Question

How do you save money on clothes? I’m going from a call center investment job to a bank investment job. My attire has gone from business casual to professional. I’ve gone over my clothing, shoe, bra budget by a lot and I hardly have enough clothes as of right now. Does anyone do clothing subscriptions? Are they worth it for professional attire? I’ve looked at Ross, TX Maxx, Marshall’s, thrift stores & poshmark, but I can hardly find anything I like. So far I’ve spent: $71 on 3 bras (I only have nursing bras so I wanted “normal person” bras) $9 under budget $52 on shoes & my boyfriend bought me a pair for $30, but I still spent $12 over budget $150 on slacks ($90 for 3 at White House Black Market and the rest at JC penny) & $40 on 5 shirts - $60 over budget Right now I’m just having difficulties sticking to my budget for clothes, especially when I need practically a whole new wardrobe. I’ve ONLY been buying sale items but I’m at a loss. Any advice?  

Answer 1

See if your city has a Buy Nothing Project group and reach out to them with your size and style that you’re looking for.  

Comments

@extinctive56494 never heard of this!  

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@hatred Duuuuuude Buy Nothing is amazing. It’s been a literal life changer for us. About 70% of my daughter’s clothes are from there, about 20% of mine. and it’s not just for clothes either. House stuff, diapers, food, and it goes both ways, if you have something you aren’t using anymore and it’s not really worth the time or effort of selling, gift it to your BN group! It’s like a thrift store meets craigslist free meets friendly neighbors.  

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@extinctive56494 oh that’s sounds awesome!  

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@extinctive56494 how do you find a group near where you live?  

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@swipple1 Search for “Buy Nothing CityYouLiveIn” in the Facebook search!  

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@extinctive56494 thanks!  

Answer 2

If you have a Burlington close to you they have cheap slacks (usually around $10-$15) unsure about professional shirts but it could be worth checking out!  

Answer 3

Nyc and company! I get a ton of slacks for 10/15 on sale. Sale blouses are greatly priced too. They have coupons often as wlel

Comments

@invariable I’ll have to look in my area for one! I didn’t even think of this store!  

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This is my go to as well! I also search for NY&C clothes on ThredUp.  

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NY and Company is my go to usually too! Wait for the sales

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@eal160 what is thredup?  

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@hatred an online thrift store.  

Answer 4

Thrift stores and consignment shops hold so many hidden treasure and slightly used clothing for a fraction of the price. Check out the ones in your area or go online and find out which one the bloggers or reviewers like. I never shop retail anymore. Good luck. Also if you are a pretty true size, eBay and Poshmark is another option.  

Comments

@syllabize yeah I look daily at poshmark! Can never find anything in my size lol

Answer 5

White House Black Market is my go to for business clothes. That, and Anthropologie.  

Comments

@centri8574 does anthropology usually have any sales?  

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@hatred Definitely! Their sales are amazing.  

Answer 6

Thrift stores are the bomb. Pick up jackets, belts. Scarves/shawls couple of bracelets. A few dresses. I’ve found lots of silk pieces as that my favorite fabric.  

Comments

@interrogative I like the idea!  

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@interrogative my hubby religiously shops thrift stores for his dress clothes. I like Old Navy for their sales and inexpensive blouses, sweaters, and dresses.  

Answer 7

I wear worthington from jcpenney which is super affordable and I also do gwennie bee subscription for pieces outside my usual rotation to expand my closet without having to store anything or buy mounds of clothes.  

Comments

@setscrew9235 yeah I got a couple articles of clothing from there! What pieces does gwennie typically send?  

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@hatred you actually pick the pieces you want and you can prioritize what you get first. Beyond that, you can do it as much as you want with the monthly subscription and it includes dry cleaning so you literally wear it and send it back.  

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@setscrew9235 oh that sounds awesome!  

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@hatred it’s super great!  

Answer 8

I wear professional clothes and one thing I found helped me is to stick to a capsule type wardrobe. I have two pairs of black slacks, one pair of brown, and then one pair each brown and black heels. I buy tops (typically thrifted) that I can mix and match with the pants. A couple of blazers and I am done

Comments

@townshend I’ve been working on a capsule wardrobe too! It’s the best being able to wear work clothes for other functions as well

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@townshend I’ve never heard of that!  

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@rodrick3687 Berger try  
https://getyourprettyon.com/

Answer 9

Uniform- life changing. Black slacks, black shoes, white shirt. Cardigan or jacket. Er’day. Or if you’re an autumn- brown slacks, beige shirt- er’day.  

