{"id":11344,"date":"2025-12-02T10:00:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T16:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/?p=11344"},"modified":"2025-11-07T11:39:56","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T17:39:56","slug":"how-to-build-a-professional-wardrobe-on-a-college-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/how-to-build-a-professional-wardrobe-on-a-college-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Professional Wardrobe on a College Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"11344\" class=\"elementor elementor-11344\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ecff936 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ecff936\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e4f7c90\" data-id=\"e4f7c90\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fb004f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8fb004f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Let\u2019s be real, trying to dress professionally while juggling college expenses can be tough. Between textbooks, meal plans, and tuition costs, there\u2019s not always room in the budget for new blazers and dress shoes. But the good news is, looking career-ready doesn\u2019t have to mean spending a ton of money. With a few smart tips (and a little help from SAU Career Services), you can build a great professional wardrobe without breaking the bank.<\/p><h4><strong>Start with the Basics<\/strong><\/h4><p>You don\u2019t need a closet full of suits to look professional. Start with a few simple, neutral pieces that you can mix and match.<\/p><ul><li>A button-down shirt or blouse<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>A pair of slacks or a skirt<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>A blazer<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>Clean dress shoes<br \/><br \/><\/li><\/ul><p>These basics can be styled in different ways depending on the occasion. Add a tie, simple jewelry, or a belt to pull it all together. It is important to have at least one outfit that works for a business casual dress code, and one that could work for a business professional. Having these basics gives you a firm foundation to build on.<\/p><h4><strong>Shop Smart<\/strong><\/h4><p>If you\u2019ve never been thrifting for work clothes, it\u2019s time to try it! Local thrift and consignment stores often have great-quality pieces for a fraction of retail prices. We have great options for thrifting quality clothes right here in Magnolia, including CCAPS warehouse and the Abilities Unlimited retail store. Never forget to check the discount sections in clothing stores. You can also find affordable options online through resale sites like Poshmark or ThredUp.<\/p><p><strong>Use the SAU Career Closet<\/strong><\/p><p>SAU has its own Career Closet! Located on campus, it\u2019s a free resource where students can \u201cshop\u201d for gently used professional clothes donated by faculty, staff, alumni, and community members that students are able to keep for free.<\/p><p>You\u2019ll find everything from suits and blouses to shoes and ties, perfect for interviews, career fairs, and presentations. And the best part? You get to add the pieces you find to your now-growing professional wardrobe.<\/p><p>If you\u2019re ever unsure where to start or what to wear for an upcoming interview, the Career Services staff is there to help you find the right fit and feel confident.<\/p><p><strong>Career Closet Hours:<\/strong> Monday\u2013Friday, 8:00 a.m.\u20135:00 p.m.<br \/>\u00a0<strong>Location:<\/strong> Donald W. Reynolds, Room 201<\/p><p>Building your professional wardrobe is a process; you don\u2019t have to do it all at once. Start with what you have, add pieces over time, and take advantage of campus resources like the Career Closet. With a little effort (and maybe a thrift store trip or two), you\u2019ll be ready to walk into your next interview or internship looking like the pro you are. Start now, do not wait until the day you need a professional outfit and be left scrambling for pieces. With this guide, you could start building a professional wardrobe that lasts you through college and into your career.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-60d0b59 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"60d0b59\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-15218ca\" data-id=\"15218ca\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75e8e1b elementor-author-box--layout-image-left elementor-author-box--align-left elementor-author-box--image-valign-middle elementor-widget elementor-widget-author-box\" data-id=\"75e8e1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"author-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"elementor-author-box__avatar\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/files\/2025\/12\/Cadie-Tullos-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of Cadie-Jayne Tullos\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-author-box__name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCadie-Jayne Tullos\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cadie-Jayne is a senior English major with a minor in Social Work at Southern Arkansas University, set to graduate in December 2025. She is actively involved on campus as a member of Sigma Tau Delta (the English Honor Society), Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, and serves as a student worker for SAU Career Services. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let\u2019s be real, trying to dress professionally while juggling college expenses can be tough. Between textbooks, meal plans, and tuition costs, there\u2019s not always room in the budget for new blazers and dress shoes. But the good news is, looking career-ready doesn\u2019t have to mean spending a ton of money. With a few smart tips&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/how-to-build-a-professional-wardrobe-on-a-college-budget\/\"> Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1730,"featured_media":11350,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[29425],"tags":[64392,76593],"class_list":{"0":"post-11344","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-blog","8":"tag-career-closet","9":"tag-career-readiness","10":"entry"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-25 08:40:18","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1730"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11344"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11353,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11344\/revisions\/11353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/career-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}