Best choice for a suit?

June 11, 2009 1:12 PM

Best choice for a suit?

I'm a female that will be starting my sophmore year of college this summer. I had been using an older, well-maintained suit that I found at a thrift store in the past, but recently I was selected for a student position that has me freqently interviewing, doing group presentations for large companies, and attending networking dinners. I'm on a college student's budget, so the best choice for me would be one that can be used and changed up to fit any of my needs. I am also the only female in the group of 12 doing this, and so I have already been getting a lot of (positive) attention from the companies that have been visiting. I would like to find something that doesn't make me stand out, but still sets me apart (maybe a different color or style?), so I can continue making these valuable contacts.

The problem is, I have never done anything like this, and it seems that I every site recommends a different style or color. Which would be the best? Skirt or pantsuit? Black or some other color? Where would I look to find one? What is best worn underneath? With or without hosiery? What is the best type of heel/flat? Is there a Men's Warehouse for women? I'm pretty much starting with no knowledge whatsoever here, so any help would be great. Thanks!

posted by semp to clothing, beauty, & fashion (19 comments total)

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about women's suits. However, I can say that a navy suit, will give you more options for coordinating with accessories, blouses, etc.
posted by oddman at 1:19 PM on June 11

The most useful suit I own I also got in college. It's a very dark charcoal gray (almost black) with thin thin blue pinstripes that are barely there. It came with either a skirt or pants and I got both, which has basically given me 2 suits for the price of 1.5.
I'd recommend going with this option if you can find it. Mine was from BCBG, just fyi.

What is your current suit? Black? Pants? Skirt?
I'd go with something that presents you with a very distinct option from whatever you have already. If you have a formal long jacketed double breasted pantsuit, then go for a flirtier shorter one-button jacket and skirt suit, for example. If you have black, go for gray or navy. If you have something else, go for black.

Black and charcoal are probably your best bets for utility if you want to buy one suit and have it work for most occasions. If you later interview for a super corporate job, you'll feel most comfortable in a black suit, in my experience. Men can do well in navy, but I think for women black is better.

Make sure that whatever skirt you buy is longer than you're probably used to wearing. Right about knee level is the best even though a few inches shorter might be more flattering to your legs, because then if you grow a little it will still be appropriate. Also, make sure that you SIT DOWN in your suit in front of a mirror. This is also where a longer skirt is your friend. Sometimes a totally appropriate length skirt becomes obscene when you are sitting. I see this on female talk show guests all the time. When you interview, the last thing you want to be thinking about is if the interviewer can see the side of your butt or too much of your thigh. Keep it covered.

Also, don't go too trendy and don't get anything frilly.
A 3/4 sleeve jacket can be cute and comfortable if you are in a warm climate and less formal environment. I find myself wearing my 3/4 length blazer a lot recently.
posted by rmless at 1:25 PM on June 11

I must disagree with oddman. Navy suits are standard for men, but for a woman I would suggest black, grey, or possibly beige. Skirt or pants is up to you based on what you prefer, what looks and fits best, and what you're most comfortable in.

Hosiery is unnecessary unless you're dealing with the most conservative, business formal companies. A crisp light blue or white button down shirt is classic and always appropriate. In terms of picking clothing that "sets you apart," forget it. Unless you're trying to make contacts in a fashion or design oriented industry, the best thing you can do is dress neatly and simply and set yourself apart with your skills and personality (which it seems you already are doing).
posted by telegraph at 1:31 PM on June 11

Underneath, a nice colored cotton or silk shell works well and can really change up the look of a suit. That's probably what I'd wear to a dinner. If it was for a more formal interview, a white, striped, or light colored collared shirt would be appropriate.
Having a color underneath a suit brings a little zip to the outfit and can liven up a more conservative look. Don't go lace or leopard though.

Stockings aren't necessary for a woman your age, unless you are at an uberconservative event or you're cold.
Go with a low leather heel like this or whatever is comfortable for you. Pointy toe or round toe, whatever you want. Just no wedges or clunky platforms or anything like that. Flats don't look the best with suits, but if you have to do it and hate heels or can't walk in them, do a patent ballet flat (no scuffs) instead of a loafer or mary jane.

For stores, I'd go to Macy's or Nordstroms or a big dept store like that for starters. You can try on a bunch of styles of jackets and see what suits you best. Banana Republic has some nice women's suits, as does Ann Taylor Loft.
posted by rmless at 1:35 PM on June 11

Yes, black or grey and keep it simple.

Even in the most formal settings, you probably don't need to wear a skirt (this is new over the past 10-20 years, as far as I can tell), but id you can do what rmless says (skirt and pants) go for it. But pants are totally acceptable now.
posted by Pax at 1:36 PM on June 11

If I only had one suit, it would be a classic black one that I took to a tailor and had the jacket and skirt/pants altered to fit my body. The skirt would fall to my knee and I'd wear them with pretty pumps (possibly with a pattern). I like The Limited (example) or a soft grey like this can be a subtle stand out. If you buy a suit I suggest getting the matching pencil skirt and pants at the same time as it makes for more options.

