Thanks Soozie- well said! And PHEW! I love reading these threads and enjoy looking at the clothing links but was starting to think I was the only one who can’t imagine spending so much on clothes! There is no question that there are some beautiful clothes being posted here and I think it is wonderful that people are able to enjoy them. While I love clothes, I absolutely hate shopping for them. I know I would fizzle out very quickly if I were starting from scratch on a budget because I would get so frustrated. I do know that based on what I have in my closet, I could get a good start with $2000- I probably just would not have the patience to do it all in one day. I give a lot of credit to the OP for taking on this task- it will be a challenging day. I’m anxious to hear the results!
Looking at the outfits posted are good to start the thoughts flowing and then have better ideas of what I might be interested in when going on my shopping expeditions, erer scavenger hunts. Fortunately, I have the time and enjoy getting great deals, even if it IS work.
If I took at trip down to the local courthouse and did a scan of female (or male) clothing right now, I’m confident I would find a variety of clothing styles, levels of purchase, etc. To put that much weight on clothing to be necessary in a field of work (important ok - THAT important? Not ok) IMO is a slap in the face to the professional profession.
I have two friends that are very important attorneys (one actually a highly regarded judge) in our community who dress nicely, but NO WAY wear thousands of dollars of clothing in a week’s time. They both dress classic, have great figures, and I can promise you the hundreds of dollars suit ensemble is the exception, not the rule.
My opinions (and local facts) only!!! The purpose of my original rant a page or so ago was to draw attention to the disregard of the budget. I’ll stick with my thoughts expressed. 
“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.”
But that is where they are going and where OP made appt. with a personal shopper. The friend might also not have a clue what nice clothes cost these days since she hasn’t bought anything in 30 years!
Also, the friend may or may not be able to get everything on sale. There might only be a few pieces of each thing and not in her size. Besides, she should be shopping for her fall work wardrobe - which people in the NE (where I assume she is as they are in NYC to shop) will begin wearing to work in Sept (even if it’s still warm.)
Well, I hope that the Saks they visit has lots to offer on the 70% off rack or at prices other than $700 for a blazer so that this woman can have some choices in her wardrobe!
At Saks 4th of Jul sale, i got a blazer originally $600 for $150. D2 got a silk dress, originally $350, after sale, 30% discount, another 30% (customer appreciation), and $75 loyalty points, she got it for $35. Max Mara, Burberry, Hugo Boss are all on sale right now.
I hope they are able to pick up few good pieces at a great discount today.
I buy few pieces at full retail, and then look sales. For classic clothing, it is easy to buy at end of season for next year.
I had a bra fitting I think 5 years ago and the size I was wearing and the size I was fitted for were completely different. I looked thinner and bustier with the new bras. I was fitted at Nordstrom and bought one (natori) bra there and found the same exact bra at the rack for 1/2 price. Just saying. Also Nordstrom right now has those bras on sale during their anniversary sale. I was recently re fitted and things changed a bit. Also I’m convinced that every fitter has a bit different way and things changed from time to time.
In short, yes I think it makes a big difference to have a properly fitted bra.
I haven’t followed this discussion too much but I think Talbots has nice conservative clothing that is moderately priced and wears pretty well. I know the sales associates aren’t like personal shoppers but fireandrain might find a few pieces for her friend. They also ship free from the store
“For classic clothing, it is easy to buy at end of season for next year.”
The end of the season clothing that will be on sale now is from spring/summer. This women obviously needs clothes to wear for fall and winter - though there should be some pieces which will be fine for transitional Sept/Oct.
She’ll need to sign up for a Saks card to get the customer appreciation discounts.
I also rarely buy anything that is not on sale and I always buy end of season - but I also already have a decent wardrobe to build on. This women, according to the OP, has nothing.
Anyway, I hope they both have a blast trying on clothes and hopefully OP’s friend will end up with a very nice wardrobe.
There is so much good advice in this thread already, but I do have one thought–I think I recall from earlier in the thread that the OP’s friend is based in the Northeast. If so, sales for this season’s clothing are going on now, but in a very short time she will need fall and winter items, as well. It may make sense to gear the shopping toward next season, or to make a plan for OP’s friend to follow in the coming months. In fact, OP’s friend probably needs to set up a monthly clothing budget, and OP probably needs to give her instructions for what she should spend it on. This doesn’t appear to be a whole new wardrobe in one shot situation, but more of a phase out/phase in situation. OP’s job is not just to help pick out some new clothes, but to make the process enjoyable enough that her friend will continue on her own. This is such a thoughtful and generous thing for OP to do.
Yes, according to the boutique, we SHOULD get fitted annually, or at least when we gain or lose a significant amount of weight, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, etc. I was surprised about the new size, which was the next size larger cup than what I had been buying, but not that far off. A lot depends on the manufacturer and style, as I fit my original size sometimes and the new size in other styles. I like checking the sale racks to see if there’s anything that looks like a great price and is my size. Some of the markdowns are very significant–up to 75-80% or more.
