A simple solution for corporate women

How do you shop for yourself?  What state are you in emotionally and physically as you go about replacing items that support you in your professional career?  Might seem like an odd question for some of you who love to shop but trust me, you are not the vast majority!

I have had some interesting conversations this week with professional women who love to shop and those who gasp for air at the very suggestion of a conscious planned shopping trip.  This week I have worked with two savvy business professionals at different stages in their lives.  Here are their stories.

Jane is a lawyer, height challenged, tiny frame, generous bust.  She spends most of her time in the courtroom representing her corporate clients and has a lovely husband and young children at home.  She's busy, needs to shop but is terrified.  Thanks to her mother in law, Jane decided I might be the solution to her wardrobe challenges.

After an hour consulting with Jane on colour, style expression, shape and drape it was time to book a 2 hour power shop at Melbourne's Fashion Capital, Chadstone.  Based on Jane's needs, I did my research based on what I knew would work for her career, lifestyle and budget.   Yes, some people have a clothing budget!  Clever huh?  Considering the cost per wear, you can save heaps purchasing the right garment.

We weaved in and out of 4 places making quick changes and placing items on hold.  Armed with pins, I adjusted hems and pinned in tiny alterations to make the garment perfect.  As Jane was changing back into her gear I was out the front with the manager negotiating the best price.  Retail fashion is down 4.9% right now.  We have some bargaining power.   Jane tried on garments that she would never have considered.  Her mind needed stretching.  The end result?  She spent less than she planned.  Got rid of the corporate suit and created a very smart business casual look that works for her career and home life.  "My only regret is not meeting Helen 10 years ago.  All the money I wasted on outfits that never felt 'quite right' and years of feeling self conscious rather than empowered.  It could all have been avoided.  Helen has taught me to like myself, to feel like I do belong in the corporate world and I had fun the entire time I was with her."

It all comes down to being conscious about where you are in the cycle.  So many corporate women are unconscious or only semi conscious in how they approach their professional wardrobe.

Imagine for a moment that you wear every garment in your wardrobe.  Can you?  Most of us wear only 20%.  So how much money are you wasting?  I know, you DONT want to go there, do you?

Getting conscious about your professional image is a decision.  You get to choose it.  No-one else can.

Sue is Jane's polar opposite.  She loves to shop and has more shoes than anyone I know!  Sue loves to dance, is recently divorced.  She runs her own accounting business and is back on the dating scene.  Her block was the smart casual look.  Suits are easy.  Anyone can do that.  This is the toughest component of most corporate women's wardrobes.

We added in a high contrast trans-seasonal trench coat and some very smart cardis, not the nanna cardi with the little round neck!  Check out the cardi on the right, soft draping collar.  Smart, NOT nanna.  Sue was convinced we would not find great fit on her body.  We did!  Simple straight leg jeans, accessories in signature colours and a couple of knock out dresses that will serve her for work with a jacket and head out to dinner with a fabulous heel and some great earrings.  A few new pieces have served to enhance and freshen up Sue's existing wardrobe.  She had fun and discovered a new way to look at herself and make her wardrobe work harder.

The solution is simple for corporate women.  It can be done in a timely, no fusss manner and the good news is that you get to claim your image advisor's services on your tax.  Too easy.

Love to hear about your shopping experiences.  What worked, what didn't?  Share your story below.