Answer 10

Check out Classy Yet Trendy for help. They have capsule wardrobe e books you can buy and you can take a style quiz to see which capsule would be best for you. Ebook comes with links for shopping, an outfit calendar and 100 outfit combos. Made my mornings super easy!  

Answer 11

Goodeewill, thrift store

Answer 12

Walmart has great bras, cute business tops and dresses you can use a scraff. try to find some consignment clothes at

Answer 13

Buy black slacks and beife & work your wardrobe around those 2 colors

Answer 14

I'm not adding anything but had to high five the fact that your name is Randi!  

Comments

@hatred J. Zrust heck yea!  

Answer 15

I have been doing a wardrobe capsule for almost 10 years. My daughters closets are wardrobe capsules too. It saves so much time in the mornings and so much money overall. We know what to look for when we shop and have money left over to grab lunch out or a pedicure. Highly recommend!  

Answer 16

Target and Walmart have items that can be dressed up professionally too, especially if you’re just trying to build a new wardrobe. Also Old Navy and JcPennys.  

Answer 17

I wear black pants every day, and I promise you absolutely no one notices if it's the same pair every day (it's not) or 5 different ones. I basically wear the same 5 or 6 outfits week after week. No one cares.  

Answer 18

I’ve tried wantable, Nadine west and stitch fix. Nadine west was by far the most affordable, but stitch fix and wantable had more “work appropriate” clothes, but I couldn’t justify spending $100 on a pair of pants or $60 on a shirt from them. I get all my slacks now from Old Navy, their pixie cut slacks are affordable, comfy and professional!  

Comments

@slav1 that was my worry - Nadine west not having professional clothing options

Answer 19

I rent all of my work clothes from infinitely loft. I get to wear new trendy clothes without commitment and I don’t have to wash them before I return them!  

Comments

@seaport hows that work?  

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It’s a monthly rental service with no commitment. You can cancel at any time. You place items that you would like to rent on your virtual closet and they select which ones they send you based on availability. They send you three at a time but you can have up to 6 at home. For example if you have three at home you can return notify the three and the will start sending you three more. There is no limit per month and if you like something you can choose to buy it and keep it. Those items you buy are discounted anywhere from 50% to 80%. If you happen to find it cheaper online they will match the price. Sometimes the prepping process can take some time but I have found that it’s worth it for my needs. When you are done with the items you ship them back USPS in the prepaid envelope. Feel free to message me if your interested in a coupon for your first month or have any additional questions.  

Answer 20

Can you barrow clothes from a friend or family member? Im a social worker but was managing group homes (causal wear). I owned 1 pair of black dress pants and about 2-3 dress tops. When I got hired on as a social worker at a nursing home I went to some thrift stores and bought 3 new to me tops and 1 pair of grey pants. I wore those 2 dress pants and 7ish tops for my 1st month or 2 and then slowly added more items mostly from thrift stores. I didn't have anyone to barrow clothes from.  

Comments

@tiliaceous16044 unfortunately not. We are currently moving from Florida to Washington state so I will have no one up there ):

Answer 21

Loft has really good sales

Comments

@tiliaceous16044 Later online too?  

Answer 22

Loft is having a great sale right now. Online and and store. You can shop their outlet store online as well. J crew factory online has great sales. Target has great work blouses for $20. Amazon has cute stuff that’s affordable. Jane. com has a lot of cute blouses. I love to shop and always find deals.  

Answer 23

Have you maybe tried a capsule wardrobe? I do one with this lady out of Dallas. It's called "Get Your Pretty On". I know they have a capsule for professional dress or more casual

Answer 24

I don’t know about subscriptions but New York and Company is always having sales and they have cute and affordable professional clothes

Comments

@parley their pants fit me just right! I think they are almost more comfortable than jeans!  

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@lathing same! I LOVE their dress pants! So comfy and stretchy!  

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@parley even the regular ones, not just the ones with the elastic waist.  

Answer 25

Definitely check out putting me together she has capsule wardrobes that can help mix and match and show you how to dress up basics and get more use out of them

Answer 26

Capsule wardrobe where you have a handful of solid pieces you can mix and match

Answer 27

I’m in the same business. I would definitely stick to a capsule wardrobe - blazer skirt dress pants blouses and a dress that you can interchange. Get a good basic pump, boot and if you like flats. Loft has some great separates to start- and on sale. I have a black blazer from them and I love it I wear it with everything.  

Answer 28

I buy from Loft primarily, they have good outlet online as well as good sales in their normal stores

Answer 29

I am in the same boat right now if you have maurices near you check it i just got slacks for 6. 99 and 9. 99 normally over 40. 00

Comments

@domett I don’t think I have them near me but I can check!  

