This is one of the worst times of the year to try and put together my outfits. I need so many layers that match!

Kuhl makes great outdoorsy, comfortable, durable clothes. Sierra Trading Post often has them,

With the right pants I could put together all of those JJill looks. (Other than the mule shoes.) My shoes take such a beating.

On the one hand, I get the brain thing, but there is no denying that looks count when trying to impress your colleagues about your professionalism. When you work with the public like I do, the way you look does matter. Reminds me of the episode of "Keeping Up Appearances" when Hyacinth Bucket mistook the lady of the manor for the common gardener due to her clothing. Unfortunately I am not successful enough to not have to care.

Maybe try some of the "athleisure" brands? They have more and more of what they call "street" clothes. They can be pricey but have pretty good sales at Athleta. I also love Title9 but I don't love the return policy if something does not work out. Good luck!

I do not consider JJill clothing ‘durable’. At all. Sorry.

Buy a few pairs of well fitting pants. Are jeans an option? And then some basic tops. ( Landsend, Duluth, LLBean, etc.)

Can you show us a picture of what you are looking for? We are good shoppers.

Pants are the real stickler for me. Hard to find a good fit online, and then the having to send back, uck. My biggest problem is I'm skirting the line between size 12 and 14. 14 is too big, 12 is too small, and then there is the shrinkage problem, some pants do, some don't. Many of mine now have shrunk or they are 12's I've gotten too big for. I still dream of getting back into the solid 12's but I have to find some small size 14's right now. I got a pair of Wrangler khakis in size 14 and they are too big but the 12's were too small. I hope they keep shrinking enough to not look totally like I'm about to head out to the deer blind . . . (not that there's anything wrong with that!)

More along the lines of Land's end and LL Bean, but have you looked at REI? Interspersed with their outdoor sports clothing are some nice looking and durable things.

Eddie Bauer has some nice outdoor/athletic pants, and often you can catch a sale. Easy to return to a store. Join their loyalty program (no cost) and free shipping.

If you want durable pants, try Athleta hiking pants. I have a couple of pair and I could live in them. Plus they come in tall sizes and have multiple pockets! I have also tried Duluth and am fairly impressed with them as well for the price.

Duluth Trading Company Women’s Workday Warrior line. https://www.duluthtrading.com/women/collections/workday-warrior/?feature=wmn1

You might look at the Vivienne Files for ideas on having a well-coordinated capsule wardrobe. This one might be particularly helpful since it takes 13 garments and arranges them in outfits to cover warm to cool temps. You might need to substitute another pair of pants for the velveteen skirt, but it’ll give you some ideas perhaps. https://www.theviviennefiles.com/2017/11/packing-a-foolproof-suitcase.html/.

I believe that LL Bean and Lands End both have jeans and corduroy pants that would be suitable for your office. I think they both have flannel lined jeans too. Land’s End is always having a sale. Sign up for their emails. LL Bean seems to never have a sale.

Can you have a pair of work shoes that you wear when you are in the field and keep a pair of flats in the office for a more polished look?

I recently made some clothing purchases similar to what you described at R.E.I. and Eddie Bauer. I got them more for travel, wanting clothes that I could wash at night and dry quickly., that didn't look like hiking clothes. Columbia makes some nice shirts. I was wearing one out to lunch the other day and my friend went crazy for it; went right over to R.E.I. and purchased one.

Ipink, I try not to put pants in the dryer unless I want them to shrink! All clothing is washed in cold water and line dried. This also helps keep the clothes lasting and looking nicer for longer.

Most of my clothing is bought online. I am a petite and there is very little in the stores.

I agree with Land's End. I think they are still very liberal with returns. If you wash something and it shrinks, I believe you can still return it with the explanation that it shrank.

If you can find some brands you like, then you can buy them anywhere and look for the best price. I like JCrew and buy new looking stuff on ebay all the time dirt cheap. Also, Marshalls and TJMaxx has great stuff. Look for some leggings there and tunics at Soft Surroundings for instance. Boots on Amazon. I also find plenty of stuff at 6pm and don't forget the basics like Nordstrom and N Rack, Dillards, Belks, etc.

Hate poshmark, way overpriced and I know they have their fans but I don't like thrift stores. WAY Too much time to find things and it involves real time out and about.

I wear Eddie Bauer and REI pants that are great for work and I can move in them, too. Look at their Travel collections.

