If she invests in some neutral, high-quality, timeless pieces, she can add jewelry & scarves to make them different (much as a man wears the same suit once each week but with a different shirt/tie). She may not enjoy accessorizing, but perhaps her husband can utilize the services of a personal shopper for birthday & anniversary gifts. Julie Vos is a good source for costume jewelry that is classic but not boring. And there are so many scarf-tying videos on YouTube that even those of us who are all thumbs can find a couple of ways we can master!
Did she lose a lot of body fat, as depicted in this common type of picture?
http://powerpictures.crystalgraphics.com/photos/view/cg2p0609783c/happy_mature_woman_old_jeans_pant_losing_weight
(However, most people would be glad to get new smaller clothing after losing a lot of body fat.)
I haven’t used this myself but doesn’t Lands End have a business attire section? I also do recommend nordstrom.com, easy shopping, usually free shipping and return.
You are probably out shopping right now, but keep in mind that Ann Taylor has tall suit pants online. Good luck
People, $2000 may not be enough for a wardrobe re-up for some of you, but honestly, I find it disrespectful and kind of disgusting to not accept that that amount is someones budget and that they could not shop within those means. I don’t care what your job, you CAN find clothes for different budget amounts to meet the need of any job.
A budget is a budget. Especially when you truly are on a budget. And if someone has not taken the time to shop in 30+ years (the 80’s) then spending more than $2000 is probably enough to make them want to throw up!
shopwithinyourmeans
Maybe the “budget” Is there because it would limit her exposure to shopping and not because she is trying to save $. Some people don’t shop not because they are afraid to spend money. I have a friend like that - she is just clueless and trying on clothes scares her to death. Also, she is terrified of asking for help from store associates. She has the $$$ and will not blink her eye at buying organic apples at $10/pound or getting something very pricy for the kids which they don’t really need. So budget may or may not be a set in stone number.
I have a suspicion that the OP’s friend is just trying to limit her shopping. 
That said, it is too bad that there is no Nordstrom… The anniversary sale has some wonderful pieces on sale, and Nordstrom’s “house” brands (Classiques and Caroline Issa) are very reasonably priced for the quality.
Right now is a great time to shop because every store is having a sale now.
A great way to figure out what works is to spend the time to try on clothes from different designers. They all have their own look and cut. Once she figures out what works for her then she can start to buy things when they do go on sale.
If she she tall and skinny, I would check out Max Mara. It is more expensive than other brands, but it is classic and she could wear for a long time. Armani also works for very tall and skinny people. Most American designs are better for bigger frame people.
I tend to mix expensive and in-expensive clothes. I like to wear dress with a short blazer in the summer and pants for winter.
Laura Ashley, wow!
Sure, that’s a maybe. And yep, we don’t know the circumstances fully. Don’t need to. Someone says there budget is $2000 - then that’s what it currently is. To suggest off the bat that $2000 is a no-can-do drips of a shopping trip that could be way beyond someones means.
And if she CAN afford more, but doesn’t want to - because she wants to buy her $10/pound apples, who are we to judge? Clothing may not be a $2000 priority to her or her family.
Some of you mentioned undergarments. I’m intrigued. Could you tell me about your experiences of getting properly fitted for a bra? Was it a “custom” bra and if so, can you tell me the cost? Where did you go? Was the bra you ended up with different than the ones you usually wear? Did you think it was worth the money/hassle? I’ve always been medium-sized and until, relatively recently, not saggy. That’s beginning to change and I’m beginning to think I need a change in bras, too. All comments welcome.
I’ll jump in, but hope I won’t regret it. @abasket touched on something I was thinking of posting but held back upon doing.
I enjoy this thread and always have. I like clothes and I enjoy reading all the various possibilities and styles and tastes and women helping other women and ALL of it. I truly do. But I have to admit that a lot of posts on this thread share what seems to be very expensive clothing or designer clothing, which is fine, but I just can’t relate to it. That’s not my budget at all. I certainly have nothing against it! And there are obviously a lot of women who participate on the thread who like the expensive suggestions and can apparently afford them. So sharing such links and ideas works for them and then for others, like me, it is still fun to follow along. Sometimes, more reasonably priced duds are discussed here too. Ooops…I just realized this is not the “Dressing Young” thread, but hey, many are the same crowd and my reflection still fits this thread.
Anyhow, as soon as @fireandrain said that her friend’s budget is $2,000 (wish this had come up sooner), it still seemed many very expensive options were being discussed, and practically ignoring this woman’s budget or situation. I understand about quality and owning some classic pieces. However, this woman appears to lack an entire wardrobe for work. She needs more than a few key pieces. And with a budget of $2,000, I just cannot see the ability or need to buy what some have suggested are jackets costing $600 and up. Buying just one jacket, a pair of pants, a skirt, and one dress in that higher end range won’t be enough for this woman to fill in a week’s worth of work clothing. It is not the same as some of you who might buy some key pieces and build upon it each year. She needs more than a few pieces. She also needs shoes and so forth. Someone with a budget of $2000 for a wardrobe is not going to spend $600 and up for one suit jacket. I surely wouldn’t and couldn’t. And it is not necessary to do so. Also, this particular woman sounds like she has not been much of a clothes shopper for years (which is not my situation, LOL) and so getting someone who spends close to nothing on clothing to all of a sudden buy a $700 work blazer…I don’t think so! There are quality work blazers for $200 (and I’m sure for less). This woman likely needs a couple of jackets, a few pairs of pants, a couple of skirts, a couple of dresses, sweaters/tops/blouses, shoes, etc. for starters, to have enough to fill a week of work. It sounds like what she already owns doesn’t cut it. Sure, she has to start somewhere and build over time. But when someone is spending $2000 on a season or on one’s year’s clothing budget, they have to work within their budget. They don’t buy designer duds or things in the price range suggested by many links here. They don’t have to get cheap clothing either! But I think it would be more helpful to share links or stores or catalogues that fit this person’s budget (though the budget was shared after many posts before we knew the budget). We can’t tell her to up her budget. Maybe she can’t. Maybe she doesn’t want to in terms of priority in spending. For whatever reason, $2000 is her budget and she needs to build a work wardrobe, not simply add some pieces to it. I think links that are relevant to her budget would be more helpful and would be cognizant of individual posters’ situations, and not necessarily be what you or someone else might purchase.
