My D is in the application/interview process for post phD jobs and is looking for suitable interview attire. These would be consulting firms, tech firms, academic. A classic interview outfit. She’s on the tall side of average, slim, and on a grad student budget but is looking for good quality pant suits, slacks, blazers.
Where do you shop? Preferably online. She’s in a small city without all the options, and also recently had surgery so hitting a bunch of stores in person isn’t a good option.
Check Express - it has some very nice and affordable suit separates and dress shirts for women. I like their Editor pants.
My tall daughter had good luck with Banana Republic.
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Ann Taylor.
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Nordstrom has things in different price ranges, and returns are easy.
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We just did this, and DD made an appointment with a personal shopper at Nordstrom.
Completely free service; you give them your sizes, what the occasion is, how much you want to spend and any other info and a shopper will pull stuff (clothes, shoes, accessories) before you ever arrive so that it is a seamless process once you’re there. Shopper will keep pulling as you try stuff on and they can see what works and what you like.
Completely worth it, and also had a couple things tailored to fit perfectly. If you have a Nordstrom card - alterations are free. If you don’t, alteration prices are very reasonable - in line with what it would cost at any tailor.
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And the Nordstrom personal shopper will call you when your favorite bra or shoe goes on sale. A very nice perk!
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Will these clothes be likely to be used once she lands a job, or just for interviews? I can tell you that many of the younger people I work with do clothing rental subscriptions (you can do month-to-month or put the memberships on hold). They love that they can tailor boxes to what they need, buy what they want from the box, and send back the rest after they’ve used it for a month. Apparently, you don’t even have to clean them first. They especially love to do this for traveling off-season.
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Aritzia, Ann Taylor, J Crew are the favorites for suiting, dress pants for my girls.
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I think she will also need it for whatever job she ends up with as well.
Ann Taylor and Loft
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My kid is a size 4 or so. She had very good luck buying some of her interview clothing at some consignment/resale shops. She bought Banana Republic jacket, slacks and skirt. But also had a second pair of slacks, nice black boots, beautiful shirts or sweaters, etc that were bought at resale stores…very inexpensively.
So worth checking near you, if you have shops like these…and especially if these items won’t be used for work. My kid has donated what she used for interviews
My wife got a new job in May and had lost some weight. We have been buying clothes at Macy’s for her.
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Something like m.m. Lafleur might give her some solid foundational items for a work wardrobe. Definitely on the pricier side, compared to some of the other suggestions, but very “mix and match” -able, which can be great for work travel as well.
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Ann Taylor/Loft. If the vibe is a little more conservative (and the budget flexible), Talbots has nice professional clothes. I also like J. Jill - the Wearever collection, especially, has lots of versatile options on the business-casual end of the spectrum, but still adaptable for more formal workplaces.
Loft and H&M, mostly.
Massimo Dutti
Zara - has upgraded in the last few years, and is still reasonable.
Everlane - more comfy and practical.
Cos - My go to store. https://www.cos.com/en-us/women/tailoring
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Thanks for all the suggestions! Very helpful. She has had success with Banana Republic in the past but wasn’t finding what she needed this time.
I have 2 adult daughters and both of them work in very professional settings (banker & lawyer), and they shop at those stores.
Has she looked at Quince? Very reasonable and easy returns
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