Answer 30

I work in a law firm so it’s business professional dress every day. You don’t need a lot of clothes! I cycle through the same pants, skirts, tops, and dresses. Create a capsule wardrobe. Pick pieces that can go with other pieces, no crazy prints, timeless classic pieces. I basically wear the same outfits every week and no one ever says anything about it. 2 pants, 2 skirts, 2 dresses, and 3-4 tops should be more than enough. I typically get my pants at Old Navy (love their Pixi pants). Shoes are the same deal, black or nude heels and black or nude flats go with everything.  

Comments

Oh and one black blazer. You can wear it several times before needing to dry clean it. I would suggest Nordstrom Rack, TJ Maxx/Marshall’s, Target, Loft, and Kohl’s for clothes. And shop the sales! You don’t need everything right now, you can wait and collect pieces over time.  

Answer 31

I stock up when New York and company has sales. You can get very nice name brand stuff from thred up. I have several Ann Taylor pieces from there that were 50-80% cheaper than buying from the store

Answer 32

I was thinking of doing the Loft subscription. I think you can keep 3 items at a time and exchange as many times as you want.  

Answer 33

Capsule wardrobe

Answer 34

Not sure where you are located, but Maurices has dress clothes and they are reasonably priced!  

Answer 35

I am a manager with a 6 figure salary, have a formal professional dress attire at work, and still get the majority of my blazers and dress pants from the thrifts shop. and I am proud of it. I want to be an everyday millionaire after paying off my student debt

Answer 36

Quick as possible, get yourself to studying Project 333 - capsule wardrobe. You don't need a ton of clothes. Studies show that no one notices if you wear the same clothes over and over. You just need a few pieces that match and look nice.  
https://bemorewithless.com/project-...enge/

Answer 37

I use ThredUp pretty much exclusively for clothes. My colleagues are soooo fashionable and up-to-date on the latest styles and seasons. I can't afford an expensive wardrobe every few months but I can get a lot more for my money when I shop resale and it's more environmentally friendly as well.  

Answer 38

I was at Target tonight and they had some great new spring clothing. They even had suit options!  

Comments

@bybidder ooooh I need to look!  

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@hatred you might also try Target online. I’ve been to three different stores in my area and the selection in each was a little different.  

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@bybidder good idea! I’m traveling across the country so I’ll look around

Answer 39

Goodwill has great finds, however, sometimes it's a hit or miss

Comments

@caen2551 it’s been a major miss for me

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@hatred lol. Totally understandable.  

Answer 40

I would go to the thrift store they have great stuff for reasonable prices.  

Comments

@soong I have! ):

Answer 41

I use Le Tote’s subscription service. I get three clothing pieces and two accessories to rent every month. I keep them for as long as I want until I want to return them for a new tote. Or I can keep any of the items and send back what I don’t want to keep. Some items are on limited time “tote” sale to entice you to keep it if you like it. They often have inventory clear outs and I usually buy clothes then that I’ve rented previously but was waiting for the items to go on sale. What I like about Le Tote is that it exposes me to styles that I normally wouldn’t have tried before so it’s broadened my stylistic horizons. It’s definitely helped spruce up my work wardrobe. All my best stuff has come from Le Tote.  

Comments

@lith42 good quality?  

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@hatred for the most part. Just pay attention to what’s written in the item’s reviews. Something will look really high quality but then the reviews will say it feels cheap and thin. With Le Tote you get to customize which items you want in your tote each month.  

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Here’s a screenshot from the app

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@lith42 oooh thanks!  

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@hatred you’re welcome! A friend gave me a free tote to try and I loved it.  

Answer 42

I always hit up thrift stores & church sales first. Try to find wardrobe pieces that are versatile, long lasting & not fast fashion related so you can wear them for years  

Comments

@mazurek I always succumb to trends  

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@hatred you should checkout some capsule wardrobes  

Answer 43

I use . I tried Stitchfix, but the only items they sent that I liked was the jewelry. GYPO gives you ideas on putting outfits together and options of where to purchase them depending on how much you want to spend.  
https://getyourprettyon.com/

Comments

@diggings interesting!  

Answer 44

I'm a Salvation Army and consignment shopper. Can get workout clothes, casual and business pieces for very little and sometimes brand new/designer brands. Best Savings for my daughter and I always!  

Answer 45

I shop thrift stores, and hospice stores!  

Answer 46

Thredup is the way to go.  

Answer 47

You might not need as many new clothes as you think. If your slacks are basic colors (like black) no one will notice or care if you wear them more than once a week with a different top. I think tops are most noticeable so grab a few more and then wait a few weeks or months to see what you really want or need.