(Un)cool

[pasithea]

Last post triggered another little thought. Getting towards that time of year, when I act like I'm still in highschool and do my back to school shopping. o_O ... Of course, maybe its because I never did this as a kid. I was the one who got the neighbor's hand-me-downs because my parents didn't have a lot of money and I wouldn't throw a fit for designer clothes like my younger brother did.

Crissa hates to shop plus she's a blue-jeans and tee-shirt sort. I needta find a shopping buddy. :) Someone with a sense of style and respect for a budget. Failing that, er... at least point me in the direction of some good stores and/or appropriate fashion magazines for early 30's business casual.

Comments

[goldrose.livejournal.com]

i'd SO shop with you!!!!!

[tigrise.livejournal.com]

*waves a hand* I need to go out and get work clothes anyway...

[amilori.livejournal.com]

I'm also working on rebuilding my professional wardrobe. Since I'm still out of work, my schedule is fairly flexible, too.

Tell me if I am talking too much?

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

Happily, there are a dizzying number of guides and for sale services. This means they are competing for your business and willing to give you a sample.
Maybe try websearching for wardrobe consultant, wardrobe planning etc.
For example ... http://www.mindspring.com/~dedore/wardrobe/capsule.htm
http://www.dressingwell.com/current.htm

A lot of it boils down to:
- Identify your color palette/range and stick to it. Things will mix and match better.
- Identify your comfort range. The amazing piece will never get worn if it is uncomfortable. (for me, that was french cuffs, as an example. Tailored, smart, a nice dressy touch, not too frilly and always freaking in the way. AUGH, they felt worst than handcuffs. Or the slumpy, draping fabrics, which always feel less clean to me but others find them wrinkle free and a smoooooth line.)
- Identify your work. Neat dresses with an unstructured overtop (like Ami's twist prints and camp shirts) are a way to combine the top and bottom so there is less to think about. It is a good feminine but clean look. But I spend 1/5 of my day in a warehouse or I used to work in a server room. So I would be trying to find nice twill pants to sub. for my slummy jeans instead.
- Keep a balance of lowers, uppers and toppers since business casual still rests on the three piece suit. It can be a straight line sporty khaki skirt and twinset of knits, but that is still a bottom, top and over. I am guilty of too many tops, since I HATE pant shopping. So I usually scramble to throw stuff in the dryer while I shower. Not cool.
- This means do the fun accessories and seasonal pieces outside of the basic building blocks (shoes, bottoms, tops and overs), or only use one seasonal, quirky thing per outfit. Socially, the top seems to be the best place to play. Throw a vest into the mix, have a girly blouse to do a fairly contemporary 'peasant' look.
- Natural fibers are good. They breath better. People recognize the way dye fades on them. They drape better. They are more chemically resistant (sorry, internship in a lab with vented hoods talking) and in general are seen as 'classier'.
- Do two shopping trips before you buy. Go to the cheap store and see what there is to see. Try on a lot of things, have fun, experiments. Go to an expensive store, like Saks. Notice the colors. Notice the hems, the sleeves, the collars, the body length (waist or tunic?), body skimming or full? where? THEN go back to the cheap stores and buy the knock offs that do the best imitation.
- Wait a year or two to start building the jewelry wardrobe to go with all this. You will know yourself better then and probably be more observant as it gets more natural besides.

Amilori is great. Her color sense rocks.

Re: Tell me if I am talking too much?

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah when it comes to basic basics, don't always go to knockoff stores, unless they are midranged. When it comes to things like pants especially (it seems) some stores make stuff that lasts, and fit. And seems knockoff stores, they size differently. Where you are an 8 in Saks, you may be a 10 in the other store.

Lands End and LL Bean have good basic sweaters and plain pants. LL Bean I've had stuff last like 10 years, seriously. I've had jackets last through all 3 kids and look like new. So for the stuff that will look good every year, buy solid, substantial, pay a bit more. Stuff for a season? Then join me at the $10 store. ;)

Oh and OUTLET SHOPPING ROCKS. :D Did I say that before?

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

And Paka's Eddie Bauer stuff lasts and lasts, get it now 'cus I think they just got bought and the manufacturering will be shifting.
Land's End also has really good quality recognition, which since I think of business dress as part costume can be as important as having something actually look good. Not that I actually pay money for shitty quality but Lalalala name.
Now if they just made stuff in colors I like. I am surrounded by lots of stuff in medium summerish bleh colors when I want intense jewel tones (NOT vibrant pastels, those I can find).

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah forgot about Eddie Bauer. Is Eddie Bauer part of the Gap/Old Navy empire? And isn't Banana Republic the same, too?

Jewel tones are hard in the summer, although I just got a nice pair of Palazzo pants and top in a nice jade, from -- http://www.silhouettes.com/ -- they're decent quality, not workhorse stuff that I would think would last FOREVER but doesn't fall apart in the machine like dear old Victoria's Secret. Blah. I hate their stuff, or did when I had a bustline less than a 36!

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

Do you have Anne Klein stores near you? Might be pricey though I haven't shopped there in a while. The Limited and Lerners has nice casual clothes for work, and Deparment stores, too. Or the outlets for department stores. Can get some basics at Target. Gap can have basics too. (Depends on how casual business casual is for your place. Some places it just means 'no pantyhose'!) I dont think you have Annie Sez out there, thats local. I am trying to think of magazines but am drawing a blank -- and my best friend who I can always ask these things is NOT HOME. As usual. Blah.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah Stuarts, another chain that might have good stuff.

Lucky Magazine is all about shopping, and there is work stuff there.

http://www.luckymag.com/

This is hard for me cos Im plus sized. BUt I still know where I did shop! (and go with friends who work)