My pants and shoes both have to stand up to being ground into foliage, dirt, rocks and wet/mud. I wash my work pants constantly, and am going to throw them in the dryer. So I need pants that can stand up to that, and yet don't look hideous and don't cost an arm and a leg. Same with shoes. Nothing vinyl even if it is called "man made leather." If nylon then needs to be ripstop and waterproof. Needs to have tough sole that holds up to a shovel. But then again, doesn't look like the monster of Frankenstein's shoes. Jackets need to be washable and need hoods or need to be worn over or under something with a hood.

Just an aside, I won't shop at REI. I had a very bad experience with that company. Not their merchandise, just the company itself. Not saying you shouldn't buy from them, but I never will again. Plus IMHO, there are better outdoor gear companies out there. REI is overpriced for what you get, IMHO. It looks sturdy, but it's not a tag I expect to see still on something I'm wearing 30 years later. LLBean on the other hand, I still have 30 years later and going strong. Not sure about what Bean makes nowdays. My newer Bean shoes fell apart after five years but I beat the heck out of them. My coats are going strong. Same with my older Land's End ones.

I usually get lucky with finding cute outdoorsy tops and jackets at TJMax & Marshals. Pants are the tough part for me. For your line of work perhaps you can save in some areas and splurge on others. Best of luck! Shopping isn’t always fun is it?

Ipink, I disagree with you and your need for the dryer. It kills clothing! If you can buy enough so that you can line dry, it will help with the longevity of your clothing.

If you are in the mud, I would use high waterproof boots. Keep them in the car if you can't exactly plan what yu ar doing.

Some people have luck with Goodwill and Salvation Army. I am not someone who would shop there but I know people who do.

I usually have good luck at thrift stores but as some have mentioned, the time wading through and trying on stuff vs what you find. Time is in short supply these days!

eld, my daughter describes how my sister and I dry our clothes as “the 7 minute tumble.” All clothing except undies, pjs, and the like, are thrown in a low-temp dryer for 7-10 minutes, then hung up or placed on a drying rack to finish drying. I keep a small fan in the laundry room to speed up the process.

So many clothes, including most of my jeans, have a touch of Spandex or something similar. Dryer heat kills that.

lpink, look at Sierra Trading Co. also. It is the outdoorsy, online presence of TJMaxx, Marshall’s, etc.

I feel your pain on being between sizes. I think your best bet is to find a pair of pants or jeans that fit the way you like then buy every color and fabric offered.

I like Patagonia, and one year I went to a hangar sale at a Santa Monica airport hangar.

Lands End, LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, Patagonia, and REI.

https://www.eddiebauer.com/

https://www.patagonia.com/home/

https://www.rei.com/

Today I went from meetings to trail work to a funeral without being able to change. This is such a tough time of year, it went from chilly rain to hot sun bearing down and humid all in one day.

Pink, the classic “dress in layers“ seems to have been written just for you. For example, for today, could you have dressed in nice slacks, a shirt, a “third piece,” such as a sweater or a sweater/blazer, and flats for your meeting. Then put on rain pants, a jacket, and appropriate footwear to do field word. Then taken off the field-work clothes outer layer, getting back to the in-office meeting clothes for the funeral, but perhaps substituting a scarf for the sweater due to the temperature being warmer?

DH has rain pants that he keeps in his golf bag. They are big enough to go on over whatever he is wearing while keeping him dry and clean. Here is an example https://m.dickssportinggoods.com/p/the-north-face-mens-venture-2-half-zip-pants-16tnommvntr2hfzpprnw/16tnommvntr2hfzpprnw Not exactly a fashion statement, but they will cover your nice clothes.

I ordered a few things today. Spent a bundle. Two pairs of pants from LLBean, a grey fleece vest, a black long sleeved t-shirt, and some light brown chukkas and a rain jacket from Land's End. That is about it for me. The pants were pretty expensive for me, 70 bucks. I usually try to keep clothing costs to under $50 for an item. I only paid 40 for my wedding dress! I looked at all the other places except Sierra Trading Post which I might go back to later in the season. I really can't do tencel or polyester or nylon no matter how durable. They just don't breathe enough for me.

Good to see Eddie Bauer is getting back to its outdoor roots. I used to buy a lot from them but then when everyone discovered them they didn't have as much stuff that I liked. Not sure that is a good sign that they aren't as trendy, for them that is. But good for me.

