CREDIT: LISA KELLY
From left: A modern take on business attire and a twist on the new casual Friday look.

For some of you who have less than four months until graduation, it’s time to start thinking about building a professional wardrobe. Although it pains us to think about dropping a ton of cash on professional clothes, unfortunately yoga pants are not proper business attire.

Let’s be real – the one professional outfit you own that’s reserved for job interviews is not going to see you through the workweek.

Here are some tips for building your professional wardrobe without going into debt.

Wardrobe essentials

Dressing for your 9 to 5 is easy if you incorporate these essentials into your wardrobe:

Structured blazer – Looks great on all body types and adds class to any outfit

Pencil skirt – Classic professional attire. Ensure that your skirt hits just above or below the knee. No mini-skirts in the office.

Dress pants/trousers – Comfortable and chic, dress pants/trousers are essential to your daily work life.

Structured dress – Can be worn in the office with a blazer or to a work event sans blazer.

Dark denim – Most offices have casual Friday. Invest in some great dark denim jeans to avoid looking too casual.

Structured blouses – Structured blouses can be paired with anything for a classic look. Incorporating patterned blouses into your wardrobe adds some extra flair.

Three-inch heels – The office is no place for stilettos. Ensure that your heels are three inches or less for a professional look. You should own at least two pairs of heels, one black and one nude.

To build a quality wardrobe without breaking the bank, it’s recommended to purchase a combination of investment and equivalent pieces. Purchase one or two investment pieces, and fill your wardrobe with equivalent pieces. For example, Banana Republic (investment) vs. Forever 21 (equivalent).

Buy one investment piece every two months

Investment pieces are just that – an investment. They’re not cheap, but they add quality to your wardrobe, and they last for years if they’re taken care of properly. Start your collection off with the most important investment pieces and work from there. Your first purchase should definitely be a classic structured blazer – blazers are hands down the most important staple in a professional wardrobe.

Shop thrift stores

If you’re willing to dig, you can find some great wardrobe pieces at your local thrift store. From vintage blazers to ridiculously cheap, never-been-worn clothing, thrift stores are full of hidden gems. Thrift store pieces are also full of character, which is great for adding some personal flair to your work wardrobe. If you find a great item that’s a little too big, don’t fret. You can easily have it altered, and it will still be cheaper than purchasing brand-new.

Casual Fridays aren’t so casual anymore

The days of showing up to the office in baggy mom jeans and sneakers on casual Friday are over – thankfully. These days, casual Friday consists of great fitting dark denim, blazer or cardigan combos and stylish heels or flats. The type of office you work in will dictate what you wear on casual Friday, but it’s important to remember that you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have – even on Friday. Avoid wearing light wash jeans or overly faded/ripped jeans since they’re too casual for the office.

With these tips you’re ready to start building your professional wardrobe. The sooner you start, the better.