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<p>Professional clothing can be expensive, especially for college students and recent graduates. And if you&#8217;ve been out of the workforce for a while, whether due to unemployment or other reasons, you may need to update your professional wardrobe. Building a wardrobe doesn&#8217;t have to cost a lot of money if you know where to look and learn how to maximize a small amount of pieces. Read on for some ideas to build your career wardrobe for little or no money.</p>
<p><strong>Have a clothing swap.</strong> Get some of your friends and family members together for a clothing swap. They don&#8217;t have to be your size in order to participate, because you may also find accessories (ties, handbags, etc.) to bolster your wardrobe. With a clothing swap, you can unload some of your unwanted items while also picking up some much-needed professional clothing.</p>
<p><strong>Scope out thrift stores. </strong>You might be surprised at the quality and selection of items at your local second-hand stores. Often people overlook thrift stores because they don&#8217;t tend to advertise and items aren&#8217;t well-organized. But if you take the time to look through everything and visit your local thrift stores regularly, you may find just the right outfit to start your career wardrobe.</p>
<p><strong>Charitable organizations can help. </strong>Some places, like Goodwill, are akin to thrift stores. You simply browse low-priced items for what you want. Others, like <a href="https://www.dressforsuccess.org/">Dress for Success</a>, are specifically designed to help you find clothes for work. Also check with religious organizations to see if they have donated clothing items.</p>
<p><strong>Inexpensive doesn&#8217;t mean low quality. </strong>You don&#8217;t have to shop department or specialty stores for a suit. You may find what you need at discount or mid-range stores. As with second-hand stores, you may need to work a little harder to find the right pieces. Even if the items don&#8217;t hold up as long as more expensive clothing, they can tide you over until you&#8217;re able to save up for more expensive clothes.<strong><br />
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<p><strong>Invest in a few key pieces and go cheap with the rest. </strong>You don&#8217;t need a lot of items to create a good work wardrobe. One good suit and a few dress shirts can carry you through the work week if you switch things up. Pick up some inexpensive accessories and use them to create a new look each day. You may also buy some less expensive pants or tops for more casual work days.</p>
<p>Building a professional wardrobe can seem intimidating, particularly if you&#8217;ve lived in casual clothes your entire life. But if you focus on acquiring a just a few essential pieces and look into all of the inexpensive options, it can be a lot easier (and cheaper) than you might think.</p>

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