By Elia Essen

If you’re one of those gals who is still wearing the same pair of ill-fitting dress pants her mom bought her in high school, you’re not alone. Building a professional wardrobe can be confusing and overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be! What you put on your body matters — it expresses something about yourself to the world. A great outfit can give you the confidence to kill it at your job. Careless or sloppy dressing can communicate to your boss that you don’t pay attention to detail. And while you don’t need a ballgown for the job, a clean and crisp wardrobe goes a long way.

Whether you’re fresh out of college and new to the professional world or a workplace veteran with a worn out closet, it’s never too early or too late to start building an office wardrobe you feel amazing in. Follow these tips to create a closet you’ll love without breaking the bank.

Start with your closet.
The best part about shopping in your own closet? Everything is free! You might have more than you think tucked away in the dark depths of your current wardrobe, so it’s a great place to start. Try to look at everything with fresh eyes to find new, more professional pairings you might not have thought about. Could you wear that dress from that wedding you went to that one time with tights to make it less revealing? Or pair your favorite silk tank top with sleek blazer? The options are limitless!
Come in with a plan.
Buy things that go together — plan for outfits rather than individual items. Always keep a general color scheme in mind when making purchases. It can help to start by writing out exactly what you’ll need before hitting the shops. Your goal is to build a professional capsule wardrobe (the main idea is that it’s minimal and everything goes together). There’s no formula for building the perfect wardrobe — it all depends on your field, workplace, and individual style.
Shop at discount stores.
You don’t have to break the bank to look like a million bucks. You just might have to do a bit more digging. There’s a ton of great professional pieces hiding on racks at the places you’ve been going to for ages. You don’t have to go to J. Crew or Banana Republic to dress to the nines. Instead, try H&M, Old Navy, Uniqlo, Zara, Target, and Topshop.
For splurge items, pay attention to discounts.
OK I know I just said you didn’t have to pay big bucks for killer work clothes but sometimes it’s worth it to splurge on a great quality item you love. If you just can’t get those Banana Republic maroon dress pants out of your mind, wait to buy. Sign up for emails and wait until there is a sale or discount. If you’re a student or a teacher, it never hurts to ask if there is student discount. You can also check the sale rack or factory outlets.
Go for a great fit — don’t be afraid to get things altered.
A good fit goes a long way in making clothes look neat and professional. Getting something altered to fit perfectly doesn’t have to break the bank. A quick Google search will help you find someone local to do your alterations. Ask for a price estimate ahead of time. It should be about $10 to get a pair of pants hemmed and $15 to shorten a skirt. Some higher end stores, like Nordstrom, will do free alterations with your purchase.
Add accessories to keep it interesting.
You’re going to be wearing your professional wardrobe a lot (probably five days a week). To keep it from getting old, add fun accessories that make the outfit pop and feel like you. Just make sure you’re not wearing anything too distracting.
Invest in a few pairs of shoes that’ll go with everything.
Good shoes are so important for alignment, comfort and overall health. Once you put on a pair of shoes, you’re committed to wearing them all day. So invest in a couple of pairs of really comfortable, cute work shoes that you love. Start with shoes that go with everything for now — you can always get more unique shoes later.
When in doubt, go with a cute dress.
Thankfully, gone are the days when a pantsuit was the mandatory uniform of the working woman. With that, comes the double-edged sword of choice. There seems to be limitless options when it comes to work clothes. It can be overwhelming, especially if you can never quite make dress pants work for your body type or if every morning is a struggle to match your top with your bottom. Luckily, I’m here with the answer and it’s easier than you think: dresses. Yes, dresses — the most underutilized professional wardrobe essential there is. There are so many reasons to love dresses. They’re comfortable, versatile, easy, flattering, and they’re only one piece. Find a fit that works well for you, then let your personality shine through in the color and pattern.
Buy convertible pieces.
The best fashion investments are ones that can be worn over and over again. Try to only buy things you love to ensure you won’t get sick of them. To get the most bang for your buck, buy clothes that also work well on weekends, dressed down. Gravitate towards tops that also go with jeans or a dress that looks cute with sandals. Bonus points if you can adjust it to work with any season. Always think about the full range of seasons when starting a new wardrobe.
Take care of your clothes.
An easy and cheap way to ensure you’re always looking your best at work is to take care of your clothes. Nothing says sloppy and unprofessional like rumpled and stained clothing. Fortunately, just a little attention to detail will go a long way. Take care of a $10 dress from H&M and it will keep you looking sharp for years. Air dry blouses to keep flow. In fact, air dry pretty much all of your clothes — it will preserve the color and structure of the fabric. While you’re at it, keep an iron handy. Banish lint and animal hair by keeping a lint roller by the door and always be vigilant about stains, missing buttons and loose threads.

So there you go! If you follow those tips and tricks you’ll have a professional wardrobe to die for in no time (or money) at all. In the words of famous designer Edith Head, “You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.”