Frugal Challenge: $25 Professional Outfit

Our graduate school is given a certain amount of funds from the government to promote knowledge about loan repayment and basically to encourage us to not default on our student loans. The school is not allowed to give this money directly to us: rather, they have to come up with fun activities that will get us in the door to have the opportunity to educate us. One such activity is the school fashion show. Yes, we have a fashion show. If you participate, you are given $25 to come up with a professional outfit (i.e. one that you could see clients in). After they have the fashion show, they have the boring "don't go into default" part. I participated last year and am going to this year, too. A free outfit? Yes, please! You win prizes based on how complete your outfit is and how cute it is. Last year I was able to buy a button down shirt, skirt, shoes, and earrings for that amount. This year will be a bit more complicated because I want to buy pants, and pants-buying for me is always complicated. I also have limited time to find an outfit. I will update when I am done!