- I spoke with successful women across industries about their favorite clothes.
- They named a mix of basics from brands like Skims and luxe accessories from designers like Gucci.
- Many also shared the importance of finding clothes that help them feel comfortable and confident.
How do successful women always look so put together?
I always wonder where they find button-down tops that fit just right, sharp trousers that sit the perfect length, and shoes that look comfortable and luxuriously chic.
So, I asked a handful of women from various industries to name the pieces in their wardrobes that are in constant rotation.
From luxury sweaters to classic work pants, here's what they said.
One corporate developer always wears inexpensive tops — even when the rest of her outfit is luxurious.
Nicolle Lee is a 32-year-old corporate developer. She was named one of BI's 2023 rising stars of real estate for her work with Royal Caribbean, a job she still holds today.
Lee said she's a fan of simple tops for work and fun.
"I like high-low styles, so I wear very basic tops," she said. "It could be from Skims, H&M, Mango — any of their T-shirts or tanks."
The one brand she spends a little extra on is Frankies Bikinis. She said its knitwear is "super nice and high quality." She has pieces in black, gray, and butter yellow.
Tanks, T-shirts, and other knit garments from the brand cost between $95 and $160 a piece. Celebrities, including Bella Hadid, have also collaborated with Frankies Bikinis on clothing and swimsuit lines.
A startup investor is loyal to a New York City-based denim brand.
"AYR has the most expensive basics, but they're so good," said Lori Berenberg, a 29-year-old startup investor at Bloomberg Beta. "I must have at least four or five different colors of the Deep End shirt."
In addition to the $165 top, Berenberg — named one of BI's 2024 rising stars of the venture capital industry — said AYR's T-shirts and jackets are "pretty good." But the $245 Secret Sauce jeans are her "holy grail" product from the New York City brand.
She said the pants fit tight on the thighs and are a touch wider than straight jeans across the legs. The brand's website says the jeans "form to you" over time.
"In tech, and in startups in particular, people just don't really dress up that much," she said. "So, it's always easy for me to wear denim. Then I can wear nicer shoes, a nicer top, and a blazer. I still generally end up feeling like I'm the overdressed person, but with jeans, I'm never like, 'Oh, I really went too far.'"
She also loves a trendy Sezane trench coat.
Berenberg knows her $350 Clyde trench coat from Sezane is on everyone's Pinterest boards, but she loves it anyway.
"It's so cute. I love it. I'm obsessed with it," she said of the jacket, noting that she spent a long time trying to track one down.
"I had every notification set for eBay and the RealReal, and I couldn't find it," she said. "So then, when I went to Paris, I just bought it there."
A senior vice president in investment banking can always be found in Gucci loafers.
Daniela Cardona, 30, is a senior vice president of media investment banking at RBC Capital Markets. In 2024, BI named her a rising star of Wall Street.
When it comes to fashion, Cardona said she leans on the basic side.
"I'm in the neutrals rotation space, so I wear a lot of white, black, gray, and tans in tops," she said.
That's partially because her real fashion statement comes in the form of shoes: a $1,050 pair of Gucci Jordaan loafers.
"I'm a loafer girl because I think they're elevated," she said. "You still look professional, but you're comfortable."
"When I was younger — I've been in banking for almost nine years now — I definitely tried to do more heels in the office and sneakers to walk home," she added. "But at this point, I do a loafer."
Jenni Kayne is the go-to brand for this snack founder.
Nikki Seaman is the 29-year-old founder and CEO of Freestyle Snacks, a brand that offers premium olives in to-go pouches.
To stay comfortable while traveling and working on her brand, she constantly wears pieces from Jenni Kayne.
"I live in their sweaters in the fall and winter," Seaman said.
The brand is based in California and sells sweaters for between $195 and $695.
"For the summer, they make these really nice, knit tank tops," Seaman added. "I'm always wearing them under a blazer or cardigan when I go out to buyer meetings and visits to my co-packer."
The founder of a sustainable marketing agency solely thrifts her wardrobe.
Estella Struck, 23, was named a 2024 rising star of influencer management for her work at Viviene New York, a marketing agency she created that promotes sustainable businesses.
She said 100% of her wardrobe was acquired secondhand.
"Sustainability is my work, but it comes from my own personal values of wanting to act in a more climate-conscious way," she said. "I do a lot of shopping on eBay, at thrift stores, and at vintage stores. LA is a great spot for that."
"I love my clothing and, as I was becoming an adult, shopping secondhand helped me really find who I am," she added. "Fashion is an art form of expression. Today, with everything super manufactured and all the trend cycles going so quickly, it's hard to have that be a part of your journey."
Two women said they love Theory pants.
Theory is so popular that it might be considered basic in the fashion world, but successful women still love the brand's products.
Seaman said she's especially fond of its "really, really great work pants."
Lee likes them too, saying she's never really veered away from Theory in general.
"It's somewhat embarrassing, but I'm pretty old school when it comes to professional wear," she said.