Abasket, I would not judge the lawyers’
dress by what I’d see at a courthouse (pun?) I hang around attorneys once in a while… While in house and patent attorneys dress less formally, litigators and attorneys who meet with chichi corporate clients have to wear suits or some sort of formal wear. Law is a very diverse field! What you’d see at the courthouse will not reflect what the attorney in the OP’s friend’s specific line of work would normally wear. She need to tailor her wardrobe accordingly. I’d be all ears to hear what the OP has to say!
This sale time of year will definitely help.
Someone wrote that two pairs of shoes will run her in the high hundreds. I’m sorry but I don’t agree. If you are used to buying in that price point, great. But honestly, there are quality brand name shoes where she could get a pair for $100 each, particularly at a sale time of year.
I also believe there are quality brand name (but not designer) suit jackets for $200. And nice work pants for about $100/each. I don’t consider that cheap clothing. I guess it is all relative.
Also, I love clothes. I don’t shop year round. In fact, I rarely buy clothing in stores (some of that is due to living 33 years in VT and so the selection online is far greater). I tend to do major clothes shopping twice/year online. My budget is higher than the friend of the OP and I don’t even need formal work attire. Still, there is no way I would pay $600+ for a suit jacket as it would limit me way too much for my budget in what else I could acquire for various situations and seasons (living in the Northeast). I have NOTHING against those who can afford to do so and have the desire to do so! We have no idea if the OP’s friend could spend more than $2,000. That may be all she can devote to clothing for now.
So, I think when a situation arises when someone asks for help, the suggestions should correlate with the budget and request, not so much what we personally would choose to buy. I have suggested clothing on the Dressing Young thread that I would not buy myself in terms of style, but try to gear it toward the inquiry.
PS…when I think about it, I am reminded that I am currently advising a college applicant who has a 2.6 GPA (no Honors/AP) and a combined CR/M SAT of 940. He mentioned an interest in MIT. I don’t think so. I won’t be suggesting Harvard either. Hey, this is a college message board and so just giving an apt example!!
Part of the goal of this shopping trip should be to help the friend develop principles for uniform-type dressing that she can draw on in the future. Does she look good in stretch wool sheath dresses? And/or classic wrap or faux wrap styles? If so, the goal should be to educate her on how to identify the ones that will work on her, and how to accessorize to wear it to work.
What brands of pants will be long enough and will best fit her body type? What are the minor alterations that can be done to get a good fit? (Sewing pants pockets closed; nipping gaps at waistbands.) What are the best jacket shapes and lengths for her body? What are some modern jacket alternatives that work for her body type? What are the things that DON’T work for her?
Then the goal would be to show her how to create outfits that are alternatives to strict suits.
Once she has those principles down, she’ll be able to identify things that will work for her and the process for supplementing the pieces you buy today may not be too scary.)
I kind if feel like I need a refresher course like this since my uniform is no longer working that well for me.
I think some folks have a bias here…right now at saks, there are many suit jackets by boss, tahari, max mara, etc, for well under $200. No one suggested she go looking at Oscar de la renta or Dior!
(And there is nothing wrong with an Oscar scored on clearance either!!)
I do love good buys…yes! Those sales at Saks sound great.
I was commenting on links or comments for price points that were way higher, however, than this woman’s budget will allow.
Before grocery shopping this all I walked to Zara’s. On sale they had some cute basics. As for Saks, they have some great clothes, on sale and not. My best buy, at the 75% sale, which is now happening I found a leather blazer from 1,000 is to 117. Amazing quality and fit.
Hope you guys had fun today.
Originially, there was no information about a budget and the ideas posted can be likely found at different price points, but at least give an idea of what might be nice and might work. Many lines have clothing that look similar to more expensive lines of clothing but at prices that more can afford.
I’d be curious what state the OP’s friend lives in, if she is willing to say. I think that in VT, no matter the career, most women are not wearing Dior or the like, sale or no sale. 
@HIMom, I do agree that originally no budget was given. And I agree that even looking at more expensive options gives an idea of styles that are suitable (no pun intended). Still, I think even on the Dressing Young thread, I sense a bit that some assume that everyone can afford the levels of clothing suggested frequently. But I don’t mind reading about those clothes because many CAN and are happy to pay that amount. Just be aware that many participants are not in that price range, yet do not buy cheap clothing by any means (unless one would consider clothing at lower price points than typically discussed to be “cheap”).
I felt the friend said $2000, based on what she paid for clothes 25 years ago. :))
Seriously, I have the basics, so I can afford to wait for sales. Mostly I shop alone, but I have an occasional buddy with great taste (she raised girls). If my clothes suddenly all disappeared, I have to do more serious shopping. This woman isn’t able to shop alone, hates the activity, so she hopefully will do better at a department store. When I wander into Fox’s or TJMax’s, I usually walk out without anything. This friend would never have the patience to look at clothes shopping as a “good hunt”.