By: Hannah Baker
Now that you have landed your dream internship or job, what do you wear, and how do you afford it?
This is a guide for creating a stylish, professional, fall wardrobe through thrifting. Understanding the following sections will be beneficial as you start your first professional career or internship.
Understanding Your Career Wardrobe Needs
The first step in creating your professional wardrobe is identifying your office dress code and the type of industry you are in. Refer to this Guide to Workplace Dress Codes to learn what your office dress code entails, and where different industries fall in the dress code spectrum.
Search your dress code and desired aesthetic keywords on Pinterest to find personalized outfit inspiration. Save these to a Pinterest Board so you can see everything you like in one place. Once you have at least 20 looks saved, note down specific items that are abundant. Don’t forget accessories!
Before thrifting these items, go through your closet and note what you already have that is of similar design and matches the professionalism of each piece. This is a personal wardrobe inventory.
Completing a Pinterest board and personal wardrobe inventory will save you time and money. It creates a specific, versatile list of pieces that you have and need for your desired fall wardrobe. Implementing these steps enlightened what I needed and wanted from my outfits, and how I envisioned specific pieces.
Keep in mind that some of the pieces you select may not be pieces for everyday use. For these pieces, I recommend thrifting versions that are more subtle and versatile. This will guarantee you are purchasing pieces that can be styled in various ways, thus creating less need to buy more, and a lower cost per wear.
Navigating Thrift Stores
Finding the right thrift store for your professional wardrobe needs is key. Use a thrift store locator like The Thrift Shopper to navigate local thrift stores. Learn their prices and quality of items through reviews or by stopping in.
When you are actively shopping, pay attention to the fabric, condition and your route of search.
Fabric
Though thrifting is an affordable way to shop, ensuring that the pieces you purchase are of good quality will save you more money in the long run. Look for natural fabrics that are comfortable and durable, such as:
- Cotton
- Linen
- Wool
- Silk
Condition
The nature of secondhand clothes comes with risks of poor condition. Double-check that there are no holes, stains, pilling, stretching or snags. This can indicate poor construction or wear, and purchasing these would be a waste of money.
Route of Shopping
Remind yourself that you are competing with fellow customers and there is no guarantee that you’ll find the perfect item first. However, I’ve found success when searching certain sections first. For example, I search for shoes and jackets first since these are usually less abundant and require more luck. My order is:
- Shoes
- Jackets
- Skirts
- Sweaters
- Dresses
- Purses
- Pants
- Jeans
- T-shirts
Your ideal route should consider the thrift store and your personal wardrobe needs, previously determined through Pinterest and a personal wardrobe inventory.
Two Ways to Utilize Your Fall Wardrobe
Utilizing your wardrobe creates the opportunity to make more professional outfits, without having to purchase excessive items. Two ways to utilize your fall wardrobe are layering and accessorizing.
Layering
Fall wardrobes are very versatile due to their opportunity for layering. Layering involves wearing multiple items on top of one another to create definition, color design interest, and functionality for the colder months. Common layering practices involve:
- T-shirts
- Button-downs
- Sweaters
- Cardigans
- Jackets
- Blazers
Your creativity and personal style develop from how you layer the previously thrifted or pulled items from your wardrobe. If you are feeling stuck, look back at your Pinterest board and ask yourself these questions:
- · What colors are layered together?
- · What are common combinations of garments that you notice?
- · What types of fabrics are commonly paired?
- · What are the sizing differences between layered items-are there fitted and oversized pieces paired together- or layers that fit slim and blend seamlessly into one another?
Accessorizing
Accessories are another way to extend your wardrobe and add creativity. Implement the following pieces in varying combinations to create new, refreshing versions of your professional outfits:
- Jewelry
- · Scarves
- · Sunglasses
- · Belts
- · Bags
- · Unique socks
- · Tights
Though the number of accessories is based on style preference, which you can reference in your personal Pinterest Board, I generally stick to a minimum of three accessory categories per outfit
This strategic plan for personalized thrift purchases explains the process of creating a wardrobe that you want to wear. If you have recently started a new position, use this guide to save money as you create your professional, fall wardrobe.