wardrobe that you can't live without? Share with the class in the comments below so that we can all look and feel our best!
Comments
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Love me some business wardrobe from Amazon and Target! Professional AND affordable!
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Great tips, Katherine! Also, make sure the fit is on point!
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LOVE this Katherine! I am definitely a 'best dressed for less' kind of professional. I always recommend people just starting in their careers dress for their body. It can be difficult to fit in with the cookie cutter styles the legal profession tends to favor, but you will always feel more confident when you know you are wearing something that fits YOU. Your tips really speak to this!
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