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It’s the Post You’ve All Been Waiting (and waiting and waiting and … ) for! The Where to Buy a Suit Guide!
Please feel free to chime in with your own suggestions; after all, I work from home and for all you know, I’m wearing yoga pants right now. (I am not, for the record; I’m wearing corduroys and a very lovely turtleneck sweater. But I could be wearing yoga pants …)
Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor’s clothes are well made, and classic without being frumpy. AT suits come in a nice range of cuts, which makes it possible to find something to flatter nearly every body type. Ann Taylor does not offer much in the way of tall sizes, but they do a nice job with petites. Pieces are available in sizes 00 to 18. AND right now you can take 50% off the price of a jacket with the purchase of pants or a skirt. Which means that you really CAN afford to buy the pants AND the skirt.
Ann Taylor Loft
ATLoft is a terrific place for the job hunter on a budget; their suits are slightly less pricey than their sister store, but equally well made and functional. ATLoft suits tend to be either more conservative and basic or a little funkier, which also makes this the perfect stop for younger working women who are either looking for a first job or are able to wear a less conservative suit to the office. Their suiting is also all separates, which means that you can mix and match a look that is perfect for you. And right now, most of their suiting pieces are on sale.
Talbots
Talbots is a terrific source for plus size suiting; they have a fantastic range of colors and shapes in sizes 12W to 24W (although of course on the web site they are all photographed on size two models — what IS that?!?). I like Talbots because they have a good classic line, but they are also looking at more interesting, updated silhouettes; you can find a beautiful suit AND a funky blouse all in one place. Steer clear, though, of the very long skirts; either shop for something that hits closer to the knee or have the skirt hemmed. That long length isn’t the most flattering, for anyone.
J. Crew
Tall? Long legs? J. Crew is the place to go for suits. J. Crew’s pants tend to run long even in regular inseams, and they have a good selection of tall lengths as well. Each suiting group comes with several choices of jacket and trouser styles, as well as a skirt (mostly pencil skirts, sadly, but you can still make the trousers work for you). The downside is that most of the suiting pieces are jcrew.com only, but don’t let that stop you — order everything, in multiple sizes, and then return what doesn’t work to the store. It’s worth the effort. J. Crew’s quality is impeccable and their suits come in classic fabrics and colors, but in slightly cooler shapes.
Your Local Department Store
Sometimes the best bet for a suit is a department store; they will often carry a wide range of sizes and cuts and colors. Keep in mind that you want something that is neutral and fairly simple in its lines; don’t be drawn in by the lime green bubble skirt or the floral print suit dress. Look for high quality fabrics (three season wool is your best bet) and good construction. Stay away from polyester in all it’s forms (exception: a small bit of elastane in a wool suit is fine). Nordstrom is of course the Best Department Store EVER, but you can find great suits other places as well.
Your turn — where do YOU shop for suits?
*Your mileage may vary.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am and is filed under basics.
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February 13th, 2008 at 3:43 am
Two places for the standard suit to add–
Harold’s–I know they go up to at least a size 14 and the cut of their pants is a lot easier on my pear shaped figure than J.Crew
H&M–I bought a couple of different suits for a steal almost two years ago
Once you have your closet stocked up with the everyday go-to pieces, splurge on a fun and funky suit at a local boutique. My best friend from law school has just opened a boutique in Winter Park, Fl (www.gingerstyle.net) and they are carrying tons of cute, funky suits. Not what you want for an interview, but they can be a lifesaver once you’ve got the job.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Thanks Susan! I’ve had a lot of luck at Dillard’s in the past with sales. The department store is great for a suit in a hurry that you don’t want to drop a lot of cash on.
I went to J.Crew this weekend and I think I’m sold on their gray pinstripe number. They had one with green pinstripes that was cute, but not quite appropriate.
February 13th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I went suit shopping about two years ago and walked into Ann Taylor fulling expecting to buy one there. The sales folks didn’t give me the time of day. I’m in my early 30s, so I should have been a good target for them. Maybe this was the exception rather than the rule?
I then went to another store in the mall where I never expected to find myself: Casual Corner. Alas, it is now closed. But they had a great selection and really helpful sales people, and the prices were great as well. Since I knew I’d only wear my suit a couple of times (required in my field for interviews, but nothing else), it was important to find something flattering but also simple and affordable.
