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Rags to Riches: Thriftshop Wardrobes
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Clara Sachs
Clara Sachs knows the importance of dressing professionally in a business environment. A Senior Loan Officer with James Madison Mortgage Corporation and a past Vice President of the National Association for Professional Saleswomen, Sachs has been in the financial services industry for more than 20 years. Like it or not, she says, professionals—especially women—are often judged on appearance, and having an appropriate wardrobe can have a positive or negative impact on how a woman is perceived in the workplace.
“Men have a very simple uniform they can adhere to—a suit, a dress shirt, and a tie. Their competency and affluence aren’t judged based on their clothing. As a matter of fact, the male wardrobe actually helps men to be more affluent because men’s clothing isn’t as sensitive to trends and men can spend less money over time.” Women, on the other hand, are expected to keep up with the latest trends. For example, the boxy, shoulder-padded power suit of the late 1980s is no longer au currant. Each season brings new hemlines, new colors, and new cuts. Staying on the constantly changing cutting edge of fashion creates a financial burden for women.
Sachs, a Bethesda native, learned early on that shopping in thrift stores and consignment shops gets more bang for the buck when it comes to building a wardrobe. As a high school student, she had a part time job in Bethesda’s old business district. On a whim, she ventured into a neighborhood consignment shop on her lunch hour and found quality clothes in current styles at prices she could afford. She was instantly hooked. She continued shopping in thrift stores in college, spending $1 per blouse and $25 per suit as her contemporaries spent thousands in shopping malls.
Sachs, who leads the workshop “Rags to Riches: Thriftshop Wardrobes”, has counseled many a recent college grad on how to dress well for less. “Young women entering the workplace out of college are expected to look as professional as their older peers, but their compensation isn’t high enough to invest in a quality wardrobe. Older women can benefit as well. A woman might need a transitional wardrobe if she’s in the process of losing weight, or moms may want to find clothing for kids at reasonable prices.” The bottom line, Sachs says, is that women can look fashionable and trendy in well-made clothes without a huge financial investment.
Sachs’s workshop, which includes a shopping trip, teaches women a tried-and-true system for navigating thrift stores and consignment shops. “Many stores are run by volunteers, and they may not be very well organized. There are so many clothes that women often don’t know where to start. My method teaches women how to find what’s of interest to them and cut through the clutter more quickly.”
Sachs also teaches her students to pay attention to the quality and condition of the garments and to focus first on acquiring the “building blocks” of a great wardrobe. “Buy a white blouse, a black sweater, a black skirt. Stocking up on these classic basics at a consignment shop will leave you money to spend on a fashionable blazer or trendy accessories in a department store.”
Sachs will lead a "Rags to Riches" workshop on August 23 at First Class Inc. in Dupont Circle.
Do you know of a local issue, woman, resource, service, or event that should be highlighted by the DC Women’s Examiner? Email Jen Schiller at dcwomensexaminer@gmail.com.
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