Fashion Fridays – SWAP: Upgrading for a New Job

This is the third SWAP installment for Fashion Fridays: Shopping With A Purpose!  The last two weeks we looked at Brandy’s executive shopping experience and how she polished casual Friday.  Today you meet one of my favorite people, Julie, who is tackling a new job at a new company and wanted to replace a few pieces and supplement some missing pieces in her career wardrobe.  Her specific emphasis for our shopping excursion was finding perfect work trousers.  It’s harder than it looks, right??

Julie has a small waist and we realized going in that she might need to use a tailor.  Recognize when shopping that simple fixes can be made so that a work piece falls perfectly.  An extra button, a hemmed pant, or a nipped waist are straightforward and reasonable fixes, so don’t let one small flaw scare you away from an otherwise perfect wardrobe item.

While the emphasis was on trousers, Julie ended up getting an assortment of pieces for work (and even one adorable mom-on-the-go dress for the weekend).  Here’s a summary of what Julie purchased to add to her existing work wardrobe (commentary by Julie):

Signature fit trouser leg Ann Taylor work pants in gray; Too high but very cute and comfortable tan heels with black bow; Fun tweed jacket (matching Brandy) from Talbots; Grey tailored jacket from Ann Taylor; Jade green casual summer dress from Loft; Black, gray and cream shell with crazy patterns from Loft (Gindi was so right about this one!  Love it!! Would never have picked this to try on. Thank you!!); Fushia shell at Loft; Tan trousers from Nordstrom (Why oh why are so many stores selling ankle pants and crop pants? Working girls need full length pants); Tan tailored jacket at Talbots; Two wrap dresses from Ann Taylor with different blues; Purple, white and navy striped blouse from Ann Taylor.  “Thank you for your help and advice. I feel confident in all my selections – that rarely happens! I love them too and cannot wait to wear them. I also know what size/fit/leg style to look for in pants at BR and AT.  Plus, some stuff was on sale. Score!  Favorite part: wine and Asian food with two of my favorite girls. You can take this girl shopping with the best and most organized help ever, but you cannot make this girl a shopper. :)”  Don’t y’all just love her?  She’s so funny.  And fun!

The big win was that not only did Julie find trousers (here she is doing the dance of joy when she found them!), but she also found which store, size, and style fit her.  Most stores have about four different shapes/cuts and sizing is all over the map, so in person shopping is key at the beginning.  Then, like Julie, you can order an assortment of colors on-line once you find what works for you:

In addition to some great trousers, we highlighted the other great pieces she found, including this staple khaki two button blazer that she can throw on with navy trousers and a bright blouse or a fun shirt and jeans and this lovely tweed blazer with hints of pink and green that will be perfect for fall:

Here’s that adorable blue AT work dress that will be perfect when paired with a cotton blazer or white cardigan sweater as well as the gorgeous paisley blouse that Julie TOTALLY fought me on because she doesn’t like pattern (always try things on before dismissing them!):

This shopping trip with Brandy and Julie was a blast, and it even helped me know what to look for when I’m shopping because I could see what worked and didn’t work for others.  What’s your essential work wardrobing item?  What wardrobe piece can you never seem to find?  What should every career woman possess?