I have good gortex rain pants in two colors but I have to watch out or I might get too fat for them. I am so stressed I just can't seem to stick to a diet.

I think the garments you purchased will suit you well for quite a while. Remember to turn your pants wrong-side out when you wash them. It will help preserve the color. I read a Consumer Reports article once on detergents meant for dark clothes. CR said you could get the same results using regular detergent but to use the least amount possible, and wash on cold water with a low or slow spin.

I’m sorry you are stress eating. I do the same from time to time.

Here is a little inspiration from The Vivienne Files for your gray vest (I’m not so sure what the deal is with that rumpled tee-shirt!)

Oh man BBSTX. that grey quilted vest is way cooler than the one I ordered . . . sigh. I have a cashmere sweater in pink like the one shown, but that is not for work. Otherwise I have most of the other elements except my boots are black. I would be groovin on some kind of washable Native American print jacket or fleece or even long sleeved t-shirt to go with the outfit, with some pink in it. Pink of course right? I stayed with a good friend for a couple of months once while I was apartment hunting and he said, "You are the only one I know who does a load of pinks in the laundry.

I know you’re done shopping for now but next time also consider Orvis. I often find items that straddle the line between practical and pretty.

And now we know where “pink” in your name comes from! Love it. I’m a pink person too.

Would you consider instead of a print vest, buying a solid vest and getting your pattern from wearing a scarf with it? I think you’ll get more mileage out of a solid vest.

I buy Talbot’s pima tee shirts (short-, long-, and 3/4-sleeved) when they put them on sale. I’ve found some at the end of the season for as little as $10, but usually they are closer to $20. They wash well and wear well. I use a belt like this to keep from wearing a hole in my tee-shirts.

Not quite certain exactly what fits your view of "professional" and "outdoorsy" but here are some of my go to brands for outdoorsy clothes that I can wear at my fairly casual office.

• Prana
• Athleta
• Kuhl
• Patagonia
• Toad & Co
• Outdoor Research
• The North Face
• Columbia

Most high quality outdoors brands aren't inexpensive. But they usually last a long time.

On the weight gain front, don't be so hard on yourself. Many people (myself included) experience ups and downs with our weight. I am starting to make some good progress on my own weight and although I'm not where I want to be and it took some time to get here, I'm starting to feel more like myself again. I'm sure you'll get there too.

Sizes are a problem for me also....I found a regular 8 short fits. OR a 10 petite works also. This is for jeans or pants.

Thanks for the tips folks! Some of the new stuff is starting to come in. I'll share some photos later. One of my biggest obstacles is money. The durable brands I used to wear are generally out of my price range. I bought them when I was more middle class and they are finally wearing out. I'm barely above the poverty level now. I'm at the "just getting by and maybe having to dip into retirement savings" level. But clothing made cheaply out of non-durable materials is no savings if it wears out in a year. This is the constant battle for hubs and I, trying to make sure we spend smart on our limited incomes. Hubs is retired but still has to work part time, and I retire with full SS in eight years and can't do it early. I'm much more set with tops, I inherited some from my Mom and haven't "grown out" of them as fast. Pants are a problem both from the wearing out perspective and now "growing out" perspective. I try to keep my weight down but it is a very tough and losing battle due to how hectic and stressful my life is. At this point I'm just trying to find a line to hold.

Ipink, my son is currently working for a landscaping company and very tough on his clothes. He has gone to our Goodwill store and come home with very nice work pants with tags still on them. These are very good brands, like LL Bean, Carhartt, Wrangler. I dont know if you have a local Goodwill store or if it will be the same but you might want to take a look.

Localeater just said what I was thinking---and to go a step further, when you find the brands/styles/sizes you like then checkout sites like ebay, Thredup and even Poshmark. Even Amazon often has greatly reduced prices on previous year's offerings from major brands -- new.

Hi Pink, if you do hit the thrifts shopping is easier if you have made some visuals of put- together outfits stored on your phone. Heck, it makes shopping in general easier.

I wish you could come to my area as you would find some nice deals.

Re: Mercari, Poshmark, and ebay. Make an offer on anything you want. I’ve recently been streamlining my closet. Things that are still good, I post on Mercari, Poshmark, and ebay. People who have made me ridiculously low offers have found themselves the owners of new-to-them clothes!