I was offered both jobs, so it certainly didn’t hurt! In any case, it was a real bummer to hear it closed.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I just recently bought a great suit at The Limited. They have lots of options - quite a few basic colors (black, charcoal grey, light grey, pinstripe, etc) and lots of cuts (for example, you can get like 8 different styles/fits of black pants that will all match the same 4 jackets). A few of their suits have skirts as well as pants, though there wasn’t a ton of style selection in skirts. In addition to the classic colors and cuts, they also had a few funkier suits - a brown tweed suit with a belted jacket, for example. It’s also helpful that their pants (most of them) come in three lengths. I’m 5′2″ on a good day, and their short length fits me perfectly with a 2″ heel.
Right at the moment, if you buy any suit jacket, you get a pair of pants for free, which is a pretty sweet deal. The jackets run from about $150-$200, and the pants start at around $70 and go up to about $100, so that’s a really nice savings.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I just bought a few new suits ( I just went back to work and had to buy new clothes - so fun!). I found a couple great pantsuits at Ann Taylor Loft for amazing prices. I also found a khaki jacket/pants/skirt at Banana Republic that I really like. Banana Republic also has great pants.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
My Ann Taylor Loft suit has gotten me two jobs! And what’s fantastic about AT Loft for those of us under 5′4″ is that they carry really well-proportioned petites, *in the store*, rather than online only.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I second Molly’s recommendation for Banana Republic. You can find classic shapes and great fabrics there for a price that doesn’t hurt my wallet too much. Plus I LOVE the contoured style of pants from Banana–great for curvy girls like me!
February 14th, 2008 at 2:13 am
If you live near the Boston area Frugal Fannies is great. They almost always have suits as sets and seperates. Great brand names for a lot less money. Usually in the spring and fall they have a big suit sale. I’ve purchased several $400 suits for less than $100.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I appreciate the input on the last post about washable suits, but seriously, is there any company that makes a halfway decent washable suit? Because I haven’t been to a drycleaners in close to 3 years. I have a summery dress that I love that I haven’t worn for 2 years b/c I haven’t made it to the drycleaners. The Dryel/Febreze ideas are great, but I am just sure that as soon as I spent the $$$, I would spill something all over it and then it would be such a huge hassle.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Merry, our dry cleaners has pickup and delivery service, AND they will automatically bill my credit card each month. We toss all the laundry and cleaning in a big bag (provided by the cleaners) once a week and leave it for the delivery person, who leaves the clean laundry in its place.
Half of the problem with the cleaners is the hassle of getting there, but this totally solves that. And at my house, we spend virtually the same amount every single month (all of my husband’s dress shirts go to the cleaners for laundering), so I can budget for that bill.
You can wear a suit — or dress or blouse — more than once before you need to clean it. In fact, cleaning a suit (or anything else) after every wearing is bad for the fabric; too much cleaning will dry out the fibers.
Get your dress cleaned. Today. And then wear it!
February 14th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Pickup and delivery service from the dry cleaners requires a person not to live in the boondocks…
But you’re right. I need to get the dress drycleaned b/c the warmer days are going to be here soon.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:45 am
I have bought several J.Crew suits for work. I love the material and colors, but I find that tailoring can really cost a lot. Perhaps I have short arms, but I find it impossible to get the sleeve length right unless the tailor takes up the sleeve from the shoulder because of the button holes.
I have had great luck with ultra-conservative, quality suits from http://www.ctshirts.com. This is a UK company and they start out high on pricing but the clearance section is the way to go. It takes a week or two to get the clothes, but well worth the wait in my opinion.
About the dry cleaning. After my second child, I tried to go with all washable clothing. I’m a trial attorney and that did not work at all. Several depressing months later, I concluded that it is essential for me to get wool suits and to hang them up properly. Don’t over dry clean. A little something here and there can often be wiped off with a damp cloth.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Just wanted to mention that Talbot’s isn’t only for plus sizes. They are great for regular and especially petite sizes as well.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:56 am
I am planning on buying a black suit (pants, skirt, jacket) from Lands End. I have bought several things from them in the last year and have been extremely pleased with the fit, quality and service. Does anyone have any comment or experience in purchasing a suit from them?