Reader Question- Grown Up Wardrobe
This week, I received this question from a reader named Jessica:
I just recently graduated from law school and am now a full fledged working girl. I’m finding that a lot of the stuff in my closet, while appropriate for a student, is no longer okay for a professional living and working in NYC. My problem is, however, I don’t know where to start. What articles of clothing would you consider essential in developing a new, grown up wardrobe?
I’ll admit that this question stumped me at first. How does a college wardrobe evolve into a graduate school wardrobe and later on, into a grown up one?
First, take a good, hard look at your current closet. (Sometimes it helps to have a friend go through it with you.) Not only should you get rid of anything ill fitting or completely irrelevant to your current clothing needs, but you should also evaluate your basics. The first step in building a wardrobe is having that foundation of go-to pieces that are of great quality, fit perfectly, and won’t go out of style. Sure, Audrey Hepburn rocked Givenchy on a daily basis, but where would she be without those slim black pants?
Franco Sarto boots / Lands’ End Canvas blouse / LOFT pants / Topshop trench/ J Crew dress / Gap blazer / Cole Haan pumps
Now that you’ve got the basics covered, the secret to feeling more like a lady than a girl is simply the polish - that extra step to feel elegant, pulled together, and grown up.
J Crew mustard and fucshia skirts / Loft metallic skirt/ J Crew polka dot blouse / LOFT abstract top / J Crew Factory top (shop online weekends only!)/ Milly cocktail dress / Kate Spade tote (although I’ve seen the same style on Gilt before!) / Nars lipstick
A lady wears luxe fabrics - try silk blouses instead of cotton jersey, buy cashmere sweaters (so worth it!), and integrate metallics tastefully. Pencil skirts hug (or create) womanly curves and add a bit of professional polish. Invest in a beautiful leather bag that goes with everything. Living in New York affords you the ability to dress up more than you might in other places - so get some use out of your favorite cocktail dress over drinks with the girls- why not? The icing on the cake - treat yourself to a rich-hued lipstick. Your shocking pink pout will make you feel glamorous in no time.
If you have a fashion dilemma that I can solve or just want to say hi, drop me an email!
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