Where to Find Professional Clothes for Less and What to Buy

It's getting harder and harder these days to land a job, assuming you can even get an interview. It seems as though having a college degree means nothing anymore when there are more people fighting for a job than there are available jobs. When you do land that job interview you want to present yourself in the best way possible and that will most likely cost money. Not many people without jobs have a whole lot of money to spend on interview clothes but it's one of those necessities. You can have a great resume but if your prospective employer takes one look at you and thinks for even a minute that you don't look like you belong with their company you can forget about getting pass the initial interview part. The job market is tough and it's even tougher now that the economy is tanking so employers can be as picky as they want. There are ways to get the right clothes that will make you look like a million bucks without spending anywhere near that much.

New York and Company is one of my favorite stores to shop for professional wear for women because of their wide array of clothes. They have everything from dress slacks, to cute dresses that can be worn under a blazer, perfect for an office job, or be worn alone, great for cocktails after work. This store is also perfect for tall and petite women because they have almost everything in tall and petite sizes that they do in regular. The quality of stitching and fabric at this store is very nice as well. I've never once had problems with my clothes falling part or threads sticking out. Their style selection ranges from twenty somethings to chic, stylish forty somethings. You really can't beat the prices at New York and Company, even when they're not having a sale. I've gotten dress slacks and shirts from here for just $20 a piece, sometimes less.

The next two stores cater to both men and women and have very well-made clothing with great lines. Express is probably more known for their fun, very trendy clothing but you'll be surprise to find that they do have some nice dress clothing for work, especially for men. Express, in my opinion, makes some of the best slacks for men. The stitching is always perfect, the styles, fit and lines on their slacks can make any guy look like he just walked off of GQ magazine. They also make nice dress shirts in just about every color and style you can think of. Express carries a handful of professional wear for women like slacks, skirts, blazers and dress shirts but I find them to be a tad on the dull, simple side. The prices at Express vary. You can find great items for about $50 or less if they're having a sale but many of their professional wear items tends to be closer to $50-$80 range. Still, it's much less than buying an expensive suit.

Banana Republic is another store that has very chic, well-made professional wear clothing for men and women. What I like about their clothes is just the crisp-ness of it all. All of their clothes look so chic and clean. The quality looks high end without being attached to a four digit price tag. Most items here can be mixed and matched, and dressed up or down. I like that they offer tall and petite sizes for women too. Nothing in this store is too trendy that it's not work appropriate or that it would go out of style. I consider Banana Republic one of those stores where you go in to buy items to have around for many years. The price range is on the high side but still considerably less than high end labels. I would suggest dropping by one of their outlet stores for great deals.

You don't need a lot of money to look like you're worth millions, and no doubt worthy of a great paying job. You also don't need too many items to start out with. Just enough to start out with. For men you'll only need a few dress shirts, in white, black, and a colored one. Dress slacks that fit you properly and don't look outdated. Stick to dark grey, black, and maybe have a subtle stripped one. Have a least one blazer or suit jacket that can be worn with other items. Don't forget a nice pair of dress shoes in black, and some ties. Ties are one of those items that you can be creative with. For shirts and pants stick to fine, breathable fabrics. For women I would recommend having a pair of black heeled pumps, maybe one in brown too but that's optional. A few nice dress shirts that can be worn with slacks or a skirt. For skirts, choose something that works with your body and keep the length just above the knee but no more than three inches above. Make sure your slacks fit you just right. Nothings more unprofessional looking than baggy pants or pants that are too tight or long. Find a good tailor because even the best stores don't carry sizes just right for every single body frame. Try to stick to neutral colors, nothing too colorful or loud. Once you land the job than you can dress how ever is appropriate for that specific job. Don't forget to bathe, smile and go in with confidence. Good luck!