Credit: sara_kate

Let’s face it: College is not a formal event or even a business-casual one. UGGs and North Face fleeces are perfectly acceptable for class, but now that you’re graduating, it’s time to retire your collection of oversized T-shirts and leggings-as-pants. We talked to wardrobe consultants Emily Lytle and Jessica Sturdy at Julie Watson Style in Chicago to get some advice on how ladies can build a professional wardrobe.

1. Go for neutrals. When building a work wardrobe from the bottom up, neutrals are your foundation. Lytle and Sturdy suggest aiming for one of two color palettes: gray and black or camel and navy. They recommend buying your cardigans, blazers, pants and skirts in these neutral colors for versatility. Plus, the colors are timeless.

2. Give yourself some elbowroom. According to Sturdy, sleeveless blouses are key – they can be worn alone, under cardigans and blazers, or with pants and skirts. If you buy any printed or colorful blouses, make sure they’re not season-specific (a pastel looks great in April but maybe not so much in November).

3. Choose quality over quantity. At this point, you’re basically conditioned to run into H&M or Forever 21, snatch up an armful (or two) of clothing, and then buy it all, squealing about how cheap it all is. And hey, it is cheap. And cute. But will it keep you work-ready season to season or in years to come? Probably not. In the long run, when you’re still wearing your Banana Republic trousers (we love these lightweight wool trousers) instead of your fourth pair from H&M, you’ll save money. Lytle suggests heading to department stores like Bloomingdale’s, big-box stores like Gap and Banana Republic, and, if you’ve got a little extra scratch, J. Crew. We also love stores like Ann Taylor and LOFT, which are workplace attire staples in places like Washington, D.C.



It's time to upgrade from your high school backpack. Credit: markhillary

4. There is no business backpack. We’ve all seen that guy in a suit carrying a backpack on the subway. Do not use him as your style guide. Lytle recommends looking for a midsized shoulder bag in a neutral color like cognac (a rich brown color). Buy a bag that can hold whatever you have to haul, whether that’s files, a laptop or a slinky dress for an after-work event.

5. Dress like you’ll run into the CEO. When you get dressed every day (and when you’re trying things on in a dressing room) ask yourself, “Will I be embarrassed if I run into the head honcho wearing this outfit?” Hint: The answer should be no. How do you make sure you’re work-appropriate? As a general rule, keep skirts close to knee length. Maybe over time you’ll learn that you can raise your hem without raising eyebrows, but starting out, keep your skirts at a length that even a middle-school principal would find appropriate.

6. Save your feet. Heels (no higher than three inches for business environments, please) are a professional staple, but they’re not always comfortable. While you should look for a pair that you can actually walk in, you can also help preserve your feet by commuting in a different pair of shoes (like a colorful pair of flats). Sturdy also recommends keeping a pair of flats at your desk.

7. Get it hemmed. One of the keys to looking professional is wearing clothes that fit well—nothing too tight and nothing too baggy. If you can’t find something that fits you perfectly, get it tailored. And while you’re at it, if you find the perfect pair of work pants, buy two. Sturdy suggests getting one pair hemmed for flats and one pair hemmed for heels to prolong the life of the pants.

8. Cheap is okay—for accessories. Both Sturdy and Lytle conceded that accessories are a place to save money. Hit up your favorite fast-fashion spots for inexpensive scarves and jewelry, and don’t feel bad when you replace them every six months. Accessories also allow you to dress up your neutrals – a different necklace or scarf can make the same blouse look unique each time you wear it.

9. Do a versatility check. When you’re out shopping, make sure everything you buy works within your wardrobe. We’ve all done that thing where you buy a shirt or a dress because it’s super cute (and hey, it goes with those orange heels you bought three years ago that you’ve only worn once!) only to find that it goes with a grand total of one thing in your closet. To save yourself from that fate, make a mental note of at least three outfits you could use the piece in if you buy it. If you can’t come up with three, put it back on the rack.

10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Shopping isn’t everyone’s thing. If you don’t know what to buy, don’t be ashamed to call on a friend, ask a sales associate to pull items, or check out fashion blogs (women from every line of work have them). While you certainly don’t need to be the most stylish one in your office, your outfits do impact how your coworkers think of you. Don’t be that girl in the too-short skirt!

Check out our Women’s Work Wardrobe board on Pinterest for more suggestions!