Share this
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Simpy
StumbleUpon
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Blogmarks
Technorati
Newsvine
Ma.Gnolia
Googlize this
Blinklist
Facebook
Wikio
Hear this text
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
After college, I got a job working retail - selling hip women's clothing. I figured it made sense to work where I loved shopping – take advantage of the employee discount while getting experience under my belt. I was very successful and moved up the corporate ladder. With each promotion, there were more expectations on me to "look the part" and "dress for the position you want, not what you have." This meant current clothing from the store, accessories from the store, expensive suits, and appropriate expensive shoes, haircuts, makeup and nails. Yes, I even had acrylic tips to cover my chewed stubs in hopes to be respected in my position.
After five years with the company I left with an attic full of clothing with price tags still attached, and several thousand dollars of debt. When I left, they gave me my associate purchase logs and I realized that in one year AFTER MY DISCOUNT I had spent $7,000.00 in clothing. I never felt it because I used the store credit card. When I maxed it out, I used the store card of a sister company. When that maxed out, I opened up a new Visa card. I started working at a new company at about the same salary, but with a mission to save more and get out of debt.
My new company expected me to wear all black. I would scour sales racks and if I found a flattering pair of pants at a cheap price, I would buy three. I would wash them on the gentle cycle with Woolite Dark to keep them looking new and to cut down on cleaning fees. I had five winter tops and five summer tops and would rotate them. Since I sold cosmetics, I always had testers on hand. I would get to work 30 minutes early and take advantage of the pots, brushes and glosses. A spritz of the company's perfume from the display, and I was ready to sell.
I gave up my lunches at mall restaurants – I used to treat myself with a meal at California Pizza Kitchen or Nordstrom Café after a strenuous day. I felt I deserved it. I realized all I got from it was an empty wallet and an expanded waistline. I found a little quiet place in a bookstore adjacent to the mall and would camp out in a cozy chair, eat my bag lunch and read a magazine. In just two years with this company making relatively the same amount as the previous company, I was able to pay down a third of my credit card debt and buy a house with my then-boyfriend.
When I left the land of black tops and pants, I kept the "uniform" mentality for my work wardrobe. For each season I would have three to five bottoms, five to seven tops. I would add only when I needed it or something wore out/stopped fitting. Instead of spending on tons of disposable fun tops that would go out of style in a season, I chose to buy simple, well-made basics and get colorful and trendy with jewelry. It's far cheaper and there are some amazing finds at thrift stores, big box and discount retailers and even the kid's accessory shops in the mall like Icing and Claire's Boutique.
I now live in a house I can afford, decorated with objects and furniture I can afford, a wardrobe paid with cash, a car that is paid off and a growing savings account. All this, and no one would say I am not stylishly dressed, or that I do not have a welcoming and beautiful home.
Five years after my clothing company experience, I have only a sliver of debt left to pay, and a wardrobe that I can rely on. A wardrobe that may not be trendy, may not be cutting edge, but is appropriate for work, for play, for special occasions and almost anything life can throw in my direction. And that climbing of the career ladder? I have found I can do it just fine with only one pair of black pants and nails chewed to nubs.
Alison Gary is 30-something who believes style knows no age, dress size or budget. She is the author of http://wardrobeoxygen.com and you can see her personal style at http://mywardrobetoday.com.
After five years with the company I left with an attic full of clothing with price tags still attached, and several thousand dollars of debt. When I left, they gave me my associate purchase logs and I realized that in one year AFTER MY DISCOUNT I had spent $7,000.00 in clothing. I never felt it because I used the store credit card. When I maxed it out, I used the store card of a sister company. When that maxed out, I opened up a new Visa card. I started working at a new company at about the same salary, but with a mission to save more and get out of debt.
My new company expected me to wear all black. I would scour sales racks and if I found a flattering pair of pants at a cheap price, I would buy three. I would wash them on the gentle cycle with Woolite Dark to keep them looking new and to cut down on cleaning fees. I had five winter tops and five summer tops and would rotate them. Since I sold cosmetics, I always had testers on hand. I would get to work 30 minutes early and take advantage of the pots, brushes and glosses. A spritz of the company's perfume from the display, and I was ready to sell.
I gave up my lunches at mall restaurants – I used to treat myself with a meal at California Pizza Kitchen or Nordstrom Café after a strenuous day. I felt I deserved it. I realized all I got from it was an empty wallet and an expanded waistline. I found a little quiet place in a bookstore adjacent to the mall and would camp out in a cozy chair, eat my bag lunch and read a magazine. In just two years with this company making relatively the same amount as the previous company, I was able to pay down a third of my credit card debt and buy a house with my then-boyfriend.
When I left the land of black tops and pants, I kept the "uniform" mentality for my work wardrobe. For each season I would have three to five bottoms, five to seven tops. I would add only when I needed it or something wore out/stopped fitting. Instead of spending on tons of disposable fun tops that would go out of style in a season, I chose to buy simple, well-made basics and get colorful and trendy with jewelry. It's far cheaper and there are some amazing finds at thrift stores, big box and discount retailers and even the kid's accessory shops in the mall like Icing and Claire's Boutique.
I now live in a house I can afford, decorated with objects and furniture I can afford, a wardrobe paid with cash, a car that is paid off and a growing savings account. All this, and no one would say I am not stylishly dressed, or that I do not have a welcoming and beautiful home.
Five years after my clothing company experience, I have only a sliver of debt left to pay, and a wardrobe that I can rely on. A wardrobe that may not be trendy, may not be cutting edge, but is appropriate for work, for play, for special occasions and almost anything life can throw in my direction. And that climbing of the career ladder? I have found I can do it just fine with only one pair of black pants and nails chewed to nubs.
Alison Gary is 30-something who believes style knows no age, dress size or budget. She is the author of http://wardrobeoxygen.com and you can see her personal style at http://mywardrobetoday.com.
