Building a Wardrobe on a Budget

 

Before going out to the mall and spending a lot of your hard-earned money on new clothing, here are some easy ways to help you build a great wardrobe on a budget.

Make a list of clothing items you need in your wardrobe

Decide what articles of clothing you what to wear on a daily

basis {don't forget about shoes, socks and accessories}. For example, if you work in an office where you have to dress professionally, you may need to purchase a suit or at least dress pants, dress shirts and ties. Also include clothing for the weekends, evenings out and casual events.

 

Buying wardrobe basics

 

 Wardrobe basics will match a variety of items in your closet. Some basic staples everyone should own include: a navy or oxford gray suit, navy blazer, black gray and khaki pants, white and light blue dress shirts, boot cut jeans, just to name a few; these items are great because they can be worn a variety of ways.

When purchasing basic wardrobe staples, it is a good idea to spend a little more money and purchase clothing that is of good quality. Even thought you will be paying more, you will be wearing it often, so you can justify the expense.

Only buy clothing that will match at least five items you already own

 

 Before you buy anything new make sure it can be worn with at least three other items

you already have in your wardrobe. That way, you won't have to buy more clothes to match what what you just purchased.

Fit is Everything

 

There is nothing worse than having a wardrobe of expensive clothes that do not fit you well. When buying clothing, it is very important that the fit flatters your body shape. It doesn't matter how much you paid or the designer name, when you buy something that is too big or too small you look sloppy and unprofessional.

 

Take your time and buy clothing that complements your body shape. Keep in mind that sometimes you will need to have certain items tailored in order to get the perfect fit.

 

Don't be in a hurry to purchase a lot of items at one time

 

Sometimes you will get lucky and find everything you need for a great price at one store but you can save money by doing comparison shopping at various stores. You might even want to check online. There are quite a few websites that offer discounts on designer clothing.

Always shop the sale

 

Eventually everything goes on sale-before you buy anything anywhere make sure you find out if that store is going to have a sale. Some stores have a preview day the day before the sale where you can shop and avoid the big crowds.

 

Sign up for shopper programs and store mailing lists

 

Also, you can save money by joining shopper programs and signing up for the mailing list for your favorite stores. Along with notifying you of upcoming sales, some stores will e-mail you coupons that you can print out and use to save money. If you have a store where you love to shop, go to their website and see if they have an e-mail list you can subscribe to.    





 



 







 

 

 



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What to Wear on an Interview

The University of Illinois Extension states that 55 percent of  employer's first impression is based on the appearance and body language of the prospective employee.

Three clothing styles exist for men: formal business, informal business and casual wear. If the dress code of the company is formal business, a suit is preferred. A suit jacket with matching slacks will pass as formal dress. wool or wool-blend fabrics in neutral conservative colors, such as navy, tan, gray and black are recommended. Wear a quality silk tie against a white, solid-colored or conservatively striped shirt. Your tie should not be flashy or have characters on it. Match dark mid-calf length socks, leather slip-on or laced shoes and a leather belt to complement your suit. Your belt and shoes should match in color. Eliminate all jewelry except a watch. Informal business wear includes a sport coat or blazer with a pair of wool slacks. Slacks with a dress shirt and tie are also acceptable. For companies where casual wear is worn, such as maintenance or construction jobs, wear a collared shirt with khakis. Never wear jeans or sport shoes for a job interview.

Grooming Tips

Don't forget the details. Clean, neat hair and manicured fingernails are essential. Clothing should fit well and be clean and pressed. Odors in clothing, such as perfume, cologne or smoke may be disagreeable to the interviewer. Limit their use. Cover tattoos with clothing and remove piercings. Avoid unnatural hair colors or hairstyle that fall into your face. Polish your shoes and check clothing for missing buttons or tags before the day of your interview.







