The Reasonably Prudent Law Student

All of you know that I am mad-in-love with Victoria’s Secret. A huge chunk of my wardrobe comes from there, and I’m always adding on to it. Their clothing is durable, high-quality, and the pieces are timeless (if you buy the right ones). Here are my favorites for under $50, along with some honorable mentions that I couldn’t pass up on.

Something else you should know – they’re totally having a great sale right now.

This post is image-heavy, though, so I saved it all for after the jump.

JUMP!

1. Cotton Rib Turtleneck Sweaterdress in Solids ………. $39

You guys know how much I love dresses. And come fall/winter/early spring, I LOVE sweater dresses. They’re so warm and cozy! Plus, they’re just plain sexy in a classy, understated way.

I like this dress (it comes in TONS of colors!) because it hits at the knee, has a cute turtleneck, and has quarter-sleeves with cute buttons. Wear it with a black belt like the one in the picture and shoes in almost any color (tons of colors would work with this ivory color, not just the standard, boring black) and you’ve got a fool-proof business casual look.

My favorite sweater dress is a grey one somewhat like this, only it’s got a knitted belt with a circle buckle, slightly gathered sleeves with pearly buttons, and a cowl neck. It’s soooo warm and soft, and I adore it. I normally wear it with my black patent oxfords, and I wore it just the other night with my new slouchy black leather booties with silver buckles. Sweet.

2. Bow Pencil Skirt ………. $39.50

I have been in love with this skirt forEVER. Look at it! It comes in three colors (black, grey, and this lovely brown) and it’s got the cutest little bow at the back! It’s absolutely perfect!

If I could write poetry to this skirt, I totally would. Alas, I am no poet. I am just strange.

3. Christy Fit Flare Pant in Stretch Cotton ………. $39.50

Moving on to pants…I love these. I despise the Marissa Fit, and I’m not a huge fan of the Kate Fit, but generally, I like the Christie Fit pants. These are lovely. Clean, straight lines, some flare in the leg but not too much, and totally professional.

Lovely.

4. Silk Ruffle-Front V-Neck Top ………. $49

Time to take a look at the tops. I like this one, first, because it’s silk. It’s got full sleeves and a nice v-neck. For smaller girls like me, these work just fine. You gals blessed with a larger bust might want to wear a camisole or something underneath. :-P I love the ruffles, of course, because those are just flattering for my body type. Women that are top-heavy are better off avoiding large ruffles like these that go all the way down the shirt, though, because they disrupt the ‘vertical line’ look that’s most flattering if you have that body type.

And look at that gorgeous teal color, which they call “tropical turquoise.” It pops so nicely against the black, and there are tons of possibilities for accessories here. It’s a nice, eye-popping color that’s still appropriate for the office.

5. Cotton Rib Turtleneck Sweater ………. $19

Last, a sweater. I don’t know what it is with me and turtle-necks today; I generally prefer v-necks. But this sweater is just lovely: the clean, silhouette-skimming design, the sleeves, the ribbing, and of course the vibrant color. The great thing about red is that it works with just about everything, and it’s so bright and eye-catching. Plus, look at that price!

There are a few more items that get at least an honorable mention today:

• The Essential Bodysuit ($32) – Some of you may hate me for this, but whatever. Yes, I picked a bodysuit. It’s an oxford-dress-shirt-turned-bodysuit. Just hear me out. These things are AMAZINGLY functional. I have this poplin dress shirt that I like a lot, but you know what I’d really love? For it to stay in my pants. (That’s what he said. Only he’d never say that, but you know what I mean.) I’m always tucking it in properly throughout the day, and it’s annoying. Plus, how awful does a weirdly-tucked shirt look with a sleek pencil skirt? Ugh. Bodysuits solve that problem.
• Silk Ruffle-Sleeve Tie-Neck Blouse ($49) – Silk is a wonderful fabric. And georgette is flirty and fluttery, and, in the right style, perfect for the office. We’ve already had our discussion on bringing florals into the fall season, and this blouse is a great example. We’ve got a slightly larger, busier floral print, but there are colors like grey and blue and black to make this a little more sedate, a little cooler and more appropriate for these cool months. Pair this with a silhouette-skimming pencil skirt or a pair of tailored editor pants and you’ve got a lovely, chic look for work.
• Slim button-up Shirt ($28) – I love button-downs. I generally like menswear-inspired looks: I’ve got my oxford shoes, I’ve got my slouchy button-downs, I’ve got my grampa cardigans, and I’ve even got my argyle sweater vests. This shirt is cotton, striped, and tailored to be slimming. Paired with pants or skirts, it’s a great versatile piece for a woman’s wardrobe.
• Silk and Cashmere Relaxed Cardigan Sweater ($39) – Ah, cardigans. Where would I be without cardigans? They’re so versatile! I’m always tossing one on over a lacy camisole or a relatively skimpy silk blouse or wrap-top. Most of mine are silhouette-skimming, but some are slouchy and fuzzy and more menswear-inspired, like this one. It’s soft and warm, and absolutely perfect to keep in your cube so you have something to wear when that annoying co-worker turns the thermostat wayyy down just because he happens to be more productive when he can see his breath.

And there you have my favorite five items from Victoria’s Secret for under $50! It’s a great store with TONS of great, timeless, durable pieces that you can wear from season-to-season (and trendy stuff, too, for single-season wear, no worries), and they have amazing sales at least once a year. Last year, I definitely bought a ton of cardigans from there for about $6-$8 each. I dare you to find me a better deal on cuter, more functional, and more durable pieces.

Happy shopping!