How to Dress the Part for Less (Men)

Anyone who has shopped for a professional wardrobe knows how daunting and expensive the task can be. Whether you are changing jobs or just starting your career and suddenly find yourself in a business dress environment it can be tough to swallow the cost of a whole new wardrobe. Luckily, for those with persistence and a little bit of time you can look the part for a fraction of the cost. The big name retailers will tell you it matters where you buy it. If you buy a good piece on discount, it’s still a great piece of clothing! Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Persistent
• Patience
• An eye for bargains

Steps to take to beef up your wardrobe

1. Assess the situation. What will it take to complete your wardrobe? If you are going into banking your wardrobe will look dramatically different from someone in graphic design.

2. Hit the big name stores first. Sounds crazy, right? But, you will get an idea of current styles and selections, and how much they will cost you.

3. Run, don't walk, to the nearest discount shop. Often your best bets will be TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, DSW, Stein Mart and Filene’s Basement. They all carry business attire at a fraction of the cost.

4. Build around basic choices. Black, navy and gray pants are great choices with matching jackets for at least two of them if you can wear sport coats (discount shops often carry overstock brand name suits for 50 to 75 percent or better off the retail price).

5. Find yourself a few versatile sport coats that can match at least two pair of your newly acquired pants. This will, in effect, triple your wardrobe.

6. Shirts are often the most versatile piece of clothing and you should start with the basics. Solid colors in white, blue (French or light blue are great) and even tan will go far. These can be worn with nearly any suit and ties are easy to match.

7. Fit to be tied. Ties are the best item to buy at a discount retailer. You can often find ties at 75 percent off of retail prices. Simply changing the tie can completely change an outfit. Plus, you can inject some color.

8. Step up to accessories. Shoes are an often overlooked portion of the wardrobe and that is a big mistake. Step into DSW and take a look at its selection. You can get a great pair of quality shoes that will stand up to the test of time. Stick with a basic pair of black and brown. Pick up matching belts at the other discount stores for a fraction of the big guys' costs.

9. Putting it all together. You will not be able to find all the items you want at one store like the big retailers. This is where persistence pays off. By visiting several stores you can put everything together and have a great wardrobe for less.

Tips & Warnings

• Proper fit is incredibly important. When you get your purchases home fine a good tailor. Ask around for recommendations. The proper fit can make any wardrobe look like a million bucks. It’s often attention to detail that separates the working stiffs from the ladder climbers!
• Remember to always inspect your clothing so you know what you are buying. Mixed in with the overstock you can find “irregular” clothing.

Resources

• TJ Maxx
• Filene's Basement
• DSW
• Stein Mart
• Marshall's