Your back-to-office wardrobe doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here’s how to stay on budget

Your suit pants are a bit snug.

Your blazer has spider webs dangling from the sleeves.

A moth or two flew out of your jacket when you took it off the hanger (speaking from first-hand experience here).

Your shoes … well, they might be the only thing that’s survived two years in the closet, unless you’ve decided, like I have, to never trek downtown in treacherous high heels again (what was I thinking wearing those four-inch stilettos anyway?).

If this is you, and you’re heading back to the office, it’s time to figure out how to afford the inevitable wardrobe upgrade looming on the horizon. Here are some strategies to help you save — and stay on budget.

Take an inventory of your current wardrobe

Chances are not everything is a total fashion writeoff. Go through your clothing item by item to determine what still fits, is still in style, and can work for your return-to-work wardrobe. This is also your opportunity to purge and donate pieces that aren’t going to work for you going forward. Some might even be worth money, so go ahead and post the higher-value items on Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji or your local swap and save site. You can put this money toward your new threads.

Reality check: How many pieces do you really need?

Are you going to be in the office every day or just part time? Scale your wardrobe purchases accordingly. Fewer days in the office, fewer pieces. It’s worth noting that if you’re going to continue working from home, you might need to replace those overused sweatpants and ripped T-shirts you’ve been living in, so work that into your budget. Yes, that means you’ll need to make a budget (see below).

Essentials first, and not too fast

Make a list of essential items, the ones you can’t do without. One of my favourite books on fashion is “Parisian Chic: A Style Guide.” The author recommends you build your wardrobe with essentials first, such as quality pants and tops, dresses and suits. She encourages you to take your time, which is helpful from a cash-flow standpoint because, let’s face it, spending hundreds or thousands of dollars upfront just isn’t possible for most. Spreading out purchases as the seasons change is a great way to save.

Quality over fast fashion

Millions of kilograms of clothing are thrown away in North America every year, which is terrible for the environment. Some of the biggest culprits of this waste are poorly made items that last only a few wears. Thankfully you don’t need to spend mega dollars to buy items that will stand the test of time.

I’m a huge fan of the second-hand, high-quality clothing market (I even bought my wedding dress for $600 used rather than paying $2,400 new at the store). You can score quality pieces for a fraction of the price. Another technique I’ve used to get designer items is buying demos right off the mannequins in the window. You can often negotiate discounts — just note you may have to pay for alterations if you go this route.

Sales, gift cards and store credits

Keep an eye out for sales. I never buy something unless it’s marked down — and I still ask for further discounts at the till. Rarely have I been turned down. When you’re paying for your pieces, use gift cards, store credits and even credit card points that can convert to cash.

As always, work your wardrobe replacement into your budget before you hit the shops. The way to do this is add a projected cost for your wardrobe purchases into your budget template; say $150 per month for the next few months. You might need to trim back from other categories to make the budget balance. This technique will help you avoid using your credit card, by allocating the cash instead.

I don’t have a magic number for you to spend on your wardrobe because everyone’s needs are different. But I do have a final suggestion: pace yourself. Many things are still changing (including your size) and, who knows, you may be back working from home in a few months, changing jobs, etc. Resist the urge to overspend in these uncertain times.

This article was originally published in The Star. Lesley-Anne Scorgie is a Toronto-based personal finance columnist and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star.