Dress for Success on a Budget: 9 Tops Under $27 That Go From Business to Dressy Casual
I finally broke down and bought the new Apple watch. Last year, I misplaced the one my husband gave me as an anniversary present and I refused to buy a new one, sure it would eventually show up. After a year, I faced the reality that it probably wasn’t going to make an appearance…it was gone for good. 😞
When my watch finally came in the mail I was reminded of the incredible job Apple does on the packaging of it’s products. Every part of the packaging felt like someone had spent a painstaking amount of time to make sure it was PERFECT.
Would I have liked the watch any less if the packaging was subpar? Probably not, but it definitely elevated the experienced and reinforced my buying decision BEFORE I even had the watch on my wrist. That’s what good packaging can do.
So why do I start with the Apple watch story in an article about dressing for success?
We’ve all heard the saying, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover!” But the reality is that I have put a book back on the store shelf because the cover was a bit cheeseball. C’mon…fess up! You’ve probably done it too.
Now by no means am I saying we should judge people based solely on their outward appearances, but when we are in the business of helping people find their home, we have to realize that we are an extension of our community.
A lot of effort goes into designing the aesthetics of a community prior to construction. Hours are spent designing the model unit and common areas. Thousands of dollars are spent on landscaping to create the right curb appeal. ALL TO GIVE THE RIGHT FIRST IMPRESSION.
But what about us? What about our teams?
Why Your Dress & Grooming Matters as a Multifamily Professional
We are the personal representation of our brand - our community!
Our dress and grooming matters.
Studies show that first impressions are made in less than 7 seconds. That’s not a lot of time to make the right first impression. So a professional outfit that represents our personality PLUS a welcoming smile can say a lot in 7 seconds. After that, our skills and personality should kick in to do the rest. 😉
If your outfit is wrinkled, your hair is disheveled and you smell less than fresh, what does that say?
As a prospect, I would be thinking “If they don’t care enough about themselves how well will they care for this community?” Food for thought.
“The first step to be respected is to look respectable. ”
Download the worksheet free or purchase the entire Leasing Blueprint PDF Download.
That’s why when I created The Sprout Leasing Blueprint (a leasing professionals BFF) with my team, one of the first things I included was a Dressing Dos & Don’ts Checklist.
It’s just a little visual reminder of the basics of presenting the best when it comes to our dress and grooming.
Grab the resource here and post it somewhere that can serve as a visual cue for your entire team. >>>>>>>>>
But does dressing for success mean spending a ton of money?
What if you don’t have an endless budget?
I’m so glad you asked. The short answer is No! Not at all.
Dressing for success can be done on a budget and I’d even go so far as to say it’s a fun challenge to see how you can build a wardrobe by stretching a buck.
I’d love to share with you the principles I use when building out my wardrobe. I hope they are helpful to you too!
My principles for building your professional wardrobe on a budget
Spend some time deciding on your signature look
This is unique to you, your comfort level and body type. It may take some experimenting, but think back to when you have felt your best. What were you wearing (and don’t say yoga pants!) What do people compliment you for wearing? (Think colors and fit!) For me, I love a flowy top with a pencil skirt, straight leg pants or fitted, dark jeans.
Figuring out your signature style doesn’t mean that you can’t add variety, it’s just an easy way to save yourself the stress of not knowing what to wear. Think of your signature style as a formula to building a foolproof outfit that you are going to feel good in. And when you feel good (and you don’t have to blow up your closet before 8 am), you look good too!
Look for pieces that can be worn more than one way
I have a fairly small closet, so instead of cramming as much as I can in, I’d rather go for pieces that can be worn in many different ways. For me that means looking for tops that can easily be worn everything- pants, skirts and jeans. I also like tops that work well under a blazer or leather jacket. This allows me to keep a smaller amount of clothes, but all pieces I love.
Look for pieces that transition from work to happy hour
Along the same lines of the above principle, I love a top that serves a dual purpose. That means if I can switch from a skirt to jeans and keep everything else the same, I’m a happy lady!
Invest in quality basics
I like to have a few skirts and pants in colors that go with a lot (think neutrals) and then add a few seasonal colors throughout the year. Year round I am rotating a black skirt, navy skirt, animal print skirt and cream skirt. In the spring, I might throw in a pastel pink skirt and in the fall I love jewel tones. The point is I don’t need 20 skirts to feel like I have a great wardrobe. I have a few that I LOVE and can mix up. You can follow this same principles with pants too!
These quality basics DON’T have to be expensive. Full transparency here: My two favorite skirts, the J. Crew cream in the pictures below and a Talbots black skirt not pictured, are both from a thrift store that cost me under $10 a piece and I’ve had them for years! I found a Burberry black skirt at a thrift store for $18 with tags for $330. I love to find a high quality skirt for a fraction of the price!
