Start the new job with five pieces that mix

A start date is coming. What is in your closet is wrong for the job, and money is the reason you have not fixed it. It feels like a wardrobe problem, and a wardrobe sounds expensive. It is smaller than that, and you can begin it today.

Start with two bottoms and three tops in plain colours that all go together, and add more after your first week shows you what people at work wear.

If your job gives you a uniform, or the dress code is relaxed, you may need little of this; the end of the page says who else should skip parts of it.

Why five pieces, not five outfits

Many people suggest buying a small set of plain pieces that all go with each other, rather than a lot of cheap pieces that each work in one outfit. Two bottoms and three tops is the example they give, and it gives six pairings before you add anything on top. One person lists the same idea in its parts: dark trousers or skirts, plain light tops, and a blazer or cardigan to go over any of them. Another says a dress cuts out the matching altogether, if it is a dark colour that goes with a cardigan or blazer.

The worry is repeating yourself. One person says coworkers do not pay attention to what others wear unless it is dirty or inappropriate, and another says people barely notice repetition when the clothes are clean and the colours blend. Some people say a shirt twice in a week is acceptable, though how far that holds depends on the office and how visible you are in it.

Which to buy more of is not settled. One person suggests five tops and one pair of black trousers, because a shirt is more noticeable when it is worn again. Another says one pair of black trousers is enough for the first week or two, with the money going to two or three tops. What decides it, they said, is whether your workplace pays more attention to a repeated pair of trousers or a repeated top, and whether you can keep one pair spotless.

If you are angry about what this costs, one person’s reaction to a boss who commented on an employee’s appearance was that it is unprofessional when the dress code is being met and the pay cannot cover frequent updates. This page is about the money problem, not that argument.

Find out what people wear before you buy more

One person says to ask the hiring contact what clothes are acceptable, especially if you will meet clients. Another warns not to overspend until you know the feel of the office, since some are very casual. “Business casual” is read two ways. One person says it means slacks, button-up shirts and jackets, with jeans only on set days. Another says some offices accept dark jeans with a nice top, so watch your colleagues before investing in formal pieces. What decides it is the employer, which is why the first five pieces are the safe first buy, and the rest of the money can wait.

Where the clothes can come from, cheapest first

Free

Some people name neighbourhood giveaway groups and local charities, churches among them, as sources of free or nearly free work clothes. One person says family, friends and neighbours often hold clothes they have outgrown or have not yet donated. One person says giveaway groups are supportive of people starting a new job, and that you should say your sizes when you ask. One person says people who started working from home or changed size often hold work clothes they no longer wear. Some people name charities that dress job seekers for free, with the note that whether you can reach one depends on where you live; one is listed under Who can help below. One person says librarians and local resource centres often know of free clothing programmes that are hard to find online, and another that local community action programmes may run career closets for job seekers and new hires.

Second-hand

Many people name thrift stores as where they found work clothes, if they were willing to search. One person suggests church rummage sales and private-school sales, and says prices drop at the end of a sale. Some people say a thrift store’s stock follows the neighbourhood around it, and this site has a page called “Thrift where the rich people donate” on that.

It does not suit everyone, and the pushback is part of the advice. Some people say big thrift chains now price some things close to a regular store, while others still find clothes for a few dollars; they say prices differ by store and area. Shirts are the easier find, some people say, and trousers are harder if your waist or leg length is uncommon. Some people say thrift works if your size is a common one and you are patient, and that for very tall or very thin people, whose sizes are scarce, the hunting can cost more time than it saves.

New and cheap

Some people say off-price stores give better value on new work clothes than department stores at full price or the fast-fashion chains. Some people say department-store clearance sales and rewards programmes bring new clothes close to thrift prices. Stock varies by store, one person warns, and another that some stores will not honour an advertised discount unless you call ahead. One person suggests driving to stores in better-off areas for better stock. Some people say a big cheap chain has dropped in quality, with clothes falling apart after a few washes, and some say very cheap fast fashion has labour and environmental costs; another person answers that money comes first when it is this tight. That choice is yours.

Online resale

Some people name resale apps for bundles and for hunting a particular brand, often cheaper than new fast fashion. One person warns that shipping makes single items poor value, so buy bundles, and that an order may not come in time for a Monday start.

Fit beats price

Some people say a cheaper piece that fits looks more professional than an expensive piece that does not. Tailoring splits them. Some people call it a high-value spend on cheap clothes; others say alterations can cost more than the garment, and one person points out that a good hem costs more than people expect and takes time. One person says trousers are usually cheap to hem, while taking in shirt sleeves is not.

For a loose piece, some people suggest a belt, a cardigan or a clip at the back to make it look intended. Some people warn that sizes differ between brands and stores, so measure the garment against one that fits instead of trusting the label. One person says to look for loose stitching and fabric that fades before you buy, and another that shirts in thrift stores can have stains in the underarms. Some people say to skip anything dry-clean only, because the cleaning adds a cost; one person says dry cleaning a thrifted suit can come close to the price of the suit.

Shoes are where one person says not to skimp: cheap dress shoes wear out and hurt, so they cost more over time. Another says to break new shoes in before the first day.

Second-hand clothes and bed bugs

Some people raise bed bugs as a risk of second-hand clothes and online orders. Some people describe the same fix: put the clothes into a hot dryer. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency says a household dryer on high heat for 30 minutes kills bed bugs and their eggs, and that washing alone might not do the job. Some people say to dry the clothes before washing them, because wet cloth does not get hot enough in the dryer; the EPA page does not address the order, so the 30 minutes of high heat is the part to hold on to. Items that cannot go in a dryer are harder, and this page does not cover them.

Who this page is not for

If your employer gives you a uniform or pays for work clothes, most of this page may not apply to you.

If the office is relaxed, one person warns against spending before you know it. Five plain pieces may be more than you need.

If your size is at the edges of the usual range, a thrift store may cost you more in hours than it saves; some people suggest off-price stores or asking people you know instead.

If you will be in front of wealthy clients or giving presentations, one person says knowledgeable observers can tell thrift-store clothes even when they fit well, and suggests keeping them for everyday work.

This page does not cover how to split a small budget across items and shoes, how to raise clothing costs with an employer, or how to grow a wardrobe after your first paycheck; one person suggests adding a skirt after the first salary. It is written about the United States. The tax rule and the charity are American; elsewhere, check your own country’s.