Planning Your Purchases

Congratulations on your new office job! You think you are ready, but you find that your wardrobe is not. If you are anything like me, then you are ready to run to the mall and spend whatever it takes to feel prepared for this new endeavour. Wait just a minute! Before you head off on a shopping spree, there are three things you need to consider:

Office Dress Code

The most important step before you shop is to verify the policies for your office. You need to know how formal or casual the dress code is so that you do not purchase items that are inappropriate.

Clothing Budget

Typically, people do not have a large budget at their disposal for purchasing an entirely new wardrobe. The key is to think about what items you need to invest in. Keep in mind that “the general rule of thumb is that your clothing budget should comprise no more than 5% of your income” (Premack, 2018).

Basics Needed

Lastly, you should shop your own closet before picking up new pieces for your wardrobe. You might already have versatile items that you can use.

I have included two videos from Youtube that give you a quick look at some office basics. These rules apply for both professional men and women, so it is important to understand the concept before we discuss building a capsule wardrobe.

Women's Basics - Erin Elizabeth & Men's Basics - Alex Costa

Leading up to my next post, try to make a list of office attire essentials you have, and ones you need to purchase. I will discuss the most cost-effective solutions to building your professional wardrobe.

- Ash xo

References

Premack, R. (2018, July 8). How to dress for your first job without blowing your paycheck. Retrieved from Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-wear-to-work-on-a-budget-2018-6