A great new dress always needs a new pair of shoes. And a chic clutch. And earrings. And bangles. And either your wallet just got thinner or the black swipe on the back of your Visa is wearing down.
Whatever the case, the economy is wearing thin on everyone, not just the shopaholic. But a person's presentation is still key, maybe even more so for students who will soon be shopping for a job.
With the scarce employment market, students have to be prepared and looking their best.
Because of the increasing competitive workforce, companies are trying to fair the economy, company against company, employee versus employee.
Looking professional might have always been a bit expensive, but businesses aren't making exceptions.
For Danielle LeClair, a senior in accounting and intern for a Big Four accounting firm, the professional look of the company she said is just as important as the service they provide.
"They aren't going to cut back on the dress code," LeClair said. "The firm I work for, we are client-driven. Our service that we sell is to help out our clients, so we have to look good to impress our clients so they keep us on."
Several stores have been offering discount-priced clothes just to stay afloat, while others have advertised as dress-for-less stores from the get-go.
Stores like TJ Maxx, Ross and Wal-Mart seem to be addressing the economic downturn better than other stores that have made their market out of selling for less.
At TJ Maxx, women's dress pants start at $15 and men's at $20.
The store carries a variety of brands that are most often carried in big department stores for a heavier price tag.
With brands like BCBG, The Limited, Anne Klein and Ralph Lauren, shopping is cheaper but comes with some digging effort.
Preparing for an interview?
TJ Maxx carries women's dress suits as low as $40, and Ralph Lauren men's dress shirts are as low as $30.
For Auburn residents, Plato's Closet is a great place to earn money and shop cheap.
Plato's Closet buys clothes of brands that are in nice condition and sells them at a lower price.
Auburn graduate Carolyn Ketter Irwin, 24, worked as assistant wardrobe stylist for TLC's television show "10 Years Younger" and had a couple of tips on how to smart shop.
"If you are going to buy a suit make sure you buy separates, like things that you can mix and match," Irwin said. "Like if you are buying a nice pair of pants, make sure they are ones that you can break the suit apart and wear it with a blouse for every day."
If money is a little tight, use your resources: shop in your own closet.
Look for quick, cheap items that could enhance any ordinary suit or skirt.
For guys, a great blazer can be dressed up or down, paired with a T-shirt and jeans for a casual look, or for the professional look, add dress pants and a tie.
Ladies, a couple of cardigans and a great skinny belt for the upper waist can make your wardrobe. Just add any blouse and pair with jeans or a business pencil skirt, and go from casual to the office.
Adam Bennett, a junior in apparel merchandising, suggests an alternative look at the economic slump.
"One benefit I guess of the hurting economy is the fact that these designers are going to have to be more competitive, meaning you might get a better deal on something you would have paid more for a couple of years ago," Bennett said. "They are trying to make up for sales they have lost and are cutting prices."
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