A

Life
ir school

job at a popular women's
clothing store didn't give
Nicole Hertzberg much of
a wardrobe advantage
when she landed a job at
a Farmington Hills real
estate company.
With her new employ-
ment, almost two years
ago, she needed a more
polished, professional
look. The now-23-year-old
University of Michigan gradu-
ate began the endless task of
building a wardrobe.
Like most young adults
fresh out of college or graduate
school, she didn't have a
tremendous budget to spend
on clothes, but she needed a
new look.
"I bought two very expensive
Donna Karan suits and it was
the best thing I could have
done," she said. "They are very
basic, but beautiful pantsuits.
One is black and the other is
ivory. The price was over what
I'd normally spend, but they
are high quality suits that will
last for years."
To vary her look, she
often separates the
jackets and slacks and
uses different acces-
sories. "I can wear the
suits year round with a
blouse under the jack-
et in the summer and a
turtle neck in the winter,"
she said.
Had Ms. Hertzberg
talked to a clothing con-
sultant, she would have
heard what she already
knew: starting a
wardrobe with a few nice
suits (for men or women)
is the best way to begin
the metamorphosis from
JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER the school staples of
jeans, sweats and flannel
shirts to the professional
look of suits, slacks and skirts.
Professionals also suggest
keeping an eye on the sale racks
and shopping at discount or out-
let stores to complete or vary an
outfit.
Terry Schwartz, a personal
clothier with the Southfield office
of the TOM James Co., helps busy

Building a
professional
wardrobe
doesn't have to
be expensive.

PHOTO BY GL E NN TRI E ST

From Sweats
To Suits

ariety. Variety.
Ni cote
professionals with their
Variety.
Hertz berg:
wardrobes.
The best way
She said the average Rippe d jeans
to make an emp-
businessperson will spend to fan cy suits.
ty closet go a long way is
$2,000 a year in clothing
and more than $100,000 over a by varying an outfit.
Women have the luxury of
lifetime, and that, she said, is a
changing a look through differ-
conservative estimate.
"It's always good to get a deal," ent accessories like belts, pins,
Ms. Schwartz said. "But spend- jewelry and scarves, said Amy
ing money on the basics is well Walker, an assistant fashion di-
worth it. People often get so im- rector with Saks in Troy and
pressed with the price or a label, Dearborn.
Men can vary a suit with dif-
color, fabric or style that some-
times they'll buy it and sacrifice ferent shirts, sweaters and ties.
for fit. If you don't have a good fit, "Ties bring a different look each
time they wear a suit," Ms.
it's no value."
Spending money on a good Schwartz said. "Adding a vest —
pair of shoes is also important. which could also be worn casu-
"Stretch your budget with shoes," ally as weekend wear — also
Ms. Schwartz said. "You can get adds a new dimension to an out-
by in a lot of other ways but shoes fit.
With business casual coming
should fit right and be of good
quality."
SWEATS TO SUITS page 82

V

III hat's It
Like In
The Real
World?
Some
would say
the party's over.
Others might say
it has just begun.
Either way you
look at it, one thing
is beyond debate:
Life changes signifi-
cantly after college
or graduate school.
No more spring
breaks or summer
vacations. No more
sleeping in on
weekdays. And, no
more excuses to be
a little bit irresponsi-
ble.
Graduation also
means the end of
all-night study ses-
sions, essay exams,
and hopefully, the
death of tight col-
lege budgets.
Leaving school
can be exciting and
eventful. Or, it can
be sad and scary,
especially if a salary
doesn't come in the
wake of a diploma.
There are new rules
for life off-campus,
new ways of dress-
ing and new people
to meet.
So how does a re-
cent grad get a job,
stock the closet,
form friendships
and pay back
school loans? For
tips on life after
academia, read on.