I do regularly hit up the local Goodwill and Salvation Army for all my shopping needs, or at least the ones they can fulfill. But I have yet to try anything online. What is "Poshmark?" My basic hesitation on the online route is then there is all the trying on and sending back so much. Being between sizes I find I try on a lot of stuff that does not fit right.

The visuals idea is great. I actually used to do that with catalog and magazine photos of looks I liked. Need to start doing it again. Also carried a list of things I needed to round out outfits, in my purse.

My basic problem is how much I hate to shop and how much time it takes. Great bargains can be found at Goodwill or even TJ Maxx where I found some awesome dress pants recently, but you have to sort through a lot, and try on a lot. Sending stuff back takes time too, to package and fill out paperwork. I miss the old days when I could shop some reliable stores that carried clothing that worked for me. Shopping time for me is very limited nowdays. And it seems to take longer and longer. Gone are the days when an occasional trip to the mall was all I needed to refresh my wardrobe.

My local mall (still 50 min. drive away) has almost no clothing stores left, particularly any that would sell durable yet stylish work clothes. Even the outlet mall 30 min. away has almost no open stores and it used to be full of shoppers and even tourists who came there to shop. It has only a handful of occupied stores left. I know retail survives in some pockets, but not any practical ones near me. Our latest hobby is spending our Saturdays in the nearest thriving town 1.5 hrs. away on Saturdays. It tires us out though, all that driving. But we usually have fun. Hope to find jobs there, always looking.

L.L. Bean has a sale on! Use code Bean20 for 20% off! If you pay with PayPal, they will reimburse the shipping on your returns. If you have an American Express card, check to see if one of your benefits is ShopRunner. It gives you free 2 day shipping and free return shipping with certain merchants.

Link to Poshmark https://poshmark.com/ Here is a screenshot of a random page from the search “quilted vest”

Here's something I wore a lot last year and awaited buying more this year.

This jacket is

super comfy, soft, heavy, thick, washes fabulously, looks good after each washing and is cheap. This year I bought two more. I can wear this out walking dogs, gardening, hiking and look good on errands and/or in public.

I have lots of expensive nice clothing and reached for this constantly because of the warmth, ease of cleaning, softness and casual good looks. If it got muddy, no biggie. Never wrinkles. Looks good pulled out of the bottom of the clean clothes laundry basket. Zipper works nicely.

You would wear an extra large.

I suggest changing your shoes...I understand not having time to change clothing but to slip on or off socks and shoes is quick. You want to be sure your feet are protected when outdoors, and you don't want to be tracking whatever into the indoors. It will also make your outfits more versatile as a quick change of shoes makes a big difference in the look.

I have worn these LLBean pants from hiking trail to dinner and they always fit the bill. They stretch for comfort, they are strong and durable, they come in a variety of leg widths and they fit really well.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/504199?originalProduct=56777&productId=769782&attrValue_0=Black&pla1=0&mr%3AtrackingCode=FCF09902-BFE7-E511-80ED-00505694403D&mr%3AreferralID=NA&mr%3Adevice=c&mr%3AadType=pla_with_promotiononline&qs=3136934&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0IDtBRC6ARIsAIA5gWv0jz1ApMNNxF3jf7VLUwRbxVyPrp5zZwgqiGWSZcAlrE01mdeVCYAaAlJeEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I agree about lengthening the life of your clothes if you skip the dryer. I never put my socks or underwear in the dryer as it damages the elastic fibers.

If money is an issue, then do look to thrift shops...I have come across some really nice high-end, hardly used...some still with price tags on...stuff for very cheap. I wouldn't buy used shoes, but especially for tops, it's worked for me...especially if you go to the thrift shops in the fancy towns/areas. (We got a tux for DH that fit him perfectly for $25 in West Palm Beach!)

Another thing to look for is a scarf and accessories. You can take a t-shirt and pants and dress it up with a scarf and/or necklace. Esp if you get a scarf that goes with a cardigan...having that 3rd piece adds a lot more dressiness to an outfit. And the scarf helps a lot with temperature variations...I always use one when I travel...if I get too hot, I tie it around my purse.

Here's an example from http://www.maitaispicturebook.com/search?updated-max=2019-05-19T22:34:00%2B02:00&max-results=2&start=4&by-date=false Mai tai's picture book of how a simple top and jeans can be dressed up with a scarf and necklace.