If your company allows you to wear denim go for dark, high quality DENIM
Dark denim still says professional.
I love a denim with a little stretch, but make sure they aren’t skin tight.
The ones pictured are Banana Republic and have a jagged edge which I would probably roll up if I was going into an office with a stricter dress code. Since I work in a marketing firm, a little edge is okay.
Denim can be expensive! These were originally $98, but I waited for a sale ($58) and then I had a $10 coupon. So I ended up spending $48 plus tax. Still not dirt cheap, but after two years, the stretch is still fantastic and the color hasn’t faded. That’s worth it to me!
Shoes - a little goes a long way
I would recommend to start with a nude heel. You will be surprised how it goes with just about everything and is almost universally flattering. In a skirt, it makes your legs look longer!
Purchase a few basic colors over time in the order of what you wear most. For me that looks like a pair of nude, black, and navy heels. To add a little fun to my overall wardrobe, I also have a pair of red and animal print heels. As a splurge, I bought the cream heels with the pearls.
This is just my personal preference: I love a 3-4 inch heel with a pointed toe. I think it’s elegant and classic and I can walk in them without looking like a baby giraffe.
TJ Maxx and Marshall’s are my favorites for shoes! I find DSW overwhelming and overpriced, but I have friends that swear by DSW. My favorite brands for fit are Jessica Simpson, Nine West (the classics), and Michael Kors (bought at Marshall’s or TJ Maxx). I don’t discriminate when it comes to shoes…if I see a pair that’s inexpensive from an unknown brand that I like, I’ll buy them. I don’t buy crazy expensive shoes because I don’t want to worry about messing up an $800 pair of shoes. That’s just too much pressure for me. But if you red soles are what make your heart flutter, you do you!
Accessories - the Place for your personality to shine
I am no expert here but I subscribe to the less is more philosophy when it comes to accessories.
When it comes to jewelry you’ll find me in my wedding ring, a simple bracelet and a gold necklace. Right now I’m rotating between a few favorites from MadeByMarci.
An animal print belt (check it out below).
Bags: This is an area that I like to splurge from time to time. Over the years, I’ve treated myself to a few designer bags when I’ve reached a big goal. I view them as collector pieces!
Focus on fit, not size
You really might want to fit in a size 6 pair of jeans, but the size 8 might fit better. This is where I want to be your BFF whispering in your ear. Don’t get hung up on what that stupid tag says. After all, you're the only one that will ever see it. What people will see is how something fits. Things that are overly tight or that you have to be adjusting all day long are distracting and uncomfortable. Really focus on fit and you’ll see how much you look forward to putting on your clothes.
Now that you know the principles I use, I want to show you how I’ve done this with a few Amazon tops and then a few classic pieces from my closet. You can click on any of the tops to check them out. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Check out MadebyMarci.com or click on any of the photos to see all of the options.
9 of My Tops Under $30 That Go From Work to Happy Hour
The Animal Print Flowy Top: Under $25
This top works well with a cream skirt (pictured), a black skirt or a bright, solid color like orange!
2. The Universally Flattering Black Top: Under $30
What does this skirt go with? Basically everything!
PS: This is the same top as the animal print. I actually have this shirt in red and hot pink and I get a ton of wear out of all the colors.
3. The Spring Fling Top: Under $25
What you don’t see here is that this shirt can also tie in the front. I wear it that way sometimes for a casual look, but I prefer a half tuck. My favorite part of the shirt are the sleeves…super fun!
4. The Button Down Bell Sleeve: Under $25
This is another top that I have in a few colors (cream, pink and baby blue). It also can tie in the front, but I like the look of it tucked in.
5. The Bright Orange Floral: Under $25
I love this top and I wear it sometimes with my blue skirt or my cream skirt. It’s one of those tops that when I wear it, someone always compliments the color. It’s also the perfect top to wear if you need to turn your mood around. You literally can’t wear this and be grouchy. It has the same great bell sleeves, but with the added detail in the collar.
6. The “Kimono” Shirt: Under $20
This isn’t a kimono, but it has that feel. It is so flattering because of the knotted detail (think - no sucking in after lunch)! It is a little low cut so I wear it with a cami underneath.
7. The Elegant Black Top: Under $10
I love this top by itself or under a blazer. There is something just really elegant about it and literally goes with everything! I recommend a cami under this one too.
8. The Elegant Cream Top: under $10
This is the same as the back top, but just in cream. What can I say, it’s a classic and I think it will look good on many body types.
9. Just for Fun - Lashy & Sassy: Under $15
This top may not be for everyone, but if you have a little wiggle room for fun at your community this top works great under a fun blazer or alone tucked into a skirt. I love that it’s playful and shows a little personality!
