My Favorite Clothing Pieces

by Abby Farmer
(Philadelphia, MS)

When I started working at an office several months ago, I had to start dressing in a professional way after wearing jeans and t-shirts for all my years of college. I paid attention to what the other ladies in the office were wearing so I knew what was appropriate. Because I work for a conservative organization, I needed to wear blouses with sleeves and long pants or skirts.

I started out by purchasing some basic black pieces: trousers, Capri pants, a knee length skirt, a blouse, blazer and sweater. I also purchased some black and white print skirts. With black and white basics, I always have an outfit! When I go on a trip, these are the first things I reach for.

I started getting a few trendy tops to wear with my black skirts and some plain colored t-shirts to match some colorful skirts. I’ve gotten a lot of wear out of plain colored t-shirts that I bought at Target. Because I can sew, I got some pretty batik print material from JoAnn fabrics and a skirt pattern. I was able to make three skirts for the price of a brand new one! Most of my clothes are cool colors (blue, purple and green) so I have a lot more things that match.

I like to “dress down” my dress clothes by wearing my black skirt with a t-shirt or a pair of jeans with a blouse. I’ve gotten a lot of complements when I wear a pretty scarf with an outfit. I can wear it around my neck, in my hair or as a belt.

Occasionally I will lay out my clothes on my bed and try different clothing combination that I haven’t tried before. A word of caution! Sometimes an outfit that I put together is more of a “miss” than a “hit.” I have my roommate do a “taste-test.” She is honest and tells me when something doesn’t match!