Here's an example of how that 3rd "completer" piece as stacy & clinton used to call it can take a t-shirt and jeans to professional looking... a casual jacket or a cardigan would work.

ipink, Do you have a pair of gaiters? I always have a pair in my car so that if I need to trek through brush my pants wont get snagged or dirty on branches or splashed by dirt. They cover the tops of my booties to my knees.

As bbstx suggested, vivienne files will help you with ideas for how to get the maximum outfits out of the minimum # of pieces. Pick a scarf with colors you like, and then build off of that for your pants and tops...then the scarf will always work with them...keep the pants basic colors: black, navy, gray. Add color with the tops. It's the easiest way to dress and build a wardrobe that works for you.

I have gaiters. At least one, maybe two, I can't quite remember. And two pairs of gortex pants to pull over regular ones, but they are almost too small now, sigh. Don't know where I put the gaiters. That's another issue too, lack of organized storage in my house, particularly clothing. Of course I'm trying and working on all fronts . . .

My main problem is I used to be able to afford good quality clothes and I have been running on the fumes of having them for quite a few years. Plus I inherited some clothes from my Mom, although her stuff is a tad too nice for field work. But I can't wear her pants she was too short, (although I do wear some of her summer pants as capris, lol). I am running out of pants both due to wear and an expanding lower half.

I regularly shop the Goodwill and local Salvation Army and also resale shops. I've gotten some great pieces, but honestly most folks don't give up durable, practical clothing, that stuff they keep until it is in tatters.

I used to have quite the set of bandanas for my looks, those are the ones I would have to wear. I could invest in a few more. I have a lovely collection of silk scarves I inherited from my Mom, but I could never wear them to work and expect them to stay nice.

Among the many things I have to accomplish at my house, is breaking down my Mother's closet. I have no great wish to keep it as a shrine to her, but I can't see just tossing or jumbling all the lovely clothes she had in there so meticulously organized. She has a beautiful wardrobe all organized by clothing type and color, so she could easily put together exquisite outfits. My mother never left the house looking less than stellar. But she was the opposite of me in her work world, she was a librarian and avoided anything messy, noisy or physical. I don't need suggestions on what to do with it, I have sources for donations, etc. I just need the time. I have recently been sorting through some old photos of my Mom at work. I still have all her exquisite classic wool and suede suits and silk shirts, but folks don't dress like that for work anymore, sigh . . .

Perhaps a consignment shop would be a good place for your mothers clothes and give you some extra $$ for more practical items you can actually wear. To use Magnaverdes advice: Buy clothing for the life you actually live.

Now there's an idea I had not though of. I'm not sure there is a consignment shop nearby. Used to be two but they went out of business. Not sure anyone would buy them. They are classics, but like I said, no one dresses that way anymore. I have looked in to selling some of my mom's classic outfits she saved from the 50's and 60's. But 1980's power suits . . . I might be able to sell some of the silk shirts . . . I think I would have to sell these clothes online. I shudder at the thought of what might be involved. But if I could get rid of them and get some money to buy new clothes at the same time, that would be a win win.

I have a lovely collection of silk scarves I inherited from my Mom, but I could never wear them to work and expect them to stay nice.

I guess either I'm not understanding your situation, or you're not understanding my suggestions. "Field work" clothing is never going to work at a funeral and you can't expect one outfit to manage both. What I'm suggesting is keeping some pieces in your car or in a tote bag or even a larger purse so you can become a "quick change" artist to get you from one situation to another in no time.... if you manage to find time to stop by the rest room, then you have the time to don a scarf or take it off, put on socks and work shoes or take them off and swap for slip-ons for a meeting.

Yes I could do that, if I get some tops to match Mom's scarves. She even left me gorgeous brooches to pin them with and scarf rings. I could pack them all up in one of Mom's Vera Bradley duffles. But then there's my grody car with the box of dried weeds in it for Jr. Garden Club's craft activity, rocks for the garden bed edging at home, and the tote of camping gear I still haven't unpacked . . . I guess I could put the duffle in a protective plastic tote, I have some on my short list to empty out.

I managed to make it to a meeting today looking OK with some newish pants I got last spring and a great poly jacket I found at Goodwill plus Mom's jewelry. My shoes were a fright though. Luckily no one noticed the soles were coming off while I was sitting at the conference table. I used to get a lot of compliments on them before the soles wore off.

I wouldn't necessarily pack them all...but make a plan ahead ... a scarf, a matching cardigan and maybe a necklace or scarf ring that coordinates and a pair of slip on shoes. That way you're good to go.