Where to buy clothes online? (business casual)

[nina1985]

I'll be starting med school this August, and will need appropriate clothes for preceptorships and patient encounters. I live in an area with some nice stores (Nordstroms and Banana Republic), but they are almost always too expensive... Alas, there are no Marshall's, TJ Max, or outlets...

So ladies, do you have any online suggestions for buying good quality dress pants and button down shirts without having to spend $50+ per item?

Thanks!

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[SansNom]

Not a lady but I have suggestions. Before you begin your shopping online consider the brands you're looking for and see if you can find them in-store to test fit. Because fit varies widely brand to brand (as an example a Brooks Brothers sack suit will fit to the bigger side of the size, since that's the way they cut; while most European designers have much more tailored cuts so you may need to go up a size in their suits), you should definitely try a couple of things from the brand before buying online.

Also definitely look around Nordstrom, their sales racks are poorly marked in order to keep it 'upscale' but you can find some good deals. And I guarantee that the stuff you buy there will last you a lot longer than anywhere else. As an aside, when I started working after college I bought BB Non-iron dress shirts b/c I could wash and wear them without ironing to work (nice in that you don't have to dry clean and no need to iron). These shirts were 50/60 each but they have lasted me more than 2 yrs and repel stains. If I was wearing inexpensive shirts I would def. have tossed them by now b/c I spill on my clothes often and it wouldn't have washed out. So consider making the investment as oftentimes it's worth it.

(Note: I don't work for Brooks Brothers or any retailer, but I do think that sometimes the initial investment is worth it on a few pieces; and I wouldn't buy a Brooks suit, btw.)

All that being said, you could try dept. stores online and see if you can find deals before they disappear - anything that's priced reasonably disappears in a second online simply b/c so many customers all in one place. Try nordstrom's sale area, macy*s even without sale has pretty decent stuff (and better online selection), saks off fifth also has an online outlet iirc. And finally, sign up for GAP's e-mail discounts and you'll get a 30% off coupon like every month, so you could just stroll into Banana Republic with that and get decent prices (esp since they work on sale items too).

Good luck!

 

[Richspiders07]

new york and company

 

[nina1985]

Thanks! I didn't realize you can get a 30% discount every month just for signing up for Gap's emails. I'll have to check that out. 🙂

 

[Richspiders07]

Thanks! I didn't realize you can get a 30% discount every month just for signing up for Gap's emails. I'll have to check that out. 🙂

Yeah, that really helps too. Also, you get 15% off at JCrew if you show them a student ID at checkout. Only bad thing, they need your school email [make one up!] and send like 3 emails a day, no joke.

 

[bigndude]

Try express. Their clothes are good quality and they have tons of dress type stuff for both women and men. I personally love their pants for men, very comfortable. My gf on the other hand loves their womens dress pants and that type of stuff. They also have a pretty big sale right now so its worth checking out your local store, or even their online shop.

 

[Thama]

Target is just fine for business casual stuff. Also Burlington Coat Factory has nicer consignment stuff at good prices.

 

[meliora27]

H&M, Zara, bluefly.com

 

[ashmarj]

I would say try Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor loft as well. Yes, they are generally more expensive, but I head to back straight for the sales rack. You can get some great dress pants, skirts, and shirts for under $30 that way.

I say as long as you are able to spend the time, you can find some great stuff on sale at good stores. I'm definitely big on the quality over quantity. You can find some decent stuff at NY and Co or gap...but it won't usually last nearly as long. Good luck!

 

[bodonid]

I haven't bought an item of clothing in two years, which would totally be fine, except I weighed 50lbs more two years ago and now all my clothes are baggy. 👎

 

[fsunavybabe]

For me I spent some money and bought nice and REALLY comfortable dress pants in a couple of colors. Then I went to a shoe discount place and bought a pair of black and a pair of brown sketcher sneakers (they look like dress shoes if you're just glancing and are comfy enough that I can be in them all day, run up and down the stairs during hospital days or call, and they're pretty cheap, especially come BOGO time lol.

After that it's really a matter of a solid colored polo or "shell" top, a random button up or whatever. As long as you are on the conservative/covering your breasts & belly & some attempt at sleeves on top you're ok. I've gotten these from anywhere I please really: walmart, target (seem to have better quality than wally), banana republic, express, ann taylor (love it!!! but expensive 🙁 ), goodwill occasionally.

