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Looking spiffy for work as an advisor doesn’t mean taking out a second mortgage on your home. Here are some high-end brand picks that I saw at my local Goodwill store – top names such as Tommy Hilfiger and J. Crew and others like Nine West and Liz Claiborne. Each piece in this selection was priced at $15 or under. Don’t neglect second-hand stores – they are a fabulous bargain opportunity and a lot of fun at the same time.
Dissing Goodwill? Don’t even go there!
Now before everyone goes on a rant on APViewpoint about how I’m poverty stricken, am not very successful and as a result have to shop at Goodwill, let me stop the diss before it gets started.
Shopping second hand is something I love doing for my kids (one infant and two toddlers) because I have a bunch of them to shop for and they grow so quickly. Outside of undergarments and socks, I see no point in buying new clothes for three kids under four years old. Why should I buy a onesie fresh off the rack when they’re just going to spill everything on it, rip it, lose it, drool on it, and/or grow out of it in three months?
I love recycled clothing because it reduces waste. Hopefully the good karma of all the landfill space I’m saving will come back to me.
Do you know what interesting stories the people at yard sales have to tell about their treasures? “That tea cup set is from India,” a woman named Sally told me and my daughter. “I was a psychologist there years ago.” She had quite the story to tell us.
“A tea cup from India! Mommy, is that in the Bronx?”
I am not advocating that advisors shop at the Goodwill store for their whole wardrobe. Discretion is key. I look at my second-hand clothing trips as an adventure, a treasure hunt of sorts. Sifting through the rubble at my local Goodwill store to find the diamonds in the rough does takes some heavy filtering.
As these examples show, you just may manage to come up with were some pieces that were worn but in decent condition at a fraction of the price of retail.
1. Tommy Hilfiger sandals
These gems caught my eye right away from their perch on the shoe rack. There they were staring up at me, these gorgeous Tommy Hilfiger sandals. Perfect for a summer after hours event or meeting with a client when you want to look elegant without sweating to death.
I prefer wearing strappy sandals that cut the leg horizontally at the ankle with pants because I feel that they truncate my legs a bit too much. If I were to wear them with a skirt I would make it a longer, more close-fitting skirt that would emphasis my leg line rather than a short one. In general, the shorter the skirt the flatter the heel and vice versa.
2. J. Crew flats
It’s fun to experiment with different textures and patterns. I couldn’t help but snap a picture of these J. Crew flats. Not only is the zebra print a bit unusual, they have a furry texture as well.
I would use these as my “commuting to work” shoes. It’s energizing to wear an exciting pair of commuting shoes, much more so than any old drab pair of ballerina flats. There were some comfortable ones I call attention to in my last blog about female advisor fashion.
3. Bass loafer mules
G.H.Bass & Co. isn’t necessarily the most well-known brand, but many of their shoes are made from genuine leather (sorry to all you animal rights activists/vegetarians etc. reading this.) These mules are businesslike with a casual flair and not too high for the office heel. Mules like this tend to have a cushioned insole which can be very welcoming to slide into when you need relief.
4. Liz Claiborne heels
I’m a sucker for anything leopard and these jewels are to die for. I love how leopard can go with both black and well as many tones of brown, even yellow or orange in some cases.
Whenever I wear leopard, though, I have to exercise pattern control. The leopard in this pair of heels from Liz Claiborne provides enough zing. It should definitely be the only animal you bring with you to the office that day. You should leave the zebra, tiger cheetah and cow at the zoo.
5. Forever 21 shell
I very much enjoy pairing a plain tone suit with a jazzy shell underneath like this one from Forever 21. Get a neutral belt and wrap it under around your torso at midline to complete the look if you go without the blazer.
When picking a shirt, it’s important to match the neckline with your facial type. Scoop neck shirts like this can work for people like me because of the length of my neck and the shape of my chin line.
6. Nine West strappy sandals
These sandals from Nine West are just a nice basic piece. They did have some signs of wear and tear, so I wouldn’t adorn them for your biggest client meeting.
A piece like this would be great as a back-up shoe. I would always stash an extra pair of shoes in my drawer in case I broke a heel. It did happen a few times. Buying them second hand works because you obviously wouldn’t want to spend a fortune on a back-up pair of shoes that sits in the bottom of your file cabinet or the trunk of your car.
Semper paratus!
7. Tough to pin It down
My mother was a high-school teacher for many years and as a result of having to be in front of a class teaching for 40+ years she developed a killer style. The pins she would wear over the holidays, a wreath pin with a red cashmere sweater for example, made her look just adorable.
Pins can be great to stick onto a blazer, sweater, or coat or to fasten a scarf. Here is a snapshot of some options. I like the leaves at the bottom – very seasonal – and also the pearl blossoms at the top of the picture. I would use a bigger bolder pin for outerwear and go with a smaller, more subdued pin for your indoor clothing.
A little accessory can go a long way. These pins don’t have to be made of Tiffany diamonds and it’s obvious that’s not the case. Affluent people don’t expect you to be outfitted from head to toe with all that glitters. Accessories like pins are more “statement pieces” that are worn to display creativity and accent the look.
Sara’s Upshot
Everybody loves a bargain. The second-hand store is fun and makes a great deal of sense for those who are price conscious or maybe are trying out a new style and don’t want to invest a million dollars until they get it perfect. I’m going to be discussing this article in a few weeks on my podcast so if you’d like to hear more please subscribe here.
Sara Grillo, CFA, is a top financial writer with a focus on marketing and branding for investment management, financial planning, and RIA firms. Prior to launching her own firm, she was a financial advisor and worked at Lehman Brothers. Sara graduated from Harvard with a degree in English literature and has an MBA from NYU Stern in quantitative finance.
Read more articles by Sara Grillo
Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives.
