Help me find a business suit that fits!

April 6, 2012 8:18 AM

[business attire filter]: I can't find a business pants/jacket or skirt/jacket combo that fits me. Can you tell me where to look?

In the name of dressing for the job I want, I'm looking for a few pants/jacket and skirt/jacket suits. They don't have to be extremely formal, just neat and sophisticated. It's getting warm so I plan on bare legs, no tights/hose. The problems: I'm (a normal weight) 5'10 so sleeves and pants are often too short. I have a large chest, so most jacket tops I try on don't button, and the trend this year seems to be shorter 1-button jackets that are especially awful for my build. Longer jackets tend to work since they pull attention away from my chest while giving the impression that I have hips. I have none to speak of so most women's pants out there are baggy on the sides. I don't have much of a waist, so low-rise and slightly flared pants work best. Last year I lucked out with Banana Republic's Sloan Fit pants, but this year they're gone. I also found a winter suit by Anne Klein on sale at Bloomingdale's last year which fit me decently, but this year's collection is atrocious and insanely expensive. Where else can I look? What designer's low-mid priced collection might fit me? I lean toward less-conservative/urban chic but beggars can't be choosers...

posted by paindemie to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (11 answers total)

Have you tried Talbot's? They sell a variety of suiting separates and they have a variety of jackets. Admittedly, their pants are often designed for those with hips, but usually you can try several sizes and get one adjusted as necessary. The quality is quite good and they do have regular and substantial sales - if you don't need to buy today, you should sign up for the sale notifications.
posted by Frowner at 8:29 AM on April 6, 2012

Not really answering your question, but do you get your suits tailored? I have this hips and minimal butt thing going on, so EVERY pair of work pants gets altered.
posted by teragram at 8:30 AM on April 6, 2012

Ann Taylor may be an option. A lightweight wool suit from them comes in around $250-300 (not sure if that counts as low-mid priced for you). However they have frequent sales, so check for coupon codes and discounts as they can be significant. They have a Tall Suits section but I can't vouch for the sleeve and pant lengths being adequate, as I'm really short and have to stick with petite sizes. Tall Suits link

The comments on this Corporette post on tall suit resources may be helpful.

Good luck finding a suit!
posted by brackish.line at 8:31 AM on April 6, 2012

Have you checked Misook (you can buy it at Nordstrom)? Some of the styles are terribly matronly, but some of them swing more toward the funky Chanel-St.John-knock-off end of things, and look chic-sophisticated. Plus, really comfy and machine washable.
posted by crush-onastick at 8:42 AM on April 6, 2012

as a hip-py, butted person, I can attest to the fact that j.crew suiting pants are cut VERY slim through the hips/butt/thighs. they carry tall sizes online in suiting. they have a few different cuts in jackets, including longer styles, but their suiting pants are not lined, if that matters to you.
posted by dynamiiiite at 8:42 AM on April 6, 2012

Are you me? Because I nearly posted this same question yesterday. I have the same busty/hipless issue (although I don't have the sleeve/pant length issue).

I have a couple of Ann Taylor Loft skirt suits that I like OK; I try to go for the skirts because I feel like the hip-wing issues are less obvious in a skirt (especially a non-pencil skirt).
posted by mskyle at 8:55 AM on April 6, 2012

If you're on the slimmer side (aside from the boobs), I'd recommend J Crew. Their suits all come in a tall length for ladies that is REALLY long.
posted by joan_holloway at 9:40 AM on April 6, 2012

Gap has some two-button blazers that are available in tall sizes. They also have flared and boot cut pants in tall sizes, although none of them look to be truly low rise to me. (Their pants are long anyway though, I'm 5'8" and the regular length is often a little too long for me, so you might not even want the tall length).
posted by beautiful spinster at 9:45 AM on April 6, 2012

I don't have a specific brand recommendation, but I'll say this: you sound like the type of person who needs to cultivate a relationship with a good tailor. A tailor can let out hems of pants and skirts or sleeves to make them long enough (provided that they're made with enough extra fabric). Having a good tailor means that you can buy a jacket that fits your bustline, then have the waist and other parts taken in so that you're not swimming in it.

Heck, a really good tailor could make you a suit from scratch that fits you perfectly. If you live in a major city, there are often tailors who come in from East Asia and take measurements from a huge number of customers, then have the bespoke suits made abroad and shipped back.

Clothing is made for the median body. If your body deviates from the median in a substantial way, that doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with you, it just means that the designers weren't thinking about you when they made the clothes. Your best bet is often to fix the clothes to fit you rather than struggling to find someone who has manufactured clothes with your body in mind.
posted by decathecting at 9:49 AM on April 6, 2012

This may be obvious, but if you shop a store like Ann Taylor, you can buy a suit jacket in one size and the skirt or pants in another size. I do this routinely. And if you do like Ann Taylor, sign up for the email list for the constant sales and discounts.
posted by gingerbeer at 11:27 AM on April 6, 2012

J Crew has tall sized women's suiting. So do Banana Republic, Long Tall Sally, the Gap, Victoria's Secret and Calvin Klein (sometimes). Marc Jacobs is also tall and slim hipped.

Of those VS and Long Tall Sally will accommodate a larger chest and shoulders the best.
posted by fshgrl at 11:45 AM on April 6, 2012