Review the Working Wardrobe section of this site and get a good feel for how this concept works.

Start a fashion notebook or file, gathering clippings of things that fit your Corporate Image and are the right color and style for your wardrobe.

Organize your closet and separate all items appropriate for business wear into one section. Separate your suits and have a section for jackets, one for pants, one for skirts, one for blouses, etc.

Review your items you consider acceptable for your Working Wardrobe and make a list of what you need to create a complete Corporate Wardrobe. Working Wardrobes use lots of neutral colors, which are usually easier to find and can be mixed with many other colors and textures.

Determine your budget and stick to it. If this requires using consignment stores or even garage sales, so be it. As your Corporate Apparel improves, so will your performance and you will be on the pathway to salary increases or having more career choices open to you.

Spend most of your money on separates. They are more versatile and not as memorable if you wear them more often. They're also easier to fit if you don't have a perfectly proportioned body. Most of us don't!

When purchasing a garment, consider fabric first, then quality of construction before looking at style and color.

Calculate your cost per wear of a garment. If it's a rayon blend dress on sale for $20, it sounds like quite a bargain. If it shrinks or fades during the first wash or dry-cleaning, it was a waste of $20. A $150 blazer you wear for five years will cost you $2.50/month. That $20 dress could cost you $10 month for two months.

Shop the more exclusive stores and departments to educate yourself on what quality and classic styling looks like. Then be sure to check wear-tested apparel such as Ingenuity, Christian Brooks, and our Men’s Suit/Separates.

Buy as many quality garments as you can afford. You can supplement with lesser-priced items to stay in your budget.

Get a good fit, regardless of the size. Who really turns down your collars to look at your size? And how many of us have spent days in uncomfortable clothes simply because we refuse to buy one size up. Sure you can lose weight. In the meantime wear clothes that fit properly and are comfortable to sit and walk in.

Do not buy into new styles immediately. Learn the difference between a fad (here today, gone tomorrow) and a trend (will be around for several seasons).

Look for fabrics that are good for year-round wear. Check the label for fabric content. Natural fabrics are usually higher quality but cost more to maintain. Synthetics are easy care but may not be as well made. There are many polyester yarns now that look almost exactly like a much more expensive natural fabric. Blends can give you the best of both worlds. Polyester blended with wool is resistant to creases, wrinkles, shrinkage, snagging and many are machine washable.

If you have a hard to fit figure, invest in alterations to get that perfect fit. Once you try it and see the difference it makes in your appearance, you’ll be hooked.

Always, always go Shopping With a Mission. Is it a blouse that works with four of your bottoms and two jackets? How about a two-piece dress that can be worn together or separately as a blouse and new bottom? When you enter the store, you know what you need. If it’s not there, you exit quickly and go to the next one. No unworn garments hanging in your closet and no closet full of mishmash that doesn’t work together.