Earlier this week, I got offered my first office job. I have worked in retail, I have worked from home, and I have worked out in the field, but now I am going to get my own cubical (which to me is very exciting). While I was signing all my new hire paperwork, I came to the dress code. My jaw dropped. I had totally forgotten that I was going to need to dress business casual 5 days a week now. So I did some research and found out the best places to splurge and the places where you can save a little so you don’t have to use every paycheck on new clothes.

Blazers: Splurge

If you get a cheap blazer it is going to look cheap. That’s just the long and the short of it. Another reason to get a nicer blazer is because you wear them year around. So if it isn’t something that you are going to hate next season, spend a little extra money on quality and make sure that it’s the perfect fit.

Cardigans: Save

Cardigans for the most part are like long sleeve shirts with buttons in the front. Cardigans can be worn inside and outside the office. So, if you are going to wear a cardigan to a country concert and then on Wednesday wear it to the office, you probably don’t want to spend too much on it. Also, if you spend less, you can get more of them-- who doesn’t love an extra accessory?

Flats: Save

It kills me to say this because shoes are my biggest weakness, but you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on flats. They are meant to be more comfortable than heals so the cheapness factor shouldn’t matter as much. I will say; however, I wouldn’t buy something too cheap—look at the material on the inside of the shoe and feel free to try it on for more than two minutes to make sure that you won’t get any blisters.

Heels: Splurge

For obvious reasons, it is best to spend a little more on heals. They are already less comfortable than almost any other type of shoes so if you splurge on the material that they are made from they will last longer and you will have a better chance at wearing them for more than 3 blocks.

Statement Jewelry: Save

This is probably a no-brainer—if you aren’t planning on wearing something regularly and it isn’t going to turn your skin green, it is okay to go with something cheaper. Like I said before, sometimes more is better so get the bangles and the necklace without breaking the bank.

Every Day Jewelry: Splurge

Everyone needs a nice watch or a nice pair of earrings. If you are going to wear something the vast majority of the time, then you better get something a little nicer. For example- I have one watch that I wear every day. It was a gift to me from my mom and she bought it at Fossil. She knew that I needed something that wasn’t going to break and something that went with every outfit so here we are. PS thanks mom :)

Large Bags: Splurge

I have a Michael Kors bag (yes just one because they are so expensive) that I will bring to the office with me every day. This bag can fit my lunch, my laptop, my planner, and another pair of shoes. Because this is a bag I use every day and I can carry my life in it, I felt it was okay to splurge.

Across the Body Bags: Save

I probably have dozens of across the body bags and I didn’t pay more than $20.00 for any of them. Some of them I bought for a special occasion that I ended up being able to use other times or some were just a really good deal. Either way, my “across-the-body-bag-style” changes more often so I don’t spend as much on them.

Dress Pants: Splurge

I only say splurge for this because these pants need to fit you perfectly. A lot of times that means getting them tailored or having to go to a higher end shop. Don’t rule out saving on these if you can, but it more important that these pants fit you and fit you well rather than saving a couple of bucks.

Skirts: Save

I say this because it’s easier to find skirts that fit without blowing your budget. For instance- as long as the skirt zips up and it at the knee or below- you are good to go. Sometimes I opt for skirts that don’t even have zippers to make the job even easier. Don’t go for something too form fitting at the office- grab a skirt that looks good with a blazer or a cute ruffled top.

Hopefully this list makes you a little more excited about your "big girl job" and less stressed about breaking the bank.