Where to buy a women's suit?

March 16, 2009 8:36 AM

I'm looking for advice on women's suits- brand or store recommendations and any other tips you may have.

For the first time in almost a decade, I'm interviewing for jobs. So I need a new suit. I don't want to spend a lot of money (i.e. more than $200) but do want something stylish and well-made. I'm tall and thin but have broad shoulders so would like to avoid looking like a linebacker. I'd prefer a pantsuit but am open to the skirt option as well.

posted by emd3737 to clothing, beauty, & fashion (20 comments total)

I got a Tahari suit at Macy's, and am very pleased with it- I was able to get both the pants and the skirt, which is helpful.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:52 AM on March 16 [1 favorite has favorites]

I recently got an Anne Kline pantsuit from Lord & Taylor that I love. The tag said it was originally around $350 but I paid $130 for it.
posted by Nolechick11 at 9:00 AM on March 16

Macy's has great sales on suits, sometimes for $100 or less.

Talbots usually starts out at the beginning of the season for @$180 for a jacket and @$90 for pants, but they have a sale three times a year and the markdowns are great. Lots of three-season lightweight wool/viscose blends.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 9:07 AM on March 16

My wife and I have always been able to find suits (Anne K, Calvin, K, Tahari, Jones, Claiborne, etc) for less than $100 at Lord and Taylor and Macy's. I suggest buying a suit when you find a great deal, as opposed to trying to find something on clearance when you really need it.

Go for a classic style, no trendy cuts or decorations. Unless you will be donning suits regularly, the suit can go out of style before it needs replacing. All of the usual "shopping for tall people" rules apply, only there should be no compromises on fit or comfort. Try on the suit with the intended top and same height shoes you intend to wear.

Take someone with you, if you can, and seek the consultation of the sales associates. Stereotype or not, the older women working in the stores know the product and how to dress people.
posted by wg at 9:14 AM on March 16

Ross Dress for Less in California often has Jones New York and Calvin Klein (pant) suits for well under $200. Don't know if it's the same in Mass.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:16 AM on March 16

(Oh, and planning on picking up some underwear that won't give you pantylines.)
posted by wg at 9:17 AM on March 16

New York & Company, if they have one near you, makes excellent suits for under $200. They frequently sell both pants and skirts to go with the suit jacket, so you can pick one (or both).
posted by egg86 at 9:19 AM on March 16

I get all of my suits at Ross here in Philly. They have a ton of Calvin Klein, Levine, Jones, and Anne Klein, both pants and skirts. All of which are usually $69.99.
posted by desuetude at 9:36 AM on March 16

As a tall, broad-shouldered woman myself, I would suggest Dana Buchman and Ellen Tracy as labels to look for.

Tahari make wonderful suits, but I have never found one broad enough in the shoulders or long enough in the arms for me, even when going up a size or two from my usual. Jones, Liz Claiborne, and Anne Klein sometimes work for me, depending on jacket style; Ralph Lauren often works for me. I've never tried a Calvin Klein suit so can't comment, but I find their sweaters and coats generally work for me in terms of shoulder breadth and arm length.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:17 AM on March 16

I posted this question about business suits and got good answers that may help you. I now wear a suit every day except Fridays and LOVE it.

I shop at Macy's - their suits are decently priced and usually better quality and the selection is larger than at the lower-end department stores. Get a Macy's card so you get the ridiculous amounts of coupons they send you and plan accordingly. I usually pay $90 for a $250-300 suit. Then - and here is the key - get it tailored right there. I've found the quality of the alterations to be much better than at the average drycleaner's, for example.

I just received a silver Macy's card (because of all the suits I bought) and now qualify for 10 free alterations a year. Yey!
posted by widdershins at 10:24 AM on March 16

Marshalls and TJ Maxx can be good bets for Tahari suits, which is pretty affordable, modern, but classic (obviously do not choose something with 3/4 sleeves or big funny buttons) and that way you can try on the suits to see how they fit, which is v. important. Most of my suits were ill-fitting until I started focusing on it - if you have only one suit, get it tailored so its comfortable and you don't look like a kid or a linebacker. The jacket arm should end just above about at the start of your thumb, I am tall and prefer a 3-button jacket. I prefer all- season wool suits and I personally think you should choose a dark suit, either charcoal, navy blue or black depending on your preference. If you prefer a pantsuit then wear one, you don't want to be worried about your suit during an interview. Good luck on your interview!
posted by Carialle at 10:29 AM on March 16

I'm tall and thin, too, and I'm sitting here right now in the only suit that's ever fit me properly: a J. Crew 4-season wool suit from their TALL line. The jacket fits like a dream... I seriously didn't know what it was like to have the arm holes, shoulders, wrists, and waist in the right place till I bought it. On sale, I think the jacket and skirt came to abou $250.
posted by scody at 10:53 AM on March 16

I often here people comment on "classic styling," but it's never clear what that means. And where you buy such a thing as a suit that has classic styling.
posted by bluedaisy at 11:09 AM on March 16

*hear* people i meant...
posted by bluedaisy at 11:36 AM on March 16

"Classic styling" indicates clothing that's not obviously trendy or dated in terms of cut, color, and details -- something that could be worn for years, even decades, without it being out of fashion. For example, an electric blue suit with wide lapels and a single button jacket and a peplum skirt is dated, but a charcoal grey suit with thin or medium lapels and two or three buttons and a pencil skirt is classic.

Classic styling is also associated with clothing that is well-made and well-tailored, with high quality materials -- wool, cashmere, silk, linen, etc. The archetypal classic brands are Ralph Lauren, L.L. Bean, etc. Neo-classic (for lack of a better term) brands would be places like J. Crew, Talbots, etc.

Check out the "American Classic" chapter in the latest Lucky Style Guide for a little more detail.
posted by scody at 11:55 AM on March 16

I wasn't clear enough in my question... I guess sometimes I see women wearing "classic" suits with tapered pants that look very dated to me. I guess I'm just suspicious that classic stuff doesn't also go out of date in a few years, too.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:13 PM on March 16

But--thanks, I do appreciate your answer, scody.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:14 PM on March 16

If you're tall and thin check out Brooks Brothers. Suits can be found in the $200 price range if you shop their sales. Both J. Crew and Banana Republic also have cuts favoring tall and thin women.

Personally I've found Tahari suits to be a bit on the trendy side, so not quite as timeless as basic suits from Brooks Brothers or Talbots.
posted by needled at 12:19 PM on March 16

Try a walk through the Wrentham Village Outlets for lots of stores and choices including Banana, Brooks Bros, and J. Crew (off 495 in Wrentham). The Talbots Outlet in Hingham (on 3A) is great (and having a sale now). Both are somewhat hit or miss, but worth it for bargain hunting. I concur on Macy's. Lands' end online store has tall suitings. Look in the on-line "outlet" section too. You can return everything you order on-line that you don't like to Sears which is convenient.

While you're shopping for suit #1 keep an eye out for bargains because once you land that job you're going to have to "wardrobe-up!"
posted by inkyr2 at 1:33 PM on March 16

I like Ann Taylor, too (I just got a suit for an interview for $99 (on sale) +$36 for alterations). But I'm short, so I don't know how their suits work if you're tall.
posted by leahwrenn at 3:40 PM on March 16