Woman's work clothes on a budget

[Schmoodle]

You mentioned coldwater creek and I get most of my stuff there. It's really nice quality and I love the colors and styles. But I only buy during their killer clearance sales. Usually there is a coupon code you can combine with their clearance sale and get stuff at a really reasonable price. Keep your eyes on the bargain boards and strike when the sales are hot - you have to move fast!

 

[3boymthr]

I have the kind of job where I can't wear cheap clothes but I still try to maximize my money while looking expensive.

Macy's has good deals with a nice selection if you shop their clearance.

For Coldwater Creek, if you like their clothes, check online and sign up for their e-mails. I generally buy most of my clothes there with a coupon that can be used on sale items and that's good on outlet items. They have shirts for under $20 in the outlet area.

If you have one near you TJ Maxx and Marshall's have great deals on designer clothes in plus sizes. I got some Ralph Lauren "Lauren" pants for $19 .

Another trick is to buy off season so you can do really well. Shop now for next summer and in February for the following Fall.

 

[MS_mom_1965]

I love to shop at Cato's. Their clothing may not be top of the line quality as some of the other stores mentioned, but when tops are $8-$10 on the sale rack, I have no problem wearing them a year or two then replacing. I've bought many, many tops and dresses there, always at reasonable prices even when not on sale. The only problem I have is that I'm somewhat vertically challenged, and the pants and skirts are all too long for me.

 

[nunzia]

When I had to wear a suit every day (MGM Grand Las vegas) I shopped at Ross for my work clothes. I may occasionally miss Vegas but I never miss the work clothes (as I sit here at work in my jeans and tshirt)

 

[Handbag Lady]

I also have to look professional and I'm plus-sized. I'd rather spend my money on handbags, so this is what I do:

I shop at the outlets. Jones NY has a plus-sized section. Not all of them do.

I also shop Macy's when they have coupon days, which is just about every other weekend.

I also shop at Lane Bryant when they have a sale. I am very picky and don't just buy something to buy it.

I buy dark pants in grey, black, and tan. I buy neutral capri pants. I even have one pair of pinstripe brown capris. I have neutral shirts, too, in black, grey, white, and then I buy crazy blouses at Lane Bryant when they are on sale. I also have about six skirts in various solid and crazy colors. The shirts are plain, almost like t-shirts so they go with both pants and skirts and capris.

I also hit up Target for scarves and I just love that Summer scarves are in now. I've also purchased scarves at Payless Shoes for cheap.

Then, I divide my closet into shirts, pants, and skirts, and I play mix and match. I really don't have a lot of work clothes, but by being careful with my separates, I can make quite a few different outfits.

Shoes were the hardest for me. I have black flats, black and brown clogs, black and brown summer work shoes (sandals that are slides), and then boots in black and brown. I also bought two pairs of Croc sandals that I can wear with skirts at work in the Summer.

So, I can wear tan pants and a light brown shirt and brown boots with a pink scarf. Or like today, I have on a white skirt, pink blouse, no scarf but my Croc sandals in dusty green (a very neutral green that is almost brown.)

 

[jerseygirl81]

I like JCpenny's they have nice quality clothing and they have some great clearance sales. Linda

 

[DisneyMissy318]

Okay - I can't be the only one on the DIS Budget Board who shops at Goodwill! My husband is a manager of a meat department at a grocery store - and he has to wear dress shirts to work - I get all of his shirts for $3.50 at the Goodwill! (There are too many unidentified stains to keep them too long!) While I'm there stocking up on his shirts - I'll take a look at what they have for me too! I have found dresses, capris, name brand shirts and jackets - some with the tags still on!

I am a shopper and LOVE a bargain - my main shopping haunts are Kohl's and CJ Banks for my clothes... but also Fashion Bug and Cato. As someone said before - the quality is sometimes not perfect - but when it's on clearance for $5 or $6 a year or two of wear is still an awesome investment return.

Good Luck!

 

[horseshowmom]

Okay - I can't be the only one on the DIS Budget Board who shops at Goodwill! My husband is a manager of a meat department at a grocery store - and he has to wear dress shirts to work - I get all of his shirts for $3.50 at the Goodwill! (There are too many unidentified stains to keep them too long!) While I'm there stocking up on his shirts - I'll take a look at what they have for me too! I have found dresses, capris, name brand shirts and jackets - some with the tags still on!

I am a shopper and LOVE a bargain - my main shopping haunts are Kohl's and CJ Banks for my clothes... but also Fashion Bug and Cato. As someone said before - the quality is sometimes not perfect - but when it's on clearance for $5 or $6 a year or two of wear is still an awesome investment return.

Good Luck!