Blazers

As men finally begin to embrace elegance again, leaving their wrinkled, untucked selves behind, the blazer has emerged as the new hoodie. In fact,the blazer is perhaps the single most significant piece of clothing in a man's wardrobe, not to mention one of the most versatile. It is perfectly suited to our ever-fluctuating dress code. The navy blazer is your little black dress. Just don't accessorize with heels.

In theory, the navy blazer is a rather uncomplicated piece of clothing. That said, it can be remarkably different depending on fabric, fit and style.You want to find as rich a shade of navy blue as possible. Duller tones tend to look cheap. You want your go-to blazer to be plush and convey warmth. Whether of linen, wool or cashmere, the right navy blazer will always make you look like you put in more effort than you actually did.Pair it with shirts in bright white, soft blues and pinks or any shade of gray.Just avoid crests and unless you're piloting a yacht, pass on the brass.

Shirts

                           
Once upon a time, the average working guy's closet contained maybe a dozen off-the-rack button-down shirts all in blue or white. But in the last decade with mostly positive results men have become braver, savvier and more discerning. Bright colors, stripes and prints have infiltrated their wardrobes. Shirts with spread collars and French cuffs are rubbing shoulders with all-American Brooks Brothers models. As this sartorial renaissance unfolds, men are also developing an appreciation for the most crucial part of shirt selection, fit.No matter how much a button down shirt cost, if it isn't cut precisely to fit the wearer's body, it's a liability which means the shirtmakers on Savile Row who once seemed destined to become dinosaurs now seem progressive. So seize the moment and make some room in your closet. Start with the perfect white shirt preferably a simple, custom-made one and go from there.

                                                      THE PERFECT FIT 
 
No matter what you paid for it or how trim your torso if your shirt doesn't fit properly, you're going to look like a schlump.Most men wear theirs a full half size too big. And a bloussy, billowy shirt is just as unflattering as a skin-tight one. And while you may have your measurements memorized, the numbers don't always add up no two manufacturers' shirts fit exactly alike. Try a shirt on before you buy it, take an honest look at yourself in the mirror and follow these guidelines for honing in on the perfect fit:

THE TORSO
There's a lot of middle ground between too loose and too tight. Find it. The shirt should be snug in the chest, but not so snug that the fabric pulls between the buttons.

THE BACK
Beefier guys should get a shirt with box pleats in the back-two folds between the shoulder blades - for a little  more room, without extra volume. Those with slimmer builds should opt for fitted style that contour down toward the waist. Either way, the seams of the shirt should lie on the curve of your deltoids (those are the muscles right behind your shoulders - the ones you'd work if you did push-ups).

THE WAIST
Sit down while you're wearing the shirt. It should skim your waist but leave just enought room to give when you're seated (and full).

THE NECK
The golden rule here hasn't changed: You should be able to comfortably fit two fingers in between your neck and the collar of the shirt when it's buttoned.

THE SLEEVES
The cuffs of the shirt should fall in the crook between the base of your thumb and your wrist.

THE TAILS
The tails should be long enough to lie under your rear end when you're seated. That will prevent the shirt from riding up or coming untucked, it will also give you better posture.

You Have Just Thirty Seconds

Social psychologists studying the impact of image have determined that's how long it takes for someone meeting you to form a whole laundry list of impressions about your character and abilities. The list of impressions encompasses:

• Educational level
• Career competence and success
• Personality
• Level of sophistication
• Trustworthiness
• Sense of humor
• Social heritage

Now, thirty seconds doesn't give time to pull out your collage transcript, showcase your resume or present character references. It doesn't allow any time to explain that you have talent, skills, training and a substantial list of truly satisfied employers and customers.

In thirty seconds, people form all those different impressions based almost entirely on what they see -your clothes, hairstyle, carriage, smile and the rest of your nonverbal communications. Appearances do count.

These quick impressions can be lasting ones. Psychologists call it the halo effect. When your visual message is positive, the person you've just met will tend to assume that other aspects about you are equally positive. But unfortunately, if your visual message is negative, that new customer, client, coworker or prospective employer may not spend the time and effort to discover the talented person inside, even with a terrific grade point average.