As for navy, it can be a difficult colour for assessories (shoes/bag) which I think makes it a good 4th suit but not your go-to choice.

As for your specific questions: Worn underneath - I assume you mean top, you can always go for the dress shirt but I like something more like this in the summer. If you want more punch wear a bright coloured shirt and carry a funky colourful hand bag. Nylons are usually recommended for the office and I would wear a medium heel (2" heel).
posted by saradarlin at 1:40 PM on June 11

On preview I have found that nearly all of the companies that I worked for required wearing nylons even though they would NOT be my choice (I hate them).

And don't buy any specifically summer suits (cropped pants, short sleeves etc... they are too limited in where and how they can be worn).
posted by saradarlin at 1:46 PM on June 11

As a young female professional who wears a suit three or more days a week, I'd say don't try to stand out with flashy or unusual clothes. The way for a young, junior person to impress corporate-types with her clothes is with well-cut, well-made, but utterly stylistically boring clothes. Get a nice black or charcoal (I prefer charcoal because it's good for both summer and winter) suit, one or two good, white collared shirts or a good neutral-colored sweater/shell, and spend the difference at a dry-cleaner's getting things professionally cleaned and pressed before the big event.

And. Please. Please. Don't get a navy suit. Navy suits haven't been a good idea for women for at least ten years. They're a classic look for guys, but walking into a formal business-type setting in a women's navy suit is, these days, a good way to raise eyebrows. And not in the good way.
posted by joyceanmachine at 1:55 PM on June 11

Er, omit the first of those "good way"s.

As for the pants v. skirts issue, either pants or a skirt is fine these days in all but the most conservative (think 85 year old semi-retired male judge in a notoriously old-fashioned jurisdiction) places. If you get cold easily and will be spending a lot of time sitting still in air-conditioned conference rooms, pants are better. I find they're also more convenient and help me de-emphasize being the only woman in the room.

On the other hand, pants are usually hemmed so that they look good with a particular height of heel. If you decide to go with a lower heel because you sprained your toe the night before, or if you bought a pair of gorgeous black leather pumps that are a bit higher than your usual set, you can end up feeling a bit funny.

Personally, I tend to get things in both pants and skirt, if my budget can allow for it. And I wear them over a white collared shirt, like the guys wear, but when things aren't quite so stiff, you can also get away with a nice crewneck sweater in a plain color or a shell, which they sell expressly

As for where to get these on a student budget, Talbots and Ann Taylor have some serious sales on right now, but not too much in the way of suiting. Brooks Brothers makes clothes that are higher quality, and J. Crew makes ones that are more youthfully cut, but they're both a bit more expensive. However, if there's a Brooks Brothers factory outlet or clearance store near you, check there. They're the classic American corporate purveyors, so they always have suit-type things, and they sometimes have astounding out-of-season deals on merchandise, like a $250 cashmere sweater going for $20 in June.
posted by joyceanmachine at 2:04 PM on June 11

Yep, for a women's suit, black or charcoal gray are absolutely your best bets for overall usefulness on a year-round basis. The question of jacket + skirt vs. jacket + pants is entirely up to you, though if you feel you'll need the suit in more formal or conservative settings, consider erring on the side of the skirt. (A pencil or A-line skirt that hits you right above the knee is the right length; below the knee looks dowdy, and more than an inch or two above the knee can look a little too unprofessional in some situations -- save the miniskirts for casual or party wear). Wool or wool blends will work year-round; cotton will only work in warm weather.

My own favorite suit is from J. Crew -- it's a really versatile, updated take on a classic cut. If they're a little pricey for you (though you can indeed score good deals on sale), maybe consider Banana Republic or Ann Taylor Loft. If you're on the petite or tall side, definitely be sure to get a petite or tall suit -- this is one of those times you want to make sure the fit is good. Or if you find you can't get a fit that's exactly right, you can always get some simple tailoring (hemming, taking in a waist, etc.) to get the fit that's right for your body type.

You have a lot of options for shirts/blouses/tops, but I'd start out with a basic fitted shirt like this (short or 3/4-length sleeves for warm weather; long sleeves for cool weather). White's classic, but don't be afraid of a little color.

Pumps are the go-to shoe to wear (plain, sling-back, or t-straps are fine); obviously, if you get a black or charcoal suit, wear black pumps. Sheer hose are fine, as are bare legs in some situations during warm months (I go bare-legged in my suits in the summer all the time, but then again I live in a L.A. and work at an art museum. YMMdefinitelyV in a corporate setting, for example.)
posted by scody at 2:05 PM on June 11 [1 favorite has favorites]

Mostly good advice so far. Blacks and greys are better than navy. If you want to stand out a bit, do it with your accessories and shoes. They're less of an investment and you can change them up more often. And, just an FYI from another girl on a budget, J.Crew gives a 15% in store discount with a college i.d. and complementary alterations if you've got their store credit card.
posted by B-squared at 2:59 PM on June 11

I have found a black suit always ends up being my go-to, especially since it's easy to mix the pieces if you want to wear just a blouse and the skirt or just the jacket with maybe a print skirt. Most of my shoes are black, so it's easy for me.

