Are you a woman just getting back into the workforce or have been recently promoted and need to buy a professional wardrobe?

These tips will help you prioritize your shopping to make the most of your clothing budget and will allow you to look professional.

Buy a primary suit in black or navy with four matching pieces including a blazer, skirt, pants and top. If a top doesn't come with your suit, buy a sweater in similar weight fabric as your suit in the same monotone shade.

Buy a secondary suit (four pieces) in a neutral color that coordinates with your primary suit so you can mix the pieces. DONT buy both Navy and Black as these dont go with each other. Red, Taupe, Camel, and Olive go with either Navy or Black. With these 8 pieces, you have a large mix and match wardrobe and with just a few additional clothing pieces, this wardrobe goes a long way.

Buy both suits in similar weight fabric like year round wool or a rayon blend.

Additional clothing pieces; 

• A white silk blouse
• A long sleeve white cotton blouse
• A turtleneck
• A sweater set
• An additonal blazer in a color compatible pattern with your primary/secondary suits
• A solid color skirt that matches your patterned blazer. Plus size ladies should wear skirts that fall at the thinnest part of the leg, usually just below the knee. Career skirts should not fall lower than mid calf and unless you are an 'entertainer' minis are a no-no in the work place regardless of what size you are.
• Pumps in your primary suit color and boots in your secondary suit color. Knee boots are more flexible as they go with any length skirt.

As budget allows;

• Print scarfs in primary/secondary suit colors
• Conservative gold and silver earrings
• A briefcase that matches your primary/secondary suit colors (cant go wrong with black)
• A purse the same color as your briefcase
• A day calendar that matches your briefcase/purse
• An umbrella
• A dress coat 

Hot fall fashion for 2006 is; Sapphire, Wine, Pewter and Brown. Slouch boots are back as are mens style clothing, like pinstripes. Layers are also hot right now.