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How much do you mums spend on work wardrobes? How do you look stylish on a tight budget? Any recommendations on stores?


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  • Kmart and target are great for basics. Shop bargains!


  • When I was working in the office , I used to mix and match . I tend to buy a bit more black ants as you could wear any blouse, top,shirt with it . With jacket and cardigans , I think you really only need one good Jacket for winter and maybe a couple of cardigans/jumpers . There are a lot of fashion stores now that are quite good such as SES , even Big W , they are getting more fashionable for all ages .


  • When I was working I bought 2-3 good outfits I could rotate and would only wear them for work. Millers has some nice workwear and sometimes Big W/Kmart.


  • My pants and shirts can end up costing quite a bit of money!


  • I buy cheap pants etc as I found that the leggings from Target and the leggings from City Chic wear out at exactly the same rate. I tend to look for tops that can be for both work and going out to save money, City chic is okay, Kmart is sometimes okay but their clothing range is going downhill. Target is not bad, however I tend to buy online now.

    I use Yours Clothing (a UK company who ship to Australia http://www.yoursclothing.com/?s=ADBRAND&gclid=Cj0KEQjwkv-rBRDwoMLav-2l9KIBEiQAUTkDU_PmcUylcIjCG8qv32u4OvMXqwXroiQLd2ugFO61XJsaAvNq8P8HAQ), by doing this I can buy clothes in their sales (as they have summer when we have winter so bargains are aplenty).

    I have also used Stylish Plus Australia (http://www.stylishplus.com.au/), slightly more expensive but great brands (Kyonna, Igigi etc) but totally worth it as they are very durable. Also they have online help and are in Australia so easier for returns if need be. These clothes go on sale sometimes and you can also save by buying from the express store from what they already have in stock rather than having to order it in for you.


  • Accessaries can change the look of the same outfit. Scarves, different jewellery sometimes bold sometimes subtle.

    Also get your clothes to co ordinate so you can wear all your items together. i.e. make sure the shirt matches/ co ordinates with your trousers and skirts so you can mix and match. same with jackets shoes and bags.


  • Target have some great work wear and I always go through the clearance racks. Buy off season and you’ll get a bargain!


  • shop at target for stylish work attire or big w for simple style. Buy the basics and accessorize from there.


  • I get a lot of my work clothes from Target. They have smart business wear which is quite good quality but never too expensive


  • When i get a job once kids all start school i will be purchasing my clothes from target they have a large range of stylish wear suitable for a buisness look. But as i couldnt afford much as they all seem to be in the 60-80$ range i will be buying one every week or two till i have a range of nice outfits. I also like katies as a alternative. Myer is also pretty good but would wait for a good special to buy my clothes from there as they are a little expensive.


  • Check out ASOS and boohoo as well as Big W and Target, shop the sales. Often you can find really lovely stuff online from the United States on sale because their summer is our winter etc, so their winter wear will be on sale. You can try exploring different op shops too but there are so many online shops that often charge a very small delivery fee that it’s a good place to start. Try Buy, Swap and Sells Facebook groups as well. There’s a lot of people selling their quality second hand clothes at bargain prices on Buy, Swap, Sells and some of them are just dedicated to clothes. So, good luck.


  • Like others: op shops, big w, target, kmart and sales. Also you don’t too much if you mix it up. 2 pairs plain pants. Accessories can be used to make the same shirt look different, different cardigan, scarf or necklace. Also buy things you wear outside work like cardigans, or smart casual tops you could also wear to dinner. only buy things you feel comfortable in so you wear them.
    Remember they’ll always someone ‘better dressed’ who probably doesn’t have kids and other financial priorities but I’m sure you look great also, so tell yourself what a good looking working mum you are!


  • Smart casual clothes at Target & Big W can easily be dressed up with a colourful scarf or strands of beads. Tailored blazers & pants always look smart & different shirts or tops worn under will give you the variety through the week.


  • I buy from op shops, target, K-mart and from Myer when they have sales on.


  • I have also discovered that some community organisations have charity nights where they sell pre loved designer work wear at cheap prices-a fraction of the store prices.


  • Target has a great range of work clothes that are cheap and go the distance.


  • Target seems to be the place for cheap and reasonable work wear.


  • I spend as little as possible and shop at target and myer on sale. My work isn’t a place where staff dress up and its more smart casual.


  • I must admit I buy the classic black dresses when they are super reduced at target I.e $10-$15, in winter I wear them with tights a skivy and a cardi, classic but nice


  • It depends a bit on what kind of job you do… I am in a managerial position, and I spend up pretty big when I buy a new suit (so it lasts), but not much on shirts to change the look up. Look for discount outlets, and sales, and try to make sure every item you buy will go with more than one other thing.


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