I've never owned a navy suit, it just never seemed versatile enough. I don't think I have seen navy suits on women a lot too recently, now that I think of it. I have owned lighter or more unusual colors (I once had a pale lavender - it sounds weird, but it was pretty) but they were never part of my "core" wardrobe - more like I bought them on sale and worked them in every once in awhile.

I think a sheer hosiery is always appropriate, except in the hottest hottest weather. I have found the No Nonsense Almost Bare (control top or not) to be a reliable everyday type of hosiery - you can get them at Target or wherever as well as online.

I prefer heels to flats with a suit, but that's just my preference. I tend to choose skirts over pants, I feel like it gives me more flexibility with shoe choices.

If there is a Nordstrom Rack near you, you can give that a try. The Nordstrom (regular, not Rack store) Half Yearly Sale should just be finishing up, and you may find a deal there. If you wait a couple of weeks it will be the Anniversary Sale, which usually has some suits - but know that this sale focuses more on fall clothing.

Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and J Crew are all pretty reliable choices for suiting pieces.
posted by KAS at 3:00 PM on June 11

Corporette suggests this Banana Republic no-iron shirt. If you try this on and like how it fits it could be a good shirt to wear with just the suiting bottoms (as well as under the suit jacket) - the no wrinkle point is big with me, I hate the end of day wrinkled feeling.

That blog in general has some cute ideas, but it trends towards a little more fashion-y than basic, and it showcases some pricey stuff.
posted by KAS at 3:04 PM on June 11

Oh, and back on the subject of shoes: I think heels are easier than flats to pull off with a suit (flats aren't necessarily impossible, but you've got to get all the proportions right). They don't have to be really high -- low or mid-heels are just fine. If comfort's an issue, look for brands like Sofft or Clarks, which carry quite comfortable, stylish heels that aren't too clunky.

And back to your question about standing out a little: do it with accessories and accents, like a great necklace or a colorful blouse. What you want in a suit is something stylish but classic that you can adapt to a lot of different situations for many years -- something that can become the core of your wardrobe. (Would that I had known that before I bought my own [awful] first suit!)
posted by scody at 3:51 PM on June 11

I'm your age, and when I was shopping for a suit a year or so ago I ended up buying a suit on super sale at Banana Republic. I got a black skirt suit for about $100. I also had some luck shopping at Macy's, especially with their Tahari suits, which tended to be a little more cute and youthful (without being terribly trendy and cheap looking) than their other lines.
posted by MadamM at 3:51 PM on June 11

Do you have a Ross near you? They have lots of name-brand suits, very discounted. I have a closet full of Calvin Klein thanks to them.

Unless you have killer navy shoes, I find navy suits to be a little dowdy-looking. Blacks and grays and browns are better. The best way to stand out while wearing a suit is for it to fit you great.

I don't like the way button-down shirts look on me, so I wear v-neck shells under my suits. This is where I add some color, too.
posted by desuetude at 5:36 PM on June 11

You are not working in a corporate office; you are a student presenting to corporate offices. You do not need to look exactly like everyone else and I think it's 100% fine to show a tiny bit of flair.

Personally, if I had the body shape to pull it off, I'd be happy with something like this (with the pencil skirt) and killer heels. But I have always been inclined towards vamping in the suiting department - my first suit was black and my second was red.

I also like this jacket quite a lot and it's on sale; it would be cute with the matching trousers and flats.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:17 PM on June 11

If you're buying any dark colour, get a good clothes brush and keep it where you can use it just before you go to a meeting/interview, perhaps one of those nylon ones with nap that you don't have to buy refills for. If you have to wear stockings, how about stay ups instead of pantihose? If you run one, you don't have to toss the whole thing and they're more comfortable. And nthing the not navy. The only navy I've ever had is almost black. But black has to be a good fabric or it won't look good long, so I'm going with the crowd on the charcoal gray. And a nice tropical weight wool lasts, looks good for a long time and won't wrinkle like synthetics.
posted by x46 at 8:08 PM on June 11

I am a woman in my 30s who has been wearing suits to work every single day for the last 8.5 yrs and I have to disagree with some of the comments. You're probably not going to like my advice, but I say go conservative. Yes, you are young and don't want to look dowdy but since when are conservative and dowdy one in the same? There's almost no down side to dressing more professionally. If you get too cute or trendy, you might not be taken seriously.

Charcoal gray is just about the perfect color. If you can find one with light pinstripes, even better. Try to get a 3 piece suit so that you have 2 suits in one (pants and skirt). You can pick a cute, colored top so that you don't look too boring.

Ann Taylor has factory stores, Macy's has sales all the time, and smartbargains.com often has great deals on designer suits.
posted by calgirl13 at 11:00 PM on June 12