knittnkitten wrote:what counts as professional attire?
Depends on the degree of professional and the job.
For the office: Black, grey, navy suits, blazers, slacks, paired with blouses, shells, etc. I only wore primary colors when I worked. Suit and vest, 3 piece pants/skirt suits. Sensible pumps, feminine but not sleazy. Don't wear mannish shoes, it just looks tacky. When I worked I wanted my clothes to scream "money" so I bought just a few name brand pieces that could mix and match into multiple outfits.
Business casual: khaki slacks, button ups, can be tucked or untucked (but only if fitted.) Nice blouses can be feminine but not overly girly or frilly. Nobody takes girly-girls seriously in business. Sad but true. I never did like business casual though, it's frustrating and ill-defined.
When I worked I always wore power suits and crap that made me look like I was the boss. Nothing gives confidence like a sleek, well-fitted suit. Match your handbag to your shoes if you can, and your briefcase/satchel. I always wanted my leathers to match up.
Back when Casual Corner and Petite Sophisticate were in business it was easy to buy work clothes with fully matched groups. I don't work anymore so I don't know what stores cater to business women. Bloomingdales, Macys, etc. usually have a corporate/business section.
http://www.tarleton.edu/careerservices/ ... press.htmlYou can google stuff like this, colleges sometimes offer tips and what not for students ready to venture into the work-world.