Trio on a budget finds business attire that really works

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Some offers are just impossible to pass up.

Last week’s talk at Eastern Agency on Aging’s annual board meeting was one of them. And while I’m not wild about public speaking – is anyone? – I did get a sweet incentive: I could take three agency employees on a shopping spree to illustrate office-appropriate attire on a budget.

But appropriate varies from workplace to workplace – lawyers and bank personnel may have different needs from nurses or professional office staffers. Heck, I’m a journalist, and my wardrobe ranges from suits and dressy separates to jeans and T-shirts.

At Eastern Agency on Aging, the dress code is fairly casual. And each of the three women I met had unique needs. Stacie Sparkman works from home, so comfort is key, but she also needed an outfit suitable for a speaking engagement at a national conference. Vicki Billings-Rowell works for Meals for Me, and until recently, her uniform consisted of black pants and a chef’s jacket. Rhonda Madore works in assisted living – sometimes she wears scrubs, other times she wears jeans.

We set a date at T.J. Maxx ‘n More, where I figured we could get a lot of bang for our buck. Or bucks, as the case may be – $500, to be exact. My only regret? That we hadn’t stopped at Marden’s, which currently has a selection of $35 suits from Ann Taylor Loft, along with dressy separates from Style & Co., Ann Taylor Loft and Tapemeasure, to name a few. Had I known, we would’ve stopped there first.

When we met, I asked the women about their personal styles and learned a lot about them in a short time. Vicki likes layers, and because she was required to wear black pants for so long, she wanted something new. Stacie described herself as “ultraconservative.” She hates to shop, and she’s more of a bargain hound than I am. Rhonda likes casual clothing, and because she wears jeans most of the time, a pair of darker, boot-cut jeans was at the top of our list.

Before we started shopping, I gave an abridged version of my “rules”:

. Spend more on something you’ll wear all the time.

. Invest in classics.

. Skimp on trendy items.

. Never skimp on shoes, boots or underthings (or as Stacie likes to call them, “underpants”).

. Load up your cart and don’t be afraid try on things you wouldn’t normally wear – it doesn’t hurt to step outside your comfort zone from time to time.

. Don’t buy something just because it’s on clearance.

Stacie immediately grabbed a pair of acid-green silk pants on the clearance rack for $1. She loved them, and since they were only a buck, I figured we could bend the last rule. She decided to put them back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she went back to get them.

Of the trio, Stacie was the toughest customer, but there’s something to be said for a woman who knows what she wants, and, more important, what she doesn’t want. Anything frou-frou, ruffled or asymmetrical was out. When I suggested a modern-yet-classic dotted blouse with a tie at the waist, she raised an eyebrow but agreed to try it on anyway. It looked fabulous paired with elegant black pants, which she was tempted to buy a size too big. We were able to convince her that a smaller size – her true size – was much more flattering.

Stacie also found a classic navy skirt that hit below the knee, which would be perfect for her speaking engagement, but a matching top was elusive. A hooded sweater jacket in a brown and black leaf print would be as appropriate for working at home as meeting with a client. It, too, was a go.

Before I even arrived at the store, Vicki had grabbed a beautiful jacket with glass buttons that looked like something straight out of Chico’s but with a decidedly TJ’s price tag. Because she has so many black pants, it was easy to find coordinating tops, and we settled on two empire-waist printed shirts along with a black camisole with adjustable straps to cut down on the “revealing” factor.

The surprise of the day came when Vicki grabbed an elegant little black dress. She didn’t think it would look good, but she needed something more formal for meetings and special occasions. When she stepped out of the dressing room, she looked stunning. The dress was definitely a keeper.

Because she’s petite, most of the pants Rhonda tried on were too long, but when we saw how gorgeous she looked in a pair of dark-wash jeans, we urged her to buy them and have them hemmed. She found a deep orange hooded sweater – though she’s a redhead, the pumpkin tone looked great on her – and a pretty, fine-gauge black sweater that tied at the neckline.

In the shoe department, Vicki chose a pair of practical yet elegant leather shoes with low heels. Rhonda scored with funky black slip-on sneakers – very stylish, yet comfortable enough for a woman who spends most of the day on her feet. At $40, the sneakers were the most expensive item in Vicki’s cart, but she’ll wear them all the time.

When we continued our journey at Marshalls, I saw a luscious Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater that looked like it was made for Stacie. Its raspberry tone would complement the navy skirt, but she could also wear it with jeans. The problem? It was $70, and Stacie would have none of that. Until she tried it on. It took some heavy convincing on my part, but I told her she’d have it forever – which is true – and that it was a real classic. Sold.

Vicki left us after TJ’s, but Rhonda shopped on, discovering petite tan corduroys that fit her like a dream and a sweet plum sweater coat that she could dress up or down.

When we got to the register, we knew the shopping gods were on our side. Our final tally for six outfits (give or take) was $498. Now that’s what I call a bargain. And a smart, professional-looking one to boot.

ShopGirl’s Timeless Tips for the Work Wardrobe

. Buy clothes that fit well. Don’t go by size; go by what the mirror tells you.

. Invest in quality basics.

. Avoid low-rise pants and low-cut shirts.

. Skip baggy, stained or ripped clothing, even if it’s supposed to look that way.

. Choose shoes that accentuate your outfit, but are appropriate and comfortable for your day-to-day duties.

. If you’re going to wear a bold print, do so in moderation and tone down the rest of your outfit.

. Stretch your budget with clothes that span the seasons – khakis, three-season wool, lightweight sweaters.

. If you’re on a budget, neutral colors and tailored lines are deceptively rich-looking.

. Choose items and colors that mix and match well.

. Ladies: Watch your foundation. Invest in great undergarments.

. Spend more on clothing you’ll wear more often.

For exclusive online shopping news – including sales and store openings – click on the ShopBlog icon at the bottom of the BDN homepage: bangordailynews.com. ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476.