If you're a soon-to-be college graduate, the big day is just around the corner. If things go well, another big event is also on the way - the winning job interview and then those first weeks and months on the job.
One problem facing female college students is that after years of jeans and sweaters, they don't have a wardrobe for the working world. And most don't have much extra cash.What to do?
Start planning a core wardrobe now, advises Leslie Rudd, a personal shopper at ZCMI. As few as 12 carefully chosen, color-coordinated pieces can form the basis for a good working wardrobe. (See sidebar.)
A really smart shopper can put core outfits together for about $500, especially if she scours the sales. The absolute basics - a matching jacket, skirt and pants - can be had for about $300. Most women need to spend more - and they probably will. But it's possible to start here and add more items over time.
Rudd also suggests women allocate about $60 for good shoes.
After the rigors of college courses, exams, resume-writing and pounding the pavement for work, thinking about clothes might seem downright frivolous, but it's an essential part of launching a career.
"You can't discount the importance of a good first impression," said Rudd. "Clothes are an investment."
A lot of women seem to agree.
Rudd and another personal shopper, Judy King, frequently present seminars on wardrobe building to large groups of working women. Not long ago, Rudd advised female students at the University of Utah Law School and King recently gave a presentation to female teachers in the Jordan School District.
Rudd and King usually provide personal shopping services on an individual basis for women already in the work force. They also have helped soon-to-be college graduates, moms who are re-entering the outside working world, women who have lost a lot of weight and no longer have anything that fits, and women who have changed careers.
King, for example, helped a woman who was switching from a military career to the civilian work place. She had always worn uniforms and didn't have any clothes for a regular office.
As a demonstration for the Deseret News, Rudd and King recently assembled a 12-piece basic mix and match wardrobe for only $642 - but they're professionals with the time and know-how to comb the sales racks.
They both suggest that a woman just starting a career wardrobe put the most money into three "hard" pieces - a matching jacket, skirt and pants. Don't blow the budget on these, but remember that these things will be worn and cleaned repeatedly and good quality fabrics and styling hold up better in the long run.
"Consider the price per wearing on the hard pieces," advises King.
Look for a classic silhouette and a versatile fabric such as a lightweight wool or high quality wool blend.
"You can build a year-round wardrobe if you pick the right fabrics," Rudd said. "A nice quality jacket also makes other less expensive pieces look good."
It's also important to choose a neutral color such as black, gray, navy or camel.
This monochromatic scheme or "head-to-toe dressing" camouflages a lot of figure flaws as well as providing plenty of mileages from a limited number of items.
The whole idea of having just a few garments in the same one or two colors might seem dull to many people, but Rudd said imaginative combinations and "layering" can create new looks. "You could easily wear the jacket three times in the week and I don't think anyone would notice," Rudd said.
This mixing and matching business is the key to making only 12 pieces of clothing work.
The next step is buying (or searching the closet) for "soft" pieces such as a classic white long sleeve shirt that can go with anything. After that, try a black mock turtle neck top with short sleeves, a black-and-white floral blouse, a white cardigan sweater, herringbone pants, a black-and-white plaid skirt and a shiny satin black-and-white flowered vest. For color, add a red jacket and red jewel neck knit shell with short sleeves.
If you've got a little extra money, a black-and-white floral skirt to go with the floral blouse would be useful and pretty.
Deftly whisking one garment here and another there, pairing this with one thing and that with another, the two women quickly demonstrate how many ensembles can be created from 12 basic items.
More variations can be had by a couple of inexpensive scarves and some costume jewelry.
Both Rudd and King said they had never calculated how many combinations they could get from a collection of basics.
"The possibilities are endless," Rudd said.
"See, this totally changes the look of the suit," King added as she first placed a colorful scarf and gold earrings with the black mock turtle neck, then switched to the floral blouse and silver jewelry.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Mix & match
Leslie Rudd and Judy King's suggestions for a basic 12-piece mix and match wardrobe:
1. Black jacket.
2. Matching black skirt.
3. Matching black pants.
4. White long sleeve shirt.
5. Black mock turtle neck top with short sleeves.
6. Black-and-white floral blouse.
7. White cardigan with black trim.
8. Herringbone pants.
9. Black-and-white plaid skirt.
10. Black-and-white flowered vest.
11. Red jacket.
12. Red jewel neck knit shell with short sleeves.