Cheapest/best value office clothes store (ladies) for basics in First Job?

alisonmeyers

I'm posting this on behalf of my 21 year old cousin since my own knowledge of ladies clothes stores is limited to the local section of Asda for basics and Next for better stuff, and is obviously quite limited since having DCs and cash/time limitations :rotfl:

OK she has just had her first job offer for starting at the end of August :T Just a normal office, and she has £80 to spend on everything to wear formally, aside from the one or two acceptable shirts she owns and the black skirt she wore to the interviews. I've offered to top it up by £20, so she has £100 total to spend on:

Formal shoes (she borrowed a pair off me for interview)
A few more skirts/trousers
More shirts
Maybe a jacket or two
Possibly a plain bag (the rucksack she normally uses might suffice)
A formal coat/outdoor jacket

The stores that she can get to near their house easily are:
Asda George
Matalan
Next
Primark
Tesco clothing
Zara (will be too expensive)
H&M (no idea about its prices or range)
GAP (again no idea about prices but I think this one is quite expensive?)

Other than trying the Asda range, I've suggested she try on one of the matalan "20% off days" which I've seen pop up regularly (I'm not sure when the next one is though..) and I'm also unsure if taking her to the Primark will be a good idea, since we don't have one near me and I don't know what their range is like - their website doesn't seem to have much indication of average prices.

So - can anyone with knowledge of the stores above tell me if the range in them is likely to be good enough for the "office basics" trip we're going on in 2 weeks or which is liekly to be cheapest for that small ish budget? Or is there another large discount type shop that's good for her budget that I'm forgetting about?

The clothes don't have to be the best quality because she plans to buy more stuff once a few paychecks come through Unfortunately she's 3 sizes smaller than me so it's not like I can help her out with some of the clothing myself.

chanie

A hundred pounds won't get you far at the moment unfortunately. My suggestion is to think 'capsule wardrobe' whereby everything can be mixed and matched. For example, a plain white shirt can be worn with black trousers or a camel coloured skirt. IF she buys easy to wear seperates, she can combine them all. Matalans do some plain jersey tops for about £4-£5 each.

Most of the shops you've suggested are fine and you should be able to pick up a few items in each store. Primark isn't all that. It used to be cheap, but prices have gone up. I don't think its worth going to one if it isn't local, but if you have one near you, then check it out.



PS - tell her congratulations.

Emmzi

if she's a size 14, yours online sale always nets a bag of stuff for a tonne. you will struggle for proper tailored jackets, she may have to live with just one until payday.

purplepardalis

Charity shops will be a good bet for a suit or jacket. Especially a charity shop in a commuter town if you live near one

getmore4less

Second charity shops

but be prepared to do loads.


Just how formal is this office. what were the other wearing when she went round.

If not sure go and camp outside at start/finish times and find out.

first thing is a full audit the current wardrobe of clothes to asess what is usable.

Should have pointed out you end up getting better stuff for the cheap prices
eg will be able to afford a decent coat £50-£100 coats will be less than £10.

If going new you are limited to the bottom end stuff across the board.

kingfisherblue

Will she need a jacket and a formal outdoor coat? In many offices, a pair of black pants and a decent top or blouse will suffice.

Matalan have black pants from about £6 - apart from the hem coming down, I have had no problems with the pairs that I won, and have had them for a couple of years (I don't work, but do wear them around the house, on courses, etc). My daughter has just nabbed them for work as we are the same size. I have also bought navy, grey, and brown from Matalan and never paid more than £10 a pair.

Next have some blouses from £6 in the sale that started today. Otherwise, Matalan again.

TBH, I could easily get more than enough clothes for an office job with less than £100 in Matalan.

baybeebug

Tesco are having a sale online loads of stuff about £6/7 and you'll get points

925dancer

New Look as well.

She will not get a coat or jacket unless she hits on a bargain in a charity shop. It's pretty unnecessary though as you don't wear your coat once you're in the office! She also doesn't need a "formal" bag.

She's just got to shop clever and forget about items other than what will be seen once she's working for the moment.

So, a couple pairs of trousers, a couple of skirts, pair of shoes and a couple of tops to start off. If she has any left over, perhaps a suit jacket. I have worked in pretty formal environments and the need for women to wear a suit jacket is rare.

Everything else can wait until she starts getting paid, it's one month max before she can start adding a couple of things every month.

baybeebug

also bear in mind it summer and it will be warm so may not need a coat but just £2 umbrella from primark!!!

claire16c

Has she been told she has to dress really formally or are you just assuming? Because most offices I know of, people don't dress up that formally anymore, you are just expected to look presentable, so she could buy her clothes from pretty much any cheap fashion shop. I haven't seen any women wearing a suit jacket for years. she might not even have to wear a shirt, just a nice top and skirt or trousers. And some offices have dress down fridays so she could be in her jeans that day!

If she definitely have to wear formal stuff, New Look and Primark would be good for basis like skirts, trousers and shirts and even a cheap suit if she really needed one but I wouldnt buy it yet. You wont need a formal coat in this weather and like others have mentioned its not like shed be wearing it in the office so could wear whatever coat she wanted. New Look also have great priced shoes.

If I was her, I would wait to buy stuff until Id been at the job for a couple of days to check what everyone else is wearing first. Theres no point buying a load of stuff and then finding out its not suitable! And sounds like she has enough to keep her going until then.

heretolearn_2

Primark.

I used to get my work blouses/trousers in the nicer High Street Shops but I've found the Primark stuff is good enough and a lot cheaper. They do womens work blouses for £3.50 and have a range of different colours/long sleeve/short sleeve so you can pick out a week's worth easily. They wash well, look fine (not see through or anything) and I use them all the time. So a week's shirts = £17.50.

Primark black trousers 2 pairs at £8 = £16.

Leaves £66.50 to go get a cheap pair of shoes (£20?) and the rest on a jacket (that's one item it is worth spending a bit more on, go to Dorothy Perkins or somewhere for a good choice).

She doesn't need a special coat or bag. The above will get her through to her first pay cheque when she can start adding a couple of items a month till she is happy with her work wardrobe.