Suiting Round Up
May 11, 2023
By Anne St. Amant
I’ll never forget the first time I felt great in a suit. I’ll also never forget the first time I felt terrible in a suit. The difference between these two moments is the difference in the suit I was wearing. When I felt terrible, I was wearing an ill-fitting suit in law school, where I was going for formality and conformity over individuality and style.
But the first time I felt great in a suit, I had finally invested in a nice one that not only fit my body so much better, but also fit my personal style! My motto is that you always look the most dressed up in clothes that fit your body and clothes that fit your style. Below is a roundup of suits (some that are actually in my closet and I swear by!) of all different kinds for every occasion!
**As a disclaimer, I know there are also tons of great options at stores like Express, H&M, and Zara, however, the below stores are the ones I gravitate towards just based on familiarity with quality and fit! We hope to bring future round ups incorporating suits from a broader range of stores in the future!
1. Business-Formal
(your most important meeting!)
That amazing suit I was referring to where I felt my best? It’s this one right here! I love this suit so much that I have it in three different colors. It’s pricey but you can usually catch a Theory sale every now and then. If you are in a job that requires more formal dressing, or have a particularly big interview coming up, I highly recommend.
The rec:
Etiennette Blazer in Good Wool
Another fit for a Formal Suit:
I recognize that everyone has different shapes and fits they gravitate towards, so if the slim pant/long blazer combo isn’t your winning combo, this is a great alternative while still remaining ultra-formal.
P.S. I wouldn’t worry about the collarless/buttonless features of this blazer. Modern silhouettes and designs can still be formal based on the fabric/quality/and structure!
P.P.S. I highly recommend listening to the “How I Built This” podcast featuring the founder and CEO, Sarah LeFleur. I love her philosophy on workwear.
Alternative rec:
The Horton Pant – Washable Wool Twill
2. A less expensive alternative, but still formal and sleek!
If you don’t wear a suit frequently, you may not be interested in dropping $400-$500 on one. Totally get that! I have found that Ann Taylor has quality suiting for the price, my one tip (this even applies to the fancy stuff!) is to get it tailored to your body for an elevated look. An ill-fitting suit can make even a $500 suit look cheap.
The rec:
The Long Collarless Blazer in Fluid Crepe
The Side Zip Eva Ankle Pant in Fluid Crepe
3. The Dress Suit
I also love wearing a more formal, structured dress and matching blazer as another option and to switch it up from the regular pant suit; when you pair the two, it has the formality of a suit in my opinion. You can mismatch your dress and blazer for a more casual vibe. I love the Jcrew Resume dress and have it in several colors! One thing I’ll note is that Jcrew doesn’t necessarily sell blazers to go with these dresses but they have many of the same colors and fabrics across their suiting, so it just takes some trial and error to figure out which blazers match best! This gray going out blazer pairs perfectly with the gray resume dress.
The rec:
Going-out blazer in stretch twill
4. Skirt Suit
We can’t forget skirt suits either! Here’s my tip for a more updated look when wearing a skirt suit: the length of the blazer matters when wearing a skirt. I would recommend either going with a crop blazer or a longer fit. A structured blazer that hits right at the waste may look a little outdated when paired with a skirt.
The rec:
5. Trendy Fit
I’ve been loving this kind of fit for suiting lately! I wouldn’t recommend wearing this to an ultra-formal interview or business meeting, but certainly recommend for more low-key days at the office or if you have a networking event or happy hour to attend after work!
The rec:
The Relaxed Double Breasted Long Blazer in Satin
Tipped Scalloped Halter Sweater Shell
6. Casual Suiting
This is another take on the trendy suit, but with a mismatching blazer and pants. Again, I wouldn’t recommend this kind of suit for anything super important where you need to be your dressiest! But this look is a great option to go trendy and I’ve been actually pretty impressed with Abercrombie’s blazer and dress pant options lately.
The rec:
7. Comfy Suiting
Full disclosure, I’ve never tried Spanx suits, but I’ve heard incredible things and have my eye on this one. I love the idea of wearing something that holds up in a formal office environment but is as comfy as leggings. Win win!
The rec:
8. Add a Pop of Color
I’ve always liked Indochino men’s suiting and am ecstatic they launched a women’s line. I love this suit for a pop of color.
The rec:
9. Vintage Inspired
If you like retro vibes, I would recommend a plaid, tweet, or 80s crop! Here are three I’m loving:
The recs:
Women’s Denim Trim Tweed Jacket & Skirt
Louisa lady jacket in stretch linen blend
Sydney Pant in Stretch Linen Blend
10. Suiting for Every Season
It’s important to dress for the season! I have some thicker plaid suits for winter that I’ll stow away now that we’re finally out of the woods with this snow. I think I might just have to get this beautiful linen suit with black piping to fill the void in my closet!
The rec:
Carolina Slim Cotton-Linen Blazer
Caroline Straight Cotton-Linen Pant
11. Bonus category: Go Custom!
If you find yourself wearing suits often, it might be time to invest in a custom one, tailored perfectly to you! I walk by Daniel’s Custom Clothing every day, multiple times a day, because he happens to be our office’s next door neighbor! Double Bonus: Alysha at his shop now specializes in designing custom women’s suits! She will help you pick out a fabric and fit that perfectly matches your style. Truly, you can find one of our firm’s attorneys in their shop on a daily basis. It is much harder for women to find suiting that fits and feels good, so I highly recommend checking out the very talented Daniel and Alicia for your suiting needs!
The rec: https://danielscustomclothing.com/