In any case, I look forward to @fireandrain’s account of today’s expedition.
Regardless of the amount fireandrain’s friend can spend to redo her work wardrobe, it’s clearly overdue.
If the condition of her worn-out clothes are such that it is hindering her ability to present herself in the best possible way and she has herself wondered if her clothes are a factor in how she is being evaluated at work, then she knows that it is a present priority, not an option.
She’s fortunate that @fireandrain is helping out. Kudos to you!
(clapping hands!!! - well said) ^^^^
People don’t have to agree. It’s another perspective though.
@AttorneyMother (post #90) You’re right…getting a new wardrobe for this woman is and should be a priority, not an option. But she still has to buy what is within her means and we have to respect her budget. Many people obtain a work wardrobe in that budget. It can be done.
Well, she won’t spend what she ain’t willing to spend. It’s her money. People here are merely using their experiences and offering their opinions and perspectives within a comparable work context. No harm in that.
But if her budget is $2000, and we know she needs a whole new wardrobe, then she shouldn’t be shopping at Saks.
But this women apparently doesn’t like to shop at all, so I think she should go all in on this one buying trip and get everything she needs. Just two pair of shoes will run her into the high hundreds - and she probably needs dress boots, too. She will need blouses and a sweater or two to go with the dress pants/skirts to wear under the jacket/blazer. Even a pair of nice jeans, She likely doesn’t have a decent coat, either.
Sure she could run to every store and shop all their sales, go online, go to outlets - but that takes a tremendous amount of time and people who don’t like to shop just won’t do that. A person like this is better off going twice a year - fall and spring and buying what they need.
“And if she CAN afford more, but doesn’t want to - because she wants to buy her $10/pound apples, who are we to judge? Clothing may not be a $2000 priority to her or her family.”
abasket, no judging - I was giving an example of my friend. She can definitely afford both! But… clothing shopping for herself terrifies her.
I for one admit I rarely pay 3 figures for anything in ky wardrobewardrobe, but am patient and willing tobshop sales, Ross, Nordstrom’s Rack and Macy’s. I have been complimented on my attire often, and have many less expensive timeless pieces, including quality blazers and suits.
Yes, its easier to pull together a great wardrobe if you have $5 K or more instead of $2k, but you CAN get nice, quality things with $2k as well, mix and match the pieces toward your new look.
With regard to lingerie, I have been “fitted” at Nordstrom’s and a local lingerie boutique. The bras were many times the cost I usually pay and honestly don’t seem to fit much better than what I had been finding for myself off the rack, but we did discuss how the bras are supposed to fit, care, and frequency of getting refitted. Sadly, nothing can be done about the small bulges under my armpits, but otherwise have been happy to find bras that fit similarly (and are similarly sized) at Nordstrom’s Rack and Macy’s clearance and Ross.
The foreign bras I bought at the boutique were $70 apiece or so. Found similar ones elsewhere for 1/2 to 1/3 or less, after a lot of digging.
BB, I know you were not judging.
Two pairs of shoes would be FOOLISH to spend in the high hundreds if you only have $2000 to spend! And right, Saks would probably be defeating (I haven’t been there in ages so I could be wrong) but there is other one-stop shopping you can do that doesn’t have you going online, outlets, etc.
If you want to get this woman who hasn’t been shopping for decades BACK in a store after this trip today, you need to shop for success - success in terms of making her feel good about herself, staying in her budget, keeping her comfortable in her choices, etc.
This is the great CC divide in action - those on the $2000 clothing budget is a drop in the bucket, $2000 clothing budget is enough to clothe the entire family!!!
you have to look at the job. An attorney can’t get their clothes in too cheap a place or it may look it. A blouse can be cheap and still be pretty. a cheap suit will often look cheap though.
Saks is having 70% off right now. So getting a few pieces there and the basics at j crew or banana is totally do able at $2000. Even with 2 prs shoes thrown in!
Id go with:
2 jackets or one jacket one blazer-cardigan. ($700)
1 skirt to match each ($200)
One pants to match each ($200)
One dress a sheath ($150)
One dress not a sheath ($150)
3 blouses ($200)
2 2" heal pumps, black and nude ($200)
2 all in one underthings black and nude ($150)
Right now, there are some great things at Ann Taylor quite cheap! You could get 3 blouses and 2 pants and a dress there for like $200 right now!