Whether you’re currently gainfully employed, in the market for a new job, or you’re like me and just have a passion for being ridiculously overdressed for your everyday life, you’re going to need some business professional clothing. Workwear goes by many names, business professional, business casual, snappy casual, but the general essence of what you’re going for remains the same: blazers, structured dresses and skirts, blouses, sweaters, a nice pair of slacks. These items get pretty pricey especially when you take into account that you need to dress nice five days a week, every week.
The thrift store is a great place to find wear-to-work clothes affordably and sustainably. I’ve had a lot of luck finding dresses, blazers, and blouses at resale shops catered towards a more professional customer base like Style Encore. I also seem to find a lot of great blazers at Goodwill and they’re only about six bucks each! I have still yet to find a pair of dress pants I like, but this is likely just because I am insanely picky with pants.
When shopping for professional clothing at the thrift store, there are a couple of things that are good to look for. The feel of the fabric is very important. With anything meant to be structured, you want to look for thick, weighty material. Pieces that are 100% wool or 100% cotton will have a nice hold to them, plus they are better for the planet (read my last post to learn why).
It’s also crucial to look for pieces that are well-constructed. Is it fully lined? That’s a good sign it is a quality piece. Looking at stitching and seams can also be a good indicator of the quality. You can find higher-end pieces that are well made for low prices at almost every thrift store. Trust me, you’ll find a much nicer blazer at goodwill than at the mall, and you’ll end up paying less.
Lastly, there are some finer details I find really elevate a piece. Look for fancy buttons. Having a nice button will take a basic piece and make it look expensive. Pro tip: if you find a just-okay piece, buying special buttons from the craft store and swapping them out for the item’s original buttons can make a big difference. Also, while this may be a controversial opinion, I’m a big fan of shoulder pads. Something about the broader shoulder silhouette just makes me feel powerful.
You can totally dress for success while saving money and the planet. To put my own twist on the popular phrase: Dress for the planet you want not the one you have.
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