I really think this is the best way to do it, a lot of girls try to start out doing outfits, dresses and suits and such but in the end we all end up with dress or suit slacks, a comfy pair of shoes (often will dictate what color pants we wear lol), and some random top we threw on from the closet on our way out - preferably with coffee and something in our stomachs. So this is just my way of cutting down to the basics without wasting time, money and energy on stuff you won't use.

As far as buying on line. I have had limited success and I don't feel comfortable handing over money for something I haven't tried on. The only clothes I buy online are running shoes and clothes which I would recommend as roadrunner.com or rei.com .

Fashion Unconcious

Good luck

 

[Studebug]

I like Christopher and Banks. They are having a sale today and the jackets are 30% for a limited time.

 

[Ashers]

I love Nordstroms (there isn't one where I am now 🙁), Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft, and Brooks Brothers. Look for sales there. Or go to wherever you're going to med school a little bit early and find outlet stores. Some near me have Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, the Gap. Some outlet malls also have clubs you can join to get coupons. Some have AAA discounts.

Nordstroms has a big sale twice a year. Go check them out during that. They've also usually got stuff on sale throughout the year too, but not as much.

btw... you probably won't need THAT many clinical clothes M1 year.

 

[Ariana85]

Victoria's Secret all the way! That's where I got my interview outfits & they look amazing 🙂 Their prices are not too bad, plus they always offer tier discounts ($15 off $100; $30 off $150 & $75 off $250 ); just google Victoria's Secret coupon codes.

 

[Slow]

lalala

 

[Cirrus83]

You could wait for a sale and go for Brooks Brothers. Seriously I love the non-iron shirts for guys...lord knows it sucks to have to iron for an hour the night before you have to see patients when you're dead tired.

You will however "look like a Republican" as my classmates informed me
But you'd definitely look professional since those shirts are always so crisp.

 

[snowflake83]

oldnavy.com has a "Wear to Work" section that is pretty affordable. Also, overstock.com has some good deals, but a lot of pricey stuff too.

 

[coffeebeanjenn]

I'm a non-trad leaving the rather snooty professional world of Washington, DC, to enter med school next fall. I found that on a day to day basis I could get by in a conservative government bureaucracy with things from cheaper stores. I just had a few really nice things for when it mattered.

I echo the previous post in that all you really need for business casual are slacks, a nice top (I like thin sweaters), and some kind of brown or black flat shoe. Avoid low-cut or low-rise anything. Try to get as much wash and wear that you can, because dry cleaning is expensive and not that convenient when you're really busy or on an odd schedule.

Online places:
-Target.com is GREAT. Hands down.
-Chadwicks.com is cheap, and has good sweaters/tops. Really excellent clearance. I found the pants & skirts sometimes fit weird (although some were really great so it was trial & error)
-Payless.com or Target.com for shoes.
-Oldnavy.com is pretty good, although not so much with the pants if you're short.

Just be willing to send stuff back if you don't really like it. Otherwise you'll fill your closet with stuff that wasn't quite what you expected and you therefore never wear. I've been there.

H&M is really great for fun & trendy stuff that is cheap. Their suit pants are also pretty inexpensive and you don't have to buy the jacket. They have great thin sweaters. There is this one V-neck sweater with 3/4 sleeves that I own in 5 colors and have seen countless other people wearing (it truly is a wardrobe staple). I don't think you can shop there online, but if you're living in or visiting a city with an H&M it is definitely worth a stop.

 

[kac714]

how much nice clothing do we actually need first and second year? what do people where to class on a day to day basis? i have a TON of work clothes but not as much casual stuff.

 

[Ashers]

how much nice clothing do we actually need first and second year? what do people where to class on a day to day basis? i have a TON of work clothes but not as much casual stuff.

Depending on your school, you shouldn't need many. M1 year I think I had to dress up maybe 6 times the whole year for school patient contact. I'll round it up to 10 for good measure, since I'm sure I've forgotten some things, and I did shadow a couple of times.

M2 year it was at least once a week. I wouldn't stay dressed up all day either. If something was just part of a day, like a psych interview session in the morning, I'd take a change of clothes with me to school. A few times, having a set of nice clothes at school (since I'd leave them in my locker M2 year) was helpful, since I forgot to dress up once or twice.

I typically wore jeans and tshirts to class.

 

[yousif]

Try this:
http://www4.shopping.com/popular/business-casual-clothes

 

[sade]

I recommend www.metrosyle.com and newport-news.com . You can find great deals and their customer service is excellent.