I don't have one near me, but if I'm near one (or a Salvation Army), I'll definitely stop in. We once found DD a pair of white Ann Taylor shorts with the tags still on them for $4. She had wanted some white shorts but hated to buy them at full price because she was afraid they might get dirty too easy. At $4, she was willing to take the chance!

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Does anyone have any suggestions for woman's (plus size) professional clothes for a small budget?

DH says I usually wear my self-imposed uniform. Typically I wear black/dark pants and a colored blouse. I have looked at Target, Old Navy, and Kohls in both the regularly priced items and clearanced and I was either not satisfied with the selection or in the stores where I found things I liked it was $75-$100 for a top and pants,

I typically like the things of the styles you would find Christopher Banks and Coldwater Creek. Not necessarily their products specifically, but that style. Simple, solid colors, and not a lot of prints. I am a primary level teacher so easy to clean items are a MUST.

Talbots has excellent sales.

QVC has many designers. I like their Citiknits. Teachers seem to buy a lot of Quackers.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I spent alot of time in the clearance racks at Macy's and Dress Barn Woman. I found alot of great things at both places.

 

[smylie1]

I was just at our Avenue today. They had racks and racks of stuff on clearance.

 

[cheriemek]

I get almost all of my work clothes on Ebay! I do a search on brand names I like (Talbots, Coldwater Creek) and get great bargains.

 

[sameyeyam]

Garage sales. It's fun, you never know what you're going to find and the price is right. After all, once you wear & wash your clothing once...well then it's used just like the garage sale clothes.

I hit garage sales early on Saturday morning, sometimes I don't find much. But boy I'll tell you when you hit that one that has clothing that are your size, it's great. Adult clothing is not a big seller at garage sales. So you can usually cut a great deal.

I just found 3 skirts on Saturday in my size and paid 25 cents each. They were almost brand new and you can tell they were originally expensive.

 

[neatokimmo]

(I've not read the thread yet so if this is a repeat, sorry!)

CJ Banks clothes are very cheap when you catch them on clearance. They are the bigger version of Christopher Banks. My Mom finds $5 pieces all the time there. Just head to the back of the store where all the clearance racks are.

Oh and I went to Lane Bryant this weekend and found a great top for $7.50, a winter sweater for $5 and a hippie top for $15. Get on mailing lists and you'll get an occasional $15 off of $15 coupon (I got TWO this month! yay!)

 

[Purseval]

We buy Abecrombie, AE, Hollister and Ed Hardy for my niece and nephew. We got 8 shirts today for 50 cents each. We got them so much in the course of a summer my sister asked me to stop sending it so we're stocking up for when she asks again. Yard sales are a gold mine, we never pay over a dollar for anything. We also get items for the grandkids in England and it's the same way, we could fill their house to bursting. We stopped buying for ourselves ages ago because we have so much clothing.

 

[princessbride6205]

I had never shopped a garage sale for clothes until last month. I got 4 tops for work, a casual shirt & a workout top for $5.
I try to shop at Target for clothes, but you have to find items that fit well, are your style, and aren't too pricey. I do a lot of looking and trying on, but not a lot of buying.
I might have to stop in at the Salvation Army - I've donated lots of clothes, but never been inside!

 

[jam217]

I've found a lot of my work clothes at garage sales, thrift stores and bag sales. The other week I was at a church sale and found Chico and Talbots tops, Abercrombie shorts and Jones New York walking shorts -- all for $2 each.

When my mom died in December, I needed a simple black dress so I headed out and found a really nice one with a scoop neck for $8. At the viewing the next day, the funeral director's wife said to me, "That's a really nice dress. Where did you get it?'' Umm, the Salvation Army. She laughed and said her daughter in law finds a lot of nice clothes there, too.

 

[My3kiddos]

Most of the time I shop the clearance racks at Macys and Lane Bryant. And when JCPenney has the $10 off $25 or $10 off $10 coupons I rack up. I agree you have to shop frequently to get the good clearance stuff. Even if it's just stopping in a store on your way home from work you may hit the jackpot. Also look and see if you have a QVC store close to you. There is one in the town I work in and even though it's only open on the weekends I'm able to get awesome deals there on clothes, shoes, purses, and bras.

 

[mrsklamc]

So here's a question- some folks have said specific prices while others have just said 'I get great deals.' I'm curious what it has to cost before it's a 'great deal.'

I like to shop yard sales but lately I haven't had as much time. I bought some separates at New York and Company for $5-6 each, and I just bought some old navy shirts for about the same price.

I usually pay about $10 for bras during the VS semi annual sale but the deals didn't seem as good this summer- but then I found bras on clearance at the Limited for $4.99.

 

[erinch]

Second the ebay suggestion -- if you put in "plus size lot" in the women's clothing category, you'll find lots of lots of tops and pants, often for amazingly low prices. (If you're a seller, that's depressing.) You need to make sure they aren't trying to gouge on shipping, but it's good to check out.