That Final Touch

Let’s talk about finishing off your office look!

Figure 1: Jewelry purchased from Giant Tiger and Joe Fresh.

The best way to round out your office wardrobe is accessorizing. For men, this can be watches, ties, cuff-links, ascots, etc. For women, these can be statement pieces like scarves, jewelry, purses, and more. I am going to show you a few pieces that I picked up for my office looks. I love a bold earring or necklace. Consider things like the neckline of your top when choosing a necklace. Some earrings may stand out more if you wear your hair up. Everything I picked up was under $20. Check out the jewelry I purchased recently!

Other considerations for the office can be things like hygiene. You want to make sure you appear clean and fresh. Don’t douse yourself in perfume or cologne. Make sure your hair is styled or, at the very least, brushed.

For women, make sure if you choose to wear makeup that it isn’t too heavy. More natural looks can brighten your appearance without being overbearing. Choose one element to pop instead of doing it all. Maybe eyeliner or a bolder lip, but be tasteful. I have provided some examples of looks I have worn myself. Speaking of makeup, you can pull of a really sleek look without having to spend a lot of money, especially if you already own beauty products.

Figure 2: Makeup looks done by Ashley Marshall using Younique and other products.

Now this blog should definitely help you prepare yourself for an office job without breaking that bank. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me and I will give you the best advice I can! Hope you have a fantastic experience out there in the professional world.

The Haul

Happy Thanksgiving!

To ensure that the tips and tricks I have been posting work, I did some shopping of my own. If you are also heading into field placement during your fourth semester, then maybe it is time to consider picking up some new office wear.

Figure 1: Photo taken by Ashley Marshall of shopping purchases.

Before I went shopping, I made sure to have a list of items to potentially purchase as well as my current shoe size, dress size, pant size, etc. This way, I could use my time effectively and make sure that I wasn’t sidetracked by items I didn’t need. I also went with a budget in mind so that I knew what my spending limits were. I made a mental note to check clearance racks for any possible steals to save a few bucks.

The haul included many things that I could use in combination with my existing wardrobe. I combined my newly purchased items with ones I already owned such as jewelry, shoes, blouses, blazers, pants, etc. Check out this gif to see a few looks I was able to create.

Figure 2: Gif created by Ashley Marshall of outfits

The following is a detailed list of my shopping spree:

Dress Shoes - $24 - Giant Tiger

Jewelry - $5 to $12 - Giant Tiger

Jacket - $49 - Giant Tiger

Dress - $18 - Giant Tiger

Fleece Leggings - $10 - Giant Tiger

Cardigan - $25 - Giant Tiger

Dress Pants - $12 - Giant Tiger

Blouse - $14 - Giant Tiger

Sweaters - $14 - Giant Tiger

Camisoles – 3/$10 - Giant Tiger

Plaid Leggings - $25 - Giant Tiger

Purple Blazer - $23 - Giant Tiger

Sturdy Purse - $35 – Chapters

ID Lanyard - $10  - Staples

Jewelry - $14 to $19 – Joe Fresh

Obviously, there is no need to pick up as many items as I have. A capsule wardrobe can range in size depending on your preferences. I bought a lot of staples pieces that I will get great use of once I am on the job. If you picked just a handful of these items up during a haul of your own, you would be well on your way to building your office wardrobe and at fantastic prices!

- Ash xo

The Best Bargain Shops

Hello again!

This week we are going to take a virtual shopping trip! I want to share my top three places to buy office-ready pieces on a budget. A good thing to think about when you shop is that “two-thirds of the time people focus on the upper one-third of the body. Spend your money on dress shirts, blouses, and/or jacket” (Spector, 2018).

Number One: Giant Tiger

This store houses some of my favourite finds for professional attire. You can pick up almost any piece you need from clothing to accessories, and almost always, they are priced under $50. Take a look at the photo below to get a sense of what’s available there.

Figure 1: Photo collage taken by Ashley Marshall at Giant Tiger, Brampton

Number Two: Walmart

Walmart is a store that is easily accessible to everyone, and because there is more than one location in most cities, you can always find your size if one store is sold out. There are lots of business-friendly options for reasonable prices, and maybe even some pieces you would splurge on. Remember, “Stick to classic styles and silhouettes for splurge items. I recommend investing in big-ticket items like leather jackets, coats, blazers and a nice handbag” (Spector, 2018).

Number Three: Talize

Thrift stores can house some amazing finds. I can typically pick up brand name pieces for under $15. Even better, Talize does daily manager specials that allow you to purchase specific items for 50% off! Then you can get the most bang for your buck.

- Ash xo

References

Spector, N. (2018, July 10). How to build a work wardrobe on a budget. Retrieved from NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/business/how-build-professional-wardrobe-budget-ncna889831